• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.189-194
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• 2020

Background: The decision to use transannular patching (TAP) during tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair depends on the pulmonary valve annulus size; the z score of the pulmonary annulus is the most commonly used predictor. However, definitive results are not obtained with z scores as different z score data sets are used for different parameters. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the echocardiographic and other key factors that warranted a change in the surgical method during TOF surgery. Methods: Sixty-two patients were enrolled and divided into a pulmonary valve (PV) preservation group and a TAP group. Their medical records were reviewed. Results: The z score for PV annulus (PVA), ratio of the PVA to aortic annulus size, and ratio of PVA to descending aorta (DAO) size were significantly different between the PV preservation and TAP groups (-1.72±1.52 vs. -3.07±1.94, P=0.004; 0.62±0.12 vs. 0.50±0.14, P=0.002; and 1.32±0.32 vs. 1.07±0.36, P=0.008, respectively). For TAP repair, the PVA z score had a sensitivity of 65.4% and specificity of 73.1%, ratio of PVA to aortic annulus size had a sensitivity of 73.1% and specificity of 65.4%, and ratio of PVA to DAO size had a sensitivity of 69.2% and specificity of 57.7%. The TAP group showed more monocuspid PVs (P=0.011), while the PV preservation group showed more tricuspid PVs (P=0.027). Commissurotomy was more frequently performed in the PV preservation group than in the TAP group (P=0.001). Of patients with commissurotomy, 58% showed a PV z score<-2. Conclusion: Although various echocardiographic parameters may serve as predictors for determining surgical methods for TOF patients, the PV morphology and tissue characteristics should also be considered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.679-691
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• 1985

Ninety patients underwent mitral valvular heart surgery associated with or without aortic valve surgery and subjected to a clinical study in relation to their control of postoperative atrial fibrillation. There were 26 males and 64 females ranged in age from 16 to 56 years with a mean of 35.2 years. Systemic arterial embolizations were observed in 11 patients [12.2%]. Four patients of them were in normal sinus rhythm and 7 in atrial fibrillation. Out of these, left atrial thrombi were found only in 2 at the operation. Intraoperatively confirmed left atrial thrombi were in 16 patients [17.7%] of all 90 patients: Eleven patients occurred at the age of more than 40 years, 14 were in atrial fibrillation and 2 only had previous episodes of systemic arterial embolization. Sixty three patients underwent isolated mitral valve surgery [OMC 28, MVR 35] and 27 patients associated with aortic valve surgery along with mitral valve [OMC+AVR 13, MVR+AVR 14]. Preoperatively, 44 patients [48.9%] were in normal sinus rhythm. Of them, 35 patients [79.5%] revealed normal sinus rhythm thoroughly after operation without any aid of digitalis or quinidine and 5 patients [11.4%] restored normal sinus rhythm with digitalization alone. Other 3 patients converted to normal sinus rhythm with the addition of quinidine, however, in 1 patient who was resistant to quinidine therapy, electrocardioversion was carried out on the postoperative third week showing normal sinus rhythm. Thus, the most atrial fibrillations that occurred for the first time in the postoperative period, were able to reverted to normal sinus rhythm responding well to antiarrhythmic therapy. Preoperatively, 46 patients [51.1%] were in atrial fibrillation. Of them, only 5 patients returned to sinus rhythm after operation without any aid of digitalis or quinidine and other 5 restored normal sinus rhythm with digitalization: namely 2 restored within early postoperative period and 3 after more than 3 months. Eight patients well responded to quinidine therapy showing normal Sinus rhythm. So far, 25 patients have remained in persistent atrial fibrillation on 6 to 36 months follow-up. In view of these, 17 patients [68%] were over 40 years of age, 22[80%] had long duration of symptom over 5 years and 10[40%] have had atrial thrombi before operation. Left atrial dimension were still more than 40mm in 21 patients on follow up M-mode echocardiogram. One month after operation, 87 hospital survivors were improved by at least one functional NYHA class. There were 3 operative deaths [3.3%, bleeding 1, LCOS 2] and 4 late deaths [LCOS 1, valve thrombosis 1, late bleeding 1, fulminant hepatitis 1] during follow-up period. According to our limited experience, we may conclude that better results will be expected with the addition of quinidine therapy judiciously in the cases of postoperative persistent atrial fibrillation who were aged or had longer history of symptom and left atrial thrombi.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.602-614
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• 1983

