• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.284-290
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• 2005

We evaluated the early and mid-term results for repair of Ebstein's anomaly. Material and Method: Between January 1989 and June 2004, 29 patients underwent repair of Ebstein's anomaly. The median age was 11.4 years (4 days-50 years). Tricuspid insufficiency equal to or greater than grade 3 was present in 21 $(72.4\%)$ patients. Surgical techniques included tricuspid valve repair with vertical plication of the atrialized ventricle (n=14), Carpentier's technique (n=7), tricuspid valve replacement (n=4), systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt (n=2), tricuspid valve repair (n=1), and Fontan operation (n=1). Bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS) was required in 5 patients. Among the 2 neonates, one patient underwent successful biventricular repair, and the other patient underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt. Follow-up was possible in 21 patients $(75\%)$, and the average follow-up was 37.6 months (3 months-11.3 years). Result: There were $1(3.4\%)$ early and 1 late deaths. Reoperation was required in 4 patients. Two patients underwent tricuspid valve re-replacement, and the other 2 tricuspid valve repair. At recent follow-up, only 2 patients showed tricuspid insufficiency equal to or greater than grade 3, and most patients showed clinical improvement. Excluding the patients who underwent tricuspid valve replacement, the actuarial rate of freedom from reoperation at 1 and 5 years were $94.7\%\;and\;79.0\%$, respectively. Conclusion: Tricuspid valve repair was possible in most patients with good mid-term outcome. Most patients showed clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Indications for the BCPS should be clarified.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.529-537
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• 2005

Background: Historically the Fontan operation in patients with single ventricle and heterotaxy syndrome has been associated with high mortality because of systemic or pulmonary anomalous venous drainage, incompetent common atrioventricular valve, right ventricle type univentricular heart, and arrhythmia. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 62 patients $(age:\;54.79\pm33.97\;months)$ with heterotaxy syndrome who underwent a extracadiac Fontan operation between 1996 and 2005 was performed. Twenty one patients had left atrial isomerism, and 41 had right isomerism. The Fontan procedure was staged in all but 2 patients, and a fenestration was less placed in left isomerism. Result: Left isomerism was associated more with interrupted inferior vena cava and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, and right isomerism was associated more with anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, common atrioventricular valve and morphologic right ventricle. There were 3 hospital deaths$(4.8\%)$ and 3 late deaths $(5.2\%)$ with a follow-up duration of $48.8\pm31.0$ months. Eight-year survivals were $90.5\pm6.4\%$ in left isomerism and $88.6\pm5.4\%$ in right isomerism (p=0.94). At 8 years, freedom from reoperation was $73.9\pm11.3\%$ in left isomerism, and $82.3\pm6.7\%$ in right isomerism (p=0.87). Atrioventricular valve regurgitation progressed after Fontan operation in heterotaxy syndrome, and reoperation for pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and permanent pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction were required more in left isomerism. Conclusion: The extracardiac Fontan operation can now be performed in patients with heterotaxy syndrome with excellent survival. However, morbidity in terms of postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation, arrhythmia, and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula remains significant.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.727-734
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• 2004

The Lecompte procedure for transposition of the great arteries has an advantage because it obviates the need for an extracardiac conduit for the reconstruction of the pulmonary outflow tract. We evaluated the effectiveness and the application of the Lecompte procedure. Material and Method: A retrospective review was conducted of the records of 46 patients who underwent the Lecompte procedure during the past 15 years. Mean age at operation was 29.2$\pm$20.3 (range: 3∼83) months. The diagnoses involved anomalies of the ventriculoarterial connection with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction, such as transposition of the great arteries, double-outlet right ventricle, and double-outlet left ventricle. Result: Early mortality was 4.4% (2 of 46 patients) and late mortality was 6.8% (3 of 44). The mean follow-up was 11.2$\pm$6.9 years. Eighteen patients (43.9% of survivors, n=41) had pulmonary stenosis (pressure gradient above 30 mmHg), the main reason for which was a calcified monocusp valve (n=15, 83.3%). Seventeen of 46 patients (37.0%) underwent reoperation: 15 for pulmonary stenosis, 5 for residual ventricular septal defect, 4 for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, 3 for pulmonary insufficiency, and 4 for other causes. The cumulative survival rates were 91.3$\pm$4.2%, and 87.0$\pm$5.8% at 10 and 15 years, respectively. The actuarial probabilities of freedom from reoperation for pulmonary stenosis were 90.6$\pm$4.5%, 73.9$\pm$7.3%, and 54.0$\pm$10.4% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Conclusion: The Lecompte procedure is an effective treatment modality. Repair in early age is possible with acceptable morbidity and mortality, but recurrent right ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by degeneration of the monocusp valve is a problem that needs resolution.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.911-920
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• 2003

