• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.134-139
• /
• 1986

Seventeen patients underwent operations for aneurysm of ascending aorta with aortic regurgitation from August 1979 to October 1985. 10 patients underwent complete replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve with a composite graft and implantation of coronary ostia on the graft. Seven patients underwent supracoronary noncomposite graft replacement and aortic valve replacement. The patients ranged in age from 25 to 55 years [mean 37.6 years]. There were 11 male and 6 female patients. All patients had aortic incompetence and aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta. Seven of the patients has concomitant aortic dissection in ascending aorta and one had dissection in abdominal aorta. Eight patients had signs of Marfan syndrome and the other 3 patients had cystic degeneration in the medial layer of the aorta. There was one hospital death[5.8%]. He died of sepsis on the 23rd postoperative day. All survivors showed improvement in NYHA functional classification in the 34.9 patient-year follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.463-467
• /
• 1989

The presence of a small aortic annulus creates a difficult technical problem. Whenever possible, the smaller prosthesis of any type should be avoided. A case of aortic stenoinsufficiency with fibrous small aortic annulus [17 mm] in 26 years old adult woman patient was successful operated upon with aortic valve replacement [21 mm St. Jude Medical valve] and enlargement of aortic annulus with Gore-Tex patch. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.1 s.270
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2007

Backgound: It has been shown that the endothelium of cardiac valves and adjacent great vessels have a reduced immune reaction compared to other vessels. We investigated the clinical feasibility of using immunologically untreated xenogenic valves, in a pig-to-goat pulmonary valve conduit implantation model. Material and Method: Porcine pulmonary valve conduits were prepared without specific immunologic treatment and implanted into the right ventricular outflow tract of goats while undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Two goats each were assigned to the following observation time intervals: one day, one week, three months, six months and twelve months. Echo-cardiographic examinations were performed prior to sacrifice of the goat to evaluate pulmonary valve function. After the xenograft specimens were retrieved, histological changes were evaluated microscopically. Result: Ten of the twelve animals survived the predetermined observation time intervals. Aneurysmal dilatations, of the anterior wall of the implanted pulmonary artery, were observed at each of three and twelve month-survival animals. A variable degree of pulmonary valve regurgitation was observed on echocardiography. However, valve stenosis, thrombotic occlusion and vegetation were not seen. Microscopically, the nuclei of the donor tissue disappeared as a result of pyknosis and karyolysis; however the three components of the implanted xenografts (the pulmonary artery, the valve and the infundibulum) were gradually replaced by host cells over time, while maintaining their structural integrity. Conclusion: Immunologically untreated xenogenic pulmonary valve conduits were replaced by host cells with few observed clinical problems in a pig to goat pulmonary valve implantation model. Therefore, they might be an alternative bioprosthesis option.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.384-390
• /
• 2003

Background: Since Ross and Sormeville first reported the use of aortic homograft valve for correction of pulmonary atresia in 1966, homograft valves are widely used in the repair of congenital anomalies as conduits between the pulmonary ventricle and pulmonary arteries. On the basis of these results, we have used it actively. In this report, we describe our experience with the use of cryopreserved valved homograft conduits for infants and children requiring right ventricle to pulmonary artery connection in various congenital cardiac anomalies. Material and Method: Between January, 1996 and December 2001, 27 infants or children with a median age of 16 months(range 9days to 18years) underwent repair of RVOTO using homograft valved conduit by two surgeons. We studied 22 patients who have been followed up at least more than one year. The diagnosis at operation included pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n=13), truncus arteriosus (n=3), TGA or corrected TGA with RVOTO (n=6). Homograft valved conduits varied in size from 15 to 26 mm (mean, 183.82 mm). The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 80.4 months (median, 48.4 months). Result: There was no re-operation due to graft failure itself. However, early progressive pulmonary homograft valve insufficiency developed in one patient, that was caused by dilatation secondary to the presence of residual distal pulmonary artery stenosis and hypoplasia after repair of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect. This patient was required reoperation (conduit replacement). During follow-up period, there were significant pulmonary stenosis in one, and pulmonary regurgitation more than moderate degree in 3. And there were mild calcifications at distal anastomotic site in 2 patients. All the calcified homografts were aortic in origin. Conclusion: We observed that cryopreserved homograft conduits used in infant and children functioned satisfactorily in the pulmonic position at mid-term follow-up. To enhance the homograft function, ongoing investigation is required to re-establish the optimal strategy for the harvest, preservation and the use of it.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2003

