• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 1999

Background: To review the middle and long term results of aortic valve replacement(AVR) for 11 years, we surveyed and followed up the patients who underwent AVR. Material and Method: Between Feb. 1986 and May 1997, 134 patients underwent AVR. The patients consisted of 71 men and 63 women whose mean age was 38.9 years, ranging from 17 to 70. Result: The concomitant operations were 62 mitral valve replacement(MVR), 14 MVR + tricuspid valve annuloplasty, 10 Cabrol operation, 16 aortic annulus widening, and so forth. We used 119 mechanical(75 St. Jude Medical, 38 CarboMedics, 6 Sorin) and 15 tissue (Carpentier-Edwards) valves. Early postoperative complications occurred in 35 cases; 9 congestive heart failure, 6 low cardiac output, 5 postoperative bleeding, 5 pleural effusion, and so forth. There were 13 early postoperative deaths(9.7%) due to low cardiac output(5), CHF (2), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy(2), and so forth. The cumulative total follow-up period was 452.7 patient-years with a mean of 3.4${\pm}$3.1 years/patient. There were 9 cases of valve-related complications; anticoagulant-related bleeding(4), prosthetic valve endocarditis(2), thromboembolism(2) and prosthetic valve failure(1) occured at rate of 0.9, 0.4, 0.4, 0.2%/ pt-yr, respectively. Late valve-related death occurred in 3 cases(2.0%/pt-yr) associated with anticoagulant-related bleeding(2) and prosthetic valve endocarditis(1). Conclusion: Actuarial survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method was 91.0${\pm}$4.3 % at 11 years.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2005

Even though the echocardiograph has been recognized as the method of choice among various diagnostic tools to detect congestive heart failure (CHF), there were some limitations in relation to the consumption of time, labor and process. We analyzed results of N-terminal probrain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and various parameters of the echocardiographic findings to clarify the diagnostic usefulness of NT-proBNP in detecting patients with CHF. We analyzed the sera from total of 242 cases from in-patients and out-patients, which were requested from the cardiovascular section of department of Internal Medicine at Chungnam National University Hospital from March 2003 to May 2004. The procedures were performed in order as shown below; sampling, NT-proBNP analysis, data acquisition and data analysis. All data including personal information and echocardiographic findings ware acquired by medical record review. When classifying the study population into six groups according to the degree of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the serum level of NT-proBNP was higher in the group with 51-60% of LVEF (P=0.023). There were low correlation between the serum level of NT-proBNP and various parameters of the echocardiographic findings with LVESD (r=0.1513), LVEDD (r=0.0831), LVEF (r=0.2035), IVST (r=0.03) and LVPWT (r=0.0728), respectively. When comparing NT-proBNP with atrial and/or ventricular enlargement, the patient group with both left atrial and left ventricular enlargement (p=0.186) or only left atrial (p=0.105) or only left ventricular enlargement (p=0.256) showed higher level of NT-proBNP without statistical significance than patient group with no enlargement. Searching the optimal cutoff of the serum level of NT-proBNP, the sensitivity (98.9%) and the specificity (100%) was highest at the cutoff of 300 pg/mL than any other cutoffs. These findings suggested that the analysis of NT-proBNP in serum might detect the patients with CHF earlier than with the echocardiograph, especially in patients with asymptomatic or mild symptomatic CHF. In conclusion, NT-proBNP test was proved to be clinically useful to diagnose CHF patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.24-27
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• 1992

Background: Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that has been widely used in treating hypertension. Cough has been recognized as a side effect, but has little attention in the pulmonary literature. Method: To emphasize that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor should be considered among possible etiology of chronic cough, we report clinical investigation about 15 patients with captopril-induced cough. Results: The age range of the 15 patients was 48 to 82 years (mean 58.5 years). There were 5 men and 10 women. Captopril dosage in patients with cough was 25-75 mg (mean 43.3 mg). Onset of cough after starting a captopril ranged from 5 days to 180 days (mean 55.2 days), and cessation of cough after discontinuation of the drug was as early as one day and no longer than 7 days. Conclusion: It is necessary to recognize that chronic cough is not uncommon with the use of captopril.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.781-786
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• 1995

