• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.615-621
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• 2002

Purpose : The neonatal cardiac catheterization and angiogram for transcatheter therapy are still essential methods in congenital heart disease, so we reviewed our experience with neonatal cardiac catheterization over 10 years at a single institution. Methods : A retrospective review of all 139 neonatal catheterizations from January 1991 to December 2000 at Sejong Heart Institution was performed. The purpose of the catheterizations, ages, body weights and the complications by the exam was surveyed. Results : The mean age of our 139 patients was 14.9 days and the mean body weight was 3.3 kg. As for the diagnosis : TGA in 49 patients, PAIVS in 26 patients, DORV in 14 patients, PS in 14 patients, PAVSD in 11 patients. For the cardiac catheterization, general anesthesia was performed in 65% of total and fluoroscopy time was $20.1{\pm}14.5$ minutes during cardiac catheterization. In the interventional cardiac catheterization which was 75% of the total, the age and body weight were statistically the same but the irradiation time was longer than the diagnostic catheterization( P=0.001). There were 48 cases of atrial septostomy, 16 cases of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and 25 cases of transcatheter pulmonary valvotomy. Complications of cardiac catheterization were found in 16.3%, but there was no difference between interventional catheterization and diagnostic catheterization. Conclusion : Therapeutic cardiac catheterization in neonates is a relatively safe and effective method in congenital heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Background: The Damus-Kaye-Stansel (DKS) procedure is a proximal MPA-ascending aorta anastomosis used to relieve systemic ventricular outflow tract obstructions (SVOTO) and pulmonary hypertension. The purpose of this study was to review the indications and outcomes of the DKS procedure, including the DKS pathway and semilunar valve function. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 28 patients who underwent a DKS procedure between May 1994 and April 2006 was performed. The median age at operation was 5.3 months ($13\;days{\sim}38.1\;months$) and body weight was 5.0 kg ($2.9{\sim}13.5\;kg$). Preoperative pressure gradients were $25.3{\pm}15.7\;mmHg$ ($10{\sim}60\;mmHg$). Eighteen patients underwent a preliminary pulmonary artery banding as an initial palliation. Preoperative main diagnoses were double outlet right ventricle in 9 patients, double inlet left ventricle with ventriculoarterial discordance in 6,. another functional univentricular heart in 5, Criss-cross heart in 4, complete atrioventricular septal defect in 3, and hypoplastic left heart variant in 1. DKS techniques included end-to-side anastomosis with patch augmentation in 14 patients, classical end-to-side anastomosis in 6, Lamberti method (double-barrel) in 3, and others in 5. The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt and Fontan procedure were concomitantly performed in 6 and 2 patients, respectively. Result: There were 4 hospital deaths (14.3%), and 3 late deaths (12.5%) with a follow-up duration of $62.7{\pm}38.9$ months ($3.3{\sim}128.1$ months). Kaplan-Meier estimated actuarial survival was $71.9%{\pm}9.3%$ at 10 years. Multivariate analysis showed right ventricle type single ventricle (hazard ratio=13.960, p=0.004) and the DKS procedure as initial operation (hazard ratio=6.767, p=0.042) as significant mortality risk factors. Four patients underwent staged biventricular repair and 13 received Fontan completion. No SVOTO was detected after the procedure by either cardiac catheterization or echocardiography except in one patient. There was no semiulnar valve regurgitation (>Gr II) or semilunar valve-related reoperation, but one patient (3.6%) who underwent classical end-to-side anastomosis needed reoperation for pulmonary artery stenosis caused by compression of the enlarged DKS pathway. The freedom from reoperation for the DKS pathway and semilunar valve was 87.5% at 10 years after operation. Conclusion: The DKS procedure can improve the management of SVOTO, and facilitate the selected patients who are high risk for biventricular repair just after birth to undergo successful staged biventricular repair. Preliminary pulmonary artery banding is a safe and effective procedure that improves the likelihood of successful DKS by decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance. The long-term outcome of the DKS procedure for semilunar valve function, DKS pathway, and relief of SVOTO is satisfactory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.430-438
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• 2002