Six hundred fourteen consecutive cases of bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement performed during the period from March 1976 through December 1982 were reviewed. A total of 748 tissue valves [534 Ionescu-Shiley valves, 144 Hancock valves, 46 Angell-Shiley, and 24 Carpentier-Edwards] were implanted in 610 patients. Of these, 477 had single valve replacements [403 mitral, 60 aortic, and 14 tricuspid] including three REDO MVR and one REDO AVR. The remaining 129 had double valve replacements [95 AVR and MVR and 34 MVR and TVR] and 8 had triple valve replacement.592 cases were evaluated. Overall early mortality rate [within 30 days of operation] was 7.1% [6.2% in single valve replacement, 10.2% in double valve replacement, and 16.7% in triple valve replacement]. Leading causes of mortality were low cardiac output or myocardial failure and ventricular arrhythmias. The follow-up period was from one month to 7 years with a cumulative follow-up of 906.6 patient-years [mean 1.53 years]. The late mortality was 1.6%, 3.9%, 0%, 2.6%, 6.6% and 2.0% per patient-year for MVR, AVR, TVR or triple valve replacement, AVR+MVR, MVR+TVR and total, respectively. Actuarial analysis of late results including early mortalities indicates an expected survival rate of 87.6+1.8% at 3 years and 85.92.4% at 7 years for all cases. We also analyzed actuarial survival rate between groups of each valve replacement [AVR, TVR, Double valve, and Triple valve] and the tissue valve groups in MVR. We experienced 7 cases [0.77% per patient-year] of confirmed endocarditis, two of which were fatal. Valve failure-free rates calculated according to the confirmed cases were 97.5% at 4 years, 87.5% at 7 years, and 88.3% at 6 years for Ionescu-Shiley, Hancock and Angell-Shiley valves, respectively. The occurrence rate of thromboembolism was 2.0% per patient-year in total cases, although almost all the patients were given anticoagulant therapy for one year. The occurring rate in MVR was 1.5% and 2.7% per patient-year for Ionescu-Shiley and Hancock valve groups, respectively. The difference in actuarial rate free from thromboemboli between Ionescu-Shiley and Hancock groups was statistically significant [P value less than 0.001]. Thromboembolic events beyond the period of anticoagulation therapy mainly occurred in patients with atrial fibrillation. The actuarial thromboemboli free survival was 95.71.4% at 3 years and 80.17.3% at 7 years. The incidence of hemorrhagic complications was 1.2% per patient-year [fatality 0.55% per patient-year] for anticoagulated patients. Although our clinical data favorably compares with results from other reports, our results suggest that anticoagulant therapy be given on a short-term basis or not at all to hemodynamically stable patients. Long-term therapy with antiplatelet drugs is probably inevitable with patients who have thromboembolic risk factors [such as atrial fibrillation].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.498-505
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• 1983

It has been over 20 years since successful operations of Cardiac valves at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery, college of medicine, Yonsei University. About six hundreds of patients with severely symptomatic valvular heart disease have had valve operations with complete loss or sharp decrease in their cardiac symptoms since 1956. As the number of cardiac patient increases, reoperation on valves assumes greater importance. To define the group of patients undergoing reoperations on valves and the factors influencing their survival, we have reviewed our experiences of the reoperation on valves at the Yonsei University, Severance Hospital. This is a report of 29 cases which was undergone secondary or more surgery for valvular heart disease from 1966 to 1983. The primary operations includes 159 cases of open heart surgery from 1966 to 1975 and 476 cases from 1976 to march, 1983. The secondary operations are classified into groups of secondary valvuloplasty or valvotomy [8 cases], prosthetic valve replacement following valvuloplasty or valvotomy [14 cases] and prosthetic valve rereplacement [2 case] for such as calcification, degeneration and perforation of the cusps and paravalvular leakage, of the bioprosthetic valves. The leading indication for reoperation of mitral valve was restenosis or stenoinsufficiency, The indications of aortic valve replacement was active bacterial endocarditis, medically uncontrollable prosthetic endocarditis or paravalvular leakage. Overall death rate of the reoperation was 17.4% [5 death among the 29 patients] and the leading causes of death were myocardial failure, arrhythmia, cerebral embolism, acute renal failure due to low output syndrome. And it was followed by sepsis associated with active prosthetic endocarditis. The death rate of reoperation was 4.3% in the elective cases except urgent cases and the death rate of overall cardiac valve except reoperation cases was 4.1% in the last two years. Although the general mortality of reoperation was high, both mortality rates were comparable except emergency cases due to urgent preoperative patient’s condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.663-668
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• 1991

