• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.8 s.265
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• pp.588-597
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• 2006

Background: The surgical repair of a tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has been performed successfully with a favorable early and late outcome. However, the later development of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis remains a problem. The development of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis may be changed by the size of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction at the initial total correction. Hence, it is necessary to investigate the ideal size of RVOT reconstruction. Material and Method: This prospective study was carried out to determine how a surgical strategy and the RVOT size affect the occurrence of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis. From January 2002 to December 2004, 62 patients underwent the TOF total correction. The RVOT size (diameter of pulmonary valve annulus) of each case was measured after the RVOT reconstruction and converted to a Z value. A pre-scheduled follow up (at discharge, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years) was carried out by echocardiography to evaluate the level of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis. Result: The patients were divided to two groups (transannular group n=12, nontransannular group n=50) according to the method of a RVOT reconstruction. The Z value of RVOT=iameter of pulmonary valve annulus) (transannular group -1, $range\;-3.6{\sim}-0.8;$ nontransannular group -2.1, $range\;-5.2{\sim}-1.5)$ and the average pRV/LV after surgery ${(transannular group 0.44{\pm}0.09,\;nontransannular group\;0.42{\pm}0.09)}$ did not show any significant difference between two groups. The occurrence of pulmonary regurgitation above a moderate degree was more frequent in the transannular group (p<0.01). In nontransannular group, the development of pulmonary regurgitation more than moderate degree occurred to the patients with larger RVOT size (Z value>0, p<0.02) and the progressing pulmonary stenosis more than mild to moderate degree developed in the patients with smaller RVOT size (Z value<-1.5, p<0.05). A moderate degree of pulmonary stenosis developed for 4 nontransannular patients. Three underwent additional surgery and one underwent a balloon valvuloplasty. Their Z value of RVOT were -3.8, -3.8 -2.9, -1.8, respectively. Conclusion: When carring out a TOF total correction, transannular RVOT reconstruction group has significantly more pulmonary regurgitation. In the nontransannular RVOT reconstruction. the size of the RVOT should be maintained from Z value -1.5 to 0. If the Z value is less than -1.5, we should follow up carefully for the possibility of pulmonary stenosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.235-241
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• 2013

Repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has shown excellent outcomes. However it leaves varying degrees of residual hemodynamic impairment, with severe pulmonary stenosis (PS) and free pulmonary regurgitation (PR) at both ends of the spectrum. Since the 1980s, studies evaluating late outcomes after TOF repair revealed the adverse impacts of residual chronic PR on RV volume and function; thus, a turnaround of operational strategies has occurred from aggressive RV outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction for complete relief of RVOT obstruction to conservative RVOT reconstruction for limiting PR. This transformation has raised the question of how much residual PS after conservative RVOT reconstruction is acceptable. Besides, as pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) increases in patients with RV deterioration from residual PR, there is concern regarding when it should be performed. Regarding residual PS, several studies revealed that PS in addition to PR was associated with less PR and a small RV volume. This suggests that PS combined with PR makes RV diastolic property to protect against dilatation through RV hypertrophy and supports conservative RVOT enlargement despite residual PS. Also, several studies have revealed the pre-PVR threshold of RV parameters for the normalization of RV volume and function after PVR, and based on these results, the indications for PVR have been revised. Although there is no established strategy, better understanding of RV mechanics, development of new surgical and interventional techniques, and evidence for the effect of PVR on RV reverse remodeling and its late outcome will aid us to optimize the management of TOF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1987

Twenty six patients were operated a total correction of tetralogy of Fallot between Jan., 1984 and July, 1985 at the Dept. of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chonnam University Medical School, and a comparison between the survived group [n = 18] and the dead group [n = B was performed to detect factors influencing laboratory data, cineangiographic findings, operative findings and methods, and pump time. Following results were obtained, 1. There was no significant difference between two groups in the preoperative P.O2 and hematocrit level. 2. The size of the interventricular defect was not related to the operative mortality. 3. There was a significant difference in mortality rate between combined type of stenosis of pulmonary artery, valve and infundibulum and other types of right ventricular outflow tract stenosis. 4. There was a significant difference in mortality rate between the transannular patch reconstruction and other types of operative procedure. 5. There was no significant difference between two groups in total bypass time and aortic time. 6. There was no significant difference between two groups in left ventricular end diastolic volume and right ventricular end diastolic volume. 7. The operative mortality was related to the ratio of the diameter of the pulmonary valve annulus or each pulmonary artery to the ascending or descending aorta in cineangiographic findings, but there was no statistical significance of which probably is due to the lack of the total number of patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.854-857
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• 2001

