• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.189-201
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• 2008

Dr. George Schimert, born in 1918 in Switzerland, received his medical degrees from universities in Hungary and in Germany. After immigration to the United States, he continued medical training at several hospitals. In 1956, for pursuit of cardiac surgery, he had joined the group headed by Dr. Walt Lillehei at the University of Minnesota. During this period, in 1958, he joined Seoul National University Hospital as a overall medical adviser and adviser in surgery for 15 months in partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School. During his stay in Korea, in addition to the works in the medical administration and education, he contributed to the early establishment of thoracic surgery program. In August 6, 1959, he performed open heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass for an ASD patient at Seoul National University Hospital. However, the patient died 6 hours after the operation. In 1960, after returning to the United States, he began his career at Buffalo General Hospital as the first director of its cardiac surgery program. In 1985, the Dr. George Schimert Lectureship and Medical Conference was established to honor his contributions and achievements. He died December 7, 2002.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2013

Background: The continuous suture (CS) technique has several advantages as a method for simple, fast, and secure aortic valve replacement (AVR). We used a simple CS technique without the use of a pledget for AVR and evaluated the surgical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Between October 2007 and 2012, 123 patients with aortic valve disease underwent AVR alone (n=28) or with other concomitant cardiac procedures (n=95), such as mitral, tricuspid, or aortic surgery. The patients were divided into two groups: the interrupted suture (IS) group (n=47), in which the conventional IS technique was used, and the CS group (n=76), in which the simple CS technique was used. Results: There were two hospital deaths (1.6%), which were not related to the suture technique. There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass time or aortic cross-clamp time between the two groups for AVR alone or AVR with concomitant cardiac procedures. In the IS group, two patients had prosthetic endocarditis and one patient experienced significant perivalvular leak. These patients underwent reoperations. In the CS group, there were no complications related to the surgery. Postoperatively, the two groups had similar aortic valve gradients. Conclusion: The simple CS method is useful and secure for AVR in patients with aortic valve disease, and it may minimize surgical complications, as neither pledgets nor braided sutures are used.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1539-1546
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• 2007

We have investigated whether the supplement of magnesium to cold blood cardioplegia improves myocardial protection. Sixty patients scheduled for elective valvular heart surgery were randomly assigned to a control group (n=30) which received conventional cold blood cardioplegia and an Mg group (n=30) which received cold blood cardioplegia supplemented with 2 g of magnesium sulfate. Electrolytes levels including $Mg^{++}$, hematological and biochemical variables, cytokines, myocardial marker levels, and postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups before, during or idler operation. $Mg^{++}\;and\;Ca^{++}$ levels in the Mg group were higher than those of the control group after surgery. The total WBC counts, CK-MB, troponin-I and Interleukin-6 levels in the Mg group were lower than those of the control group after surgery. Postoperative incidence of atrial fibrillation was lower in the Mg group compared with the control group. These results showed that $Mg^{++}$ attenuated inflammatory reaction, myocardial damage, and hypomagnesemia during valvular surgery and reduced postoperative arrhythmia incidence without side effects.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.609-616
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• 1999

