• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.533-535
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• 2014

A 56-year-old male presented with severe exertional dyspnea and pitting edema in the lower extremities. The preoperative evaluation demonstrated biventricular dysfunction associated with severe tricuspid valve regurgitation and a persistent left superior vena cava. He was registered as a transplantation candidate, and orthotopic heart transplantation was performed using the standard bicaval technique. The left superior vena cava was connected to the right atrial appendage after the construction of a conduit using the recipient's autologous coronary sinus tissue. One-month postoperatively, computed tomography imagery demonstrated a patent conduit between the left superior vena cava and right atrial appendage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.622-639
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• 1990

The use of aortic valve homograft has been developed since 1962 when Ross and Barratt - Boyes independently replaced a diseased aortic valve with an orthotopically inserted homograft valve. And also surgical treatment of complex congenital cardiac malformations utilizing homograft extracardiac conduit has been tried with better result than any other prosthetic material. The present study was undertaken to clarify the safety tissue viability, sterility, after following our protocol of procurement of heart, dissection of aortic and pulmonic homograft, sterilization, cryopreservation, thawing and dilution, and transplantation on experimental animal, sheep. Tissue viability of valve and great artery was assessed by tissue culture. Sterility was evaluated by bacterial and fungal culture. The method used was proven no deleterious effect on the integrity of the valve. Tissue culture of valve tissue before, and after cryopreservation process resulted that active fibroblast growth was observed from homograft sterilized with antibiotics. And culture of the transplanted homograft from sacrificed animal showed active fibroblast growth. Pathologic examination of implanted valve tissue from sacrificed sheep showed mild calcification and minor change, but there were moderate and severe calcification of wall of great arteries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.704-707
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• 1995

The use of the patient`s pulmonary valve for replacement of the patient`s diseased aortic valve was introduced and developed by Mr. Donald Ross. The long term benefits of having a normal, fully viable, trileaflet semilunar valve in aortic position was demonstrated. A 38 year old male had histories of failures of previously implanted aortic prosthetic valves twice and evidence of progressive heart failure. At operation, aortic root abscess was found; the abscess extension to adjacent structures and partial valve dehiscence had occurred. The patient underwent replacement of the aortic root with autologous pulmonary valve, autologous pericardial patch repair of left ventricuar outflow tract and recontruction of the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary artery with prosthetic valved conduit. Postoperatively, the patient recovered well. Postoperative doppler echocardiography demonstrated minimal central regurgitation in new aortic valve. Aortic root replacement with pulmonary autograft in a patient of recurrent aortic root abscess and false aneurysm of left ventricuar outflow tract was experienced and reported with follow up echocardiography.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.630-634
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• 2009

According to the 2007 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) report, a congenital diagnosis, infantile transplantation and being on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at the time of transplant are risk factors for mortality for the patients who undergo a heart transplant, and a large body weight ratio also increases the risk of mortality. The patient of this case underwent a Ross operation and mitral valve repair due to left ventricle outflow track obstruction and mitral regurgitation. But the baby was treated with ECMO due to heart failure after the operation. When he was 3-months-old and had been. on 30 days of ECMO, he underwent a heart transplant with a heart that had a high donor-recipient weight ratio (4.42). We present this case from a technical standpoint and we include a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.438-451
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• 1990

Pneumatic total artificial heart[TAH] has been clinically applied for the purpose of permanent or temporary use followed by cardiac transplantation in the patients with end stage heart diseases. In spite of the good durability of the pneumatic TAH, thrombus formation, bleeding and infection resulted in death. The Tomasu heart, which is a type of pneumatic TAH, was used in this study. This model is a modified Jarvik heart and consists of atrial cuffs, outflow vascular grafts and thin-layer seamless diaphragm type of ventricles. Cardiac outputs of the left artificial heart were measured by Donovan`s mock circulation under variable conditions of driving parameters, and an experimental artificial heart implantation was performed in 4 calves to observe the changes of hemodynamic parameters in early postoperative period and hematologic and bio-chemical changes in a long-term survival case. In the mock circulation test, cardiac output of the heart was increased with the increase of the left atrial pressure and left driving pressure. Maximum cardiac output was obtained at the heart rate of 120 to 130/min and percent systole of 40 to 45Zo under the condition of a constant left driving pressure of 180mmHg and left atrial pressure of 10mmHg. During the first 24 hours of TAH pumping, driving pressure ranged from 178$\pm$5mmHg to 187$\pm$8mmHg for the left heart and from 58$\pm$6mmHg to 78$\pm$28mmHg for the right heart. The Mean arterial pressure significantly increased between 2 and 8 hours after the start of pumping. The survival time ranged from 27 hours to 46 days. The causes of death were respiratory failure in 2 cases, mechanical valve failure in one, and left ventricular outflow obstruction due to thrombus in a 46-day survival case. This study demonstrated that Tomasu artificial heart operated effectively during the first 24 hours of artificial heart pumping, but thrombus formation around the valve holding area was the main problem in long-term survival case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.394-402
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• 2023

