• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.929-936
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• 2003

We analysed the surgical outcomes of immediate reoperations after mitral valve repair. Material and Method: Eighteen patients who underwent immediate reoperation for failed mitral valve repair from April 1995 through July 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 13 female patients. The mitral valve disease was regurgitation (MR) in 12 patients, stenosis (MS) in 3, and mixed lesion in 3. The etiologies of the valve disease were rheumatic in 9 patients, degenerative in 8, and endocarditis in 1. The causes of reoperation was residual MR in 13 patients, residual MS in 4, and rupture of left ventricle in 1. Fourteen patients had rerepair for residual mitral lesions (77.8%) and four underwent replacement. Result: There was no early death. After mean follow-vp of 33 months, there was one late death. Echocardiography revealed no or grade 1 of MR (64.3%) in 9 patients and no or mild MS in 11 patients (78,6%). Reoperation was done in one patient. The cumulative survival and freedom from valve-related reoperation at 6 years were 94% and 90%, respectively. The cumulative freedom from recurrent MR and MS at 4 years were 56% and 44%, respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that immediate reoperation for failed mitral valve repair offers good early and intermediate survival, and mitral valve rerepair can be successfully performed in most of patients. However, because mitral rerepair have high failure rate, especially in rheumatic valve disease, adequate selections of valvuloplasty technique and indication are important to reduce the failure rate of mitral rerepair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• autumn
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• pp.131-134
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• 1999

This paper considers the acoustical characteristics of the mechanical valve employed in the Korean type Artificial Heart. $Bj\"{o}rk-Shiley$ tilting disc valve was chosen for the study and acoustic measurements were performed for the artificial heart operated in a mock circulation system as well as implanted to an animal as a Bi Ventricular Assist Device (BVAD). In the mock system, three different conditions of the valve were examined which were normal, damaged (torn off), pseudothrombus attached. Microphone measurements for the BVAD were carried out at a regular time interval for 5 days after the implantation operation. Of the recorded acoustic emissions from the artificial heart, click sounds mainly originated from the valves were further analyzed using Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) for estimating their spectral properties. It was shown that the spectral peaks below 4 kHz and the optimal order number for MUSIC, equivalent to the number of the spectral component, might be the key parameters which were highly correlated to the physiological states of the valve like the mechanical damage of the valve or the formation of thrombus on the valves.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.644-647
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• 2005

A free-floating ball thrombus in the left atrium that may cause fatal systemic emboli or left ventricular inflow obstruction, which often resulting in sudden death, is rarely seen. We describe a very unusual case of a patient with a large, free-floating left-atrial ball thrombus who underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement 7 years ago.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.661-671
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• 1992

From March 1988 to May 1991, 140 CarboMedics cardiac valve prostheses[75 mitral, 9 aortic and 28 double aortic-mitral] were implanted in 112 consecutive patients[mean age 36.7$\pm$11.6 years, male/female 48/76] by one surgical team operating on adult cardiac patients at Kyoungpook University Hospital Associated Surgical procedures were performed in 19 patients[16.9%]. Total follow up represented 2,345 patient-months[mean 22.4 months] and was 100% complete. Eighty-two patients[73%] were in NYHA functional class IIIor IV preoperatively and 102 patients [95%] were in class I or II postoperatively. Hospital[30 day] mortality was 4.4%, [3/75 mitral, 1/9 aortic, 1/28 double valve replacement] and late death was 1.7%. [1 /74 mitral, 1 /28 double valve replacement] The actuarial survival at 36 months was 94.0% after mitral, 80% after aortic, 92% after double valve replacement, and 93.2% for the total group. The linearized incidence of valve relater death, prosthetic valve thrombosis, anticoagulant related hemorrhage, and reoperation was 1.00%/pt-yr, 0.51%/pt/yr, 0.51%/pt-yr, and 0.51%/pt-yr respectively. The 36 month rates of freedom from valve replated death, thromboembolism, endocarditis, anti-coagulant related hemorrages, and reoperation were 98.75%, 99.08%, 100%, 99.04%, and 99.08% respectively. The 36 month rate of freedom from all valve related complications and deaths including hospital mortality was 90.2%. These fact suggest that the CarboMedics heart valve has excellent short-term result, low incidence of valve-related complications and valve dysfunction, and additional long term follow up study is necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 1992

Until March 1991, 435 St. Jude Medical valves and 330 CarboMedics valves were implanted in 358 and 251 patients, respectively. 300 patients were male and 309 were female with the mean age of 35.6 years[from 2 month to 68 years]. 458 valves were implanted in the mitral, 272 in the aortic, 25 in the tricuspid, and 10 in the pulmonic position. Postoperatively, all patients except for very young patients were given coumadin with or without dipyridamole for anticogulation Operative mortality was 7.3%[45 deaths per 618 operations]. A total follow-up of 1244.8 patient-years was achieved for the operative survivors with a follow-up rate of 96.8%, [mean follow-up period=26.3 months /patient, ranging from 1 to 80 months]. Functional improvement was evident; 66.7% of these patients were in NYHA functional class III or IV preopratively, whereas 98.4% are in class I or II pos-toperatively. There occurred 13 late deaths[7 valve-related] and 55 valve-related complications. Linearized rates of late death and valve-related complications were 1.0%/ patient-year, 4.42%/patient-year, respectively. Rates of thromboembolism, anticoagluation-related hemorrhage were 1.12%/patient-year, 1.69% /patient-year, respectively. Actuarial survival at 5 years is 96.0% and complication-free survival at 5 years is 83.9%. No difference in survival and incidence of complications was found between the St. Jude and CarboMedics valves. On the basis of this experience, we believe that the pyrolytic carbon bileaflet mechanical valves are safe and preferable choice among current valve prostheses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 1992

