• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.855-858
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• 2007

A left ventricular rupture might be one of the most disastrous complications after a mitral valve replacement. An acute atrioventricular groove rupture (type I) was detected in a 54-year-old female diagnosed with a mitral stenosis combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation. She had a prior medical history of an open mitral commissurotomy in Japan at 30 years ago. The surgical findings suggested that the previous procedure was not a simple commissurotomy but a commissurotomy combined with a posteromedial annuloplasty procedure. After a successful mitral valve replacement and a measured (De Vega type) tricuspid annuloplasty, the weaning from a cardiopulmonary bypass was uneventful. However, copious intraoperative bleeding from the posterior wall was detected and the cardiopulmonary bypass was restarted. Exposure of the posterior wall of the left ventricle showed bleeding from the atrioventricular groove 3 cm lateral to the left atrial auricle. Under the impression of a Type I left ventricular rupture, epicardial repair (primary repair of the Teflon felt pledgetted suture, continuous sealing suture using auto-pericardial patch and application of fibrin-sealant) was attempted. Successful local control was made and the patient recovered uneventfully. The patient was discharged at 14 postoperative days without complications. We report this successful epicardial repair of an acute type I left ventricular rupture after mitral valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.815-818
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• 1997

Prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE), although uncommon, is associated with significant mortality if the infection spreads into the paravavular structures with later abscess formation. However, combined antibiotic and surgical treatment is often successful. Accurate diagnosis by on echocardiography, effective myocardial protection during operation and increased surgical experience have improved the short-term and long-term outcomes for patients with PVE. A 35-year-old male had a history of replacement of aortic and mitral valve, and tricuspid annuloplasty on August 1994, was admitted due to sudden onset of aphasia, leftward deviation of both eyeballs and spiking fever and diagnosed of having PVE by echocardiography. Reoperation was done after 6weeks of antibiotic treatment. On the operative field, we could notice circumferential vegetation along aortic valve annulus, paravalvular leakage and abscess pocket. The mitral valve amlulus was healthy. The patient underwent redo aortic valve replacement using cryopreserved aortic homograft after radical debridement of infected issue. During the follow up of 7 months period the homograft was well functioning without recurrence of symptoms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.817-824
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• 2007

Background: There are two choices for heart valve replacement-the use of a tissue valve and the use of a mechanical valve. Using a tissue valve, additional surgery will be problematic due to valve degeneration. If the risk of additional surgery could be reduced, the tissue valve could be more widely used. Therefore, we analyzed the risk factors and mortality of patients undergoing repeated heart valve replacement and primary replacement. Material and Method: We analyzed 25 consecutive patients who underwent repeated heart valve replacement and 158 patients who underwent primary heart valve replacement among 239 patients that underwent heart vale replacement in out hospital from January 1995 to December 2004. Result: There were no differences in age, sex, and preoperative ejection fraction between the repeated valve replacement group of patients and the primary valve replacement group of patients. In the repeated valve replacement group, the previously used artificial valves were 3 mechanical valves and 23 tissue valves. One of these cases had simultaneous replacement of the tricuspid and aortic valve with tissue valves. The mean duration after a previous operation was 92 months for the use of a mechanical valve and 160 months for the use of a tissue valve. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamp time were 152 minutes and 108 minutes, respectively, for the repeated valve replacement group of patients and 130 minutes and 89 minutes, respectively, for the primary valve replacement group of patients. These results were statistically significant. The use of an intra aortic balloon pump (IABP) was required for 2 cases (8%) in the repeated valve replacement group of patients and 6 cases (3.8%) in the primary valve replacement group of patients. An operative death occurred in one case (4%) in the repeated valve replacement group of patients and occurred in nine cases (5.1%) in the primary valve replacement group of patients. Among postoperative complications, the need for mechanical ventilation over 48 hours was different between the two groups. The mean follow up period after surgery was $6.5{\pm}3.2$ years. The 5-year survival of patients in the repeated valve replacement group was 74% and the 5-year survival of patients in the primary valve replacement group was 95%. Conclusion: The risk was slightly increased, but there was little difference in mortality between the repeated and primary heart valve replacement group of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the issue of avoiding the use of a tissue valve due to the risk of additional surgery, and it is encouraged to use the tissue valve selectively, which has several advantages over the use of a mechanical valve. In the case of a repeated replacement, however, the mortality rate was high for a patient whose preoperative status was not poor. A proper as sessment of cardiac function and patient status is required after the primary valve replacement. Subsequently, a secondary replacement could then be considered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1020-1029
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• 1988