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) was performed in a 61 year old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with 10 cc of Lipiodol and 50 mg of doxorubicin. Three days later, he complained of dyspnea and dry cough. The arterial blood gas study revealed moderate hypoxemia and hypocarbia. The chest PA showed acute pulmonary edema with bilateral pleural effusion. To rule out the possibilities of acute respiratory failure caused by infection, pulmonary embolism or congestive heart failure, we performed several laboratory studies. The blood and sputum culture studies revealed negative results for bacterial growth. The echocardiogram was normal. The abdominal CT scan and MR imaging revealed no thrombus or mass lesion in the inferior vena cava. So we concluded pulmonary oil embolism induced by lipiodol as the cause of acute lung injury. Four weeks later, clinical symptoms and chest x-ray were markedly improved with conservative care. We report a case of acute lung injury after TACE with lipiodol and doxorubicin, with review of literatures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.662-672
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• 2002

The lungs are frequently the site of adverse drug reactions because of their higher oxygen concentration, the distinctive properties of the pulmonary circulation, and the close proximity of the alveolar epithelium to the blood. Amiodarone, an iodinated benzofuran derivative, is an effective antiarrhythmic drug commonly used for refractory tachyarrhythmia. However, it has a wide range of adverse effects, the most serious of which is lung disease. Most patients present with the insidious onset of dyspnea and a nonproductive cough, and generally recover after withdrawing the drug. We recently experienced four fatal cases of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. Therefore, we discuss these unusual drug-induced pulmonary toxicity cases with a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.299-302
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• 1999

Heart transplantation was planned for a 10-year old boy who had dilated cardiomyopathy with severe congestive heart failure and had been on dopamine for 1month. However, partial left ventriculectomy and mitral annuloplasty were performed instead, because there was no donor heart of the adequate size and the symptoms were aggravated. The clinical symptoms were markedly improved after the surgery. Comparing the postoperative echocardiographic results with the preoperative results, there were remarkable changes in the left ventricular ejection fraction(preoperative LV EF 17% to postoperative 3 months 29%, 6 months 35%, 1 year 36%) and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(preoperative 72 mm to postoperative 3 months 59 mm, 6 months 61 mm, 1 year 61 mm). Partial left ventriculectomy and mitral annuloplasty reduced the cardiac loading in the dilated cardiomyopathy. Partial left ventriculectomy and mitral annuloplasty may be considered as one of the alternative surgical metho s to carry over until a heart transplantation can be performed, especially for children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 1999

Background: Treatment of adult patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) has many difficulty such as pulmonary hypertension, arterial wall calcification, aneurysmal chage of ductus. We tried to evaluate the effect of surgical interruption of PDA on postopeative change of heart size. Material and Method : From 1987 to 1997 we experienced 30 cases of the ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in adult at the department of cardiovacular surgery in Masan Samsung General Hospital. Result: There were 9 males and 21 females and their ages ranged from 16 to 44 years, with a mean age of 26.1 years. 15 patients had pulmonary hypertension and 9 patients complained of dyspnea with a degree of functional NYHA class III. Operation method was double or triple ligation using Teflon felt. Postoperative complications were wound dehiscence in 3 patients and transient hoarseness in 1 patient. The mean preoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 54.7%, and mean postoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 51.9%. The change of cardiothoracic ratio was more typical in the cases who had congestive heart failure. Their mean preoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 64.8% and the mean postoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 58.5% there was no postoperative deaths. Conclusion: We canclude that the improvement in cardiothoracic ratio may result from surgical intervention of PDA.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.110-120
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to prevent the dilutional effect of excessive absorption of irrigating solution by using furosemide intraoperatively during transurethral resection of the prostate, 30 patients, who belonged to physical status II or III of ASA classification, were selected randomly and divided with two groups as follows : G1(N=15) : Not-administrated furosemide(control group) G2(N=15) : Administrated furosemide(Experimental group). All patients were premedicated with Hydroxyzine(1mg/kg, IM) and were performed continous epidural anesthesia with 2% lidocaine(1-1.5mg/segment). For irrigating solution, 5% D-sorbitol was used and Hartman's solution were given for maintenance fluid and fixed the height of irrigating container to 60 cm from symphysis pubis. With the starting of operation, 20mg furosemide was administrated to experimental group. The blood samples for the values of $Na^+$, $K^+$, Glucose and BUN were performed at the periods of preoperation, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min after the starting of operation and immediate postoperation. Based these data, serum osmolality and effective osmolality were calculated. The results were as follows : 1. The sodium concentration of control group was decreased statistically significantly at 10 min, 20 min, 30 min after the starting of operation and immediate postoperative period as comparing with the preoperation value(p<0.05). But that of experimental Group was not changed significantly. 2. The serum osmolality and effective osmolality were decreased statistically significantly at 30 min after the starting of operation and immediate postoperative period as comparing with the preoperation value(p<0.05). But those of experimental group were not changed significantly. These results show that the dilutional effect of excessive absorption of irrigating solution might be prevented by using furosemide intraopertively. And so we recommend the use of furosemide during TURP, especially in patients with congestive heart failure or renal failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.542-547
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• 2002

