• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.543-547
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• 1993

Cor triatriatum is a rare entity of congenital heart disease characterized by the presence of a fibrousmuscular diaphragm that subdivides the left atrium into a proximal or "accessory" chamber and a distal or "true" left atrial chamber. In the other hand, cor triatriatum is a variant of abnormal connection between the pulmonary vein and true left atrium which is separated from accessory left atrium receiving pulmonary venous blood flow by fibromuscular diaphragm. We experienced two cases of cor triatriatum. One of them was classical, and the other case was combined with atrial septal defect and all pulmonary veins were drained into the " common pulmonary venous chamber " which connected with right atrium and there was no direct communication between the accessory chamber and true left atrium. The abnormal diaphragms were excised and the atrial septal defect was repaired with pericardial patch in case II. The postoperative courses were not eventful and the patients were discharged with good result, and have been in good condition upto now.n good condition upto now.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 1994

Cor triatriatum is a relatively rare cardiac anomaly, whose major feature is a fenestrated membrane separating an upper common pulmonary venous chamber from a lower true left atrial cavity. Interatrial communications may be present between the right atrium and the common pulmonary venous chamber or the true left atrium. From April 1981 to April 1992, 24 patients with cor triatriatum were treated at Seoul National University Hospital. Ages ranged from 1 month to 24 years with mean of 7.4 years. Twenty patients had interatrial communications through a patent foramen ovale, primum or secundum defect of the atrial septum. Four had no interatrial communications. Fourteen patients had associated anomalies; partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in 3, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in 2, persistent left superior vena cava in 3, and other anomalies in 6 patients. Surgical corrections were performed through right atriotomy in 18 patients, left atriotomy in 4, and both atriotomy in 2. Three patients [12.5%] died early after operation; two of them were associated with single ventricle. Six out of 21 survivors [28.6%] experienced complications; recurrent pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, ischemic encephalopathy, diaphragmatic palsy and tachyarrhythmias. At the time of follow up, all survivors, except one, were in functional class I. Surgical correction of cor triatriatum restored normal hemodynamic status with relatively low operative mortality, especially in patients not complicated with severe anomalies. This report summarizes the clinical diagnosis, associated anomalies, interatrial communications, surgical approach and late result of 24 patients underwent surgical corrections in our hospital.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.310-321
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• 1991

Between April 1986 and September 1990, 34 patients with a single or dominant right ventricle underwent modified Fontan procedure for definite palliation in Seoul National University Children`s Hospital. Their age at operation ranged from 8 months to 14 years [Mean 5.5 years]. The ventricular chamber was solitary and of indeterminate trabecular pattern in 6 patients. 28 patients had posteriorly located rudimentary chamber, all of which were trabecular pouches having no communication with outlet septum. The patterns of atrioventricular connection were common inlet[9], double inlet [11], left atrioventricular valve atresia [12] and right atrioventricular valve atresia with L-loop [2]. Pulmonary outflow tracts were atretic in 7 patients and stenotic in 26 patients. Major associated anomalies included anomalous systemic venous drainage [15], dextrocardia [12] and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection[3]. Shunt operations were previously performed in 13 patients and pulmonary artery banding and atrial septectomy in 1 patients. Surgery included intraatrial baffling in 26 patients, bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt in 13 patients, atrioventricular valve obliteration in 3 patients and atrioventricular valve replacement in 3 patients. Central venous pressure measured postoperatively at intensive care unit ranged from 18cm H2O to 28cm H2O [mean 23.2cm H2O]. Hospital mortality was 35.3% [12/34], all died out of low output syndrome. Suspected causes of low output syndrome include ventricular dysfunction [8], hypoplastic or tortuous pulmonary artery [2] and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance [2]. 19 patients had 31 major complications including low output syndrome [18], arrhythmia [4], acute renal failure [3] and respiratory failure [3]. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the groups receiving intraatrial baffling and AV valve replacement respectively [p<0.05]. 20 patients were followed up postoperatively with the mean follow-up period 15.0$\pm$11.6 months. There were no late death and follow-up catheterization was performed in 10 patients. Mean right atrial pressure was 15.4$\pm$6.8mmHg and ventricular contraction was reasonable in all but one case. Thus, Fontan principle can be applied successfully to all the patients with complex cardiac anomaly of single ventricle variety and better results can be anticipated with judicious selection of patient and improvement of postoperative care.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.618-626
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• 1986

Univentricular heart is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which the atrial chambers are connected to only one ventricular chamber and it consists of a diverse group of cardiac malformation characterized by both AV valves or a common AV valve opening into the same ventricle, or the presence of only a solitary AV valve. In spite of recent development in cardiac surgery, corrective operations for univentricular heart still have high mortality and complication rate. Twenty eight patients underwent corrective operation for univentricular heart at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital from February 1979 to July 1986. Of the 28 patients, 7 patients were operated on by ventricular septation and 21 patients by modified Fontan operation. Of the 28 patients, 19 patients were male and 9 patients female and ages ranged from 5 months to 18 years old with the average age of 7.3 years. There were 2 mortalities in 7 patients operated on by septation with the mortality rate of 28.6% and 5 complications, 3 complete AV block, 1 low cardiac output and 1 arrhythmia. All survived patients are being followed up without specific problem till now. There were 10 mortalities in 21 patients operated on by modified Fontan operation with the mortality rate of 47.6% and 10 complications, 2 low cardiac output, 2 respiratory failure necessitating tracheostomy, 2 persistent cyanosis, 2 arrhythmia, 1 missing of left AV valve in situs inversus patient due to misdiagnosis and one rupture of closed right AV valve. Incremental risk factors for operative mortality are young age less than 5 years old, anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage and atrial septation procedure. In 11 survived patients, 9 patients show good follow-up results but one patient complains of persistent cyanosis and another one patient is suffered from CHF. In our series, results of corrective operation for univentricular heart shows continuing improvement but still high mortality and complication rate. So there must be continuing improvement in surgical result by selection of patient, by adequate decision making for timing and method of operation and by improving operative methods.