Background: The St. Jude Medical prosthesis is one of the popularly used artificial prosthesis, therefore the National Medical Center reports the long-term clinical results of patients who underwent prosthetic valve replacement with St. Jude medical valve for 18 years. Material and Method: Between January, 1984 and June, 2002, a series of 163 consecutive patients who had Implanted St. Jude prosthesis at the National Medical Center were reviewed. Mean age was 42.9$\pm$15.1 years and male to female ratio was 69:94. The operative procedure comprised of 87 MVR, 30 AVR, 45 DVR, and 1 TVR. The reoperative procedure comprised of 21 MVR, 2 AVR, and 14 DVR. Follow-up rate was 96.9%, and cumulative follow-up was 823.8 patient-years. Result: Early mortality rate was 7.9% (13 patients), late mortality rate was 8.7% (13 patients) and late mortality due to valve related complication was 47% (7 patients). Actual survival rate at 10 and 18 years were 91.7$\pm$2.1% and 91.0$\pm$1.9%. Linearized Incidence was as follows: thromboembolism, 1.09%/ patient-year; anticoagulant related hemorrhage, 0.36%/patient-year; valve thrombosis, 0.24%/patient-year; paravalvular leakage, 0.12%/patient-year; and prosthetic bacterial endocarditis, 0.12%/patient-year linearized incidence of over all valve related complication was 1.94%/patient-year. Freedom from valve related complication at 10 and 18 years were 89.1$\pm$3.3% and 88.4$\pm$3.9%. Freedom from valve related death at 10 and 18 years were 95.1$\pm$1.2% and 95.1$\pm$1.0%. Valve related complication was related the age of patient, especially anticoagulant related hemorrhage was more common in patients over 60 years of age. Valve related complication, death were higher in DVR than AVR or MVR, and valve related death was higher in reoperation. There was no relationship between valve related complication or death and implant valve of size. Conclusion: The long-term clinical results of patients implanted with St. Jude Mechanical prosthesis was quite satisfactory with a low incidence of valve related complication and mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.346-352
• /
• 1998

Rheumatic valvulitis produces at least three distinct pathologic changes, the degree varying widely among the patients: fusion of the valve leaflets at the commissures; fusion and shortening of chordae tendinae: and fibrosis of the leaflets with subsequent stiffening, contraction and calcification. The most extensive changes usually are seen in patients with recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever. We studied on outcome of the surgical treatments of rheumatic valvular diseases that have been experienced for 12 years since 1982 at Pusan National University Hospital. The diagnoses were made by rheumatic fever history, echocardiographic findings, gross operative findings and microscopic findings. Total 502 patients were performed surgery for valvular heart diseases and 440 patients of rheumatic origin have bene analysed. There were more female than male patients as 1.3:1, and the mean age was 37.8 years old. 96.3% of them affected to the mitral valve, 19.8% to aortic valve, 16.3% affected to the tricuspid valve. Most of them underwent valve replacement, and valve repair was done in 3.9% of patients. There were 36 hospital deaths(8.2%) mainly from low cardiac output syndrome, and 15 late deaths equally due to embolism and hemorrhage. Follow up was 90.1% completed(2890 patient- year). Linealized rates of late complication events are follows : thromboembolism 1.3% per patient year; anticoagulant related hemorrhage 0.8% per patient year. Overall actuarial survival including hospital mortality was 92.7＋/-2.9% in 1 year, 88.0＋/-4.5% in 5 year, 82.3＋/-7.7% in 10 year. We conclude that the rheumatic disease is still the most frequent and the most important cause of heart valve disease. So more intensive study is needed in spite of the abrupt decreasing rate of rheumatic fever in U.S.A. and other industrial country.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.693-697
• /
• 1989