심폐바이패스시 발생할 수 있는 튜브 마모 및 파쇄는 롤러펌프의 반복되는 압박에 의해 롤러펌프에 장착된 튜브 내벽에 균열이 생기고 이로 인해 미세한 비생물적 조각들이 혈액중으로 떨어져 나가는 현상을 말하는데, 임상적으로 치명적인 색전증을 초래할 수 있다. 그러나 아직 롤러펌프 튜브로 사용되는 PVC 및 실리콘 튜브 중 어느 쪽이 마모 및 파쇄 관점에서 더 우수한지는 체계적으로 밝혀지지 않고 있다. 이에 본 연구는 두 종류의 튜브를각각 일정 기간 롤러펌프에 장착하여 작동시킨 뒤 튜브내외면을 육안 및 주사형 전자현미경으로 관찰하였다. 즉 PVC 및 실리콘 튜브 (내경 1/2 인치의)들을 미리 정해진 폐쇄도 조절에 의해 폐쇄 회로 심폐비이패스 롤러펌프 헤드에 장착시키고 4.500ml/min에서 각각 4차례씩 1,2,4,6 시간 작동시켰다. 파쇄에 의한 색전 관찰 실험에서는 회로 중간에 동맥여과기를 설치하고 각각 6,9시간 씩 롤러펌프를 작동시켰다. 실험 후 튜브 및 여과기들을 수거한 후 육안 및 주사형 전자현미경 분석을 시행하였다. 실험후 튜브 및 여과기들을 수거한 후 육안 및 주사형 전자현미경을 분석을 시행하였다. 튜브 외부의 육안 관찰 결과 일반적으로 실라스틱 튜브에서의 외부 마모가 PVC 튜브에 비해 현저하였다. 주사형 전자현미경 관찰에서 PVC 튜브에서의 홈은 좁으면서 경계선이 뚜렷한 특징을 보였고 3시간 이상 롤러와 접촉한 튜브들에게서는 깊은 균열이 간헐적으로 관찰되었다. 반면, 실라스틱에서의 홈은 좁으면서도 경계선이 뚜렷한 특징을 보였고 3시간 이상 롤러와 접촉한 튜브들에게서는 깊은 균열이 간헐적으로 관찰되었다.반면 실라스틱에서의 튜브들에서는 홈이 상대적으로 넓고 경계가 덜 명확했으며, 특징적으로 V 자 모양의 융기부들이 간헐적으로 관찰되었다. 실라스틱 및 PVC 튜브 모두에서 50u 전후의 Craters 가 간헐적으로 관찰되었다. 여과기의 여과망에 대한 주사형 전자현미경 분석 결과 실라스틱과 PVC 튜브 실험군 모두에서 색전입자로 의심되는조각들이 발견되었으나 두군간 정량적 비교는 어려웠다. 결론적으로 롤러펌프에 의한 튜브 마모 및 파쇄현상은 실리콘 및 PVC 튜브의 재질에 따라 그 양상에는 차이가 있으나 임상적인 측면에서는 어느 쪽도 상대적인 우수성이 입증되지 못하였다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.511-517
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• 1992

From January 1988 to December 1990, 18 adult patients with aortic disease underwent surgical repair using hypothermia and total circulatory arrest. The age at operation ranged from 17 years to 64 years[mean 45.2$\pm$10.7 years]. We disease entities included aortic dissection in 12, aortoannuloectasia in 3 and thoracic aortic aneurysm in 3 cases. Partial cardiopulmonary bypass via femoral vessels along with surface cooling was used upon the induction of deep hypothermia[18~20oC]. Modified Bentall operation was performed in 7 cases, ascending aorta replacement in 6, graft interposition in descending thoracic aorta in 3 and others in 2 cases. The circulatory arrest was maintained for periods of 2 minutes to 86 mimutes[mean 34.7$\pm$5.0 minutes]. Overall hospital mortality was 27.8%[5/18]: brain damage was responsible for the death of 2 patients. 4 patients out of 13 survivors experienced postoperative neurologic dysfunction, which was proved to be self-limited except one case showing left hemiparesis. 12 patients were followed up postoperatively with the mean follow-up period 22.7$\pm$10.1 months. There was no death. No new neurologic problems were observed during follow-up period. All but one patient showing recurrent dissection and aortic regurgitation are in exellent clinical condition. These clinical data suggests that the principle of deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest can be applied rather safely in adult patients, especially in the treatment of patients with aortic disease, it can be a valuable adjunct with better clinical results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.6 s.251
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• pp.441-444
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• 2005

Abdominal tumors that can grow through vascular lumen and spread to the right heart are rare. Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a rare tumor that originates from the uterus and spreads through the vessels. Although histologically benign, tumor extension with mechanical obstruction of the inferior vena cava, right cardiac cavities, or even the pulmonary artery, may occasionally result in fatal outcome. The best treatment is complete surgical resection of the entire tumor using cardiopulmonary bypass and total circulation arrest, We report a case of intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus that showed intravascular growth up to the right atrium. The patient underwent successful resection of the tumor by one-stage cardiotomy with laparotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.759-770
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• 1985