Double-outlet left ventricle(DOLV) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation, defined as the origin of both the aorta and the pulmonary artery being entirely or predominantly above the morphologically left ventricle, which is difficult to diagnose accurately. A 3-year old male was admitted for cyanosis and dyspnea. At the age of 2 months, he had undergone pulmonary artery banding and coarctoplasty. He was diagnosed as DOLV with subaortic ventricular septal defect(VSD). Biventricular repair was achieved by patch closure of VSD, primary closure of PFO, and pulmonary trunk translocation from left ventricle to right ventricle. The advantages of this procedure using native tissue for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction are growth potential and preserved valve function, which contribute to a decreased likelihood of reoperation related to the right ventricular dysfunction related to pulmonary insufficiency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.406-411
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• 1992

Thirty-four patients were received bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt[BCPS] from Aug. 1989 to Apr. 1991 at Sejong General Hospital, Puchon, Korea. Their ages were from 43 days to 21 years old with 19 cases of infant, 10 from 1 to 5 years old and 5 cases above 6 years old. Their diagnoses were as follows: 13 cases with uni-ventricular heart, 9 tricuspid atresia, 6 double outlet of right ventricle, 4 pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, and 2 transposition of great arteries with pulmonary stenosis. Among them, 10 patients had received other palliative operations before. The BCPS operations were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass and 10 patients who had bilateral superior vena cava received bilateral BCPS. Other associated procedures were 9 cases of takedown of Blalock-Taussig shunt, 3 pulmonary artery angioplasty, 1 unifocalization, 1 repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return, 1 Damus procedure, 1 relief of sub-aortic stenosis, 1 right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and one case of tricuspid valve obliteration. There were 3 operative deaths[8.8%] and two late deaths. The remainders show good postoperative state and their oxygen saturation was increased significantly. Conclusively, the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt is very effective and safe palliative or pre-Fontan stage operation for the many complex congenital anomalies with low pulmonary blood flow especially for the patients who have the risk of Fontan repair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 1995

This is a report of successful management of a patient with complicated native valvular endocarditis. Initially stable patient showed sudden collapse at the end of 4th week of antibiotics coverage. Echocardiography revealed that previous vegetation at the Aorto-mitral Fibrous Skeleton[AMFS developed into a false aneurysm, perforated to left atrium and caused fistulous communication between left ventricle and left atrium. Extensive debridement was performed including part of the ascending aorta, aortic cusps, the AMFS, anterior mitral cusp and roof of the left atrium. Reconstruction of the AMFS with tailored single piece of autologous pericardium enabled the implantation of mechanical valves at the aortic and the mitral position. Ascending aorta and roof of the left atrium were repaired with autologous pulmonary artery patch graft and another autologous pericardial patch. The patient was discharged on postoperative 16th day and followed - up till now without any residuae or sequelae.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2000

Background: Reconstruction surgery of mitral valve regurgitation is now considered as an effective operative technique and has shown good long-term results. Although reconstructive surgery of mitral valve has been performed since 1970s, we have started only in early 1990s in full scale because of small number of the mitral regurgitation compared to mitral stenosis and lack of knowledge from the viewpoint of patients and physicians. Material and Method: From January 1992 to December 1996, 100 patients underwent repair of the mitral valve for mitral regurgitation with or without mitral stenosis in Seoul National University Hospital. 45(45%) of the patients were men and 55(55%) were women. The mean age was 39.9$\pm$14.4 years. The causes of the mitral regurgitation were rheumatic in 61, degenerative in 28 and others in 11. According to the Carpentier's pathological classification of mitral regurgitation 5 patients were type I. 55 patients were type II and 40 patients were type III. 7 patients underwent concomitant aortic valvuloplasty and 8 patients underwent aortic valve replacement. 7 patients underwent Maze operation or pulmonary vein isolation. Result: There were no operative death but 3 major operative complications: 2patients were postoperative low cardiac output syndrome(needed intra-aortic ballon pump support) and 1 patient was postoperative bleeding. There was one late death(1.0%) The cause of death was sepsis secondary to acute bacterial endocarditis. 3 patients required reoperation for recurred mitral regurgitation. There were no statistically significant risk factors for reoperation. The other 96 patients showed no or mild degree of mitral regurgitation 99 survivors were in NYHA functional class I or II. There were two throumboembolisms but no anticoagulation-related complications. Conclusion: We concluded that mitral valve repair could be performed successfully in most cases of mitral regurgitation even in the rheumatic and combined lesions with very low operative mortality and morbidity. The early results are very promising.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1038-1044
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• 1995

