• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.755-758
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• 2008

We report here on a case of performing a redo-operation for a 65-years-old male patient who had prosthetic endocarditis after reconstruction of the fibrous skeleton due to infective endocarditis 8 years earlier. An aortic annular abscess with a 1cm sized subvalvular abscess and mobile mitral valve vegetation with destruction of the fibrous skeleton was shown on the preoperative echocardiography. An emergency operation was performed due to heart failure. Reconstruction of both the aortic and mitral annuli and the fibrous skeleton was done by using two separate bovine pericardial patches and then mechanical valves were implanted. The postoperative echocardiography shows no paravalvular leakage. The patient has been followed up with no symptoms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1175-1183
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• 1997

Background. Infective endocarditis s an uncommon but serious disease in children. Optimal treatment strategy, especially surgical indications, continues to evolve. Method. In this report, we retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who underwent operations in Seoul National University Children's Hospital for infective endocarditis between September 1986 and February 1996. There were 8 male and 11 female patients(mean age 70.6 months) and their main symptoms were fever and dyspnea. Preoperative echocardiography detected vegetation in 14 cases out of 19. Congenital anomalies were in 15 cases and acquired forms were in 4 cases. Causative organisms were identified in 12 cases and Gram-positive cocci were in 7 cases. Adequate preoperative antibiotic management was done. Result. With cardiopulmonary bypass in all cases, surgical corrections including vegetation removal were performed. 4 patients died after operations(21.1%). All the mortality cases were having underlying complex cardiac anomalies. There were no late deaths. Act arial survival rate was 79.0% at 1 year and 79.0% at 5 year and reoperationfree survival rate was 73.7% at 1 year and 73.7% at 5 year. Collclusion. Despite advances in antibiotic therapy, early surgical treatment is imperative in a significant subset, and concurrent intracardiac repair should be appropriate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1995

From January 1985 to December 1992, of 1257 patients who underwent a heart valve replacement 210 [16.8% underwent reoperation on prosthetic heart valves, and 6 of them had a second valve reoperation. The indications for reoperation were structural deterioration [176 cases, 81.5% , prosthetic valve endocarditis [25 cases, 11.6% , paravalvular leak [12 cases, 5.6% , valve thrombosis [2 cases, 0.9% and ascending aortic aneurysm [1 case, 0.4% . Prosthetic valve failure developed most frequently in mitral position [57.9% and prosthetic valve endocarditis and paravalvular leak developed significantly in the aortic valve [40%, 75% [P<0.02 . Mean intervals between the primary valve operation and reoperation were 105.3$\pm$28.4 months in the case of prosthetic valve failure, 61.5$\pm$38.5 months in prosthetic valve endocarditis, 26.8$\pm$31.2 months in paravalvualr leak, and 25.0$\pm$7.0 months in valve thrombosis. In bioprostheses, the intervals were in 102.0$\pm$23.9 months in the aortic valve, and 103.6$\pm$30.8 months in the mitral valve. The overall hospital mortality rate was 7.9% [17/26 : 15% in aortic valve reoperation [6/40 , 6.5% in reoperation on the mitral prostheses [9/135 and 5.7% in multiple valve replacement [2.35 . Low cardiac output syndrome was the most common cause of death [70.6% . Advanced New York Heart Association class [P=0.00298 , explant period [P=0.0031 , aortic cross-clamp time [P=0.0070 , prosthetic valve endocarditis [P=0.0101 , paravalvularr leak [P=0.0096 , and second reoperation [P=0.00036 were the independent risk factors, but age, sex, valve position and multiple valve replacement did not have any influence on operative mortality. Mean follow up period was 38.6$\pm$24.5 months and total patient follow up period was 633.3 patient year. Actuarial survival at 8 year was 97.3$\pm$3.0% and 5 year event-free survival was 80.0$\pm$13.7%. The surgical risk of reoperation on heart valve prostheses in the advanced NYHA class patients is higher, so reoperation before severe hemodynamic impairment occurs is recommended.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2010

Septic pulmonary embolism is the process in which an infected thrombus becomes detached from its site of origin and lodges in a pulmonary artery, and is usually associated with infective endocarditis, especially right-sided, or infection-associated with indwelling catheters, peripheral septic thrombophlebitis, and periodontal diseases, etc. Here, we report a case of septic pulmonary embolism associated with tricuspid valve infective endocarditis. A 23-year-old female was admitted to our hospital, due to fever, sore throat, and myalgia. In her past medical history, she had undergone a surgical operation for closure of a ventricular septal defect, but was informed that the operation resulted in an incomplete closure. The initial chest radiograph demonstrated multiple rounded, parenchymal nodules in various sizes; several nodules had central lucency suggesting cavitations. Echocardiography demonstrated a large vegetation attached to the septal tricuspid valve leaflet, extending from right ventricular inflow tract to outflow tract. Computed tomography of thorax revealed bilateral peripheral nodules and wedge-shaped consolidation at various sizes, mostly accompanied by cavitations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.537-541
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• 1985