This study was experimentally undertaken to evaluate the effect of hypothermic oxygenated cardioplegic solution on myocardial protection during prolonged aortic cross clamping under cardiopulmonary bypass. Dogs were divided into two groups control group [received hypothermic unoxygenated cardioplegic solution] and experimental group [received hypothermic oxygenated cardioplegic solution]. Coronary sinus effluent was obtained at once and 30, 60, 90 minutes after cross-clamping for the determination of pH, PCO2,PO2 and lactate level during the infusion of cardioplegic solution and myocardial biopsies were obtained after cessation of 90 minutes of aortic cross-clamping. The results obtained were as follows: 1. There was no significant differences in the pH and PCO2 between the oxygenated and unoxygenated cardioplegic solution but the PO2 of the oxygenated solution was 4 times greater than unoxygenated solution, and also the oxygenated solution had a significantly greater oxygen content [2.020.05 ml 02/min] and had much more oxygen delivery than unoxygenated solution. 2. The myocardial oxygen consumption and the myocardial oxygen extraction in oxygenated group were 1.63 ml 02/100 ml and 67.32% respectively, which was greater than those in unoxygenated group. 3. Regarding to pH and PCO2 of coronary sinus effluent, there was no significant differences between two groups in early period of infusion of cardioplegic solution, but the pH shifted to acidosis from 60 minutes, PCO2 increased from 90 minutes of aortic cross-clamping, and PO2 markedly decreased from 90 minutes of aortic cross-clamping in unoxygenated group. 4. The lactate concentration of coronary sinus effluent revealed relatively normal in both groups, but showed slight increase up to 27.54.56 mg/100 ml at 90 minutes of aortic cross-clamping in unoxygenated group. 5. On electron microscopic study, the ultrastructural integrity of myocardial cells in oxygenated group was well preserved within 90 minutes. Slight swelling and deformity of mitochondria, interfibrillar widening, and disarrangement of myofibrils were observed at 90 minutes after aortic cross-clamping in unoxygenated group. From these results, the use of hypothermic oxygenated cardioplegic solution seemed to be effective and better method for the preservation of ischemic myocardium during the prolonged aortic cross-clamping.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.574-581
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• 1985

Surgical treatment for PDA has been pivotal in historical development of surgery for congenital heart disease. A clinical study on 36 cases of operated PDA were performed during period from Aug. 1981 to Jul. 1985 at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery in Chonbuk University. The following results are obtained. 1. The 8 males and 28 females ranged in age from 2 yrs, to 24 yrs, [mean 11 yrs.] 2. Chief complaints of the patients were dyspnea on exertion in 61%, palpitation in 39%, frequent URI in 12%, and no subjective symptoms in 11%. 3. On auscultation, continuous machinery murmur heard in 94% and systolic in 14%. 4. Radiologic findings of chest P-A showed increased density of pulmonary vascularity in 94%, cardiomegaly in 69%, and within normal limits in 5% of the patients. 5. EKG findings of the patients revealed LVH in 69%, RVH in 6%, BVH in 6%, and within normal limits in 17%. 6. Of the 36 patients, cardiac catheterization was performed in 34 patients. The results showed mean Qp/Qs = 2.25, mean Pp/Ps=0.42, and mean systolic pulmonary arterial pressure=53mmHg. 7. Surgical methods were as followed: The 32 case of ductal ligation and one case of division & suture technique for PDA through the left posterolateral thoracotomy were done. And 2 cases of ductal ligation one suture closure through the pulmonary artery were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass. 8. Intraoperative complication was ductal rupture with division 8< suture for PDA and transient hoarseness in 1, recanalization in 1, and urethral stricture in 1 case postoperatively. 9. One patient died due to ductal rupture intraoperatively and operative mortality was 2.8%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.672-680
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• 1988