In this study, we analyzed the long-term surgical outcome of partial atrioventricular septal defects during the past 17 years at Seoul National University Hospital. Material and Method: A retrospective analysis on mortality, survival, and reoperation and their risk factors was done in 93 patients who underwent surgical correction of partial atrioventricular septal defects between April 1986 and December 2002. 32 patients were male and 61 were female with a median age of 68 months (3∼818 months) and a mean follow-up period of 108 months (1∼200 months). Result: There were 4 operative deaths (4.3%) and one mortality during the follow-up period. 3, 5, 10, and 15 year actuarial survival rates were 95.7%, 94.3%, 94,3%, and 94.3%, respectively. After the surgical correction, left atrioventricular valve Incompetence was improved in 61patients (67.7%), remained same as the preoperative status in 14 patients (15.1%), and was aggravated in 12 patients (12.9%). Reoperation was performed in 8 patients (9.0%) after a mean interval of 38.6 months (3∼136 months). Freedom from reoperation rates at 3, 5, 10, and 15 years after surgical correction were 94.0%, 91.4%, 91.4%, and 88,2%, respectively Reasons for reoperation were 7 left atrioventricular valve incompetence, 2 left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, a residual atrial septal defect, a left atrioventricular valve stenosis, and a right ventricular failure. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was the only statistically significant factor. In ten patients, significant arrhythmia was developed and three of them were supraventricular arrhythmia. Complete atrioventricular block occurred in 7 patients and permanent pacemakers were implanted in six of them. Conclusion: Surgical corrections of partial atrioventricular septal defects were performed with low operative mortality. Since left atrioventricular valve incompetence was the most common cause of reoperation and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was the only risk factor for reoperation, a precise estimation of the left atrioventricular valve morphology and the structure of left ventricular outflow tract are needed. Although left ventricular outflow tract obstruction rarely developed, reoperation was frequently required and resection of subaortic tissue could be peformed but the possibility of recurrence was high, so modified Konno operation could be performed with satisfactory results. Complete atrioventricular block developed frequently in early periods, but was overcome with a precise anatomical understanding of conduction system and experience.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.3 s.248
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• pp.221-228
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• 2005

Reduction aortoplasty has been advocated for dilatation of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease in older, high-risk patients. We report our results with modification of reduction aortoplasty and aortic valve replacement. Material and Method: Between July 2001 and December 2002, 14 consecutive patients who underwent modification of reduction aortoplasty, suture plication technique without excision of the dilated aortic wall, were reviewed. The mean age was 63.7$\pm$6.7 (50 to 75) years. Ten patients had congenital bicuspid aortic valve, Twelve patients had severe aortic valve stenosis and 6 had regurgitation of grade III$\~$IV. The diameter of the ascending aorta was measured before and immediately after surgery and 6 and 12 months postoperatively using echocardiography or computed tomography. Follow-up was complete in an average of 14.7$\~$5.4 (7 to 24) months. Result: There were no early postoperative deaths and no bleeding complications. Reduction aortoplasty with suture plication technique decreased the diameter of ascending aorta from 49.4$\pm$3.5 mm preoperatively to 33.2$\pm$3.4 mm postoperatively (p <0.001). During follow-up, there were no late deaths and no aneurysm recurrence on the ascending aorta. Conclusion: Suture plication technique of reduction aortoplasty without excision of the dilated aortic wall offers good early and short-term results in older, high-risk patients with dilatation of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease. Surgical long-term results of our technique should be evaluated in further studies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.492-498
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• 2004

