• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.586-590
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• 1998

Background: The regression of the left ventricular hypertrophy after prosthetic valve replacement in patients with aortic valvular stenosis is an important factor to determine the appropriateness of the replaced prosthetic valvular size. Methods: To assess the regression of myocardial hypertrophy, a retrospective analysis of Doppler echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data was undertaken before, soon after(7.5$\pm$2.1 day), and late after(10.7$\pm$1.8 months) surgery in 36 patients(22 males, 14 female, mean age 54$\pm$12.1 years, mean BSA 1.61$\pm$0.15m2) with predominant aortic valvular stenosis. The patients underwent St. Jude Medical aortic valve replacement. By the size of the valves used, the patients were divided into three groups(19, 21 and 23+). Results: The mean body surface area(1.48$\pm$0.13) in the patients with the 19 mm valve was smaller than that in the other groups(1.63$\pm$0.12)(p<0.05). No significant changes of ejection fraction were detected in all groups over time. Left ventricular muscle mass index(gm/m2) was reduced significantly in the 21 and 23+ groups over time(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in the 19 mm valve group. The electric voltage height on EKG at the period of late after surgery was reduced significantly in all groups(p<0.05). Conclusion: Despite clinical improvement, the LVH was not reduced significantly in 19 mm valve group. Thus we suggest that more attention and additional procedures such as annular enlargement should be taken in patients who will undergo the replacement of 19 mm prosthetic valve.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 1984

Since January 1977 to the end of September 1982, total 60 Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenograft heart valves were implanted for valve replacement in 50 patients at the Han Yang University Hospital. The operative procedures were as follow: Mitral valve replacement [MVR] in 25 patients, Mitral valve replacement [MVR] and Tricuspid valve [TV] annuloplasty in 7 patients, Aortic valve replacement [AVR] in 8 patients, Aortic valve replacement [AVR] and Mitral valve replacement [MVR] in 8 patients. Aortic valve replacement [AVR] and Mitral valve replacement [MVR] and Tricuspid valve [TV] annuloplasty in 2 patients. To evaluate the immediate hemodynamic changes after valve replacements, the pressures of each cardiac chamber and ulmonary artery were checked before and after valve replacement on the operation table. Right ventricle [RV] pressure was decreased from 52.09\ulcorner6.71 to 45.57\ulcorner5.03 mmHg, Pulmonary artery [PA] pressure was decreased from 45.97\ulcorner2.69 to 41.00\ulcorner3.99 mmHg, and Left atrium [LA] pressure was decreased from 30.33\ulcorner13.02 to 22.76\ulcorner.97 mmHg before and after valve replacement. In MVR group, RV pressure was decreased from 49.17\ulcorner7.89 to 43.14\ulcorner4.14 mmHg, PA pressure was decreased from 44.67\ulcorner3.18 to 38.67\ulcorner2.85 mmHg, and LA pressure was decreased from 31.46\ulcorner13.47 to 21.91\ulcorner.17 mmHg. In AVR group, RV pressure was decreased from 53.0\ulcorner7.44 to 44.71 \ulcorner3.24 mmHg, PA pressure was decreased from 34.83\ulcorner0.73 to 31.86\ulcorner.36 mmHg, and LA pressure was not changed. In double valve replacement [MVR and AVR] group, RV pressure was decreased from 57.50\ulcorner3.82 to 42.50\ulcorner.80 mmHg, PA pressure was decreased from 51.17\ulcorner1.42 to 43.33\ulcorner4.53mmHig, and LA pressure was decreased from 34.33\ulcorner2.09 to 25.50\ulcorner0.21 mmHg. But in the group where MVR and TV annuloplasty were performed, preoperative RV and PA pressure were markedly increased and no pressure decrease in RV and PA noticed after valve replacement. This study shows good immediate postoperative hemodynamic results after valve replacement using Ionescu-Shiley xenograft valve except in the cases of MVR and TV annuloplasty and advanced disease with pulmonary hypertension.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2004