The authors evaluated 153 patients who had undergone cardiac valve replacement between October 1979 and July 1988. The results are as follows: l. Out of 153 patients, there were 56 males and 97 females ranging from 15 to 62 years of age with a mean of 37 years. 2. Isolated mitral valve replacement took place in 82 patients, aortic valve replacement[AVR] in 16, double valve replacement[DVR] in 34, AVR combined with open mitral commissurotomy in 19, and tricuspid valve replacement[TVR] was done in 2 patients. 3. 153 patients had 187 prosthetic valves replaced with Ionescu-Shiley valves[16], Carpentier-Edwards[36], Bjork-Shiley[19], St. Jude Medical[108], and Duromedics[8]. 4. Our of 98 patients with atrial fibrillation[ 64% of a total 153 patients ] during the preoperative period, 22 patients recovered NSR[ 22/98, NSR recovery rate 22.4%] after valvular surgery and remaining 76 patients revealed persisting atrial fibrillation[76/153, 49.7% ]. 5. Preoperative episodes of systemic arterial embolization were attained in 9 patients[9/153, 6% ], and left atrial thrombi were confirmed in 22 patients intraoperatively[ 22/153, 14% ]. Of these, only one patient, however, demonstrated the correspondence of preoperative embolization and intraoperative existence of LA thrombi. 6. With mechanical prostheses, anticoagulant therapy was begun 48 hours after operation with sodium warfarin[2.5-5.0mg/day], maintaining the prothrombin time between 16 and 18 seconds or 30 to 50% of control values and continued for life. With tissue prostheses, sodium warfarin was continued for 3 to 6 months and converted into buffered ASA[ 325 mg/day ] for one year. 7. The mean follow-up for the survivors was 30.1 months, with a range from 3 months to 9 years. All suspected or confirmed thromboembolic episodes counted as events and occurred in 4 patients[ 1.04%/patient-year] with mechanical valve replacement. No persistent paralysis or death was noted. Late complications have not yet occurred in the patients with isolated MVR and AVR. 8. There were remarkable structural failures of tissue valves in 3 patients[ 1.9%/patient-year ], while no instance of failure of a mechanical valve. 9. There were 10 operative early deaths[10/153, 6.5%] and 5 late deaths[5/153, 3.3%]. Consequently, overall mortality was 9.8%[ 15/153] during follow-up period. 10. We currently favor using the St. Jude Medical valve in all patients requiring valve replacement except in those who can not take warfarin anticoagulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.506-510
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• 1983

Valve dysfunction can be caused by thickening or contraction of a fibrous sheath covering a cusp of a porcine bioprosthesis, but this is uncommon. This complication appears to more frequent in other bioprostheses, such as fascia late valves and homografts, in which fibrous sheaths seems to grow more rapidly. rapidly. Thus the slow and limited growth of fibrous sheath in porcine bioprostheses is advantageous in this respect. Recently, we experienced a case of valve dysfunction caused by fibrous tissue overgrowth on Hancock mitral xenograft in 45 year old female. 3.5 years ago, the patient was received valve replacement due to mitral stenoinsufficiency. But since 2.5 years elapsed after operation, she has complained of generalized edema and dyspnea, and their symptoms were aggravated progressively. So reoperation was performed under the diagnosis as valve dysfunction of mitral xenograft and newly developed tricuspid insufficiency. Her postoperative courses were good.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.580-585
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• 2008

