• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.235-241
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• 2021

Cardiogenic syncope occurs due to arrhythmia (bradycardia and tachycardia) or decreased cardiac output, and if proper treatment is not provided, it can lead to acute sudden death. A detailed medical history and physical examinations are required to determine the cause of syncope, and clinical approaches, including 12-lead ECG, are important. The 12-lead ECG does not have a chest lead in the posterior wall of the left ventricle; therefore, ECG of the isolated posterior wall myocardial infarction caused by left circumflex artery occlusion is not observed with ST elevation. Therefore, the significantly higher appearance of ST depression and R waves than S waves from V1 to V3 of the chest lead must be interpreted meaningfully. Isolated posterior wall myocardial infarction is small in the area of myocardial necrosis, and tension is increased in the necrotic area due to the contraction of the normal myocardial muscle, which can cause ventricular wall rupture. Therefore, it is necessary to additionally check Beck's triad, such as jugular venous distension and decreased heart sound, in patients with low blood pressure with an isolated posterior wall myocardial infarction on 12-lead ECG in patients with syncope.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1017-1022
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• 1999

Background: An increasing number of elderly are referred for open heart surgeries(OHS). These patients are assumed to have significantly increased morbidity and mortality because of compromised functional reserves in their vital organs. We reviewed the results of OHS patients who were 70 years old or older. Material and Method: Thirty six consecutive septuagenarians underwent OHS from 1995 to 1997. Operations were coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) in 26 including 3 left main surgical angioplasty, valve replacement in 7, MVR+CABG in 2, and ASD closure+TAP in 1. Statistical tests were carried out to compare survivor group with nonsurvivor group in respect to risk factors including NYHA functional class, LVEF, emergent operation, IABP support, CPB/ACC time, ventilator time cardiac index, ICU stay and hospital stay for operative mortality. Result: Operative mortality rate and postoperative complication were 16%(6/36) and 50%(18/36). One-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 76%. Nine patients(25%) had major complications including third-degree A-V block(2), respiratory failure(1), stroke(3), renal failure requiring dialysis(3) and postoperative hemorrhage(2). The causes of death were pneumonia(1), bleeding(1), acute renal failure(1), low cardiac output(1), third-degree A-V block(1), and ventricular tachycardia(1). The univariate analysis of mortality shows that NYHA class IV, LVEF<40%, lesser values for C.I, and longer time for ventilatory support were associated with the risk factors(p value=0.03, 0.001, 0.007, and 0.014). The emergent operation, CPB/ACC time, IABP support, ICU stay and hospital stay were not significant. Conclusion: We conclude that cardiac operation can be performed in septuagenarians with acceptable outcomes when done in patients with normal to moderately depressed left ventricular function and adequate functional reserves in their vital organs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.844-853
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• 1990

We have performed 27 cases of orthotopic homologous cardiac transplantation using Korean mongrel dogs and one case of sham operation for the evaluation of harmful effect of cardiopulmonary bypass itself on the dog from April, 1989 to June, 1990. Our previous reports have already demonstrated basal hemodynamic and hematologic data on the canine homologous heart transplantation and the fundamental principles of transplantation of the heart. The mean body weight of recipients was 13.2$\pm$1.2kg with a rage of 11 ~ 15kg, and the hemodynamic and hematologic pictures were almost same as the result of previous reports from our hospital, except marked decrease in postoperative platelet count[from 3.18 $\pm$0.80x106/mm3 to 1.41$\pm$0 37x 106/mm3]. Mean survival time was 24.82$\pm$49.40 hours with the longest survival of 264 hours. Donor cardiectomy included coronary vasodilatation with diltiazem, potassium arrest, and the rapid cooling of the heart suspending in the specially designed ice-bath. Median sternotomy provided excellent exposure of the surgical field. 6 \ulcorner0 prolene suture was used for the anastomosis of both atrial cuffs and the great arteries, and we found the fact that stenosis, bleeding, thrombus formation around the anastomotic site could be decreased with the use of everted horizontal mattress suture techniques. Immunosuppression was done with a combination of lower dose Cyclosporin-A, Azathioprine, methyl-prednisolone, but our cases still showed too short survival to worry about graft rejection. Still poor was our quality control of experimental animal, we had much difficulties in postmortem evaluation of the dogs. Low cardiac output due to biventricular failure, intractable supraventricular or ventricular tachyarrhythmia, postoperative massive bleeding, sepsis were most frequent findings that could be thought as a cause of death. A few cases showed subendocardial patch hemorrhage in both ventricular cavity or atrial septum at autopsy, suggesting acute subendocardial infarction. Although our team overcome most of the technical problems of orthotopic heart transplantation, we should pile up further knowledges about donor heart preservation, quality control of animal, infection, rejection, the effect of the cardiopulmonary bypass to improve the results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 1979

