• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 1997

.Itrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias requiring treatment. About 60% of patients with mitral valvular disease have atrial fibrillation and one third of patients with atrial fibrillation may have the past history of thromboembolic events. Between April 1994 and June 1995, 20 patients with organic heart diseases combined with atrial fibrillation underwent open heart surgery including Cox-maze 111 procedure. There were 6 men and 14 women with an average age of 48 years (range, 31 to 66 years). Nineteen patients had valvular heart diseases and 1 ventricular septal defEct (VSD). Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 36 months (:42 months) (range, 1 to 132 months). T e past medical history of thromboembolic events was positive in 7 patients (35%) and left atrial thrombus was detected in 9 patients (45%). The concomitant procedures were mitral valve replacement (MVR) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) in 5 patients, MVR in 4, MVd and tricuspid annuloplasty(TAP) in 4, mitral valvuloplasty(Mln) in 3, Mln and Tln in 1, MIW and coronary artery bypass surgery in 1, AVR in 1, and patch closure of VSD in 1. Mean aortic cross-clamping time was 175 minutes (range, 116 to 270 minutes). Atrial fibrillation recurred in 16 patients (80%) during the early postoperative period, but, recurrent atrial fibrillation was converted to regular rhythm at postoperative forty-first day in average. There was no early or late death in this series of 20 patients and postoperative complications were inappropriate tachycardia in 5 patients (25%), low cardiac output syndrome in 3 (15%), aggravated hemiplegic in 1, and acute renal failure in 1. Mean follow-up interval of patient was 16.5 months (range, 10.5 to 24 months) and all patients are currently in regular rhythm. Seventeen patients (85%) are in sinus rhythm and 3 (15%) in junctional rhythm. Right atrial contraction was detected in 95% of patients and left atrial contraction in 63% on postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram. The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation concomitant with open heart surgery is warranted in the recent clinical setting of improved myocardial protection technique, considering the untoward side-effects of atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.710-718
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• 2009

Background: The Cox maze procedure has been used as a standard surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation for about 20 years. Recently, the creators have used a bipolar radiofrequency electrode (Cox maze IV procedure) instead of the incision and suture (cut-sew) technique to make atrial ablation lesions for persistent atrial fibrillation. We investigated clinical outcomes for the Cox maze procedure with a bipolar radiofrequency electrode and cryoablator in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, and compared results with clinical outcomes of the cut-sew procedure. Material and Method: Between April 2005 and July 2007, 40 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation underwent Cox maze IV procedure with a bipolar radiofrequency electrode and cryoablator (bipolar radiofrequency group). Surgical outcomes were compared with those of 35 patients who had the cut-sew technique for the Cox maze III procedure. All patients had concomitant cardiac surgery. Postoperatively, the patients were followed up every 1 to 2 months. Result: At 6 months postoperatively, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm was not significantly different between the two groups: 95.0% for the bipolar radiofrequency ablation group; 97.1% for the cut-sew technique (p=1.0). At the end of the follow-up period, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm was also not significantly different (92.5% vs. 91.6%, p=1.0). In multivariate analysis using a Cox-regression model, the postoperative atrial dimension was an independent determinant of sinus conversion in the bipolar radiofrequency ablation group (hazard ratio 31, p=0.005). In the Cox-regression model for both groups, atrial fibrillation at 6 months postoperatively (hazard ratio 92.24, p=0.003) and the postoperative left atrial dimension (hazard ratio 16.05, p=0.019) were independent risk factors of continuance or recurrence of atrial fibrillation after Cox maze procedures. Aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly shorter in the radiofrequency group than in the cut-sew group. Conclusion: In the Cox maze procedure for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, the use of bipolar radiofrequency ablation and a cryoablator is as good as the cut-sew technique for conversion to sinus rhythm. The postoperative left atrial dimension is an independent determinant of postoperative continuance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.432-435
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• 2000

We report a case of primary undifferentiated cardiac sarcoma. The tumor originated from the left atrial free wall with multi-organ metastases, e.g., lung, and adrenal gland. The patient gradually grew worse with dyspnea and hemoptysis because of the obstructed left atrial outflow. Surgical resection of the left atrial sarcoma was undertaken to save the patient's life, followed by chemotherapy and brain irradiation as adjuvant therapy. The prognosis of cardiac sarcoma with metastases is very poor. However, in patients with hemodynamic instability, surgical intervention could be a therapeutic modality as palliation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.499-503
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• 2014

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia and has a large global burden. In general, treatment of AF is based on medication and consists of rate and rhythm control together with anticoagulation. However, surgical treatment may be required in patients with AF combined with organic valvular heart diseases or who experience recurrence despite medication. In addition, surgical treatment plays a role in the treatment of lone AF. This article reviews the various surgical treatment options for AF.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.38-38
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• 1998

Resting membrane potential of atrial myocytes is less negative than K+ equilibrium potential, suggesting the presence of ion channels carrying inward currents. We investigated the background Na$\^$＋/ current in rat atrial myocytes using both conventional whole cell voltage clamp technique and single channel recording.(omitted)

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.73-76
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• 1969

It is well known that the atrial myxoma is the most common intracardiac tumor which is hardly able to be diagnosed preoperatively and is completely curable if surgical treatment is appropriate. A case of the atrial myxoma, which was misdiagnosed as mitral valvular disease preoperatively and was successfully removed with the aid of the cardiopulmonary bypass, was reported. The common symptoms,signs,diagnostic measures and treatments of the intracardiac tumor were discussed with the review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.234-235
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• 1993

We have experienced a case of congenital heart disease who developed pulmonaryaspergilloma and then had open heart surgery associated with pulmonary resection. A 53 year old female patient was admitted of fever and chill without cyanosis and hemoptysis. Chest CT showed cavitary lesion with enhanced wall in right midle lung and huge pulmonary artery. Secundum atrial septal defect was identified by echocardiography and catheterization, preoperatively. The patient was identified finally as atrial septal defect associated with pulmonary aspergilloma, in operation and pathology.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1161-1167
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• 1991

The study consisted of all patients undergoing surgical repair of isolated secundum type atrial septal defect in patients ages 35 years or older for the period from October 1986 to October 1991. ASD was closed with direct suture in all patients. Response to surgery was excellent. Two patients who had atrial fibrillation was taken low-dose warfarin therapy to prevent stroke. All patients survived operation, and improved by at least one New York Heart Association functional classification. An old age was not a contraindication to surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.148-151
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• 1988

We experienced 2 years and 5 months old male patient with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return of the left lung into the coronary sinus without atrial septal defect. After incising the atrial septum and the wall between the left atrium and the coronary sinus, we made the roof of the coronary sinus and closed the artificial atrial septal defect, with using patch, then we could change the direction of the blood flow from the coronary sinus into the left atrium. The patient was discharged on the 13th postoperative day after uneventful postoperative course.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.399-402
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• 1981

Because of recent advances in cardiac surgery and diagnostic techniques, left ventricular-right atrial communication has been reported with increasing frequency. Recently we experienced 2 cases of left ventricular-right atrial communication, which were corrected surgically. Preoperative diagnosis was incorrect In both cases as ventricular septal defect. The type of defect was supravalvular in case 1 and case 2. Both cases were successfully closed with the aid of extracorporeal circulation and discharged with good results.