Munro is generally considered the first person to have demonstrated, in 1888, in an infant cadaver, the feasibility of dissection and ligation of a persistently patent ductus arteriosus. In august, 1938, Robert Gross reported first successful division and suture of the patent ductus of 7 year old girl. Interruption of a ductus is one of the most satisfactory and curative operations in the field of surgery for congenital heart disease. Seventy-eight consecutive cases of closure of patent ductus arteriosus were operated from June 1980 to June 1988 in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Maryknoll Hospital. Retrospective clinical analysis of the patients were 1. There were 24 males, 54 females. 2. The age range of the patients were from 7 months to 32 years with the mean age 9.8 years. 3. Chief complaints of the patients were frequent URI[70.5%], dyspnea on exertion[36.9%], palpitation[10.3%], but 15 patients[19.2%] had no subjective symptoms. 4. Continuous machinery murmur could be heard at the 2nd or 3rd intercostal space on the left sternal border in 66 patients[84.6%]. The other 12 patients made systolic murmur. 5. Radiographic findings of the Chest P-A were cardiac enlargement in 55 patients[70%], enlargement of pulmonary conus and/or increasing density of pulmonary vascularity in 68 patients[87%]. 6. Electrocardiographic findings of the patients were within normal limit in 23 patients[36%], LVH in 38 patients[48.7%], RVH in 7 patients[9%], biventricular hypertrophy in 5 patients[6%]. 7. Cardiac catheterization performed in 62 patients. Mean Qp/Qs=2.5, mean pulmonary arterial pressure=45 mmHg. 8. 73 patients were operated through left posterolateral thoracotomy: Closure of the ductus by ligation in 64 cases, division with suture in 6 cases, and division with aortopatch in 3 cases. Ligation through median sternotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass were 5 cases. 9. There was no death associated with operation, but one case was experienced with intraoperative tearing of ductus resulting in massive bleeding. The other complications were transient hoarseness in 2 patients, chylothorax in 2 patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.460-471
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• 1994

Between Feb. 1990 and Aug. 1993, 180 cases of the open heart surgery were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular surgery, Gil General Hospital. There were 83 cases with congenital heart diseases [CHD] and 97 cases with acquired heart diseases [AHD]. The CHD consisted of 78 acyanotic[mortality: 3.8 %] and 5 cyanotic cases with heart anomaly[mortality:l case]. The AHD were 97 cases, which contained 53 valvular, 27 ischemic heart diseases, 10 aortic diseases, 5 cases with myxoma, 1 case with post-infarct VSD, and 1 case with removal of infected pacing wire in right ventricle. In the 53 valvular heart diseases, there were 45 cases with valve replacement[MVR 27, AVR 9,MVR + AVR 9] and 8 cases with valvuloplasty. The number of the implanted prosthetic valves were 53. In MVR, 25 St. Jude, 6 Sorin, 3 Carpentier-Edward and 2 Intact medical valves were used. In aortic position, 13 St. Jude, 3 Sorin and 1 Intact medical valves were applied. The operative mortality was 5.6 % [3/53]. The annuloplasty applying artificial ring was performed in 17 patients[4 cases associated with MVR] and the number of the implanted ring was 19, which included 14 Duran ring[10 mitral, 4 tricuspid] and 5 Carpentier ring [3 mitral, 22 tricuspid]. In the 27 ischemic heart diseases, there were 9 cases with left main coronary artery lesions, 7 one vessel, 5 two vessels, and 6 three vessels. Average number of anastomosis was 2.8 per patient. The operative mortality was 14.3 % [4/27]. Among the 10 patients with aortic diseases, 7 cases were aortic dissection[type A: 5, type B: 2] and 3 cases were descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. The operative morality occurred in 3 cases. The overall mortality and the operative mortality of congenital and acquired heart disease was 7.8 %, 4.8% and 10.4%, respectively.