There are only limited numbers of reports about long-term results of tricuspid valve replacement(TVR) with bioprosthetic and mechanical prostheses. We analyzed risk factors for tricuspid valve replacement and compared long-term clinical results of bioprosthetic and mechanical valves in tricuspid position. Material and Method: We reviewed 77 cases of TVR, which were performed between October 1978 and December 1996. Mean age was 38.8 15.9 years. Bioprostheses were implanted in 26 cases and mechanical prostheses were implanted in 51 cases. Result The operative mortality was 15.6% and late mortality was 12.3%. Survival for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group at 5, 10 and 13 years was 81.3% vs. 100%, 66.1% vs. 100%, 60.6% vs. 100% (p=0.0175). Free from valve related re-operation for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group at 5, 10 and 13 years was 100% vs. 93.9%, 100% vs. 93.9% and 58.3% vs. 93.9% (p=0.3274). Linealized incidences of valve related re-operation for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group was 2.27 %/patient-years and 1.10 %/patient-years. Risk factor analysis showed that presence of preoperative ascites, hepatomegaly larger than 2 finger breaths, poor preoperative NYHA functional class and number of tricuspid valve replacement were risk factors for early mortality, and the use of bioprosthetic valve and number of open heart surgery were risk factors for late mortality. Conclusion: Long-term survival of mechanical valve was superior to bioprosthetic valve in tricuspid position. We recommend mechanical valve in tricuspid position if the patient can be closely followed up.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.255-258
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• 2012

A 14-year-old spayed female, Shihtzu dog, presented with anorexia, depression and respiratory distress. She had a history of mastectomy for mammary gland tumor before 2 weeks. Severe gingivitis, dental plaque, and calculus were confirmed on physical examination. On auscultation, the dog had a diastolic and systolic murmur at the left heart base and right heart apex respectively. The dog had valvular vegetation including tricuspid and aortic valves with regurgitation on echocardiography. Blood culture was performed to confirm bacterial endocarditis and identify pathogens of bacterial endocarditis. Before the result of blood culture was confirmed, antibiotic (cefalexin, 30 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) with furosemide (2 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) and benazepril (0.25 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) were administered empirically and the patient was well controlled. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was confirmed later. One week later, however, the patient died of acute respiratory distress caused by fulminant pulmonary edema. The owners denied necropsy of the patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.552-559
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• 2000

Background; The aim of this study is to evaluate our clinical experience with the Carbomedics heart valve prosthesis. Material and Method; Between Aug. 1988 and Dec. 1998, 294 Carbomidics valves were implanted in 235 patients(mitral; 143, mitral and aortic; 59, aortic; 33) The mean age at operation is 40.0$\pm$12.3 years(range 7 to 68 years); 63.8% (150patients) were woman. Follow up was 97.4% complete and mean follow up time was 5.7years with a total of 1209.2 patient-years. Result; The hospital mortality was 8.9%(mitral; was 95.2$\pm$1.6%(mitral ; 94.9$\pm$2.1%, mitral and aortic 95.0$\pm$3.7%, aortic 96.2$\pm$3.8%). Actual freedom rates from complications(linearized rates in parentheses) were fllowings; thromboembolism 96.2$\pm$1.5%(0.59%pt-yr), valve thrombosis 96.7$\pm$1.4%(0.5%/pt/yr), anticoagulant related hemorrhage 98.3$\pm$1.0%(0.25%/pt-yr), perivalvular leak 99.0$\pm$1.4%(0.5%/pt-yr), endocarditis 98.7$\pm$1.0%(0.25%/pt-yr), perivalvular leak 99.0$\pm$0.7%(0.17%pt-yr), endocarditis 98.7$\pm$1.0%(0.17%$\pm$pt-yr) and overall valve-related complications 88.9$\pm$2.5%(1.68%/pt-yr). Conclusion; The clinical performance of the Carbomedics valve was quite satisfactory with a low incidence of valve related mortality and morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.504-509
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• 1996