Background: Postpneumonectomy empyema(PPE) is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication. To date, various surgical efforts have been made to manage this complication. We reviewed our 20-year surgical experience of PPE and long-term follow-up data. Material and Method: Total of 37 patients who were treated for PPE between fan, 1980 and Jun, 2000 were included. Various clinical factors such as micro-organism, operative method and timing, presence of bronchopleural fistula(BPF), underlying disease and fate of empyema cavity were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Result: Majority of patients(34) underwent Eloesser operation for effective drainage. There was only one operative mortality. The causative organisms were Staphylococcus species and Pseudomonas species in 46% BPF was found in 20 cases, among which spontaneous closures took place in 4 cases. The chest wall was closed in 40%(8/20) of patients with BPF, compared to 59%(10/17) without BPF. The closure rate was statistically better in patients without BPF(p=0.006). Even though the patients with benign disease showed higher closure rate(50%) than those with lung cancer (31%), the difference was not significant(p=0.25). Conclusion: Eloesser procedure was an effective method for initial drainage of PPE cavity with low operative mortality. Given the findings of low spontaneous closure rate of BPF, aggressive approach to close the BPF is mandatory to achieve the final goal of chest wall closure. It was found that majority of patients still left their chest cavity opened, even after controlling the active inflammation of the empyema cavity. More aggnessive approach for chest wall closure is recommended in all patents with benign disease and in selective patients with lung cancer if there is no evidence of recurrence at several years after the initial operation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2003

Background : Previous studies have suggested that a B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) test can provide important information on diagnosis, as well as predicting the severity and prognosis of heart failure. Myocardial dysfunction is often observed in critically ill noncardiac patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and the prognosis of the myocardial dysfunction needs to be determined. This study evaluated the predictability of BNP on the prognosis of critically ill noncardiac patients. Methods : 32 ICU patients, who were hospitalized from June to October 2002 and in whom the BNP test was evaluated, were enrolled in this study. The exclusion criteria included the conditions that could increase the BNP levels irrespective of the severity, such as congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, and renal insufficiencies. A triage B-Type Natriuretic Peptide test with a RIA-kit was used for the fluorescence immunoassay of BNP test. In addition, the acute physiology and the chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score and mortality were recorded. Results : There were 16 males and 16 females enrolled in this study. The mean age was 59 years old. The mean BNP levels between the ICU patients and control were significantly different ($186.7{\pm}274.1$ pg/mL vs. $19.9{\pm}21.3$ pg/mL, p=0.033). Among the ICU patients, there were 14(44----) patients with BNP levels above 100 pg/mL. The APACHE II score was $16.5{\pm}7.6$. In addition, there were 11 mortalities reported. The correlation between the BNP and APACHE II score, between the BNP and mortality were significant (r=0.443, p=0.011 & r=0.530, p=0.002). The mean BNP levels between the dead and alive groups were significantly different ($384.1{\pm}401.7$ pg/mL vs. $83.2{\pm}55.8$ pg/mL p=0.033). However, the $PaO_2/FiO_2$ did not significantly correlate with the BNP level. Conclusion : This study evaluated the BNP level was elevated in critically ill, noncardiac patients. The BNP level could be a useful, noninvasive tool for predicting the prognosis of the critically ill, noncardiac patients.