• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2007

Background : The occurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation of atrial flutter is clinically important. We investigated variables predicting this evolution in ablated patients without a previous atrial fibrillation history. Materials and Methods : Thirty-six patients (Male=28) who were diagnosed as atrial flutter without previous atrial fibrillation history were enrolled in this study. Group 1 (n=11) was defined as those who developed atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation during 1 year follow-up. Group 2 (n=25) was defined as those who has not occurred atrial fibrillation during same follow-up term. Echocardiogram was performed to all patients. We measured left atrial size, left ventricle end diastolic and systolic dimension, ejection fraction and left atrial volume index before and after ablation of atrial flutter. The differences of each variables were compared and analyzed between two groups. Results : The preablation left ventricular ejection fraction (preLVEF) and postablation left ventricular ejection fraction (postLVEF) are $54{\pm}14%$, $56{\pm}13%$ in group 1 and $47{\pm}16%$, $52{\pm}13%$ in group 2. The differences between each two groups are statistically insignificant ($2.2{\pm}1.5$ in group 1 vs $5.4{\pm}9.8$ in group 2, p=0.53). The preablation left atrial size (preLA) and postablation left atrial size (postLA) are $40{\pm}4mm$, $41{\pm}4mm$ in group1 and $44{\pm}8mm$, $41{\pm}4mm$ in group 2. The atrial sizes of both groups were increased but, the differences of left atrial size between two groups before and after flutter ablation were statistically insignificant ($0.6{\pm}0.9mm$ in group 1 vs $-3.8{\pm}7.4mm$ in group 2, p=0.149). The left atrial volume index before flutter ablation was significantly reduced in group 1 than group 2 ($32{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$, $35{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$ in group 1 and $32{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$, $29{\pm}8mm^3/m^2$ in group 2, p<0.05). Conclusion : The difference between left atrial volume index before and after atrial flutter ablation is the robust predictor of occurrence of atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation without previous atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.358-366
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• 2014

Background: To improve sinus rhythm conversion, the Cox maze III procedure with narrow mazes (width: ${\leq}3.0cm$) was performed in combination with left atrial volume reduction. Methods: From October 2007 to April 2013, 87 patients with atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal in 3, persistent in 14, and permanent in 70) underwent the Cox maze procedure concomitant with another cardiac procedure. They were followed-up with serial electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies. We used 24-hour Holter monitoring tests to evaluate postoperatively symptomatic patients. Results: At the mean follow-up time of 36.4 months, 81 patients (94.2%) had sinus rhythm and two were on anti-arrhythmic medication (one on a beta-blocker and the other on amiodarone). Five patients (5.8%) with postoperative recurrent and persistent atrial fibrillation never experienced sinus rhythm conversion; however, they did not require any medication for rate control. On postoperative echocardiography, the left atrial A waves were more frequently observed after concomitant mitral valve repair than after concomitant mitral valve replacement (82.4% vs. 40.4%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusion: For the Cox maze procedure, narrow mazes and atrial volume reduction resulted in excellent sinus rhythm conversion without the preventive use of anti-arrhythmic drugs, and they did not affect the presence of the left atrial A waves on echocardiography.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 1983

A hundred and eleven patients of mitral valvular heart disease, who were operated at Seoul National University Hospital, were analysed with echocardiogram before and after operation during the period from November 1979 to February 1982. Twenty-eight patients had mitral stenosis and eighty-three mitral regurgitation. In patients with mitral stenosis, right ventricular end-diastolic volume was in normal range at preoperative and postoperative period. But the left ventricular end-systolic volume was slightly increased preoperatively to 35.4mm and decreased to 33.5mm on immediate postoperative period and 32.5mm after a year later. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 50.5mm preoperatively and fell to 46.8mm postoperatively. Ejection fraction was normal preoperatively and postoperatively without changes. Left atrial size fell significantly from 50ram to 37.6mm at the time of late follow-up study. With mitral regurgitation, right ventricular end-diastolic volume was also normal preoperatively and postoperatively. The left ventricular end-systolic volume was increased to 41.9mm and decreased to 31.6mm postoperatively with statistic significance. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume fell from 58.5mm to 45.7mm significantly at the time of late follow-up period. Ejection fraction was also within normal range and had no changes postoperatively. Left atrial size fell from 54.8mm to 45.5mm on a year later [ p value less than 0.01 ]. When atrial fibrillation, the left atrial dimension was increased as 54.9mm compared with 46.8mm of no atrial fibrillation patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2024