It is known that low birth weight is a risk factor for poor outcome in cardiac surgery for many cardiac defects. We reviewed our recent surgical experiences on congenital heart defect (other than patent ductus arteriosus) in low birth weight babies. Material and Method: From September 1994 to February 2001, 31 consecutive infants weighing 2500 g or less underwent cardiac surgery with (OHS group n=12) or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CHS group n=19). A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate short-and intermediate-term outcome. Mean gestational age and age at operation were 36.9 weeks(range, 32.3-42weeks) and 32.1days (range, 0-87days) respectively. Mean body weight at birth and operation were 1972g (range, 1100-2500g) and 2105g (range, 1450-2500 g) respectively. There was no difference between the two groups in age and body weight. Defects included ventricular septal defect (VSD) (n=3), VSD with arch anomaly (n=2), total anomalous pulmonary venous return (n=2), transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (n=2), truncus arteriosus (n=2), and univentricular heart with cor triatriatum (n=1) in OHS group, and coarctation of aorta (n=7), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (n=3), TOF with pulmonary atresia (n=3), multiple muscular VSDs (n=1), double outlet right ventricle (n=1), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (n=2), tricuspid atresia (n=1), and TGA with multiple VSD (n=1) in CHS group. 13 patients (41.9%) were intubated pre-operatively. Result: There were 4 early deaths(＜30 days); 1 (8.3%) in OHS group and 3 (15.8%) in non-OHS group. All these early deaths were related to the pulmonary artery banding(PAB). There was no operative mortality in infants undergoing complete repair and palliative operations other than PAB. Delayed sternal closure was required in 3 patients. Prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation (>7 days) was required in 7 patients(58.3%) in OHS and 7(38.8%) in CHS group. Late mortality occurred in 3 patients, two of which were non-cardiac. A patient in OHS group was documented to have neurologic sequelae. All the survivors except two are in NYHA class 1. Conclusion: Complete repair and palliative operations other than PAB can be performed in low birth weight infants with low operative mortality and an acceptable intermediate-term result. However, about a half of the patients required long-term postoperative mechanical ventilation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.566-575
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• 2003

We reviewed our 18-year surgical experience of biventricular repair for double-outlet right ventricle. Material and Method: One hundred twelve consecutive patients (80 males and 32 females) who underwent biventricular repair for double-outlet right ventricle between May 1986 and September 2002 were included. We assessed risk factors for early mortality and reoperation. Reoperation-free survival rate and actual survival rate were analysed. Result: Most common type of ventricular septal defect was subaortic (n=58, 52%) and non-committed type was second most common (n=32, 29%). Four different surgical methods were used: intraventricular baffle repair (n=71 , 63%): right ventricle to pulmonary ariery conduit interposition or REV with left ventricle to aorta baffle repair (n=24, 21 .4%): arierial switch operation with left ventricle to pulmonary artery baffle (n=14, 12.5%): Senning atrial switch operation with left ventricle to pulmonary artery baffle (n=3, 2.7%). Thirty four patients(30%) underwent palliative procedures before definite repair. Twenty three patients (21%) required reoperations. There were 12 (10.7%) early deaths and 4 late deaths. Age younger than 3 months at repair (p=0.003), cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross clamp time (p=0.015, p=0.067), type of operation (arterial switch operation) (p <0.001) and type of ventricular septal defect (subpulmonic type) (p=0.002) were revealed as risk factors for early death in univariate analysis, while age under 3 months was the only significant risk factor in multivariate analysis. Patients younger than 1 year of age (p=0.02), pulmonary artery angioplasty at definitive repair (p=0.024), type of ventricular septal defect (non-committed) (p=0.001), type of operation (right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit interposition and REV operation) (p=0.028, p=0.017) were risk factors for reoperation in univariate analysis but there was no significant risk factor in multivariate analysis. Follow-up was available on 91 survivals with a mean duration of 110.8$\pm$56.4 (2~201) months. 5, 10 and 15 year survival rates were 86.5%, 85% and 85% and reoperation free survival were 85%, 71.5%, 70%. Conclusion: Age under 3 months at repair, subpulmonic ventricular septal defect and arterial switch operation were significant risk factors for early mortality. Patients with non-committed ventricular septal defect and who underwent conduit interposition or REV operation were risk factors for reoperation. With careful attention to chose best timing and surgical approach depending on morphologic characteristics, biventricular repair for double outlet right ventricle can be achieved with good long-term outcome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.661-667
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was performed to find the chief clinical problems associated with the ages of adult patients of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) who had undergone total correction. Methods : Of the 30 patients who were registered at the Grown-Up Congenital Heart Disease (GUCH) Clinic of Samsung Medical Center for TOF, a retrospective investigation was carried out on 28 patients who underwent total correction. Results : Mean age at retrospective study was 30.8(range : 16-53) years old. Age at total correction was 15.8(range : 2-49) years old. Problems after corrective surgery were assessed. They were arrhythmia, pulmonary valve regurgitation, left pulmonary artery stenosis, residual ventricular septal defect, mitral valve regurgitation, tricuspid valve regurgitation, right ventricle outflow tract obstruction, aortic valve regurgitation, infective endocarditis and protein losing enteropathy. After repair of TOF, such arrhythmias as atrial arrhythmia and AV conduction disturbances were observed in some patients. Cardiomegaly was found significantly in the subjects with arrhythmia(P<0.05), and arrhythmia was less observed in patients who underwent surgery at a young age. Eight patients required a reoperation; the main indications were residual ventricular septal defect, right ventricle outflow tract obstruction and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis. Conclusion : The majority of the patients seemed to live normal lives after Tetralogy of Fallot repair. However, as residual anatomic and functional abnormalities exist postoperatively, continued careful follow-up is needed to detect and correct structural and functional abnormalities.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.740-745
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• 2010