Background: Many types of tricuspid annuloplasty are used in surgical correction of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR). We evaluated the mid-term and long-term outcomes in patients treated with a posterior annular plication technique (a modified Davila technique) for FTR. Material and Method: Between January 1991 and August 2006, 58 adult patients (male, 22; female, 36) with FTR of grade 2/4 or more or with tricuspid annular dilatation of more than 5.0cm in diameter, even with an FTR of less than grade 2, had received a posterior annular placation. Preoperatively, 26 patients (44.8%) had a grade 3 or more FTR. All patients had received a mitral valve replacement, and 20 (34.5%) had concomitant aortic valve replacement. Result: During the mean follow-up period of $101.4{\pm}51.6$ months, FTR disappeared or remained trivial in 28 patients (49.1%), was grade $2{\sim}3$ (${\geq}$grade 2 and $2.66{\pm}0.73\;vs.\;0.82{\pm}0.89$; p<0.0001). Patients did not require a second surgery for FTR and did not show further FTR aggravation. Conclusion: The modified Davila posterior annular plication technique for FTR has reasonable mid-term and long-term results and is a useful surgical procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.351-365
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• 1988

During one year[1987], 110 cases of open heart surgeries were performed in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje Medical College. And the results were summarized as follows. 1. Among the 110 cases, there were 77 cases of congenital heart diseases and 33 cases of acquired heart diseases. Age range of the congenital patients was 8 months to 30 years with the mean age of 8 years, and acquired patients was 16 to 56 years with the mean age was 32 years. 2. The heart lung machine used for cardiopulmonary bypass was Sarns 7000, 5-head roller pump, and the number and type of oxygenators were 50 of membrane type and 60 of bubble type. For all cases GIK[glucose-insulin-potassium] solution was used as cardioplegic solution for myocardial protection during operation. 3. Among the 77 congenital anomalies, there were 67 cases of acyanotic patients[ASD: 12, VSD: 50, PS: 1, AP window: 1, Gerbode defect: 1, ECD: 2] and 10 cases of cyanotic patients[TOF: 10], and to all of which the appropriate radical operations were applied. 4. Among the 33 acquired diseases, there were one case of left atrial myxoma, one of annuloaortic ectasia, 20 of mitral valve diseases[MS: 2, MSr: 8, MR: 2, MRs: 8], 9 of double valve diseases[MRs+AR: 1, MRs+ARs: 2, MRs+TR: 1, MSr+TR: 3, MSr+ASr: 1, MSr+ARs: 1], 2 of triple valve diseases[MSr+AR+TR: 1, MSr+ASr+TR: 1]. The left atrial myxoma was removed well with right atriotomy and atrial septal approach. And to the annuloaortic ectasia, Bentall operation was applied with good result. Mitral valve replacement[MVR] was applied to 20 cases of mitral valve diseases, double valve replacement[MVR+AVR] was applied to 6 cases of double valve diseases, MVR & tricuspid annuloplasty[TVA] was applied to 3 cases of mitral 5. The number of replaced valve were 39 in 31 cases. In MVR, 5 of mechanical valves[St. Jude Medical Valve] and 26 of tissue valves[Carpentier-Edward valve] were used. In AVR, 3 of mechanical valves and 5 of tissue valves were used. 6. Postoperative complications were occurred in 23 cases, and among them 21 cases were recovered with intensive cares, but 2 cases were expired[mortality: 1.8%].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 1992

