• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.634-643
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of low-contrast-dose, dual-source dual-energy CT before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with compromised renal function. Materials and Methods: A total of 54 consecutive patients (female:male, 26:38; 81.9 ± 7.3 years) with reduced renal function underwent pre-TAVR dual-energy CT with a 30-mL contrast agent between June 2022 and March 2023. Monochromatic (40- and 50-keV) and conventional (120-kVp) images were reconstructed and analyzed. The subjective quality score, vascular attenuation, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared among the imaging techniques using the Friedman test and post-hoc analysis. Interobserver reliability for aortic annular measurement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. The procedural outcomes and incidence of post-contrast acute kidney injury (AKI) were assessed. Results: Monochromatic images achieved diagnostic quality in all patients. The 50-keV images achieved superior vascular attenuation and CNR (P < 0.001 in all) while maintaining a similar SNR compared to conventional CT. For aortic annular measurement, the 50-keV images showed higher interobserver reliability compared to conventional CT: ICC, 0.98 vs. 0.90 for area and 0.97 vs. 0.95 for perimeter; 95% limits of agreement width, 0.63 cm² vs. 0.92 cm² for area and 5.78 mm vs. 8.50 mm for perimeter. The size of the implanted device matched CT-measured values in all patients, achieving a procedural success rate of 92.6%. No patient experienced a serum creatinine increase of ≥ 1.5 times baseline in the 48-72 hours following CT. However, one patient had a procedural delay due to gradual renal function deterioration. Conclusion: Low-contrast-dose imaging with 50-keV reconstruction enables precise pre-TAVR evaluation with improved image quality and minimal risk of post-contrast AKI. This approach may be an effective and safe option for pre-TAVR evaluation in patients with compromised renal function.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.649-655
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• 1988

One hundred and one patients with tetralogy of Fallot who were older than 16 years of age underwent a total correction of the anomaly between May, 1964 and July, 1987. This group comprised 14.9% of the 679 consecutive patients who had repair of the tetralogy at our institution during the same period. Of the 101 patients, 8 had a previous shunt procedure for palliation. The preoperative mean hemoglobin value was 16.9*1.0% and the mean systemic oxygen saturation, 84.4*0.9%. In 76 patients[75.2%], a type II ventricular septal defect was seen whereas in 14 patients[13.9%], the defect was type I. In 72 patients[71.3%], other cardiac anomalies were present which included patent foramen ovale in 37.6%, atrial septal defect in 8.99b, vegetations in 6.9%, right sided aortic arch in 5.9% and coronary artery anomaly in 5.0%. The right ventricular outflow obstruction was caused most commonly by combination of infundibular and valvular stenosis[74.3%], followed by isolated infundibular stenosis[19.8%] and valvular stenosis [5.9%] alone in order. The preoperative mean diameter of the pulmonary valve ring size was 10.2*0.5 mm in diameter. A transannular patch enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract was performed in 28 patients and, in 12 a pericardial monocusp was utilized. Major anomalous aorto-pulmonary vessels were encountered in 5 patients which were detected before or during the operation. In 3 patients, they were ligated beforehand to control the flooding of the operative field. Postoperatively, the mean systolic pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the main pulmonary artery was 16.2*2.3 mmHg and the mean systolic pressure- ratio between the right and the left ventricle was 45.3*2.0%. Perioperative complications including bleeding in 8.9%, pleural effusion in 7.9%, dysrrhythmia in 4.9%, and residual VSD in 4.0%. Operative mortality was 8.9%. There has been no operative death in the recent 65 cases since 1981. There were 2 late deaths, 68 and 113 months after surgery. There were 2 late detachment of the VSD patch during the follow-up period. Of the 6 patients with patch detachment found during the postoperative period, 3 had subacute bacterial endocarditis before or after the operation indicating The serious nature of this complication. Two of these patients subsequently underwent a successful reoperation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.306-309
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• 2020

