• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2013

Cardiac surgery in neonates with congenital heart disease has progressed dramatically in the past three decades. However, low-birth-weight neonates with congenital heart disease continue to challenge the intellectual and technical skills of healthcare professionals. We present a case of a low-birth-weight neonate with pulmonary atresia and a ventricular septal defect, in whom palliation was achieved with a right ventricular outflow tract stent using a hybrid procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.601-608
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• 1989

We sought the relationship between the pulmonary artery development and cardiac performance from the analysis of the 36 cyanotic congenital heart disease patients [mainly TOF] who were operated and indwelled the pulmonary artery and left atrial pressure monitoring catheters for the postoperative care at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery SNUH in 1988. They were pre-evaluated of the pulmonary artery index from the cineangiographic films and post-operatively, calculated the cardiac index from the arterial and mixed venous blood gas and also measured the mean left atrial pressure and total inotropic supporting amount after operation. The post-operative cardiac indices were 3.46 * 1.03 1/min/M2 [immediate postoperative], 3.31 [ 1.08 [postoperative 6 hrs], 3.29 [ 1.01 [12 hrs], 3.54 * 1.02 [24 hrs], 3.92 * 1.14 [48 hrs], respectively. We divided the patients the group A and group B from the size of the pulmonary artery index, that is, group A was below 200 mm2/M2 and group B above 200 mm2/M2 of the pulmonary artery index. The cardiac indices and left atrial pressure between the group A and B were not different in the view of the statistical significance but the total post-operative inotropic amount of group A was more than group B and it was significant statistically. We concluded that the smaller the pulmonary artery index is, the more postoperative supportive treatment [for example, inotropics] for the enhancement of cardiac performance is needed, and indirectly, which means that the pulmonary artery index was correlated with the postoperative cardiac performance in cyanotic congenital heart disease.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.756-763
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the effects of attenuation threshold on CT pulmonary vascular volume ratios in children and young adults with congenital heart disease, and to suggest an optimal attenuation threshold. Materials and Methods: CT percentages of right pulmonary vascular volume were compared and correlated with percentages calculated from nuclear medicine right lung perfusion in 52 patients with congenital heart disease. The selected patients had undergone electrocardiography-synchronized cardiothoracic CT and lung perfusion scintigraphy within a 1-year interval, but not interim surgical or transcatheter intervention. The percentages of CT right pulmonary vascular volumes were calculated with fixed (80-600 Hounsfield units [HU]) and adaptive thresholds (average pulmonary artery enhancement [PA_avg] divided by 2.50, 2.00, 1.75, 1.63, 1.50, and 1.25). The optimal threshold exhibited the smallest mean difference, the lowest p-value in statistically significant paired comparisons, and the highest Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The PA_avg value was 529.5 ± 164.8 HU (range, 250.1-956.6 HU). Results showed that fixed thresholds in the range of 320-400 HU, and adaptive thresholds of PA_avg/1.75-1.50 were optimal for quantifying CT pulmonary vascular volume ratios. The optimal thresholds demonstrated a small mean difference of ≤ 5%, no significant difference (> 0.2 for fixed thresholds, and > 0.5 for adaptive thresholds), and a high correlation coefficient (0.93 for fixed thresholds, and 0.91 for adaptive thresholds). Conclusion: The optimal fixed and adaptive thresholds for quantifying CT pulmonary vascular volume ratios appeared equally useful. However, when considering a wide range of PAavg, application of optimal adaptive thresholds may be more suitable than fixed thresholds in actual clinical practice.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.425-451
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• 2023

Most patients with heart failure (HF) have multiple comorbidities, which impact their quality of life, aggravate HF, and increase mortality. Cardiovascular comorbidities include systemic and pulmonary hypertension, ischemic and valvular heart diseases, and atrial fibrillation. Non-cardiovascular comorbidities include diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney and pulmonary diseases, iron deficiency and anemia, and sleep apnea. In patients with HF with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors combined with calcium channel blockers and/or diuretics is an effective treatment regimen. Measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance via right heart catheterization is recommended for patients with HF considered suitable for implantation of mechanical circulatory support devices or as heart transplantation candidates. Coronary angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and reperfusion in patients with HF and angina pectoris refractory to antianginal medications. In patients with HF and atrial fibrillation, longterm anticoagulants are recommended according to the CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores. Valvular heart diseases should be treated medically and/or surgically. In patients with HF and DM, metformin is relatively safer; thiazolidinediones cause fluid retention and should be avoided in patients with HF and dyspnea. In renal insufficiency, both volume status and cardiac performance are important for therapy guidance. In patients with HF and pulmonary disease, beta-blockers are underused, which may be related to increased mortality. In patients with HF and anemia, iron supplementation can help improve symptoms. In obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure therapy helps avoid severe nocturnal hypoxia. Appropriate management of comorbidities is important for improving clinical outcomes in patients with HF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2017

A mixed infection of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus (Mab) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in the lung is an unusual clinical manifestation and has not yet been reported. A 61-year-old woman had been treated for Mab lung disease and concomitant pneumonia, and was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Despite both anti-PTB and anti-Mab therapy, her entire left lung was destroyed and collapsed. She underwent left pneumonectomy and received medical therapy. We were able to successfully treat her mixed infection by pneumonectomy followed by inhaled amikacin therapy. To the best of our knowledge, thus far, this is the first description of a mixed Mab and MTB lung infection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.583-587
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• 1988

