• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.289-297
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• 2023

Technological advances in neonatology led to the improvement of the survival rate in preterm babies with very low birth weights. However, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) has been one of the major complications of prematurity. IVH is relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy, language and cognitive impairments, and neurosensory and psychiatric problems, especially when combined with brain parenchymal injuries. Additionally, severe IVH requiring shunt insertion is associated with a higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Multidisciplinary and longitudinal rehabilitation should be provided for these children based on the patients' life cycles. During the infantile period, it is essential to detect high-risk infants based on neuromotor examinations and provide early intervention as soon as possible. As babies grow up, close monitoring of language and cognitive development is needed. Moreover, providing continuous rehabilitation with task-specific and intensive repetitive training could improve functional outcomes in children with mild-to-moderate disabilities. After school age, maintaining the level of physical activity and managing complications are also needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2023

Remarkable advances in neonatal care have significantly improved the survival of extremely low birth weight infants in recent years. However, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) continues to be a major complication in preterm infants, leading to a high incidence of cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment. IVH is primarily caused by disruption of the fragile vascular network of the subependymal germinal matrix, and subsequent ventricular dilatation adversely affects the developing infant brain. Based on recent research, periventricular white matter injury is caused not only by ischemia and morphological distortion due to ventricular dilatation but also by free iron and inflammatory cytokines derived from hematoma and its lysates. The current guidelines for the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in preterm infants do not provide strong recommendations, but initiating treatment intervention based on ultrasound measurement values before the appearance of clinical symptoms of PHH has been proposed. Moreover, in the past decade, therapeutic interventions that actively remove hematomas and lysates have been introduced. The era is moving beyond cerebrospinal fluid shunt toward therapeutic goals aimed at improving neurodevelopmental outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 1986

Sixty-nine patients with various types of cyanotic congenital heart disease underwent systemic-pulmonary artery shunts with a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] prosthesis between 1979 and 1985. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 39 years [mean$\pm$SD: 5.2$\pm$7.4, median: 3.3 years]. Diagnosis included the following: Tetralogy of Fallot, 45: Double outlet right or left ventricle, 11: Single ventricle, .5: Transposition of great vessels, 4: Tricuspid atresia, 3 and Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, 1. Forty-eight patients had subclavian-pulmonary artery anastomosis, 12 patients aorta-right pulmonary artery anastomosis, 6 patients aorta-main pulmonary artery anastomosis, and 3 patients descending aorta-pulmonary artery anastomosis. The PTEE graft of 3 mm in diameter was used in 1, 4 mm in 29, 5 mm in 35 and 6 mm in 4 patients. Ten patients were died within 30 days after operation [mortality rate: 14.5%]. Among them, 6 patients were operated in urgency due to cardiac arrest or severe anoxic spell after cardiac catheterization, and so surgical mortality of elective operation is 9.5%. The 59 survivors showed improvement of the arterial oxygen saturation [65.4% - 9.8%] and hemoglobin [18.8 gm/dl - 16.0 gm/dl] values [V<0.01]. The follow up period ranged from 1 month to 67 months, [752 patient-months] and during this periods there were 4 late shunt failures after 3 months postoperatively with 4 mm graft, and 2 with 5 mm graft. The over-all patency rate of 4 mm PTFE was 85.9$\pm$9.2% [SEM] in 12 months and 40.9$\pm$22.5% in 24 months. The over-all patency rate of 5 mm PTFE was 87.5$\pm$9.6% in 12 months and 58.3$\pm$24.6% in 36 months. The lowest systolic pressure in death group was 64.9$\pm$15.0 mmHg and in survival group, 86.4$\pm$12.1 mmHg [P<0.001]. We think that the PTFE graft is useful in palliative shunt operation, but the effectiveness of the 4 mm PTFE graft may be limited. The blood pressure also may play an important role in patency of Prosthesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.536-543
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• 1987

