• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.368-371
• /
• 2019

A unicuspid aortic valve is a rare congenital malformation that frequently presents with valvular dysfunction and dilatation or aortic aneurysm, requiring combined aortic valve surgery and aortic repair. Some patients show severe valve calcification extending into the interventricular septum, possibly resulting in damage to the conduction system during debridement for valve replacement. We present a rare case of severe aortic stenosis with a unicommissural unicuspid aortic valve diagnosed by preoperative transesophageal echocardiography in a 36-year-old man. After composite graft replacement of the aortic valve, aortic root, and ascending aorta, a permanent pacemaker was placed because of postoperative complete heart block.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.861-869
• /
• 1991

From August, 1986 to December, 1989, mitral valve replacement was performed in 93 patients. Of the valve implanted, 42 were Duromedics, 35 St. Jude Medical, 15 Carpenter-Edwards and 1 Ionescu-Shiley. The hospital mortality rate was 3.2%[3 patients] and the late mortality rate was 4.3% [4 patients]. The causes of hospital death were LV rupture in 1, renal failure in 1 and hypoxic brain damage in l. The causes of late death were congestive heart failure in 1 and sudden death in 3. Follow-up was done on 78 surviving patients; mean follow-up period was 29.22$\pm$9.09 months. The actual survival rate was 91.8% at 4 years. We concluded, therefore, that good clinical results could be achieved with mitral valve replacement in short-term follow-up, and long-term follow-up is also necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.672-677
• /
• 1984

Thromboembolism is a major cause of morbidity and death following implantation of cardiac prosthetic devices. Effective systemic anticoagulation is very important. The presence of thrombus can often be detected by pulmonary edema associated with the disappearance of valve clicks. 2-D echocardiography and phonocardiography are also valuable tools. The most common treatment is reoperation and replacement after discovery early. We have experienced one death of fatal thromboembolism after St. Jude valve replacement was done in 48 years old male diagnosed of severe mitral stenosis. He was treated with warfarin, aspirin, ticlopidine for 10 weeks but died suddenly. At autopsy, valve dysfunction was seen due to organic thrombus arising from atrial septum and confirmed with microscopic findings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.272-276
• /
• 2015

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder that is characterized by aggressive arterial and aortic disease, often involving the formation of aortic aneurysms. We describe the cases of two children with LDS who were diagnosed with aortic root aneurysms and successfully treated by valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) with a Valsalva graft. VSRR is a safe and suitable operation for children that avoids prosthetic valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.161-166
• /
• 2018

Patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) is a controversial issue in current clinical practice. PPM has been reported to have a negative impact on patients' prognosis after aortic valve replacement in several studies, showing increased all-cause and cardiac mortality. Moreover, a close relationship has recently been described between PPM and structural valve deterioration in biological prostheses. In patients at risk for PPM, several issues should be considered, and in the current era of cardiac surgery, preoperative planning should consider the different types of valves available and the various surgical techniques that can be used to prevent PPM. The present paper analyses the state of the art of the PPM issue.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.121-130
• /
• 1988

During one year period from Sep. 1986 to Sep. 1987, we have experienced 6 cases of infective endocarditis requiring surgical interventions. All 6 patients had class IV or V cardiac disability at the time of surgery. The indication for surgery was rapidly progressive congestive heart failure in all cases. Four patients underwent aortic valve replacement including one double valve replacement. Two other patients required other surgical procedures, removal of large left atrial vegetation mass in one patient and excision of destroyed pulmonary valve and aortic vegetation in the other patient. Two patients died; one of mitral annulus rupture after release of aortic clamp and the other of mediastinal bleeding 3 months after replacement of aortic valve. Three out of 4 survivors are in NYHA Class I and the remaining patient is in Class II. We emphasize that early operative intervention is life-saving in patients with persistent or progressive congestive heart failure, irrespective of the activity of the infective process or the duration of antibiotic therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.979-986
• /
• 1991

From October 1988 to November 1989, seven patients underwent valve replacement during the active phase of native valve endocarditis. There were 4 males and 3 females whose mean age was 41 years[range, 16 to 68 years]. Preoperative two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography showed vegetations and severe valvular regurgitation in all patients. Blood cultures were positive in 4, and negative in 3 patients Organisms were alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus in 2, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in 1 patient Valve tissue cultures were negative in all patients. Intravenous antibiotic therapy had been done for 3 to 18 days in 5 patients pre-operatively and was not done in 2 patients, Indications for operation were heart failure in h, and systemic emboli in 1 patient. The aortic valve was involved in 3, mitral in 1, and both aortic and mitral in 3 patients, One operative death[14.4%] occurred in patient with cardiogenic shock before operation. Late death occurred in one on 14 months after operation. The remaining 5 patients were followed up over a two year period in good condition. In conclusion, native valve endocarditis with severe heart failure must be considered for early operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.706-710
• /
• 1988

Intravascular hemolysis occurs in the majority of patient with mechanical valve prosthesis. The primary cause is mechanical trauma to red cells from turbulent blood flow through the prosthesis. Degree of hemolysis is dependent upon the type, size and material of valve and aggravated by paravalvular leakage. Clinically important hemolytic anemia is required medical management or consideration of reoperation. In severe hemolysis, reoperation is recommended without delay when seems to be renal failure. In this case, postoperative severe mechanical hemolysis was developed immediately after aortic valve replacement with St. Jude medical valve in a 13 year-old male patient. Neither significant paravalvular leakage nor valvular dysfunction was found through redo, but the mechanical valve was strongly suspected the cause of severe hemolysis. The St. Jude Medical valve was changed with Ionescu-Shiley bioprosthesis and any significant clinical problems were not noted through the postoperative course.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.504-509
• /
• 2014

Background: Most surgeons favor the pledgeted suture technique for heart valve replacements because they believe it decreases the risk of paravalvular leak (PVL). We hypothesized that the use of nonpledgeted rather than pledgeted sutures during mitral valve replacement (MVR) may decrease the incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and risk of a major PVL. Methods: We analyzed 263 patients, divided into 175 patients who underwent MVR with nonpledgeted sutures from January 2003 to December 2013 and 88 patients who underwent MVR with pledgeted sutures from January 1995 to December 2001. We compared the occurrence of PVL and PVE between these groups. Results: In patients who underwent MVR with or without tricuspid valve surgery and/or a Maze operation, PVL occurred in 1.1% of the pledgeted group and 2.9% of the nonpledgeted group. The incidence of PVE was 2.9% in the nonpledgeted group and 1.1% in the pledgeted group. No differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: We suggest that a nonpledgeted suture technique can be an alternative to the traditional use of pledgeted sutures in most patients who undergo MVR, with no significant difference in the incidence of PVL.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.69-72
• /
• 1995

A 69-year-old patient with rupture of anterolateral papillary muscle following non-Q-wave myocardial infarction is described. Transesophageal echocardiography was useful in making the diagnosis. Mitral valve replacement was performed 22 days after the onset of acute myocardial infarction. The patient was discharged in his good condition and coronary angiography is scheduled.