• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 1991

From 1983, until June, 1990, 10 patients with various type of truncus arteriosus underwent total surgical correction including Rastelli procedure at Seoul National University Hospital. The age at operation ranged from 1 month to 9 years [mean 2.1 years]. Six patients had truncus type I, 3 patients had truncus type II, and one patients had truncus type IIIc. Right ventricular pulmonary artery continuity was established with a porcine valved conduit in 6 patients, mechanical valved conduit in 1 patient, and bovine pericardial conduit in 3 patients. The postoperative right ventricular /left ventricular pressure ratio ranged from 0.4 to 0.71 [mean 0.51${\pm}$0.14]. The lung histology revealed grade II pulmonary obstructive disease even at 4 month of age. Five patients were dead in hospital [50%], and they were less than 2 year of age. One patient, who had severs congestive heart failure preoperatively, died of low output syndrome and the other died of low output syndrome with postoperative bleeding. There were three death, because of a pulmonary hypertensive crisis that might have been prevented. Two of the five survivors had conduit failure over a mean follow up of 42 months [range 1 to 78 months]. Obstructed conduit was removed and a new conduit constructed using the conduit bed as the posterior wall and the patch of bovine pericardium and Dacron as patch the roof of the conduit. One patient died of acute cardiac failure during the operation. Although results in infants less than 2 years old have not been good, current improvement of intra-and postoperative care suggested that prompt repair is indicated for infants with truncus arteriosus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1991

This report describes our 10-year experience with intracardiac repair in 42 patients older than 16 year with tetralogy of Fallot. The mean age was 22.0$\pm$5.18 years[range 16~41]. The preoperative clinical manifestations were cyanosis & clubbing[93%], frequent URI [55%], anoxic spell[40%], pulmonary tuberculosis[21%], tuberculous empyema[7%], chronic renal failure[7%], congestive heart failure[7%] and subacute bacterial endocarditis [2%], etc. The previous shunt procedure for palliation had been performed in 7 patients. The type of VSD were typical perimembranous type[67%], total canal defect[28%] and combined type[5%]. The right ventricular outflow tract obstruction were combined type[69%], infundibular type[21%] and valvular type[10%]. Transannular patch was used in 50% of patients. Associated cardiovascular anomalies were ASD[33%], PFO[31%], Rt. aortic arch[10%], Lt. SVC[10%], single Rt. pulmonary artery, single Lt. coronary artery, ASI, proximal stenosis of Rt. pulmonary artery and anomalous systemic venous return, etc. Hospital mortality was 7.1%[3 cases]in overall. The causes of hospital deaths were revealed low cardiac output & acute renal failure[2 cases], postoperative bleeding[1 case]. There were 2 late deaths 3 & 68 months after surgery. Residual intracardiac shunt was detected in 2 patients. one patient was successfully reoperated and another patient had Qp /Qs ratio less than 1.5.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.876-884
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• 1997

Fourteen patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation between March 1994 and May 1996 in Seoul National University Hospital. There were 9 male and 5 female patients, and the mean age was 40.8 $\pm$ 12.4 years ranged from 12 to 56 years. All patient were in NYHA Fc III or IV preoperatively. The underlying heart diseases were dilated cardiomyopathy in 11 and restrictive cardiomyopathy in 3. The mean age of donors was 24.9$\pm$ 10.2 years and the causes of the brain death were head trauma by traffic accidents in 8, subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2, 1 asphyxia, 1 fall down injury, 1 brain tumo , and 1 drowning, respectively The blood type was identical in 11, compatible in 2, and incompatible in 1 patient. The direct bicaval anastomosis technique was used in 11 cases, and standard right atrial anastomosis was done in the remaining 3 cases. The graft ischemic time was 158$\pm$44 minutes ranged 94 to 220 minutes. There were two hospital deaths(14.3%). The causes of deaths were 1 right ventricular failure followed by suspected cyclosporine induced hemolytic uremic syndrome and rejection, and 1 delayed massive bleeding, probably from rupture of the anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, respectively. The follow-up duration was 16$\pm$9 months(3 to 28 months). There was one late death(8.3%). All the other patients were in NYHA Fc I except one patient who was in hospital because of the acute rejection. The actuarial survival rates including hospital deaths were 93.7% at 1 month, 86.9% at 6 months, and 77$\pm$12% at 2 years. Conclusively, heart transplantation is the good strategy for the management of end stage heart disease with acceptable operative mortality and early follow-up results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.844-853
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• 1990

