• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.289-296
• /
• 1979

For years, physicians and anatomists have been interested in the heart that has one functioning ventricle. Various terms have been suggested for this entity including single ventricle, common ventricle, double-inlet left ventricle, cor biatriatum triloculare, and primitive ventricle. In this report, the term "single ventricle" is utilized as suggested by Van Praagh, and is defined as that congenital cardiac anomaly in which a common or separate atrioventricular valves open into a ventricular chamber from which both great arterial trunks emerge. An outlet chamber, or infundibulum, may or may not be present and give rise to the origin of either of the great arteries. This definition excludes the entity of mitral and tricuspid atresia. An 11 year old cyanotic boy was admitted chief complaints of exertional dyspnea and frequent upper respiratory infection since 2 weeks after birth. He was diagnosed as inoperable cyanotic congenital heart disease, and remained without any corrective treatment up to his age of 11 year when he suffered from aggravation of symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure for 2 months before this admission. On 22nd of May 1979, he was admitted for total corrective operation under the impression of tricuspid atresia suggested by a pediatrician. Physical check revealed deep cyanosis with finger and toe clubbing, and grade V systolic ejection murmur with single second heart sound was audible at the left 3rd intercostal space. Development was moderate in height [135 cm] and weight[28Kg]. Routine lab findings were normal except increased hemoglobin [21.1gm%], hematocrit [64 %], and left axis deviation with left ventricular hypertrophy on EKG. Cardiac catheterization and angiography revealed 1-transposition of aorta, pulmonic valvular stenosis, double inlet of a single ventricle with d-loop, and normal atriovisceral relationship [Type III C solitus according to the classification of Van Praagh]. At operation, longitudinal incision at the outflow tract of right ventricle in between the right coronary artery and its branch [LAD from RCA] revealed high far anterior aortic valve which had fibrous continuity with mitral annulus, and pulmonic valve was stenotic up to 4 mm in diameter positioned posterolaterally to the aorta. Ventricular septum was totally defective, and one markedly hypertrophied moderator band originated from crista supraventricularis was connected down to the imaginary septum of the ventricular cavity as a pseudoseptum of the ventricle. Size of the defect was 3X3 cm2 in total. Patch closure of the defect with a Teflon felt of 3.5 x 4 cm2 was done with interrupted multiple sutures after cut off of the moderator band, which was resutured to the artificial septum after reconstruction of the ventricular septum. Pulmonic valvotomy was done from 4 mm to 11 mm in diameter thru another pulmonary arteriotomy incision, and right ventriculotomy wound was closed reconstructing the right ventricular outflow tract with pericardial autograft of 3 x 4 cm2. Atrial septal defect of 2 cm in diameter was closed with 3-0 Erdeck suture, and atrial wall was sutured also when rectal temperature reached from 24`C to 35.5`C. Complete A-V block was managed with temporary external pacemaker with a pacing rate of 110/min. thru myocardial wire, and arterial blood pressure of 80/50 mmHg was maintained with Isuprel or Dopamine dripping under the CVP of 25-cm saline. Consciousness was recovered one hour after the operation when his blood pressure reached 100 /70 mmHg, but vital signs were not stable, and bleeding from the pericardial drainage and complete anuria were persisted until his heart could not capture the pacemaker impulse, and patient died of low output syndrome 320 min after the operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.417-422
• /
• 2008

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long term results of creating various right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits for treating complex congenital heart disease. Material and Method: Between June 1986 and July 2006, we retrospectively reviewed 245 patients who underwent reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract with various kinds of conduits. 410 operations were done in 245 patients, the mean age at operation was $3.2{\pm}4.9$ years (range: 7 days$\sim$45 years) and the mean body weight was $12.5{\pm}8.7\;kg$ (range: $2.4\sim76.3\;kg$). Result: We used the following conduits: Polystan conduit, Shelhigh conduit, Carpenter-Edward conduit, Dacron graft with an artificial valve, valveless Gore Tex vascular graft, homograft and hand-made bovine or autologous pericardial conduit. The mean follow up duration was $6.3{\pm}5.2$ years. Redo operation for RV-PA conduit dysfunction was performed in 131 patients, a second redo was done in 31 and a third redo was done in 3. The reoperation free rates were 67.3%, 48.5% and 39.4% for 5 years, 10 years and 15 years, respectively. The homograft showed the best durability, followed by the Dacron graft with artificial valve and the Carpentier-Edward conduit. The larger sized conduit showed better durability. Conclusion: The homograft showed lowest reoperation rate and a smaller size of conduit showed the highest reoperation rate. The reoperation rate for the RV-PA conduit was about 35% at 5 years, so it is mandatory to develop the more durable conduit for RV outflow.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.4 s.249
• /
• pp.271-276
• /
• 2005