Background: In this study, we investigated the risk factors for the development or progression of aortic regurgitation(AR) in patients with type I ventricular septal defect (VSD) to determine the optimal surgical timing and strategy. Material and Method: Three-hundred and ten patients with type I VSD with or without AR were included. The mean of age was 73.7$\pm$114.7 (1-737) months. One hundred and eighty six patients (60%) had no AR, 83 (27%) had mild AR, 25 (8%) had moderate AR and 16 (5%) had severe AR. Aortic valve was repaired in 5 patients and replaced in 11 patients with closure of VSD in the first operation. Four patients required redo aortic valve repair and 11 patients required redo aortic valve replacement. Age at operation, association with aortic valve prolapse, Qp/Qs, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, VSD size and systolic pulmonary artery to aortic pressure ratio(s[PAP/AP］) were included as risk factors analysis for the development of AR. The long-term result of aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement were compared. Result: Older age at operation, association with aortic valve prolapse, high Qp/Qs, and s[PAP/AP] were identified as risk factors for the development of AR (p<0.05, Table 2). The older the patient at the time of operation, the higher the severity of preoperative AR and the incidence of postoperative AR (p<0.05, Table 1, Fig. 1). For the older patients at operation, aortic valve repair had higher occurrence of AR compared to those who had aortic valve replacement (p<0.05, Fig. 2). Conclusion: From the result of this study, we can concluded that early primary repair is recommended to decrease the progression of AR. Aortic valve repair is not always a satisfactory option to correct the aortic valve pathology, which may suggest that aortic valve replacement should be considered when indicated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1119-1126
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• 1998

Background: In this study, we investigated the early time course of expression of the major histocompatibility(MHC) antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), interleukin-6 and the histopathological changes in the coronary arteries of cardiac allografts exchanged between inbred mice strains that differ in one loci of class I major histocompatibility antigen (B10.BR to B10.A). Material and Method: No immunosuppressive therapy was used. Both allografts and the hearts of the recipients were harvested at 7(group 1, n=6), 15(group 2, n=6), 21(group 3, n=6), and 30(group 4, n=6) days after transplantation. They were examined by immunohistochemistry, microscopy and morphometry. All allografts had contractions at the time of harvest. Result: A strong MHC class I antigen expression was present on the endothelial and medial cells of the coronary arteries in group 1 and remained unchanged in the rest of the groups. However, MHC class II reactivity was none or very little at any time. Mild to moderate ICAM-1 expression was observed on the endothelial cells, but not on the medial cells at any time by 30 days. VCAM-1 expression was strong both on the endothelial and medial cells at any time. Moderate degree expression of interleukin-6 was observed from 7 to 30 day specimens. Histopathologically, percentage of affected vessels(vessels with intimal thickening) was less than 10 % in 7 day group and increased up to 50 % at 30 days. Mean percent narrowing of the lumen of the affected vessels revealed less than 20 % at 7 days and 40 % at 30 days. The area occupied by tropomyosin positive cells in the intimal lesion, graded from 0 to 3, showed gradual increase but remained between grade 0 to 1 by 30 days. Medial integrity was also well preserved at any time. Moderate perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration was observed at 7 days and it was progressively increased upto 30 days. Recipients' heart revealed no positive immunopathologic findings. Conclusion: In this study, the early time course of progression of the transplantation vasculopathy was demonstrated in the murine heterotopic heart transplant model.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.495-503
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• 1999

