• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 1997

Heart transplantation is now accepted as a definitive therapeutic modality in patients with terminal hear failure. The first successful heart transplantation in humans was done in 1967 and the first case in Korea was performed in november, 1992. Since the first case in 1992, more than 50 cases have been performed in Korea. A total of 20 patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation since November, 1992 in Asan Medicla Center. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the early results and the follow-up course of 20 cases of heart transplantation done in Asan Medical Center. The average age of 20 patients was 39.9$\pm$11.8 years old(20~58). The mean follow-up duration was 14.4$\pm$11.2 months(1~41). All patients are alive till now. The blood type was identical in 14 and compatible in 6 patients. ihe original heart disease was dilated cardiomyopathy in 16, valvular heart disease in 2, ischemic cardiomyopathy in 1, and giant cell myocarditis in 1 patient. HLA cross matching for recipient and donor was done in 18 cases and the results were negative for T-cell and B-cell in 16 patients, pos tive for warm B-cell in 2 patients. Among 6 loci of A, B, and DR, one locus was matched in 8 cases, 2 loci in 5 cases, and 3 loci matched in 1 case. The number of acute allograft rejection averaged 2.8$\pm$0.5 (0~6) per case and the number of acute allograft rejection requiring treatment averaged 1.0$\pm$0.9 (1~3) per case. The time interval from operation to the first acute rejection requiring treatment was 35.5$\pm$20.4 days (5~60). Acute humoral rejection was suspected strongly in 1 case and was successfully treated. The left ventricular ejection fraction measured by echocardiography and/or MUGA scan was dramatically increased from 17.5$\pm$6.8 (9~32)% to 58.9$\pm$2.0 (55~62)% after heart transplantation. Temporary pacing was needed in 5 patients over 24 hours but normal sinus rhythm appeared within 7 days in all cases. One patient has been taken permanent pacemaker implantation due to complete AV block appearing 140 days after heart transplantaion. One patient had cyclosporine-associated n urotoxicity during the immediate postoperative period and was recovered after 27 hours. The heart transplantation of Asan Medical Center is on a developing stage but the early result is comparable to that of well established centers in other countries, even though the long-term follow-up result must be reevaluated. We can conclude that the heart transplantion is a promising therapeutic option in patients with terminal heart failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.202-209
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• 2008

Background: The introduction of Drug Eluting Stents (DES) decreased the number of patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The impact of DES on CABG (Step 1) was studied and compared with the 1-year outcome after CABG with DES (Step 2). Material and Method: Surgical results for patients who underwent off-pump CABG (OPCAB) before the introduction of DES(n=298) were compared with those who underwent OPCAB after the introduction of DES (n=288) (Step 1). Postoperative 30-day and 1-year results were also compared between the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using DES (n=220) and those who underwent OPCAB (n=255) (Step 2). Result: Since the introduction of DES, the ratio of CABG versus PCI decreased. In the CABG group, the number of high risk patients such as elderly patients (age 62 vs. 64, p=0.023), those with chronic renal failure (4% vs. 9%, p=0.021), calcification of the ascending aorta (9% vs. 15%, p=0.043), or frequency of urgent or emergent operations (12% vs. 22%, p=0.002) increased. However, there were no differences in the cardiac death and graft patency rates between the two groups (step 1). During the one-year follow up period, the rate of target vessel revascularization (12.3% vs. 2.4%, p<0.001) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: death, myocardial infarct, TVR) were higher in the DES than the CABG group (13.6% vs 4.3%) (stage 2). Conclusion: Introduction of DES decreased the number of patients referred for surgery, and increased the comorbidity in patients who underwent CABG. DES increased the rate of target vessel revascularization, and the occurrence of MACE during the 1-year follow-up. However, there was no difference in the incidence of myocardial infarction and cardiac death between the two groups.