• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.133-136
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• 2002

A 28 year-old male who had received Konno procedure twelve years ago with 23mmmechanical aortic valve and bovine pericardium with which his small aortic annulus, ventricular septum and right ventricular outflow tract had been enlarged was transferred due to sudden congestive heart failure. There were perforations on aortic and interventricular portion of bovine pericardial patch above and below the aortic valve, respectively, which was calcified and denaturated severely. The perforations seemed to be attributed to the cracks, resulting from mobility of mechanical aortic valvc itself and stiffness of calcified and denaturated bovine patch. We performed a redo Konno procedure applying PTFE patch.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.134-139
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• 1986

Seventeen patients underwent operations for aneurysm of ascending aorta with aortic regurgitation from August 1979 to October 1985. 10 patients underwent complete replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve with a composite graft and implantation of coronary ostia on the graft. Seven patients underwent supracoronary noncomposite graft replacement and aortic valve replacement. The patients ranged in age from 25 to 55 years [mean 37.6 years]. There were 11 male and 6 female patients. All patients had aortic incompetence and aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta. Seven of the patients has concomitant aortic dissection in ascending aorta and one had dissection in abdominal aorta. Eight patients had signs of Marfan syndrome and the other 3 patients had cystic degeneration in the medial layer of the aorta. There was one hospital death[5.8%]. He died of sepsis on the 23rd postoperative day. All survivors showed improvement in NYHA functional classification in the 34.9 patient-year follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.463-467
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• 1989

The presence of a small aortic annulus creates a difficult technical problem. Whenever possible, the smaller prosthesis of any type should be avoided. A case of aortic stenoinsufficiency with fibrous small aortic annulus [17 mm] in 26 years old adult woman patient was successful operated upon with aortic valve replacement [21 mm St. Jude Medical valve] and enlargement of aortic annulus with Gore-Tex patch. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.586-590
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• 1998

Background: The regression of the left ventricular hypertrophy after prosthetic valve replacement in patients with aortic valvular stenosis is an important factor to determine the appropriateness of the replaced prosthetic valvular size. Methods: To assess the regression of myocardial hypertrophy, a retrospective analysis of Doppler echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data was undertaken before, soon after(7.5$\pm$2.1 day), and late after(10.7$\pm$1.8 months) surgery in 36 patients(22 males, 14 female, mean age 54$\pm$12.1 years, mean BSA 1.61$\pm$0.15m2) with predominant aortic valvular stenosis. The patients underwent St. Jude Medical aortic valve replacement. By the size of the valves used, the patients were divided into three groups(19, 21 and 23+). Results: The mean body surface area(1.48$\pm$0.13) in the patients with the 19 mm valve was smaller than that in the other groups(1.63$\pm$0.12)(p<0.05). No significant changes of ejection fraction were detected in all groups over time. Left ventricular muscle mass index(gm/m2) was reduced significantly in the 21 and 23+ groups over time(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in the 19 mm valve group. The electric voltage height on EKG at the period of late after surgery was reduced significantly in all groups(p<0.05). Conclusion: Despite clinical improvement, the LVH was not reduced significantly in 19 mm valve group. Thus we suggest that more attention and additional procedures such as annular enlargement should be taken in patients who will undergo the replacement of 19 mm prosthetic valve.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.838-845
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• 1994

From April, 1982 to December, 1992, multiple valve replacement was performed in 100 patients. Mitral and aortic valve replacement were done in 86 patients, 9 underwent mitral and tricuspid valve replacement, 4 patients underwent triple valve replacement and 1 patient underwent aortic and tricuspid valve replacement. Of the valve implanted, 100 were St. Jude, 64 Duromedics, 19 Carpentier-Edwards, 13 Bj rk-Shiley, 6 Ionescu-Shiley, and 2 Medronics.The hospital mortality rate was 15%[15 patients] and the late mortality rate was 7%[7 patients], the mortality rate was high in early operative period but decreased with time[20% at 1986, 18.2% at 1987, 9.5% at 1988, 11.1% at 1989, 12.5% at 1990, 11.8% at 1991, 0% at 1992]. The causes of death were low cardiac output in 8, sudden death in 3, CHF in 3, bleeding in 2, cerebral thromboembolism in 1, leukemia in 1, multiorgan failure in 1 and so on. The actuarial survival rate excluding operative death was 73% at 10 years.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.967-972
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• 1991