When a valve prosthesis is to be implanted in the aortic position, simple interrupted suture, figure-of- eight suture, or horizontal mattress suture technique is used as a suture method. However, the suture techniques may be unacceptable for aortic valve replacement in patients with friable annulus caused by some lesions, such as endocarditis and degenerative change. We used an alternative technique for the aortic vlave replacement in 4 patients with valve endocarditis, ) patients with degenerative valvular lesion, and 1 with rheumatic valvular disease. Mattress sutures through the annulus were placed with pledgets on the ventricular side of the annulus, whi h resulted in implantation of the prosthesis at a supra-annular level. Mechanical valves of 21 mm or larger were implanted in the supra-annular position in all patients and there was no impeded motion of leaflets during the follow-up period of mean 13.3 mouths. The transvalvular pressure gradient was less than 6 mm Hg in 3 patients and 20 to 40 mm Hg in 5 patients. The supra-annular implantation of mechanical aortic valve using a vertical mattress suture technique may be a useful alternative method of aortic valve replacement for the selected patients with friable or destroyed aortic annulus.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.199-202
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• 1996

Artificial hearts are intended for use in patients with severe forms of heart disease for which no surgical repair is possible. The moving-actuator pump was developed to decrease the overall volume size of the electromechanical total artificial heart (TAH) by eliminating the occupied space of the fixed-actuator in the conventional pusher-plate type pump. In our pump, the actuator moves back and forth for alternative ejections of left and right ventricles. The problem of fitting the TAH to atrial remnants and arterial vessels could also be improved by circular or penduluous mot ion of the actuator instead of linear mot ion of the pusher-plate in the conventional pumps. We have evaluated two types of moving- actuator pump; one is a rolling cylinder type, and the other a pendulum type pump. In the rolling cylinder pump, frictional energy loss exists between the pump housing's guide bars and the actuator's end caps, while the bottom rack under the cylindrical actuator increases the height of the pump, the pump is therefor not implantable inside the small chest of human-sized animals with a body weight of less than 70kg. The new human type pump has a penduluous mot ion actuator to correct the above problems while maintaining the advantage of the moving- actuator's small total volume. The totally implantable TAH is composed of a blood pump, a control system and pheriperal equipments. The blood pump, which is constructed by a moving actuator, a right and left blood sac, and four artificial valves, is implanted in the thoracic. In 1988, the first implantation of the rolling cylinder TAH was performed into a female calf weighing 100kg, and the cal f recovered to the degree of voluntary standing and eat ing and survived to 100 hrs. We then survived two female sheep weighing about 63kg with the new human type TAH for three days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.679-683
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• 1998

From June 1995 to May 1997, we have implanted 52 Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valves in 41 patients. They were 16 men and 25 women, and their mean age was 47.4${\pm}$14.8(range; 18∼74 y.o.). 35(27 mm∼31 mm) were in mitral position, 15(19 mm∼25 mm) in aortic position, and 2(31 mm) in tricuspid position. 3 CABGs and a tumor excision were taken concomittantly. 35 patients were primary operation, and 6 were re-do operations. By intraoperative transesophageal doppler echocardiography, transvalvular peak/mean pressure gradient was 6.1${\pm}$2.7/2.4${\pm}$1.4 mmHg in mitral position and 27.6/10.7 mmHg in aortic position. The effective valve opening area in mitral position was 3.2${\pm}$0.6 cm2. Follow-up was total 508.6 patient-months, and mean follw-up was 12.7${\pm}$9.2 months. NYHA class was improved from 2.6${\pm}$0.6 to 1.2${\pm}$0.3 in average postoperatively. During that period, there was no operative death. 2 late non-valve related deaths were occurred. One was died of COPD, and the other was possible acute myocardial infarction. Among 7 postoperative complications, one valve related complication(minimal paravalvular leakage) was noticed. In conclusion, Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valve is believed one of the safe choice in clinical settings. It showed excellent hemodynamic and mechanical functions, and very low postoperative valve related complications in short term clinical experience.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2002