Patent ductus arteiosus (PDA) is the persistent opening of ductus arterious located between pulmonary artery and descending aorta after birth. Although PDA can be occluded by surgical ligation, interventional closure of PDA using various devices is being rapidly replaced to surgical ligation, because of its non-invasive nature of treatment and minimal post-care after treatment. Main problem encountering in interventional treatment in toy breed dogs is vascular inaccessibility due to small size of artery. Although transvenous approach using jugular veins has been developed, this technique requires experienced skill to locate occlude devices into PDA and has high risk of accidental dislodgement of occluding devices (i.e. embolization coils or vascular plugs). Therefore, in this study, we developed a modified technique for coil embolization using mini-angiocatheter with trans-femoral approach in toy breed dogs (< 3.0 kg of body weight). With this modified method, we were successfully treated two toy breed (Maltese) dogs with the left to right shunted PDA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.493-500
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• 1997

We performed this study to evaluate hepatic venous drainage in atrial isomerism by MR and the clinical significance of anomalous hepatic venous return in total cavopulmonary shunt operation. Numbers and locations of hepatic veins in twenty-two patients with isomerism(thirteen with right isomerism and nine with left isom rism) were evaluated by MR. Operative procedure of hepatic veins and postoperative arterial oxygen saturation were compared with hepatic vein connection in six patients after total cavopulmonary shunt operation. Among nine patients with left isomerism, hepatic venous return was totally anomalous via a single opening in eight, and via two separate openings in one. Among thirteen patients with right isomerism, partial anomalous hepatic venous connection directly to the atrium was seen in four. One showed total anomalous hepatic venous connection to atrium through one opening. Total cavopulmonary shunt operation was performed in 6 patients. Hepatic veins were connected to pulmonary arteries in four patients who had one atrial opening of hepatic vein andlor IVC, or two ipsilateral atrial opening of hepatic veins and IVC. In conclusion, hepatic vein drainage to atrium is variable in atrial isomerism. MR is useful for evaluation of hepatic vein drainage in atrial isomerism and surgical pla ning.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.499-503
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• 2004

Background: We investigated the longevity, thresholds of epicardial pacemaker and causes of reoperation in the pediatric patients who underwent epicardial pacemaker implantation performed during the last 13 years Material and Method: 121 operations were performed in 83 patients from January 1989 to July 2002. We analyzed the stimulation threshold, resistance, R-wave and P-wave, and sensitivity of pacemaker lead at initial implantation. Longevity and causes of reoperations were investigated. Result At implantation, epicardial ventricular mean stimula-tion threshold was 1.2$\pm$0.1 (0.1∼5) mV, mean resistance was 519.1$\pm$18.1 (319∼778) Ohm, and mean R-wave sensitivity was 8.9$\pm$0.7 (4∼20) mV, and mean P wave sensivity was 2.5$\pm$0.7 (0.4∼12) mV. The mean longe-vity of pacemaker generator was 64.7$\pm$3.7 (2∼196) months. The reoperation free rate was 94.6% for 1 year, 93.6% for 2 years, 80.8% for 5years, 63.7% for 7 years, and 45.5% for 10 years. The causes of reoperation were battery waste in 26 cases and lead malfunction in 9 cases. There was no postoperative death related to pacemaker malfunction. Conclusion: in the childrens, average longevity of epicardial pacemaker was within accep-table range. 19.1% of the patients required pacemaker related reoperation. However, recent developments, including steroid eluting lead, 6.7% of the patients required pacemaker related reoperation, look promising in expansion of pacemaker life span.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.270-274
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• 1997

In recent years, the use of allograft conduits in repair of congenital cardiac disease is widely accepted. However, the supply of homograft. is currently limiting their increased clinical application, especially small cryopreserved homografts for use in neonates and inf'ants. We used a technique to surgically reduce the size of the more readily available large-diameter allografts, making them suitable for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in small infants and children. From December 1994 to March 1996, a total of 11 patients ranging in age from 10 months to 6 years (mean age, 27.3 months) and ranging in weight from 5.6 to 18.5 kg (mean 11.5 kg) underwent reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract using this surgical technique (pulmo ary atresia with ventricular septal defect, 9 cases ; tetralogy of Falloff, 2 cases). The diameter after downsizing ranged from 14 to 19 mm with a mean of 16.8 mm. There was one operative death due to rupture of the infected homograft. Evaluation of these patients between 2 and 15 months (mean 6.9 months) after homograft implantation reveals excellent clinical and echocardiographic results. There were no significant homograft insufficiency and RVOT obstructions. Although a longer follow-up is certainly required to evaluate the long term fate of the surgically modified bicuspid homografts, we believe that this technique may represent a valuable therapeutic alternative, at least in the short term, to the use of synthetic grafts when an appropriately sized homograft is not available.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2009

The surgical management of complete transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary stenosis still remain a significant challenge. The Rastelli (REV procedure) remains the most widely applied procedure for surgical repair of these lesions. Although the Rastelli procedure can be performed with good early results, the intermediate- and long-term results have been less than satisfactory because of deterioration of the hemodynamic performance of the LVOT or RVOT. We performed a modified Nikaidoh procedure as an alternative surgical procedure in a 19-month-old boy weighing 10.4 kg with this anomaly. Aortic translocation with biventricular outflow tract reconstruction resulted in a more "normal" anatomic repair and postoperative echocardiography showed straight, direct, and unobstructed ventricular outflow.