• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1046-1048
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• 1999

A life-long anticoagulation for the prevention of ischemic cerebral events by thromboemboli has been conventionally introduced for the treatment of an atrial septal aneurysm. However, due to the recent decrease of the risks in the open heart surgery, the alternative therapeutic modality has been introduced for the prevention of complications of the anticoagulation. A 41-year old female with dizziness was admitted to our hospital. She was diagnosed a shaving atrial fibrillation and a cerebellar infarction, and an atrial septal aneurysm was detected by transesophagel echocardiography that was not detected by the transthoracic echocardiography. Surgery was approached to the right submammarial anterolateral thoracotomy. The atrial septal aneurysm was obliterated by a purse-string suture and plication. Surgial results were excellent with normal sinus rhythms and esthetically satisfying appearance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.273-278
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• 1985

The case of a patient with abnormal position of the atrial septum resulting in a left atrium with two atrioventricular valves and a disconnected right atrium is presented with review of related articles. Anatomic details showed atrial situs solitus and a left sided cardiac apex. The right atrium received both venae cavae and a coronary sinus. No AV valve was found in the right atrium, and the floor of this chamber was placed above the posterior wall of right ventricular chamber. The atrial septum with secundum ASD was displaced to right anteriorly at its lower portion and inserted to right of tricuspid annulus. The tricuspid and mitral valve configuration was that of so-called partial ECD, i.e. mitral cleft with large anterior mitral leaflets. The ventricular septum was intact and both ventricular chambers were equally well developed with normal relationships. Surgical repair of this anomaly was performed by resecting the abnormally positioned lower part of the atrial septum, repairing the cleft of the anterior mitral leaflet, and septating the atrium for diverting the systemic and pulmonary venous blood to RV and LV, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.348-354
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• 1978

Myxoma constitue about 50% of a II primary cardiac, tumor (incidence 0.03%) and occur in any of the cardiac chambers, but about 75% of themare found in the left atrium. As is well known, left atrial myxoma usually simulates mitral valvular disease, and it tends to bring about postural syncope and frequent embolic manifestaticns. The clinical manifestation of left atrial myxoma upon the circulation are obstructive effects, embolic effects and constitutional effects. Diagnosis is now most of all important since surgery can be dramatically curable, whereas untreated myxoma apparently invariably lead to deadful course. Preaprative diagncsis by echocardiogram is so simple and accurate for detection of myxoma that awareness of mitral valvular heart disease with rapid deterioration must be screened. We have diagnosed one case of the left atrial myxoma preopratively by phonocardiogram, echocardiogram and levophase pulmonary angiograJ;n and successfully treated by operation under extra corporeal circulation. A 38 years old housewife was admitted to the National Medical Center because of dyspnea, and paroxysmal cough on occasions for prior to hospitalization. Operation was carried out by median sternotomy and left atriotomy with mild hypothermia under E.C.C. The left atrial myxoma was extirpated including endocardial fragment and its weight was 23gm. The hospital course was not eventful and she can work nowadays without symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2005

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to explore the concept of uncertainty and to examine the relationships among uncertainty, appraisal of uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and perceived health status in patients with atrial fibrillation. Method: The study utilized a descriptive correlational survey design using a face to face interview method. A convenience sample of 49 subjects were recruited from K university hospital over 8 months. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and partial correlation analysis. Results: 1) Subjects perceived with moderately high uncertainty(M=65.98); moderate physical health(M=39.80), mental health(M=47.38), and general health(M=2.94); moderate anxiety(M= 44.78); and slightly low depression(M=15.33). 2) There were significant differences in uncertainty by gender and education. 3) Uncertainty and danger appraisal were significantly correlated(r=.32, p=.03) while the uncertainty was not associated with opportunity appraisal. 4) Uncertainty was significantly correlated with mental health(r=-.31, p=.04), anxiety(r=.38, p=.01), and depression(r=.37, p=.01). Conclusion: This study was the first trial to explore uncertainty and to examine the relationships among its associated factors in Korean patients with atrial fibrillation. Thus, based on the findings of this study, directions for nursing practice and further nursing research for patients with atrial fibrillation were suggested.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: The subjects were 150 outpatients with atrial fibrillation who visited the cardiology clinic of a university hospital in U city. The instruments used for this study were Mhel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) Korean version II. The date were analyzed by ANOVA, Pearson-correlation coefficient, and hierachial multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 18.0. Results: The mean score of physical health-related quality of life (PCS) was $38.92{\pm}6.22$ and mental health-related quality of life (MCS) was $41.49{\pm}5.71$. Physical and Mental health-related quality of life had the significant correlations with uncertainty, anxiety and depression. In multiple regression analysis, physical health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by duration of disease, NYHA class, uncertainty. Mental health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by family income, NYHA class, anxiety and depression. Conclusion: These results suggest that these influencing factors should be consider in developing the nursing interventions to improve the healthrelated quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1988