We have performed 27 cases of orthotopic homologous cardiac transplantation using Korean mongrel dogs and one case of sham operation for the evaluation of harmful effect of cardiopulmonary bypass itself on the dog from April, 1989 to June, 1990. Our previous reports have already demonstrated basal hemodynamic and hematologic data on the canine homologous heart transplantation and the fundamental principles of transplantation of the heart. The mean body weight of recipients was 13.2$\pm$1.2kg with a rage of 11 ~ 15kg, and the hemodynamic and hematologic pictures were almost same as the result of previous reports from our hospital, except marked decrease in postoperative platelet count[from 3.18 $\pm$0.80x106/mm3 to 1.41$\pm$0 37x 106/mm3]. Mean survival time was 24.82$\pm$49.40 hours with the longest survival of 264 hours. Donor cardiectomy included coronary vasodilatation with diltiazem, potassium arrest, and the rapid cooling of the heart suspending in the specially designed ice-bath. Median sternotomy provided excellent exposure of the surgical field. 6 \ulcorner0 prolene suture was used for the anastomosis of both atrial cuffs and the great arteries, and we found the fact that stenosis, bleeding, thrombus formation around the anastomotic site could be decreased with the use of everted horizontal mattress suture techniques. Immunosuppression was done with a combination of lower dose Cyclosporin-A, Azathioprine, methyl-prednisolone, but our cases still showed too short survival to worry about graft rejection. Still poor was our quality control of experimental animal, we had much difficulties in postmortem evaluation of the dogs. Low cardiac output due to biventricular failure, intractable supraventricular or ventricular tachyarrhythmia, postoperative massive bleeding, sepsis were most frequent findings that could be thought as a cause of death. A few cases showed subendocardial patch hemorrhage in both ventricular cavity or atrial septum at autopsy, suggesting acute subendocardial infarction. Although our team overcome most of the technical problems of orthotopic heart transplantation, we should pile up further knowledges about donor heart preservation, quality control of animal, infection, rejection, the effect of the cardiopulmonary bypass to improve the results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 1989

Nowadays, in spite of the remarkable development of the results of open heart surgery, the incidence of postoperative acute renal failure [ARF] has been increased due to the expansion of the candidates and prolonged operation time for complicated cases. It is also well known that ARF after open heart surgery, if once occurred, is a critical complication, therefore early diagnosis and treatment about it are very important for prognosis. Recently a low molecular weight [2 * microglobulin [[2* MG]has been used as a indicator of renal function. Because of the properties of [2 * MG, serum concentration of it is increased in glomerular dysfunction and urine excretion of it is increased in tubular dysfunction. Author studied about the perioperative changes of serum [2* MG and BUN concentration in 25 children and 30 adults for evaluation of significances of [2* MG as a parameter of postoperative renal function in open heart surgery, and the results were obtained as follows. l. In open heart surgery, the serum [2* MG concentration was elevated postoperatively in the all cases from the first postoperative day. 2. There were a significant correlation between the preoperative BUN and [2* MG concentration [P< 0.01]. The correlation factor[r] in child group was 0.8512, and in adults 0.8636. 3. The maximum level of serum [2* MG in the both child and adult groups were noticed in 4th postoperative day as 2.61*0.80mg/ 1 in child group and 3.39*1.47 mg/ 4 in adult group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups statistically[P < 0.05]. 4. The pattern of changes of serum concentration of [2* MG with time was very similar with the changes of BUN, but in a case of ARF [expired with it] the changes of [2* MG was more remarkable. 5. There was a significant differences in the maximum level of [2* MG between the 2 group according to the ECC time [groups of below and above 60 minutes] [P< 0.01].

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

Sudden cardiac death (SCD), which is primarily caused by lethal heart disorders resulting in structural and arrhythmogenic abnormalities, is one of the prevalent modes of death in most developed countries. Myocardial ischemia, mainly due to coronary artery disease, is the most common type of heart disease leading to SCD. However, postmortem diagnosis of SCD is frequently complicated by obscure histological evidence. Here, we show that certain mRNA species, namely those encoding hemoglobin A1/2 and B (Hba1/2 and Hbb, respectively) as well as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4), exhibit distinct postmortem expression patterns in the left ventricular free wall of SCD subjects when compared with their expression patterns in the corresponding tissues from control subjects with non-cardiac causes of death. Hba1/2 and Hbb mRNA expression levels were higher in ischemic SCD cases with acute myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease without recent infarction, and even in cardiac death subjects without apparent pathological signs of heart injuries, than control subjects. By contrast, Pdk4 mRNA was expressed at lower levels in SCD subjects. In conclusion, we found that altered myocardial Hba1/2, Hbb, and Pdk4 mRNA expression patterns can be employed as molecular signatures of fatal cardiac dysfunction to forensically implicate SCD as the primary cause of death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1003-1009
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• 2004