This 3-year-old girl was observed frequent exertional dyspnea and cyanosis at crying since birth. She was not premature baby and delivered at full term normally. On physical examination, she was underdeveloped-body weight 13.5 kg, height 99 cm.- and cyanotic. There was severe clubbing on fingers. There was grade II/VI ejection systolic murmur on left lateral border of the sternum. The preoperative examinations [EKG, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and biventriculogram] showed that complicated T.G.A. combined vena cava[S.D.D.]. Preoperatively, we decided the corrective surgery of Rastelli operation using a. pulmonary valved conduit. The operation was performed under total circulatory arrest using deep profound hypothermia combining with extracorporeal circulation. On operation, the anatomy of the heart showed that, 1. The subaortic conus was seen and subaortic muscles were hypertrophied. 2. The VSD[type II], behind the subaortic conus-about 1 cm. in diameter, was visible only through LV cavity and, 3. The pulmonary valve ring was hypoplastic and pulmonary valvular stenosis was seen also. The subpulmonic area [LV outflow tract] was obstructed with hypertrophied muscle and mitral valve. 4. Left superior vena cava was drained to RA via coronary sinus. 5. LAD coronary artery was originated from right coronary artery and ran anterior to the pulmonary artery. According to above anatomy, we performed the VSD closure with Teflon patch, and Mustard operation combined with LV-to-pulmonary artery bypass graft using the valve contained [Hancock 16 mm] conduit. Postoperatively, adequate blood pressure could be maintained under the state of using inotropic agent [epinephrine]. On the second postoperative day, the patient died of cardiac arrest due to low cardiac output syndrome, acute renal failure and pulmonary edema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1202-1206
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• 1996

Ebstein's anomaly is an unusual and a rare congenital cardiac malformation but characteristic abnormality of the development of the tricuspid valve, right atrium and ventricle. The characteristic findings are a displaced tricuspid valve with a septal leaflet spiralling into the right ventricle. The surgical correction is variable and are left unsolved problem in surgical treatment of anomaly. Between January 1988 ＆ December 1995, we experienced 11 cases of Ebstein's anomaly and associated cardiac anomalies are ASD, PFO, ASD with VSD. The typically displaced tricuspid valve leaflet was found in all cases. In the NYHA functional classification, three were in class II, seven were in class III, and one was in class IV. Nine patients were operated by tricuspid annuloplasty ＆ plication with Danielson's method and two patients were done by tricuspid valve replacement with plication, and in all cases associated anomaly was corrected. Postoperatively, five patients suffered from complication - low cardiac output syndrome, arrhythmia and wound infection. There was no operative mortality and the postoperative courses were relatively good conditions with more improvement of symptoms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.81-87
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• 2000

Beat-to-beat changes in heart period (heart period variability, HPV) are mediated by fluctuations in autonomic activity. Spectral analysis is used to quantify such fluctuations in the range of 0.15-0.40 Hz (high frequency, HF), which are influenced primarily by parasympathetic factors. These fluctuations are often referred to as RSA (respiratory sinus arrhythmia), the physiological phenomenon extracted by spectral analysis and other methods including histograms of heart rate ( HR), deviations of HR etc. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia indexing with peak-to-valley method suggested by Grossman et at., (1981) yields a simple range statistic and is quantified on breath-by-breath basis, thus being quite sensitive and less dependent on recording time as compared to spectral analysis. It is strongly recommended to use at least 1 min epoch to asses HF component of HPV and at least 2 min fer low frequency (LF) of HPV and even 5 min far valid clinical assessment. Peak-to-valley statistic is limited to RSA index only, but has its pragmatic advantages. Most important is possibility of its application far relatively small epoch analysis. We used short periods (20,30, 40 sec only) and off-line analysis of RSA using ECG and respiration curve this method of assessment and proved that this method is more practically effective. The RSA index was not so far dependent on respiration pattern differences and reflected actual vagal control of HR and were accompanied by low HR under some high stress conditions and in an aversive affective visual stimulation experiments. Another factor that might modulate cardiac chronotropic response is the interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs on sino-atrial (SA) node level, because responses to vagal influences are known to be proportional to ongoing sympathetic activity, that is so called accentuated antagonism. Since sympathetic outflow (increment of influences on SA) under negative emotions or stress was high in almost all physiological responses, vagal effects on HR could be therefore potentiated, leading to masking of output cardiac response seen in HPV, In the case of moderate sympathetic activation, on the other hand, autonomic interactions in cardiac control appear to be minimal. Thus RSA index appears to be an effective alternative method to assess and measure spectral HPV.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.426-432
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• 2013