The Fontan procedure was physiological correction which was initially applied to tricuspid atresia. We had used the modified Fontan operation in 8 cases at National Medical Center, Seoul, from Aug. 1984 to Oct. 1986. Age range was 20 months to 15 years [mean: 9 years] and male: female ratio was 5:3. 5 patients had tricuspid atresia [lb: 2 cases, Ic: 1 case, lib: 1 case, & llc: 1 case], 2 Patients had univentricular heart of left ventricular type, and one patient had transposition of great arteries with complete endocardial cushion defect. The operative principle was direct anastomosis between right atrium and pulmonary artery, whether main pulmonary artery or right pulmonary artery without any conduits. Postoperatively all patients needed high central venous pressure for adequate hemodynamic status in both survival [20-24 CmH2O] and mortality groups [20-24 CmH2O]. The fatal complications were as follows: empyema with bronchopleural fistula [1 case], bleeding tendency & brain damage [1 case], low cardiac output syndrome & acute renal failure [2 cases], and right to left shunt of unknown origin [1 case]. There were 5 hospital deaths; 3 of 5 tricuspid atresia patients, 1 of 2 univentricular heart patients, and 1 of 1 transposition of great arteries with complete endocar4ial cushion defect patient. The overall mortality was 62.5%. 3 survivors were nearly compatible with Choussat & Fontan criteria. Thus appropriate patient selection and experienced surgical technique were required for good results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.404-410
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• 1987

An 18-day-old male neonate with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent surgical intervention by modification of the Norwood procedure on September 23, 1986. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a serious congenital cardiac anomaly that has a fatal outlook if left untreated. Included in this anomaly are [1] aortic valve atresia, and hypoplasia of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, [1] mitral valve atresia or hypoplasia, and [3] diminutive or absent left ventricle. Patent ductus arteriosus is essential for any survival, and there is usually a patent foramen ovale. Coarctation of the aorta is frequently associated with the lesion.z With a limited period of cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia, and circulatory arrest, the ductus arteriosus was excised. The main pulmonary artery was divided immediately below its branches, and the distal stump of the divided pulmonary artery was closed with a pericardial patch. The aortic arch was incised, and a 1 5mm tubular Dacron prosthesis was inserted between the main pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. A 4mm shunt of polytetrafluoroethylene graft was established between the new ascending aorta and the right pulmonary artery to provide controlled pulmonary blood flow. Following rewarming, the heart started to beat regularly, but the patient could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. At autopsy, the patient was found to have hypoplasia of the aortic tract complex with mitral atresia and aortic atresia. A secundum atrial septal defect was noted. Right atrial and ventricular hypertrophy was present, and the left ventricle was entirely absent. Although unsuccessful in this case report, continuing experience with hypoplastic left heart syndrome will lead to an improvement in result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1989

Forty-five patients, aged 16 months to 15.5 years mean 69 months, with a wide variety of cardiac malformations underwent the modified Fontan operation between Sep. 1986 to Aug. 1988. Nineteen patients had previously undergone palliative operations mainly modified B-T shunt. Twenty patients had a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 15 mmHg, with nine operative deaths. Thirteen patients had anomalies of systemic venous connection and seven patients had anomalies of pulmonary venous connection. There were eighteen patients under the age 4 years and fifteen of them survived [83.3%]. Eighteen patients had a pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR] more than 2.5U/m, and nine died [50%] whereas two of twenty-three with a PVR less than 2.5U/m died[8.6%]. PVR and anomalies of pulmonary venous connection had a significant influence on survival, but age and anomalies of systemic venous connection did not. Amount of pleural effusion drained postoperatively and PVR had positive linear correlation. Pulmonary artery pressure was not an independent predictor of outcome and pulmonary artery pressure alone should not contraindicate a Fontan procedure if PVR is low. In general, the Fontan operation should be done at a younger age less than 4 year to avoid ventricular dysfunction due to long-standing exposure to hypoxia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.6 s.251
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• pp.403-409
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• 2005

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is morphologically heterogeneous, and the surgical outcome remains suboptimal compared to other complex congenital heart defects. We evaluated the long-term results for repair of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, Material and Method: Between January 1992 and June 2004, 38 patients underwent repair of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. The average age was 18 days $(2\~382\;days)$. The average Z-value of the tricuspid annulus diameter was -3.1$(-5.6\~0.8)$. Thirteen $(36\%)$ patients had right ventricle-to-coronary artery fistulas, and $4(11\%)$ patients had right ventricle-dependent coronary circulation. Average follow-up was 55 months $(3\;months\~2.2\;years)$, Result: Twenty-four patients under-went initial right ventricle (RV) decompression and 14 patients underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt only. The average size of the tricuspid annulus of the patients who underwent RV decompression was significantly larger than that of the patients who underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arierial shunt only (Z-value -2.2 vs. -4.8, p=0.000). There were $5(13\%)$ early and 1 late deaths. Early deaths occurred in 3 patients who had undergone RV decompression, and in 2 patients who had undergone systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt only (p=1.0). Biventricular repair was achieved in $12(32\%)$ patients, single ventricular repair in $8(21\%)$, and one and a half ventricular repair in $4(l1\%)$ patients. Nine $(24\%)$ patients are waiting for the definitive repair. Kaplan-Meier survival at 5 and 8 years was $83.2\%$, respectively. Conclusion: Most of the deaths occurred after the initial palliation. Overall long-term survival was satisfactory. Early mortality should be reduced with careful preoperative evaluation and proper surgical strategy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 1997