Background: To evaluate the efficiency of surgical treatment in patients with cardiac valvular and arterial involvement of Behcet's syndrome. Material and Method: 12 patients underwent surgical treatment due to the valvular heart diseases and the various arterial diseases associated with Behest's syndrome over 7 years; 6 with valvular heart disease, 1 with annuloaortic ectasia, 1 with ascending aortic aneurysm, 4 with pseudoaneurysms in abdominal aorta(n=2), carotid artery(n=1), and popliteal artery(n=1). All 12 patients had received valvular replacement(n=6) and the artificial(n=5) or autologous(n=1) graft interposition. We followed the results of these surgical treatments. Result: Operations were technically successful in all 12 patients and peri-operative complication was not demonstrated. However, 10 patients had recurrences; 6 with valvular dehiscence, 3 with pseudoaneurysm at anastostomosis site, and 1 with aorto-duodenal fistula. The duration of recurrence was 1 to 55 months(mean: 15.7$\pm$ 16.2 months). 7 patients underwent the second operation and among them, 4 patients showed repeated recurrences. Overall, 5 patients died 2 to 25 months after the operation(mean: 13.6 months), because of the bleeding at the anastomosis site Five patients did not present recurrence after the first(n=2) or the second operation(n=3) and their follow up duration was 5 to 60 months(mean: 45.8$\pm$41.7 months). Five patients received immune-suppressive therapy after the first(n=2) and second operation(n=3). Three did not shown recurrence for the 13, 29 and 33 months. Conclusion: Post-operative prognosis of arterial manifestation of Behcet's syndrome was not encouraging and if possible, other treatment strategy should be considered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2008

Background: It is currently thought that tissue valve degeneration is related to an animal's immune response, which is mainly due to cell surface ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes. Cell surface ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes are known to be degraded by the enzyme called green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase. It is also well known that ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes are immunologically stained by Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin type B4. We know that many commercially available tissue valves are made of aortic valves and pericardial tissue of pig. So, we investigated whether ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes of the aortic valve and pericardial tissue of a pig can be removed by green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase, and we did so by comparing immunologic staining of the tissues before and after the enzyme treatment. Material and method: After treating fresh porcine aortic valve and pericardial tissue with green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at concentrations of 0.5 unit/mL, 1.0 unit/mL, 2.0 unit/mL, respectively, under the condition of pH 6.5, temperature. $4^{\circ}C$ and 24 hours of incubation, each sample was stained with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin type B4 immunpfluorescent labeling. We then examined whether the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes were reduced or abolished in each consecutive. concentration of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase by comparing the degree of the Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining in each sample. Result: In the pig aortic valve tissue, a 1.0 unit/mL concentration of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at pH 6.5, $4^{\circ}C$ and reaction for 24 hours was enough for complete removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes from the cell sur face on the immunostaining with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4. On the other hand, more ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes were present in the pig pericardial tissue on Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining before the enzyme treatment, and 1.0 unit/mL of galactosidase was not sufficient for complete removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal from the tissue. 2.0 units/mL of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase was needed to completely remove the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes from the pericardial tissue on immunostaining. Conclusion: The ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes of the pig's aortic valve and pericardial tissue were successfully stained with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4. We could remove nearly all the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes using green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at the concentration of 1.0 unit/mL in the aortic valve. Of pig, and 2.0 unit/mL was need to nearly completely remove all the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes in the pericardial tissue of pig under the condition of pH 6.5, $4^{\circ}C$ and 24 hours of reaction time. In the near future, removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal epitapes in the pig's aortic valve and pericardial tissue will become a powerful tool for the improvement of the tissue valve durability. It needs to be determined if ${\alpha}$-galactosidase treated pig tissue is immune to human anti-Gal antibody or anit-Gal mooclonal antibodies.