Background: We tested the technical feasibility of fetal cardiac bypass and collected baseline data on the fetal hemodynamics and placental functions related to the cardiopulmonary bypass in the fetal lamb model. Material and Method: Eleven fetuses at 120 to 150 days of gestation were subjected to bypass via trans-sternal approach with a 12 G pulmonary arterial cannula and 14 to 18 F venous cannula for 30 minutes. All ewes received general anesthesia with ketamine. In all the fetuses, no anesthetic agents were used except muscle relaxant. Eight served as a group in which placenta was excluded from the extracorporeal circulation by clamping the umbilical cord during the bypass(the oxygenator group) and in the remaining three, the placenta worked as the only source of oxygen supply(the placenta group). Observations were made every 10 minute during a 30-minute bypass and 30-minute post bypass period. No prostaglandin inhibitors were used both in ewes and in fetuses. Result: Weights of the fetuses ranged from 1.9 to 5.2 kg. In the oxygenator group, means of arterial pressure, PaO2, atrial pressure, heart rate, and bypass flow rate ranged 69.8 to 82.6 mmHg, 201.7 to 220.9 mmHg, 4.1 to 4.3 mmHg, 169 to 182/min, and 140.3 to 164.0 ml/kg/min, respectively during bypass, but rapid deterioration of the fetal cardiac functions and the placental gas exchange was observed after the cessation of bypass. In the placenta group, means of arterial pressure decreased from 44.7 to 14.4 mmHg and means of PaCO2 increased from 61.9 to 129.6 mmHg during bypass. Flow rate was suboptimal(74.3 to 97.0 ml/kg/min) during bypass. All hearts fibrillated immediately after the discontinuation of bypass. Conclusion: In this study, the technical feasibility of fetal cardiopulmonary bypass was confirmed in the fetal lamb model. However, further studies with modifications of the bypass including an addition of prostaglandin inhibitor, an application of the total spinal anesthesia on the fetus, a creation of more concise bypass circuit, and a use of active pump are mandatory to improve the outcome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1043-1053
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• 2013

We investigated the ability of soybean curd residue (SCR) and its fermented products to inhibit obesity and improve the blood lipid profiles of obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Samples were prepared by fermenting SCR with Aspergillus oryzae var effuses KACC 44990 (ASCR), a microbe used for the fermentation of traditional Korean Meju, and with Monascus pilosus IFO 4480 (MSCR), a microbe used for the production of red rice. In addition, AMSCR, a mixture composed of equal amounts of ASCR and MSCR, was also prepared. Male mice were divided into six groups and fed with either a normal diet, a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with SCR, ASCR, MSCR, or AMSCR. After 8 weeks, body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profiles, and the activities of enzymes that generate or scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Compared with the high-fat diet group, all the test groups showed a significant reduction in body, organ, and epididymal fat weight gain. These effects were observed with supplements in the order AMSCR>ASCR>MSCR>SCR. Similarly, supplements of test samples reduced high levels of serum and hepatic triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol caused by hight-fat diet, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was increased. Interestingly, the ability of ASCR to lower serum TG was stronger than that of MSCR, while MSCR showed a stronger hypocholesterolemic effect than ASCR. Meanwhile, AMSCR returned comprehensively serum lipid levels to normal. In addition, hepatic damage was prevented with effects in the order AMSCR>ASCR>MSCR>SCR. Hepatic ROS generating system including xanthine oxidase (XO) and ROS scavenging system including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were recovered to normal level by all test diets. In conclusion, this study suggests that SCR and its fermented products can inhibit obesity and improve lipid profiles.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.335-348
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• 2005

Background: This retrospective review examines the preoperative condition, postoperative course, mortality and cause of death for the patients who underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for complex congenital heart defects in early infancy. Material and Method: Fifty eight patients underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunts from January 2000 to November 2003. The mean age at operation was $23.1\pm16.2$ days ($5\~81\;days$), and the mean body weight was $3.4\pm0.7\;kg\;(2.1\~4.3\;kg)$. Indications for surgery were pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in 12 cases, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in 17, single ventricle (SV) in 18, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in 11. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) was associated with SV in 4 cases. Result: There were 11 ($19.0\%$) early, and 5 ($10.6\%$) late deaths. Causes of early death included low cardiac output in 9, arrhythmia in 1, and multiorgan failure in 1. Late deaths resulted from pneumonia in 2, hypoxia in 1, and sepsis in 1. Risk factors influencing mortality were preoperative pulmonary hypertension, metabolic acidosis, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, HLHS and TAPVR. Twenty four patients ($41.4\%$) had hemodynamic instability during the 48 postoperative-hours. Six patients underwent shunt revision for occlusion, and 1 shunt division for pulmonary overflow. Conclusion: Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for complex congenital heart defects in early infancy had satisfactory results except in high risk groups. Many patients had early postoperative hemodynamic instability, which means that continuous close observation and management are mandatory in this period. Aggressive management may appear warranted based on understanding of hemodynamic changes for high risk groups.