A forty-eight-year-old female patient with ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic insufficiency underwent a modified Bentall operation. The ascending aorta and the aortic valve were replaced with a composite graft containing a St. Jude valve. The coronary orifices were anastomosed to the tubular Dacron prosthesis by means of a second smaller Gore-Tex tube, and a fistula between the aneurysmal sac and the right atrial appendage was created to drain oozing from the prosthesis. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged without complication. She is doing well on the 14 months follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.258-262
• /
• 1995

We have experienced 18 abdominal aortic aneurysms between March,1987 and June,1994.Unruptured patients were 11 cases and ruptured were 7.The fifth[33.4% ,sixth[27.7% and seventh[27.7% decades were most common age distributions.Sex ratio was 2.6:1[m:f .The most frequent symptoms were abdominal or back pain and palpable pulsating mass.Sixteen patients underwent resection and graft replacement.One patient refused operation.Atherosclerosis was the underlying pathology in 76%.Two ruptured patients died postoperative[28.5% .The frequency of postoperative complication was higher in the ruptured group.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.8
• /
• pp.910-916
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The arterial switch operation (ASO) has become the preferred procedure for the surgical management of transposition of the great arteries (TGA). We conducted a retrospective evaluation of our experience in 30 patients seen from January 2003 to July 2008, in order to determine outcomes and related risk factors after the arterial switch operation. Methods : Patients charts, surgical reports, and echocardiograms were retrospectively reviewed. And they were analyzed in 2 different groups: complex (n=16) versus simple TGAs (n=14). Complex TGAs are TGAs with VSD or the Taussig-Bing anomaly with or without aortic arch anomalies. Simple TGAs are defined as TGAs with intact ventricular septum having no such anomalies. Median follow-up time was 44 months (3-63 months). Results : Hospital mortality was 0%. However, follow-up echocardiographies revealed potential complications, including stenosis of the branch pulmonary arteries, neo-aortic and/or neo-pulmonary valvar regurgitation, and right or left ventricular outflow tract obstructions. Great arterial relationship (side-by-side), association of aortic arch anomalies, and the existence of the Taussig- Bing anomaly were assessed as significant risk factors of neo-aortic and/or neo-pulmonary valvar regurgitation in this series. On the other hand, right or left ventricular outflow tract obstructions were more frequently found in patients demonstrating VSD, side-by-side positioned great arteries, or associated coronary anomalies. Conclusion : The ASO is the procedure of choice in the treatment of TGA. However, special attention and follow-ups are needed to detect residual problems like the stenosis of the branch pulmonary arteries, neo-aortic and/or neo-pulmonary valvar regurgitation, as well as ventricular outflow tract obstructions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.867-874
• /
• 1996

This study was designed to assess the left ventricular peak systolic pressure/end-systolic volume (PSP/ESV) ratio in predicting symptomatic improvement with valve replacement in patients with aortic regurgitation and enlarged left von'lrlcular volume. We studied 21 patients (15 men and 6 women aged 15 to 60 years) with moderate or severe aortic regur- gitation, no other cardiovascular abnormalities and left ventricular end-systolic volume over 60 m11m2. In this group we assessed the preoperative variables which routinely were measured at cardiac catheterlzation to predict symptomatic improvement with valve replacement. Six months after operation, symptoms were alleviated in 13 patients(62%), and unchanged in 8()8%). By multivariate analysis, the PSP/ESV rati was a strong predictor for functional class 6 months after surgery(p=0.005) and also for change- in functional class prior to an operation to 6 months postoperatively(p=0.0)2). By 6 months after receiving valve replacement, all patients with a ratio over 1. 71 mmHglml/m'were in functional class I or II , in contrast, of those with a ratio < 1.71 mmHg/ml/m2, 40% were in functional class III. The PSP/ESV ratio may help to predict which patients with aortic regurgitation and enlarged left ven- tricular end-systolic volume will have symptomatic improvement with valve replacement.