St.Jude Medical cardiac valve replacement was performed in 322 patients: 191 had mitral, 58 had aortic, 72 had double valve and 3 had tricuspid valve replacement. Motality rate in early period was 2.8%[9 patients]. The most common cause of early death was low cardic output syndrome. Follow up extended from 1 to 90 months[mean: 34 months] in 292 patients among 313 in all surviving patients [93.6%]. There were thrombolic complications in eighteen patients. The probability of free from thromboembolism at 5 yerars in MVR, AVR and DVR were 84.7%, 91.8% and 90.2% respectively. And also, actuarial event free rate at 5 years in MVR, AVR and DVR were 80.1%, 82.2%, and 81.4% respectively. There were fourteen late death during follow up period: six from thromboembolism, one from hemorrhage and the others from non valve related -or unknown complications. The acturial survival rate at 5 years were 93.1% in mitral, 92.1% in aortic and 97.1% in double valve replacement. In conclusion, the performance of the St. Jude Mecanical valve compares most favorably with other artificial valves. But it remains still hazards of mechanical prosthesis such as thromboembolism and anticoagulant related hemorrhage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.272-280
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• 1994

Total 400 St.Jude Medical Bileaflet Valves were implanted in 336 pts from January 1983 to June 1993; 64 were aortic, 205 were mitral, 64 were double valve and 3 were tricuspid position. The follow up period extended from 6 months to 10 years[mean 24.3 months]. Male to female ratio was 1:1.7. There were total 27 deaths[cardiac related 20, cardiac non-related 7]. Overall mortality was 2.9%/pt-yr. There were 10 early deaths[3.0%] and 10 late cardiac related deaths [3.0%]. Prosthetic valve related complications occurred in 19 patients[5.7%] and among them, seven died; four died of thromboembolic events, two died of anticoagulants therapy related hemorrhagic complications and one died of bacterial endocarditis. NYHA class improved significantly especially in aortic valve replacement and double valve replacement. In AVR cases, the mean NYHA was 2.8 preoperatively and 1.3 postoperatively. And in DVR cases, 3.3 preoperatively and 2.2 postoperatively. The decision to employ a particular prosthesis was made according to the anticipated or known complications of the valve. The St.Jude Medical Valve retains all the hazards of other mechanical valves, most notably, thromboembolism. But the hemodynamic performance of St.Jude Medical Valve compared most favorably with other substitute valves in many reports. 0ur experience didn`t show any differences compared other authors in terms of valve related complication. So we concluded St. Jude Medical Valve can be primarily considered in the selection of artificial valve except in the patients when the usage of anticoagulant therapy is contraindicated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.780-783
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• 2003

Pacemaker lead-related infective endocarditis is an uncommon, but serious complication. We report a case of a 45-year-old man who had symptom of intermittent high fever and rupture of sinus Valsalva that developed after a redo aortic valve replacement and transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation. Positive blood cultures of streptococcus viridans and transesophageal echocardiography showing a large mobile vegetation on pacemaker lead and tricuspid valve lead to the diagnosis of pacemaker lead-related infective endocarditis. Initial antibiotic therapy followed by surgical extraction of the pacemaker lead and wide debridement of infective tissues including multiple vegetations was required. Postoperative antibiotic therapy was continued for 4 weeks. The postoperative course has been uneventful. The patient is totally asymptomatic and is doing well up to now.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 2000

background: The prognosis after an aortic valve replacment can be affected significantly by the transprosthetic pressure gradient which is determined mainly by the size of the patients body and the prosthesis used. We analyzed the hemodynamic feature of two relatively new prosthese the ATS and the evensized Medtronic-Hall(M-H) valves by measuring the transprosthetic pressure gradient in the cases where small sizes (23mm or smaller) were used. Material and method: There were 94 patients who received whom aortic valve replacement with prosthesis smaller than 23 mm from October 1994 to June 1998. In these patients the transprosthetic pressure gradient clalculated from the pressure half time during postoperative Dopper echocardiographic examination was compared between the prostheses of different sizes. The body surface area of each patient was also taken into consideration. result: The mean pressure gradient and body surface area in each group were 21.7$\pm$10.2 mmHg and 1.52$\pm$0.14m2 in ATS 19mm 11.4$\pm$6.5 mmHg and 1,57$\pm$0.20m2 in M-H 20mm 15.2$\pm$6.3 mmHg and 1.54$\pm$0.13m2 in ATS 21mm 9.3$\pm$2.5 mmHg and 1.63 $\pm$0.14m2 in M-H 22 mm and 12.9$\pm$5.3 mmHg and 1.69$\pm$0.13m2 in ATS 23mm. Conclusion: The 19mm ATS prosthesis showed significant trasprosthetic pressure gradient which is similar to the values previously reported with other bileaflet prosthesesm Close follow-up was needed in terms of exercise capacity and change in left ventiricular geometry. In patients with small aortic valve annulus the 20mm M-H valve is recomendable as an alternative to 19mm bileaflet valves because it has less pressure gradient with similar outer diameter.