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has been used for myocardium failure, but moreover, it may be essential for the life support in cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock. Many commercial devices can be used effectively for the long-term support. However, there are some limitations in the aspects of the cost and technical support by production company. Short-term support with centrifugal type has been reported numerously with the purpose of bridging to heart transplantation or recovery. We successfully treated 5 patitents who were in the status of cardiogenic shock (n=3) or arrest (n=2) with the technique of extracorporeal life support system (ECLS) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) using the centrifugal type pump. The MCS were performed emergently (n=2) under cardiac arrest caused by ischemic heart disease, and urgently (n=3) under cardiogenic shock with ischemic heart disease (n=1) or acute fulminant viral myocarditis (n=2). All patients were weaned from MCS. Complications related to the use of MCS were bleeding and acute renal failure, but there were no major complications related to femoral cannulations. Mechanical circulatory support may be essential for the life support and rescue in cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-106
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the association between process quality of inpatient care and risk-adjusted, thirty-day potentially preventable hospital readmission (PPR) rates. Data Sources/Study Setting: This was an observational cross-sectional study of nonfederal acute-care hospitals located in two states California and Florida, discharging Medicare patients with a principal discharge diagnosis of heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia January through December 31, 2007. Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare database, and the American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals. Study Design: The dependent variable of this study is condition-specific, risk-adjusted, thirty-day potentially preventable hospital readmission (PPR). 3M's PPR software was utilized to determine whether a readmission was potentially preventable. The independent variable of this study is hospital performance for process quality of inpatient care, measured by hospital adherence to recommended processes of care. We used multivariate hierarchical logistic models, clustered by hospitals, to examine the relationship between condition-specific, risk-adjusted, thirty-day PPR rates and process quality of inpatient care, after taking clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of patients and structural and operational characteristics of hospitals into account. Findings: Better performance on the process quality metrics was associated with better patient outcome (i.e., low thirty-day PPR rates) in pneumonia, but not generally in two cardiovascular conditions (i.e., heart failure and acute myocardial infarction). Practical Implication: Adherence to the process quality metrics currently in use by CMS is associated with risk-adjusted, thirty-day PPR rates for patients with pneumonia, but not with cardiovascular conditions. More evidence-based process quality metrics closely linked to 30-day PPR rates, particularly for cardiovascular conditions, need to be developed to serve as a guideline to reduce potentially preventable readmissions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.536-543
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• 1987

The Fontan procedure was physiological correction which was initially applied to tricuspid atresia. We had used the modified Fontan operation in 8 cases at National Medical Center, Seoul, from Aug. 1984 to Oct. 1986. Age range was 20 months to 15 years [mean: 9 years] and male: female ratio was 5:3. 5 patients had tricuspid atresia [lb: 2 cases, Ic: 1 case, lib: 1 case, & llc: 1 case], 2 Patients had univentricular heart of left ventricular type, and one patient had transposition of great arteries with complete endocardial cushion defect. The operative principle was direct anastomosis between right atrium and pulmonary artery, whether main pulmonary artery or right pulmonary artery without any conduits. Postoperatively all patients needed high central venous pressure for adequate hemodynamic status in both survival [20-24 CmH2O] and mortality groups [20-24 CmH2O]. The fatal complications were as follows: empyema with bronchopleural fistula [1 case], bleeding tendency & brain damage [1 case], low cardiac output syndrome & acute renal failure [2 cases], and right to left shunt of unknown origin [1 case]. There were 5 hospital deaths; 3 of 5 tricuspid atresia patients, 1 of 2 univentricular heart patients, and 1 of 1 transposition of great arteries with complete endocar4ial cushion defect patient. The overall mortality was 62.5%. 3 survivors were nearly compatible with Choussat & Fontan criteria. Thus appropriate patient selection and experienced surgical technique were required for good results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 1983

We implanted pacemakers using screw-in sutureless myocardial electrode in 40 patients between February, 1980 and November, 1982 at Seoul Nation University Hospital. Mean age of total patient who received the pacemaker implantation was 39.9 years, but excluding the patient who received the open heart surgery, mean age was 49.3 years. Cause of pacemaker implantation was complete A-V block in 13 patients, symptomatic sick sinus syndrome in 12 patients, complete A-V block after open heart surgery in 12 patients, second degree A-V block with dizziness in one patient, and atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response in two patients. In thirty nine cases, electrodes were implanted by subxiphoid approach, on the diaphragmatic surface of right ventricle. I n one case, electrode was implanted through the left anterior thoracotomy. Acute stimulation threshold, measured in 35 patients, varied from 0.1 to 2.5 mA [mean 0.85 mA.], and R-wave amplitude [sensitivity], measured in 19 patients, varied from 2.9 mV to 11.5 mV [mean 7.6 mV]. There was no hospital death. The postoperative complications included wound seroma in two patients [5%], wound hematoma in three patients [7.5%], and pacing failure in one patient [2.5%]. The subxiphoid implantation of the pacemaker using sutureless myocardial lead was valuable in obtaining safe, reliable and long-term impulse generation.