The left atrial [LA] dimension and atrial fibrillation [AF] in patients with mitral valvular heart diseases have been thought to be related to hemodynamic burden to the LA depending on severity of stenosis or regurgitation of mitral valve, left ventricular contractility and the heart conditions. If hemodynamic burden persists long, it can affect the LA wall and structural change of the LA wall itself can developed. So the structural change of the LA wall could be thought to be related to the LA dimension and AF. To verify this relation, the LA wall biopsy was performed in 26 patients with rheumatic mitral valvular heart disease at the left atriotomy incision margin which was posterior to the interatrial groove after completion of surgery to the mitral valve such as valve replacement or commissurotomy. Relation of the pathological state of the LA wall to AF and the LA dimension measured by M-mode echocardiography was studied. The conclusions were as follow. 1. There was tendency that degree of fibrosis of myocardium of the LA wall was related to the LA dimension. 2. There was more chance that patients who had severe fibrosis of myocardium of the LA wall had pre and postoperative AF. 3. There was no relation between reduction rate of the LA dimension before and after surgery and degree of fibrosis of myocardium of the LA wall.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.827-830
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• 1999

Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality. That is postulated to arise from a developmental weakness in the atrial wall in utero. Clinically, patients are often asymptomatic and are diagnosed incidentally, but supraventricular arrhythmias and systemic thromboembolism have also been reported in some cases. Surgical resection at the time of diagnosis is recommended because of the propensity for thromboembolic complications. A 13-month-old female, who was suspected preoperatively as having partial absence of pericardium with left atrial herniation through the defect, underwent surgical resection of the left atrial appendage aneurysm. Exposure through a median sternotomy showed an intact pericardium. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.463-466
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• 2002

We present a case of coronary artery fistula originating from the proximal left anterior descending artery draining into the main pulmonary artery, which was associated with atrial septal defect. The patient was a 56 year old male who was admitted for exertional dyspnea and abdominal distension. Echocardiogram and selective coronary arteriogram revealed a atrial septal defect and fistulous connection. The patient underwent surgery under the cardiopulmonary bypass with fibrillating heart. The pericardial patch closure of atrial septal defect and internal obliteration of the fistula termination site in the main pulmonary artery were performed. Postoperative hospital courses were uneventful without any specific complication and the patient was discharged without problem.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.448-451
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• 2004

Report of right atrial thrombus complicating pulmonary embolism after cardiac surgery is rare. A 54-year-old woman operated on the atrial septal defect 10 months ago was admitted for left pleuritic pain and dyspnea. Multiple segmental perfusion defects were detected in lung perfusion scan. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large mobile right atrial mass attached to the free wall of the right atrium with a stalk. Despite the intravenous heparinization for 13 days, follow-up echocardiography revealed the right atrial mass had not diminished in size. The mass which was confirmed as an organizing thrombus was excised under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on warfarin therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.2 s.271
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• pp.132-135
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• 2007

A right atrial thrombus in structurally normal heart is very rare. A 66-year-old woman was admitted with chest discomfort and dyspnea. She was diagnosed of right atrial myxoma on echocardiography and chest computed tomography, We peformed an excision of the mass attached to atrial septum, which was found to be an organized mural thrombus by pathologic examination. We report this rare case with a review of literature.