Bilateral coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula is very uncommon congenital heart disease which occupy small percentage of all coronary arterio-venous fistulas. We experienced a case who was 52 years old female with bilateral coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. She complained exertional dyspnea k angina[coronary steal syndrome]. On physical examination, any cardiac murmur was not audible. There was no 0y step-up in right heart catheterization. But selective coronary angiography revealed tortuous aberrant vessels which originated from the canal branch of the right coronary artery k the left anterior descending coronary artery. Both aberrant vessels traversed the right ventricular outflow tract, and conjoined just proximal the pulmonic annulus and drained into the main pulmonary artery. The operation was performed under the extracorporeal circulation with beating heart. The procedures were suture-ligation of the draining orifice in main pulmonary artery & the feeding vessels on the right ventricular outflow tract. Postoperatively her complaints were completely disappeared and the selective coronary angiography revealed no left-to-right shunt.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2016

Lung function reportedly declines with age and that this decline is accelerated during disease progression. However, a recent study showed that the decline might peak in the mild and moderate stage. The prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be improved if the disease is diagnosed in its early stages, prior to the peak of decline in lung function. This article reviews recent studies on early COPD and the possibility of applying the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation 2008 and 2015 for early detection of COPD in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-57
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• 1978

Ventricular septal defect was the most common congenital Heart disease admitted to the Severance Hospital from December, 1963 to June 30. 1977. A total of 1,811 cardiac patients received cardiac catheterization in the CardiacCenter of Yonsei University Medical College. Out of the 1,811 cardiac patients, 791 cases had congenital heart disease and of these 172 cases had ventricular septal defect. This amounted to 21.7% of all those with congenital heart disease. Seventy cases of ventricular septal defect operated on in the chest surgery department are presented. Of these 70 cases of ventricular septal defect, 54 cases were male and 16 cases were female. Their ages ranged from 4/12 months to 32 years. The ratio of systolic pressure of the main pulmonary to systemic artery [Pp/Ps] for 29 of the 59 isolated ventricular septal defects was below 45 percent. Pp/Ps ratio for 19 of the 59 isolated ventricular septal defects was 75 percent. The patients were mostly below fifteen years of age. Out of 64 cases, there were 36 cases of type II defects, 20 cases of type I, 4 cases of type III , 2 cases of type IV, one case of both type II and one case of left ventricular right atrial communication. The anomalies associated with ventricular septal defect were 13 in all; 4 cases of aortic insufficiency, 3 cases of ruptured aneurysm of the sortie sinus of valsalva, 2 cases of ruptured aneurysm of the sortie sinus of valsalva with aortic insufficiency, 2 cases of patent ductus arteriosus, one case of ruptured aneurysm of the aortic sinus of valsalva with atrial septal defect [secundum type] and one case of atrial septal defect [secundum type]. Overall mortality was 8.6 percent. The mortality in pulmonary artery banding was 37.5 percent. The causes of mortality were in one case congestive heart failure, in one case asphyxia and in one case respiratory insufficiency. Tile mortality in ventricular septal defect associated with pulmonary hypertension was 7.1 percent. The cause of mortality was in one case low cardiac output syndrome. There was no mortality in the ventricular septal defects without pulmonary hypertension and mortality in the ventricular septal defect. In ventricular septal defect associated with combined anomalies, the causes mortality were in one case respiratory insufficiency and in one case congestive heart failure.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2008

Pulmonary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein or pulmonary capillaries. Depending on the cause, pulmonary hypertension can be a severe disease with markedly decreased exercise tolerance and right-sided heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension can present as one of five different types: arterial, venous, hypoxic, thromboembolic, or miscellaneous. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with severe pulmonary hypertension is a rare disease. A 52-year-old man presented with a complaint of aggravating dyspnea. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 61.5 mmHg by Doppler echocardiogram. The patient was prescribed diuretics, digoxin, bronchodilator, sildenafil, bosentan and an oxygen supply. However, he ultimately died of cor pulmonale. Thus, diagnosis and early combination therapy are important.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 1990

To see the change of pulmonary arterial pressure after mitral valve replacement, postoperative cardiac catheterization and echocardiographies were performed in 12 patients of mitral valvular disease with pulmonary hypertension[systolic pulmonary arterial pressure>50 mm Hg]. The mean follow-up duration was 35.4[range: 15-47] months per patient. The following results were obtained. 1] Preoperative systolic pulmonary arterial pressure value of 66.17\ulcorner10.73mmHg decreased significantly to 29.17\ulcorner6.86mmHg postoperatively[p<0.01]. 2] Preoperative Pp/Ps value of 0.67\ulcorner0.13 decreased significantly to 0.28\ulcorner0.06 postoperatively[p<0.01]. 3] Preoperative PAWP value of 29.00\ulcorner4.02mmHg decreased significantly to 9.92\ulcorner4.27 mmHg postoperatively[p<0.01]. 4] Preoperative LAD value of 5.58\ulcorner1.20cm decreased significantly to 4.37\ulcorner0.67cm postoperatively [p<0.01]. In conclusion, pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to mitral valvular disease could be reduced to normal range after successful mitral valve replacement.