This study analysed the factors that predict and influence heart disease through key indicators related to changes in left atrial and left ventricular size. Measurements recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography were used, and the influence of variables was assessed using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that left atrial volume index(LAVI) was significantly different by age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Left ventricular mass index(LVMI) was significantly different according to age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Increases in LVMI and relative ventricular wall thickness(RWT) were associated with changes in LAVI(p<0.05). Age, systolic blood pressure, increased LAVI, and RWT influenced changes in LVMI, and left ventricular dysfunction was analysed as an influencing factor for both changes in LAVI and LVMI. Therefore, changes in left atrial and left ventricular size are indicators for early diagnosis and prevention of heart disease, and it is necessary to carefully observe structural changes in the heart and actively manage risk factors for the prevention and management of heart disease.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.9.1-9.7
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• 2024

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a degenerative disease of the valve leaflets, causing left atrial dilatation and eccentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle by hemodynamic instability. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a hematologic parameter that indicates the variation of red blood cell volume and size, reflecting anisocytosis. Human studies have found that anisocytosis is associated with poor prognosis in heart disease patients, and recent veterinary studies have also confirmed that the increase in RDW is associated with high mortality in MMVD patients. Medical records of 37 Maltese dogs with MMVD were retrospectively reviewed. When comparing RDW among the MMVD stage groups, there was a significant difference between stage B1, B2 and C. A significant and strong correlation between RDW and the left atrial-to-aortic ratio was identified. RDW was significantly correlated with the reticulocyte count independent of hematocrit, and the reticulocyte count exhibited a significant increase at stage C. This suggests that the congestive heart failure secondary to MMVD could be a contributory factor leading to an elevation in RDW. In conclusion, elevated RDW may associated with left atrial enlargement and progression of MMVD.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.88-90
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• 1996

The right and left atrial pressures are important parameters in automatic control of a total artificial heart (TAH) within normal physiological ranges. Our TAH is composed of a moving actuator, right and left ventricles and the interventricular space enclosed by a semi-rigid housing. During operation of the TAH, the jnterventpicular space's volume is changed dynamically by the difference between the ejection volume of one ventricle and the inflow volume of the other. Therefore, the changes in pressure of the interventricular space is related to both atrial pressures. We measured the interventricular pressure (IVP) waveform using a pressure sensor and attempted to indirectly estimate the changes of atrial pressures. This method has an advantage that the sensor does not contact the blood directly. Furthermore, the IVP waveforms have its zero baseline in each pump cycle, thus the pressure measurements are free from the transducer drift problems by measuring the peak pressure from these baseline values. From the In vitro experiments, we found that the IVP waveform contained several useful parameters such as negative peak, dP/dT on the initial break, the area enclosed by the profile in each stroke, which are associated with atrial pressures and the filling conditions of the ventricles. The measured atrial pressures were linearly related to the negative peak of the interventricular pressure.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.96-97
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• 2023

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.647-659
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• 2023