Background: The optimal choice of valve substitute for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in pediatric patients remains a matter of debate. This study investigated the outcomes following AVR using mechanical prostheses in children. Methods: Forty-four patients younger than 15 years who underwent mechanical AVR from March 1990 through March 2023 were included. The outcomes of interest were death or transplantation, hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events, and reoperation after mechanical AVR. Adverse events included any death, transplant, aortic valve reoperation, and major thromboembolic or hemorrhagic event. Results: The median age and weight at AVR were 139 months and 32 kg, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 56 months. The most commonly used valve size was 21 mm (14 [31.8%]). There were 2 in-hospital deaths, 1 in-hospital transplant, and 1 late death. The overall survival rates at 1 and 10 years post-AVR were 92.9% and 90.0%, respectively. Aortic valve reoperation was required in 4 patients at a median of 70 months post-AVR. No major hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events occurred. The 5- and 10-year adverse event-free survival rates were 81.8% and 72.2%, respectively. In univariable analysis, younger age, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, and smaller valve size were associated with adverse events. The cut-off values for age and prosthetic valve size to minimize the risk of adverse events were 71 months and 20 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Mechanical AVR could be performed safely in children. Younger age, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and smaller valve size were associated with adverse events. Thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications might rarely occur.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.258-263
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• 2016

Background: The advantages of using a homograft in valve replacement surgery are the excellent hemodynamic profile, low risk of thromboembolism, and low risk of prosthetic valve infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of homograft implantation in the aortic valve position. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 33 patients (>20 years old) who underwent aortic valve replacement or root replacement with homografts between April 1995 and May 2015. Valves were collected within 24 hours from explanted hearts of heart transplant recipients (<60 years) and organ donors who were not suitable for heart transplantation. The median follow-up duration was 35.6 months (range, 0 to 168 months). Results: Aortic homografts were used in all patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 9.1%. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were $80.0%{\pm}7.3%$ and $60.8%{\pm}10.1%$, respectively. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year freedom from reoperation rates were $92.3%{\pm}5.2%$, $68.9%{\pm}10.2%$, and $50.3%{\pm}13.6%$, respectively. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year freedom from significant aortic dysfunction rates were $91.7%{\pm}8.0%$, $41.7%{\pm}14.2%$, and $25.0%{\pm}12.5%$, respectively. Conclusion: Homografts had the advantages of a good hemodynamic profile and low risk of thromboembolic events, and with good outcomes in cases of aortitis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1004-1008
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• 1998

We report a case of heart-lung transplantation in a 32 year-old female with Eisenmenger syndrome secondary to patent ductus arteriosus. She has been suffered from congestive heart failure since June 1996 and repeatedly treated at Intensive Care Unit with intravenous inotropic support since July 1997. Preoperative echocardiography showed a patent ductus arteriosus with right to left shunt, severe regurgitation of tricuspid valve and estimated right ventricular systolic pressure of 100mmHg. The brain-dead donor was an 18 year-old male with head trauma from traffic accident 3 days ago. Heart-lung block procurement was performed at another general hospital and was transported to the Seoul National University Hospital by ambulance. Total ischemic time of the transplanted heart and lung were 249 minutes and 270 minutes, respectively. The immunosuppressive therapy was commenced preoperatively with cyclosporine and azathioprine. Corticosteroid was not used until postoperative 3 weeks in order to avoid infection and delayed healing at the tracheal anastomotic site. The patient was discharged at 31st postoperative day, and has been regularly followed up at outpatient clinic without specific complication. The follow-up bronchoscopy, performed 2 weeks and 4 months after surgery, revealed no evidence of cellular rejection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.819-822
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• 1997

Aortic valve replacement with aortic allograft has been considered a treatment of choice for aortic valve disease secondary to bacterial endocarditis because of its good homodynamic performance and higher resistance to infection. The aortic root replacement technique might be superior to the subcoronary allograft implantation technique with regard to aortic regurgitation. A 46 yea,rs old male patient had acute aortic regurgitation with progressing heart failure secondary to acute bacterial endocarditis. The patient underwent emergent aortic root replacement using 20 mm aortic allograft. At operation, right coronary cusp perforation and heavy calcification of commissure between right and left coronary cusp were observed. The patient recovered well and postoperative echocardiography demonstrated no aortic regurgitation. Inflammatory signs were subsided after 8 weeks of antibiotics therapy. Medically uncontrolled acute bacterial endocarditis was treated successfully by aortic root replacement using aortic homograft.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1994

Allograft cardiac valves have been used for over 30 years to replace diseased cardiac valves, reconstruct right or left ventricular outflow tract. With increasing its requirement, the establishment of a viable bank capable of maintaining the viability of graft over a prolonged period would be desirable. The method for determining the viability of allograft by metabolic assay technique using radiolabeled aminoacids has been used recently. An experimental study was done for evaluation of viability of cardiac allograft which was preserved for 14 days at 4oC in nutrient medium[fresh preservation] by metabolism assay technique using 3H-glycine. Also, the effectiveness of low concentration antibiotic solution[CLPV] for sterilization was evaluated. The effectiveness of CLPV solution for sterilization of allograft was perfect. Pre-treatment cultured organisms were not cultured after treatment at all in every cases. The viability of allograft after sterilization was reduced to 66.4%[aortic wall], 74.7%[pulmonary wall], 76.3%[aortic valve], 67.9%[aortic wall]. And after the fresh preservation for 14 days, the viability was reduced to 14.7%, 18.5%, 17.7%, 19.0%, respectively.In conclusion, viability of allograft was reduce to 71.3[66.4-76.3]% after sterilization and 17.5[14.7-19.0]% after fresh preservation. And sterilization effect of CLPV solution was satisfactory.