Between Feb. 1982 and July 1990, 173 patients [male: 89, female: 84] Who underwent heart valve replacement for acquired valvular heart disease on the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, were reviewed for return to work after heart valve replacement. The replaced valve were mitral [128, 74.0%], aortic[10, 5.8%], mitral & aortic[35, 20.2%]. Two tricuspid valve replacement were excluded. Several important factors influencing the return to work were age, the employment status before surgery, the number of replaced valve, the pre - op NYHA functional class and cardiac function [ejection fraction]. These factors were closely related to the optimal time of heart valve replacement. It can be concluded that the rate of return to work and the quality of life would be improved if valve replacement were performed at an earlier stage of valvular heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.444-450
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• 1994

From June 1984 to February 1994, cardiac valve replacement was performed in 108 patients. The distribution of patients was ranged from 13 to 64 year-old age[mean 39.48 1.24] and 51 patients were male, 57 patients were female [male:female=1:1.1]. 64 patients had mitral valve replacement, 27 patients underwent aortic valve replacement and 17 patients were performed double[mitral & aortic] valve replacement. Total 125 artificial cardiac valves were used, mechanical valves were 51 valves and tissue valves were 74 valves. The duration of follow-up was 473.41 patient-year[mean 4.79 3.29 patient-year] and the information of follow-up was available for 99 patients[92%]. The actuarial survival rates including the operative mortality was 89.5% & 88.3 at postoperative fourth & ninth year. The probability of freedom from overall valve failure, thromboembolism and bacterial endocarditis were 77.5%, 89.2% and 95.6% at ninth year after cardiac valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.189-200
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• 1974

The mitral valve replacement with Beall prosthetic valve was performed on three patients, and double valve replacement. aortic and mitral valve, was performed in this department.1) The preoperative studies about the first case were compatible with mitral steno-insufficency.The diseased mitral valve was replaced with the medium sized Beall prosthetic valve under the cardiopulmonary hypass using hypothermic hemodilution technique. The total perfusion time was eighty minutes. Immediate postoperative course was smooth, but this patient was died of asphyxia due to tracheomalacia complicated after tracheostomy 3 months after operation. Autopsy on this patient revealed that no thrombus and no ball variance could be found, and endothelization on the valve cuff was satisfactory. 2) The preoperative studies on the second case were compatible with mitral insufficiency. The diseased mitral valve was replaced with the medium sized Beall prosthetic valve under the cardiopulmonary bypass using hypothermic hemodilution technigue. The total perfusion time was 123 minutes. This patient was discharged in good condition and follow-up study after 16 months revealed the patient had enjoyed healthy life. 3) The preoperative studies about the third case were compatible with aortic insufficiency and mitral stenoinsufficiency. The diseased valves were replaced with type 2 sutureless Magovern aortic valve and the medium sized Beall mitral prosthesis under cardiopulmonary bypass using hypothermic hemodilution technIque and coronary artery perfusion. The total perfusion time was 155 minutes. This patient was discharged in good condition, but thromboembolism was developed 2 months after discharge. 4) The preoperative studies about the fourth case were compatible with mitral insufficiency. The diseased mitral valve was replaced with the medium sized Beall prosthetic valve. The total perfusion time was 132 minutes. The atrioventricular block developed just after operation but converted to normal sinus rhythmn on the third postperative day. The preoperative NYHA functional classification IV was converted to Class 1 or 11 at the time of discharge and this patient enjoyed healthy life. Attendum; The fifth case, nineteen years old male with mital insufficiency underwent Beall valve replacement and his course was uneventful 2 weeks after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2002