To evaluate risks, complications and mortality of reoperations on heart valve prosthesis, we reviewed clinical records of 53 patients who underwent reoperation because of prosthetic valve failure[PVF], from Jan 1959 through Jun. 1991. They had undergone 48 mitral, 10 aortic valve rereplacement Primary tissue failure was the main cause of reoperation : it occurred in 51 valves at a mean postoperative interval of 58 months. Calcification and collagen disruption of prosthesis were main causes of primary tissue failure in macro and micropathology, In 3 failing mechanical prostheses, paravalvular leak was in 2 cases, another one case had the thrombi at the hinge portion. If conditions such as emergency operation with or without endocarditis, thromboembolism and advanced NYHA functional class are prevented, we think that reoperative valve replacement has similar morbidity and mortality to initial valve replacement surgery. But our sturdy represents higher mortality [22.6%] because of late surgical intervention failing the prevention of conditions leading to myocardial damage. In conclusion if the tearing, calcification, and a new murmur were detected the early reoperation should be considered to increase late survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.158-161
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• 1990

A congenital coronary artery fistula is an uncommon anomaly which has a direct communication between a coronary artery and the lumen of any one of the four cardiac chambers, or the coronary sinus, or its tributary veins or the superior vena cava. The right coronary artery is involved most frequently, and the abnormal communication in most often is to the right ventricle followed in incidence by drainage into the right atrium and the pulmonary artery. Recently. we experienced a case of congenital coronary artery fistula associated with valvular heart disease. The fistulous communication was noted between the left circumflex artery and the left atrial appendage. Under the cardiopulmonary bypass, the internal obliteration of the left atrial appendage, mitral valve replacement, and aortic valve exploration were accomplished. Postoperative hospital course was uneventful and the patient was discharged without any problems.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 1984

Sixty cases of open heart surgery were performed in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Chonbuk National University Hospital from July, 1983 to June, 1984. The patients were consisted of 40 [66%] congenital anomalies containing 26 [43%] patients of acyanotic group and 4 [23%] of cyanotic group, and 20 [34%] acquired heart diseases which involved one or more cardiac valves. The male patients were 42 and the female 18. In 20 valvular heart diseases, open mitral commissurotomy was done in 5 patients, mitral valvular replacement with tissue valve in 6, mitral valvular replacement with mechanical valve in 5, mitral valvular replacement with tricuspid annuloplasty in 2, mitral annuloplasty in 1, and mitral and aortic valvular replacements with mechanical valves in 1. The most frequency complication was low cardiac output syndrome occurred in 9, and the next was urethral stenosis, ARDS, and postoperative bleeding, etc. The perioperative mortality was 21% in congenital cyanotic heart disease, 12% in congenital acyanotic heart disease, and 5% in acquired heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.340-346
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• 1988

The surgical treatment of annuloaortic ectasia falls into two basic categories, depending on the management of the coronary artery ostia and the sinus of Valsalva. The conventional method, first suggested by Groves, Wheat and their associates, employs a supracoronary graft for the treatment of aneurysm and conventional valve replacement. A more radical approach, that of Bentall and DeBono, uses a valve conduit from the aortic annulus to the distal extent of the aneurysm. This latter technique requires reimplantation of the coronary artery ostia for reestablishment of coronary artery blood flow. Recently we experienced a case of annuloaortic ectasia to which we applied the Bentall operation with the good postoperative result, and now we report this with literature review.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 1985

One case of anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries was managed at department of cardiothoracic surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital at May, 1984. Anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries was an extremely rare congenital heart disease. Only 21 cases were reported in English literatures. If there are no associated cardiac disease, the patient will have normal life span. This 39 year old man had suffered from exertional dyspnea for 6 years. He had carried out normal military service as a sergeant for 8 years, and his life was not restricted before this episode. He had operated under diagnosis of mitral stenoinsufficiency & tricuspid regurgitation but died because of lower cardiac output.,br> At autopsy, the great arteries were malpositioned but viscera and lung were normal position and picture. The aortic valve was located left and anterior to the pulmonic valve and there are bilateral conus in this anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries. The coronary arteries were normal distribution.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.96-99
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• 2009

We report here on a case of a ruptured sinus of a valsalva aneurysm into the left ventricle with the rupture site communicating with both the left coronary sinus and the noncoronary sinus in a 37-year-old male who presented with symptoms of congestive heart failure. Echocardiography showed a sac-like structure around the sinus of valsalva, an enlarged left ventricle (LV) and severe aortic regurgitation, which all suggested a ruptured sinus of a valsalva aneurysm or an aortic-left ventricular tunnel. The operative findings revealed that both the left coronary sinus and the noncoronary sinus had an opening into the left ventricle. The proximal opening into the LV was closed with bovine pericardium and the aortic root was replaced with a composite graft (a 21 mm St. Jude Epic Supra tissue valve and a 24 mm Hemashild graft) by the modified Bentall procedure. The patient was discharged on the 15th postoperative day, and he was regularly followed up for 2 months. We report on this case due to its rarity and to describe the surgical repair techniques.