Background: Heart transplantation has become a widely accepted surgical option for end-stage heart failure in Korea since its first success in 1992. We reviewed early postoperative complications and mortality in 239 patients who underwent heart transplantation using bicaval technique in Asan Medical Center. Methods: Between January 1999 and December 2011, a total of 247 patients aged over 17 received heart transplantation using bicaval technique in Asan Medical Center. After excluding four patients with concomitant kidney transplantation and four with heart-lung transplantation, 239 patients were enrolled in this study. We evaluated their early postoperative complications and mortality. Postoperative complications included primary graft failure, cerebrovascular accident, mediastinal bleeding, renal failure, low cardiac output syndrome requiring intra-aortic balloon pump or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation insertion, pericardial effusion, and inguinal lymphocele. Follow-up was 100% complete with a mean follow-up duration of $58.4{\pm}43.6$ months. Results: Early death occurred in three patients (1.3%). The most common complications were pericardial effusion (61.5%) followed by arrhythmia (41.8%) and mediastinal bleeding (8.4%). Among the patients complicated with pericardial effusion, only 13 (5.4%) required window operation. The incidence of other significant complications was less than 5%: stroke (1.3%), low cardiac output syndrome (2.5%), renal failure requiring renal replacement (3.8%), sternal wound infection (2.0%), and inguinal lymphocele (4.6%). Most of complications did not result in the extended length of hospital stay except mediastinal bleeding (p=0.034). Conclusion: Heart transplantation is a widely accepted option of surgical treatment for end-stage heart failure with good early outcomes and relatively low catastrophic complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1031-1036
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• 1998

Background: Medtronic-Hall mechanical valve is a world widely using prosthesis. But, in Korea, the clinical result from Medtronic-Hall valve replacement is not frequenthy available. Materials and methods: From March 1986 to May 1990, 50 patients underwent valve replacement surgery with Medtronic-Hall valve at Pusan National University Hospital. Seventeen were male and thirty three were female and ra nging in age from 16 to 70 years of age(mean=35 years). Results: The causes of valvular lesion were rheumatic in 43 patients, bicuspid aortic valve in 3 patients, degenerative lesion in three patients and bacterial endocarditis in one patient. The operative procedures were mitral valve replacement(MVR) in 38, aortic valve replacement(AVR) in 5 and double valve replacement(DVR) in 7. The most commonly used valve size was 21mm in AVR, 29mm in MVR. Concomitant surgical procedures were performed in 15 patients; left atrial thrombectomy in 9, left atrial auricle obliteration in 6 and tricuspid annuloplasty in 5(Kay: 2, DeVega: 3). New York Heart Association functional class was mostly Class Ⅲ or Ⅳ(91.5%) preoperatively and ClassⅠor Ⅱ(87.2%) after operation. The findings of postoperative echocardiogram of LAD, LVESD, LVEDD were reduced compared with preoperative period and ejection fraction was increased compared with preoperative period. Postoperative complications were massive bleeding in three, low cardiac output syndrome in two, thromboembolism in one and fulminant hepatitis in one patient. There were three hospital deaths and their causes were low cardiac output syndrome in two and rupture of left ventricle in one patient. The 5 year survival rate was 93.65±0.71% and 10 year actuarial survival rate was 88.27±6.42%. Conclusions: Medtronic-Hall mechanical valve has low valve related complication rate. It's durability and hemodynamic performance is comparable to other mechanical valves.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.560-569
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• 1991

The surgical management of symptomatic tetralogy of Fallot in infants is debatable. From November 1986 to August 1990, 21 infants under 10 kg of the body weight with tetralogy of Fallot underwent primary repair. Mean body weight was 8.6$\pm$1.40kg. All the patient were clubbing and there were cyanotic except for 1 patient. Transannular patch was laid down in 8 patients. Right ventricular outflow patch was used with Goretex but pericardial patch was utilized in 3 patients at the initial period of operation. Incidence of the complications following total correction of tetralogy of Fallot was more frequent in the patients placed with transannular patch compared to the patients with right ventricular outflow tract patch. Two deaths occurred in the 21 patients, Hospital mortality was 9.4%, but there were no operative deaths in the patients who transannular patch was laid down. Causes of deaths were low cardiac output.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1990

Thirteen patients underwent repair of atrioventricular septal defect [AVSD] from January 1980 to July 1989 at Kyungpook National University Hospital. Two patients had complete AVSD [Rastelli type A] and eleven patients had partial AVSD [ostium primum atrial septal defect and cleft of anterior mitral leaflet]. In all the patients of partial AVSD, atrial septal defect was closed with Dacron patch and the mitral cleft was approximated with interrupted simple sutures. In one patient of complete AVSD, one patch technique was used to close the atrial and ventricular septal defect, and in the other patient of complete AVSD, two patch technique was used. In six patients, there were associated anomalies; four had isolated ostium secundum ASD, two had patent foramen ovale. Postoperative complete A-V block was noted in a patient of partial AVSD, but it was returned to 1st degree A-V block 30 months later and in another case of partial AVSD, severe congestive heart failure [NYHA functional class IV] due to residual mitral insufficiency was developed postoperatively, but this patient was recovered to the state of functional class I after receiving mitral valve replacement. There was one hospital death [8 %] resulting from low cardiac output.