This study was undertaken to analyze the outcome of composite valve graftreplacement(CVGR) for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving the aortic root. Material and Method: Between April 1995 and June 2001, 56 patients had replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic root with a composite graft valve and were reviewed retrospectively. Aortic regurgitation was present in 50 patients(89%), Marfan's syndrome in 18 patients(32%), and bicuspid aortic valve in 7(12.5%). The indications for operation were annuloaortic ectasia(AAE) in 30 patients(53.6%), aortic dissection in 13(23.2%), aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving aortic root in 11(19.6%), and aortitis in 2(3.6%). Cardiogenic shock due to the aortic rupture was present in 2 patients. Nine patients(16%) had previous operations on the ascending aorta or open heart surgery. The operative techniques used for CVGR were the aortic button technique in 51 patients(91%), the modified Cabrol technique in 4, and the classic Bentall technique in 1. The concomitant procedures were aortic arch replacement in 24 patients(43%), coronary artery bypass graft in 8(14.3%), mitral valve repair in 2, redo mitral valve replacement in 1, and the others in 7 The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 21$\pm$14 minutes, 186$\pm$68 minutes, and 132$\pm$42 minutes, respectively. Result: Early mortality was 1.8%(1/56). The postoperative complications were left ventricular dysfunction in 16 patients(28.6%), reoperation for bleeding in 7(12.5%), pericardial effusion in 2, and the others in 7. Fifty-three patients out of 55 hospital survivors were followed up for a mean of 23.2 $\pm$ 18.7 months(1-75 months). There were two late deaths(3.8%) including one death due to the traumatic cerebral hemorrhage, and CVGR-related late mortality was 1.9%. The 1- and 6-year actuarial survival was 98.1$\pm$1.9% and 93.2$\pm$5.1%, respectively. Two patients required reoperation for complication of CYGR(3.8%) and two other patients required subsequent operations for dissection of the remaining thoracoabdominal aorta. The 1- and 6-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 97.8$\pm$2.0% and 65.3$\pm$26.7%, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.458-472
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• 1987

A heart supplies bloods of about 15, 000 liters to each human organ in a day. A normal function of heart valves is necessary to this act of heart. The disease of heart valve develops to a narrowness of a closure, resulting in an abnormal circulation of bloods. In an attempt to eliminate the affliction of heart valves, the operation method to repair with artificial heart valves has been developed and saved numerous patients over past 30 years. This replacement operation has been performed since early 1960`s in Korea, but all the artificial heart valves used are imported from abroad with very high costs until recent years. The artificial heart valve using pyrolytic carbon has been developed at KAIST, which was proved to be stable in the mechanical performance and durability. Therefore, the in viva performance of this valve was examined through animal tests. The artificial heart valves used in this study are tilting disc type valves, in which the disc were made of graphite coated with pyrolytic carbon and the cages were made of titanium. In viva testings of these valves were performed in 12 dogs, in which right ventriculo-pulmonary arterial [Croup I] or inter-aortic [Croup IV] valved conduit was implanted using polytetrafluoroethylene conduits containing KAIST valve and aortic valve [Group II] or pulmonary valve [Croup III] was replaced by a KAIST valve with a 21mm or 19mm tissue annulus diameter. In group I and II, pre-and post-operative transvalvular pressure gradient was measured and compared with other prosthetic valves. During post operative period laboratory examination was performed including hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell count, white cell, lactic acid dehydrogenase and platelet. The eight surviving dogs were sacrificed and autopsy was performed at 2, 6, and 8 weeks. KAIST valve has low transvalvular gradient and relatively high orifice area. Average ventriculo-aortic peak systolic transvalvular gradient was 14 mmHg in 21 mm valve and 19 mmHg in 19 mm valve. The valve has slight intravascular hemolysis effect. Thrombogenic effect of low polishing quality and eddy currents around small orifice is high. The valve has vulnerability of disc movement. These animal tests suggest that the improvement of the heart valve design, surface polishing state and prescription methods.