Total 145 cases mitral vlave replacement were performed in Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Chungnam National University Hospital during the period from May 1983 to July 1991. Sixty-one patients were male and 84 patients were female and the range of age was from 12 to 66 years old with the mean of 37.9[$\pm$11.6] years. Valvular lesions were 49 cases of mitral stenosis, 18 cases of regurgitation and 78 cases of combined lesion. Used valve were Ionescu-Shiley[42 cases], Bjork-Shiley[49 cases], Inact[6 cases], St. Jude Medical[11 cases] and CarboMedics[37 cases]. Mean size of valve was 29.8$\pm$1.68mm. Early morality was 13.8%[20 cases] and low output syndrome was most common cause[9 cases]. Age, functional classification and biventricular hypertrophy were risk factors. All survived cases were followed up without missing. Mean follow up period were 3 years and 3 months. Total 14 cases of death[9.7%] were observed and heart failure, unexplained sudden death and bleeding were the causes in that order. Common late complications were heart failure and bleeding related with anticoagulation. Actuarial survival rate at 5 years was 83$\pm$5.4% in overall, 78$\pm$7.2% in tissue valve group, 87$\pm$6.8% in mechanical valve group. The actuarial freedom rate from thromboembolism at 7 years was 89$\pm$8.3% in overall, 86$\pm$9.9% in tissue valve group and 97$\pm$1.9% in mechanical valve group. Actuarial freedom rate from bleeding at 5 years with anticoagulation was 88.9$\pm$4.2% in overall, 96$\pm$3.9% in tissue valve group, 86$\pm$4.6% in mechanical valve group. Reoperation was done in 3 cases with heart failure with tricuspid regurgitation and thromboembolism in 2 cases. The functional status of survived cases was I or II.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.272-280
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• 1994

Total 400 St.Jude Medical Bileaflet Valves were implanted in 336 pts from January 1983 to June 1993; 64 were aortic, 205 were mitral, 64 were double valve and 3 were tricuspid position. The follow up period extended from 6 months to 10 years[mean 24.3 months]. Male to female ratio was 1:1.7. There were total 27 deaths[cardiac related 20, cardiac non-related 7]. Overall mortality was 2.9%/pt-yr. There were 10 early deaths[3.0%] and 10 late cardiac related deaths [3.0%]. Prosthetic valve related complications occurred in 19 patients[5.7%] and among them, seven died; four died of thromboembolic events, two died of anticoagulants therapy related hemorrhagic complications and one died of bacterial endocarditis. NYHA class improved significantly especially in aortic valve replacement and double valve replacement. In AVR cases, the mean NYHA was 2.8 preoperatively and 1.3 postoperatively. And in DVR cases, 3.3 preoperatively and 2.2 postoperatively. The decision to employ a particular prosthesis was made according to the anticipated or known complications of the valve. The St.Jude Medical Valve retains all the hazards of other mechanical valves, most notably, thromboembolism. But the hemodynamic performance of St.Jude Medical Valve compared most favorably with other substitute valves in many reports. 0ur experience didn`t show any differences compared other authors in terms of valve related complication. So we concluded St. Jude Medical Valve can be primarily considered in the selection of artificial valve except in the patients when the usage of anticoagulant therapy is contraindicated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.619-629
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• 1988

The increasing number of replacement of the substitute cardiac valves were seen in these 2 years. Out of a total 1,408 patients with cardiac valve replacement, 54 required replacement of the substitute valves. Fifty-nine substitute valves replaced were 43 in mitral, 14 in aortic and 2 in tricuspid positions; and they were 36 Ionescu-Shiley, 15 Hancock and 3 Angell-Shiley bioprosthetic valves and 3 St. Jude Medical and 2 Bjork-Shiley prosthetic valves. Primary tissue failure was the most frequent reason of replacement[38 patients] followed by paravalvular leak[9 patients], prosthetic valve endocarditis[6 patients] and valve thrombosis[1 patient] in order. The most pronounced pathology of the failed xenograft valves seen in the primary tissue failure group was calcification and fixation of the cusps with or without tear and defect of the cuspal tissue. The operative mortality rate was 7.4%. Fifty early survivors were followed up for a total of 82.6 patient-years and there was no late death. Actuarial survival rate was 92.3*3.8% at 6 years after surgery. Although the definite tendency toward early and accelerated degeneration of the xenograft valves has been seen in patients younger than 20 to 25 years of age, no strict age limit from where the tissue failure slows down could be determined. The requirement of the ideal substitute valves would be the durability of the recently developed mechanical prostheses armed with the low thrombogenicity of the bioprostheses. At the present time, the need of compromise in selection between less thrombogenic bioprosthetic and more durable mechanical valves should be stressed. The difficulty in choice is yet important in patients of middle age and children where the use of homograft valves may be one of the solution despite of certain limitations from sociomedical reasons.