From April 1987 to May 1996, 13 infants underwent a Norwood operation for complex congenital heart diseases including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n : 7), mitral stenosis with small VSD and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), mitral atresia with ventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, and subaortic stenosis (n = 1), interrupted aortic arch with ventricular septal defect and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), tricuspid atresia with transposition of the great arteries (n = 1), and complex double-inlet left ventricle (n : 2). All patients without hypoplastic left heart syndrome were associated wit hypoplasia of ascending aorta and arch. Age at operation ranged from 3 days to 8.7 months (mean 60.6 $\pm$ 71.6 days, median 39 days). The operative mortality( < 30 days) was 46% (6 patients). Late mortality was 15% (2 patients). All operative deaths occured during the Erst 24 hours after the operation as a result of cardiopulmonary bypass weaning failure (5 patients) and sudden hemodynamic instability postoperatively (1 patient). Late death was due to aspiration pneumonia in two cases. There are 5 long-term survivals (39%). Three of them have undergone a two-stage repair with a modified Fontan operation in two and total cavopulmonary shunt in one at 12, 17, 4.5 months after Norwood procedure with no mortality. Two patients have entered a three-stage repair strategy by undergoing a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt at 3 and 5.5 months after initial operation with 1 operative death. The actuarial survival rate for all patients at the first-stage operation, including hospital deaths and ate death was 30.8% at 1 year. In conclusion, the operative mortality of Norwood operation was relatively high compared to other operation for major cardiac anomalies, continuing experience will lead to an improvement in result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.433-438
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• 2013

Background: Surgical repair of post-infarct ventricular septal defect (VSD) is considered one of the most challenging procedures having high surgical mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the surgical repair of post-infarct VSD. Methods: From May 1991 to July 2012, 34 patients (mean age, $67.1{\pm}7.9$ years) underwent surgical repair of post-infarct VSD. A retrospective review of clinical and surgical data was performed. Results: VSD repair involved the infarct exclusion technique using a patch in all patients. For coronary revascularization, 12 patients (35.3%) underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass graft, 3 patients (8.8%) underwent preoperative percutaneous coronary intervention, and 9 patients (26.5%) underwent both of these procedures. The early mortality rate was 20.6%. Six patients (17.6%) required reoperation due to residual shunt or newly developed VSD. During follow-up (median, 4.8 years; range, 0 to 18.4 years), late death occurred in nine patients. Overall, the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were $54.4%{\pm}8.8%$ and $44.3%{\pm}8.9%$, respectively. According to a Cox regression analysis, preoperative cardiogenic shock (p=0.069) and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (p=0.008) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion: The early surgical outcome of post-infarct VSD was acceptable considering the high-risk nature of the disease. The long-term outcome, however, was still dismal, necessitating comprehensive optimal management through close follow-up.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.202-209
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• 2019

Purpose: Cranioplasty (CP) is often required for survival after decompressive craniectomy. Several materials, including autologous bone and various artificial materials, have been introduced for CP, but it remains unclear which material is best for CP. This study aimed to explore differences in complications between patients who underwent CP using an autologous bone flap versus a three-dimensional (3D) titanium mesh and to identify significant risk factors for post-CP complications. Methods: In total, 44 patients were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups (autologous bone vs. 3D titanium mesh). In both groups, various post-CP complications were evaluated. Through a comparative analysis, we aimed to identify differences in complications between the two groups and, using binary logistic analysis, to determine significant factors associated with complications after CP. Results: In the autologous bone flap group, there were three cases of surgical infection (3/24, 12.5%) and 11 cases of bone flap resorption (BFR) (11/24, 45.83%). In the 3D titanium mesh group, there was only one case of surgical infection (1/20, 5%) and 11 cases of various complications, including mainly cosmetic issues (11/20, 55%). A subgroup risk factor analysis of CP with an autologous bone flap showed no risk factors that predicted BFR with statistical significance, although a marginal association was found between larger bone flaps and BFR (odds ratio [OR]=1.037, p=0.090). In patients treated with a 3D titanium mesh, multivariate analysis revealed that only the existence of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt system was strongly associated with overall post-CP complications (OR=18.66, p=0.021). Conclusions: Depending on which material was used, different complications could occur, and the rate of complications was relatively high in both groups. Hence, the material selected for CP should be selected based on individual patients' conditions.