We analysed differences in operative methods and postoperative outcome according to the severity of preoperative cyanosis in adult ToF (Tetralogy of Fallot) patients. Material and Method: From August 1989 to June 2001, thirty three adult patients, 18 females and 15 males, underwent total correction for ToF. Their age ranged from 15 years to 54 years (median: 34). Patients were divided into 2 groups by preoperative $SaO_2$ (arterial oxygen saturation): group I$(n=cyanotic,\;SaO_2\;\geq94\%)$ and group II $(acyanotic,\; SaO_2\geq95%)$. Preoperative median hemoglobin level was higher in group I compared to group II (17.5 g/dl vs 15 g/dl). Postoperative follow-up duration ranged from 1 to 94 months (670 patient-month, median: 14 months), and 63 two-dimensional echocardiographic examinations were done during this period. Result: There were no early or late mortality. With regard to RVOT (right ventricular outflow tract) reconstruction, trans-annular patch and RV-PA extracardiac conduit were used in 7 and 3 patients respectively, and all of them belonged to group I. In group I, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, ICU day, hospital day were significantly longer than in group II, and postoperative inotropic support was significantly greater than in group II. There was no ventricular arrhythmia in both groups, and one patient in group I suffered from atrial arrhythmia, which was resolved spontaneously after tricuspid and pulmonary valve replacement. During follow-up periods, functional class, residual RVOT stenosis and pulmonary regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, occurrence of ventricular and atrial arrhythmias were comparable between two groups. Conclusion: In adult ToF patients with severe preoperative cyanosis, more aggressive RVOT reconstruction and careful postoperative care are mandatory. However intermediate-term outcome of this group of patients is comparable to the patients with minimal or no preoperative cyanosis.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1992 no.05
• /
• pp.27-47
• /
• 1992

Engineers have developed new instruments that aid in diagnosis and therapy Ultrasonic imaging has provided a nondamaging method of imaging internal organs. A complex transducer emits ultrasonic waves at many angles and reconstructs a map of internal anatomy and also velocities of blood in vessels. Fast computed tomography permits reconstruction of the 3-dimensional anatomy and perfusion of the heart at 20-Hz rates. Positron emission tomography uses certain isotopes that produce positrons that react with electrons to simultaneously emit two gamma rays in opposite directions. It locates the region of origin by using a ring of discrete scintillation detectors, each in electronic coincidence with an opposing detector. In magnetic resonance imaging, the patient is placed in a very strong magnetic field. The precessing of the hydrogen atoms is perturbed by an interrogating field to yield two-dimensional images of soft tissue having exceptional clarity. As an alternative to radiology image processing, film archiving, and retrieval, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are being implemented. Images from computed radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound are digitized, transmitted, and stored in computers for retrieval at distributed work stations. In electrical impedance tomography, electrodes are placed around the thorax. 50-kHz current is injected between two electrodes and voltages are measured on all other electrodes. A computer processes the data to yield an image of the resistivity of a 2-dimensional slice of the thorax. During fetal monitoring, a corkscrew electrode is screwed into the fetal scalp to measure the fetal electrocardiogram. Correlations with uterine contractions yield information on the status of the fetus during delivery To measure cardiac output by thermodilution, cold saline is injected into the right atrium. A thermistor in the right pulmonary artery yields temperature measurements, from which we can calculate cardiac output. In impedance cardiography, we measure the changes in electrical impedance as the heart ejects blood into the arteries. Motion artifacts are large, so signal averaging is useful during monitoring. An intraarterial blood gas monitoring system permits monitoring in real time. Light is sent down optical fibers inserted into the radial artery, where it is absorbed by dyes, which reemit the light at a different wavelength. The emitted light travels up optical fibers where an external instrument determines O2, CO2, and pH. Therapeutic devices include the electrosurgical unit. A high-frequency electric arc is drawn between the knife and the tissue. The arc cuts and the heat coagulates, thus preventing blood loss. Hyperthermia has demonstrated antitumor effects in patients in whom all conventional modes of therapy have failed. Methods of raising tumor temperature include focused ultrasound, radio-frequency power through needles, or microwaves. When the heart stops pumping, we use the defibrillator to restore normal pumping. A brief, high-current pulse through the heart synchronizes all cardiac fibers to restore normal rhythm. When the cardiac rhythm is too slow, we implant the cardiac pacemaker. An electrode within the heart stimulates the cardiac muscle to contract at the normal rate. When the cardiac valves are narrowed or leak, we implant an artificial valve. Silicone rubber and Teflon are used for biocompatibility. Artificial hearts powered by pneumatic hoses have been implanted in humans. However, the quality of life gradually degrades, and death ensues. When kidney stones develop, lithotripsy is used. A spark creates a pressure wave, which is focused on the stone and fragments it. The pieces pass out normally. When kidneys fail, the blood is cleansed during hemodialysis. Urea passes through a porous membrane to a dialysate bath to lower its concentration in the blood. The blind are able to read by scanning the Optacon with their fingertips. A camera scans letters and converts them to an array of vibrating pins. The deaf are able to hear using a cochlear implant. A microphone detects sound and divides it into frequency bands. 22 electrodes within the cochlea stimulate the acoustic the acoustic nerve to provide sound patterns. For those who have lost muscle function in the limbs, researchers are implanting electrodes to stimulate the muscle. Sensors in the legs and arms feed back signals to a computer that coordinates the stimulators to provide limb motion. For those with high spinal cord injury, a puff and sip switch can control a computer and permit the disabled person operate the computer and communicate with the outside world.