We have been used cryopreserved homograft valves for right ventricular outflow tract[RVOT reconstruction since November 1993. The homograft valves were harvested from the hearts of brain dead patients or hearts of transplant recipients. There were 12 male and 10 female patients. Their ages ranged from 5 months to 13 years[mean age,39.2 $\pm$ 37.4 months and the weight ranged from 5 to 48kg [mean weight, 13.7$\pm$ 9. l kg . The diagnoses included pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect [n=14 , tetralogy of Fallot[n=4 , truncus arteriosus[n=3 , and double outlet right ventricle with pulmonic stenosis[n=l .Monocuspid homograft patches were used for RVOT widening or REV[reparation l`etage ventriculaire operations in 4 patients. We also used homograft as valved conduits for RVOT reconstruction in 17 patients and left ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in anatomically corrected transposition in 1 patient. Among them size-reducing technique [converting a tricuspid valved conduit into a bicuspid valved conduit were applied to six patients for the correction of size mismatching. The mean follow-up period was 10.6 $\pm$ 5.4 months. There was one operative death[4.5% due to bleeding and one reoperation for removal of vegetation on the homograft leaflet. Postoperative echocardiography documented no significant homograft insufficiency and RVOT obstructions.In short-term, the homograft valves provide excellent hemodynamic characteristics, even though further studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.927-931
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• 1997

Tricuspid regurgitation due to rupture of a chorda is a rare disease in newborns. Recently, we experienced one day old male with tricuspid regurgitation due to rupture of a chorda of anterior papillary muscle, and who had suffered from severe hypoxemia, acidosis, cyanosis, and bradycardia. Preoperative diagnosis was pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular s ptum, massive tricuspid regurgitation, and patent ductus arteriosus by echocardiogram, which demonstrated no flow through the pulmonic valve. At operation, the pulmonic valve was intact and a chorda of anterior papillary muscle was ruptured. Tricuspid regurgitation was corrected successfully with reconstruction of the chords. Postoperative course was complicated by pneumonia and sepsis, but the infant recovered and discharged at postoperative 20 days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 1993

Sixty four children [aged 2 days to 9 years] , 58 with complete transposition of the great arteries, 5 with Taussig-Bing double outlet right ventricle, and 1 with double outlet left ventricle plus left ventricular type single ventricle, have undergone anatomic correction from November 1987 to August 1992. Eleven underwent previous operations: pulmonary artery banding[7], modified Blalock-Taussig shunt[2], coarctoplasty[2], aortic arch reconstruction[1] . Of 58 patients with TGA, Type A coronary arteries of Yacoub were seen in 50[86%]. U-shaped coroanry arterial flaps were transfered to the neoaorta using trap door technique, and neopulmonary arterial tract was constructed using glutaraldehyde fixed autopericardium with Lecompte maneuver. There were 18 hospital deaths [28.1%] with no late mortality. Mean follow-up of 20.4\ulcorner11.9 months were achieved in all survivors. Postoperative cardiac catheterizations were done in 14 cases. Mean pressure gradients of pulmonary and aortic outflow tract were 15.0 $\pm$2.6 and 4.2$\pm$1.4mmHg, mild aortic valve insufficiencies were found in 2, and mean cardiac index was 5.18$\pm$0.19 L/min/M2. We conclude that we should continue anatomic correction for the complex congenital heart anomalies with the malposition of the great arteries because myocardial function seems to be well preserved, though we are still on the learning curve.