Recently, we met a 12 year old female patient who suffered from bacterial endocarditis and pericarditis which were complicated by patent ductus arteriosus. She was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea, fever, headache, and generalized ache for 10 days. The initial diagnosis was bacterial endocarditis and pericarditis complicated by patent ductus arteriosus and congestive heart failure. At first, we tried to treat the patient medically with digitalis, diuretics, and massive antibiotics. On echocardiography large amount of pericardial fluid was accumulated mainly right anterior aspect and also noted a large vegetation at pulmonary valve area. With vigorous medical treatment including repeated pericardiocentesis, the patient showed no improvement. So we decided to perform pericardiectomy for elimination of the most probable septic focus. On operation, we encountered an unpredicted event, the pericardium was thickened, distended, and its surface showed pulsating which meant connecting to systemic circulation. We decided to close the operative wound and reoperate her under cardiopulmonary bypass later. On the next day, we operated her under cardiopulmonary bypass later. On the next day we operated her under cardiopulmonary bypass. The operative findings were ruptured main pulmonary artery about 1.5cm in diameter on its ventral portion, the blood from the ruptured main pulmonary artery was filled up the localized pericardial sac due to previous pericarditis. Through the ruptured main pulmonary artery, we also found 0.5cm diametered patent ductus arteriosus. With the aid of partial cardiopulmonary bypass and inserting 24F ballooned Foley catheter at aorta, pericardiectomy was performed first. After completion of the pericardiectomy, total cardiopulmonary bypass was established. With minimum pump flow [0.3L/min/m2] the PDA was closed with two Teflon-felted 4-0 Prolene interrupted sutures. The ruptured main pulmonary artery was also closed using thickened pericardium with three Teflon-felted 4-0 Prolene interrupted sutures. The operation was successful and postoperative course was uneventful. She was discharged on the 16th POD. We report this case as a very rare secondary complication of bacterial endocarditis complicated by patent ductus arteriosus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.209-212
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• 1997

A fifteen-year-old boy was transported to our hospital emmergency room due to sudden onset of chest pain, hemoptysis and dyspnea. He was diagnosed as persistent ductus arteriosus that had developed acute bacterial endocarditis with pulmonic valve vegetation and pulmonary embolism with pulmonary infarction. After conservative antibiotic therapy (vancomycin + aminoglycoside), we operated this patient successfully - patch closer of the ductus and pulmonary valve valvuloplasty - under the cardiopulmonary bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.417-420
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• 2010

As higher mortality rate and frequent incidence of morbidity, early surgical treatment is generally recommended for the multivalvular endocarditis. A 46-year-old female presented with high fever. Echocardiography showed the vegetation on pulmonic valve, tricuspid valve and mitral valve with a ventricular septal defect. Emergency operation was conducted due to uncontrolled infection. We present a clinical success of this rare case with review of the medical literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.273-276
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• 2003

We report a surgical case of 39-year-old male with a pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle. Four years ago, the patient underwent aortic and mitral valve replacements with mechanical valves and abscess removal for infective endocarditis with annular abscess. Recent echocardiography demonstrated a communication between left ventricle and abscess pocket, and the size of pocket increased further at the follow-up echocardiography. The patient underwent patch closure of the defect between left ventricle and pseudoaneurysm located at the aortomitral fibrous continuity, under the cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 9th postoperative day.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2016

We report a case of vegetation in a 4-year-old female with infective endocarditis, diagnosed by late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. The patient had a history of primary closure for ventricular septal defect and presented with mild febrile sensation. No remarkable clinical symptoms or laboratory findings were noted; however, transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a 14 mm highly mobile homogeneous mass in the right ventricle. On LGE CMR imaging, the mass showed marginal rim enhancement, which suggested the diagnosis of vegetation rather than thrombus. The extracellular volume fraction (${\geq}42%$) of the lesion was higher than that of normal myocardium. Based on the patient's clinical history of congenital heart disease and pathologic confirmation of the lesion, a diagnosis of infective endocarditis with vegetation was made.