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the effect of correct occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) on intracardiac blood flow and thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional (3D)-printed phantoms. Materials and Methods: Three life-sized 3D-printed left atrium (LA) phantoms, including a pre-occlusion (i.e., before the occlusion procedure) model and correctly and incorrectly occluded post-procedural models, were constructed based on cardiac computed tomography images from an 86-year-old male with long-standing persistent AF. A custom-made closed-loop flow circuit was set up, and pulsatile simulated pulmonary venous flow was delivered by a pump. 4D flow MRI was performed using a 3T scanner, and the images were analyzed using MATLAB-based software (R2020b; Mathworks). Flow metrics associated with blood stasis and thrombogenicity, such as the volume of stasis defined by the velocity threshold ($\left|\vec{V}\right|$ < 3 cm/s), surface-and-time-averaged wall shear stress (WSS), and endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP), were analyzed and compared among the three LA phantom models. Results: Different spatial distributions, orientations, and magnitudes of LA flow were directly visualized within the three LA phantoms using 4D flow MRI. The time-averaged volume and its ratio to the corresponding entire volume of LA flow stasis were consistently reduced in the correctly occluded model (70.82 mL and 39.0%, respectively), followed by the incorrectly occluded (73.17 mL and 39.0%, respectively) and pre-occlusion (79.11 mL and 39.7%, respectively) models. The surfaceand-time-averaged WSS and ECAP were also lowest in the correctly occluded model (0.048 Pa and 4.004 Pa^-1, respectively), followed by the incorrectly occluded (0.059 Pa and 4.792 Pa^-1, respectively) and pre-occlusion (0.072 Pa and 5.861 Pa^-1, respectively) models. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a correctly occluded LAA leads to the greatest reduction in LA flow stasis and thrombogenicity, presenting a tentative procedural goal to maximize clinical benefits in patients with AF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.11 s.256
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• pp.739-745
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• 2005

Background: The Maze procedure considered the most effective method of treatment for atrial fibrillation. However, the sinus conversion rates decreased due to several factors, especially enlarged left atrium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Maze procedure with aen atrial volume reduction plasty on rheumatic mitral valve disease, Material and Method: From December of 200f to July of 2004, 45 patients received mitral valve and Maze operation. The patients were placed in either group f or group 2, based on the left atrial volume reduction plasty. The presence and onset of sinus rhythm and the incidence of trans mitral A waves were monitored during the postoperative 7 days and throughout the follow up period of 3 and 6 months. Mean follow up periods were 15.8 10.1 months in group 1 and $6.1\pm2.7$ months in group 2. Result: The sinus onset were $9.88\pm12.2$ days in group 1, and $1\pm3.6$ days in group 2 (p<0.01). The sinus conversion rates in the group 1 and 2 were $65\%,\;75\%$ (p=0.07) in the postoperative 7 days, $70.5\%,\;100\%$ (p<0.01) at postoperative 3 months, and $93\%,\;100\%$ (p<0.01) at postoperative 6 months, respectively. The wave detection rates in the postoperative 7days were $31.2\%\;and\;63.6\%$, and continued to improve over time to $83.3\%\;and\;100\%$ by 6months, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that Maze procedure with left atrial volume reduction plasty is effective for inducing sinus rhythm and for restoring left atrial contractile function after concomitant rheumatic mitral valve surgery. However further follow up of this patients for long time is necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.815-823
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• 1994

This study was undertaken to hemodynamically determine the differences of myocardial protective effect between crystalloid and blood cardioplegic solution. Twenty nine children undergoing cardiac operations due to cyanotic congenital heart diseases were randomized into two groups receiving crystalloid or blood cardioplegia. Cardiac indices and other hemodynamic datum were examined postoperatively. Although there was no statistical differences between groups, postoperative stroke volume indices and left ventricular stroke work indices were slightly better with blood cardioplegia. We also found that postoperative left atrial pressures[p=0.0003], central venous pressures[p=0.004], and heart rates[p=0.014] were significantly lower with blood cardioplegia. The fact that relatively lower ventricular preloads [left atrial pressure and central venous pressure] were required to provide adequate cardiac output in blood cardioplegia group suggested superior myocardial protective effect of blood cardioplegic solution.