A 59-year-old man presented for possible durable ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. He had previously been diagnosed with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, a ventricular septal defect, an atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, and aortic valve regurgitation. In the previous 22 years, he had undergone palliative cardiac surgery 3 times. VAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation was planned. Owing to severe adhesions, mesocardia, a left ascending aorta, and moderate aortic regurgitation, we performed VAD implantation and aortic valve closure via a dual left thoracotomy and partial sternotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.371-382
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• 1985

Over the past 4 decades after World War II a great deal of data and clinical experiences have been accumulated relating to the diagnosis and surgical treatment of congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases in Korea. Clinical data on cardiovascular surgical cases performed in all 22 hospitals for open heart surgery in Korea was collected from it`s starting up to December 1984. The first recorded open heart surgery for a young adult atrial septal defect was performed by Young Kyoon Lee, M.D. on August 7, 1959, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea. And, some scattered reports on cardiovascular surgical cases in it`s early period have changed recently the number of hospitals for open heart surgery and clinical cases enormously in total amount of 13, 100 cardiovascular operations performed on 12, 990 cases up to December 1984. Of the total 13, 100 cardiovascular operations, congenital cardiovascular anomaly occupied 70%. Of the congenital cases, 6, 580 operations for acyanotic group [operative mortality 4.5%], and 2, 489 operations for cyanotic group [operative mortality 20%]. The incidence of congenital cardiovascular anomaly in order of frequency was ventricular septal defect [29%], patent ductus arteriosus [26%], Tetralogy of Fallot [22%], atrial septal defect [8, 6%], pulmonary valve stenosis [3.0%], and endocardial cushion defect [1.1%]. Of the 3, 412 valvular heart disease cases, which occupied 85% of total 4, 031 acquired cardiovascular disease, individual incidence was in mitral 2, 565 [63.5%], double valve 451 [11.1%], and simple aortic valve 351 [8.7%]. Total number of valve replaced, mechanical and tissue, was 2, 795, and 1, 884 for mitral, 808 for aortic, and 103 for tricuspid in position. Operative mortality for prosthetic valve replacement in total was 9.8%. Remained acquired cardiovascular cases chronic constrictive pericarditis [7.9%], cardiac tumor [1.9%], coronary artery bypass [1.8%], cardiac trauma [1.2%] and less than 1% of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Overall operative mortality for open and non-open cardiovascular surgical operation was 7.7% [congenital acyanotic group 3.2%, congenital cyanotic group 19.4%, and acquired group 7.8%]. In conclusion, present status of cardiovascular surgery in Korea is stabilized with accumulation of clinical cases and experiences, and the future in the field of cardiovascular surgery is promising, especially in the infant cardiac surgery and aortocoronary bypass surgery, with abrupt increase of specialized cardiac centers, trained specialists, and expanding social health insurance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2001

배경: 대동맥판막협착증 환자는 판막질환으로 인한 만성적인 후부하의 증가에 대한 보상성 좌심실 심근비후가 일어나게 된다. 대동맥 판막 치환 후 좌심실 심근 비후의 감소가 이루어지는 것으로 알려져 있으나 21mm이하의 작은 인공판막으로 치환시 좌심실 심근 변화에 대해 논란이 있다. 대상 및 방법: 1994년 9월부터 1998년 7월까지 한림대학교 강동성심병원 흉부외과에서 대동맥판막협착증으로 진단받고 판막치환술을 시행한 20명을 대상으로 하였다. 환자는 남녀 각각 13명, 7명이며 평균나이 61$\pm$13.8세 체표면적은 평균 1.57$\pm$0.14m$m^2$이었다. 환자의 추적관찰은 수술 전, 수술 후 초기(평균 10.4일) 및 수술 후 만기(평균 29.9개월)에 심초음파로 시행하였다. 환자들은 사용된 판막에 따라 2개의 군(1군;21mm 이하, 2군;23mm이상)으로 나누었다. 결과: 모든 군에서 NYHA Functional class의 유의한 감소가 있었다. 좌심실 구추률은 수술 전후 1군은 유의한 차이가 없었으나 2군에서는 유의한 차이가 있었다. 그러나 수술 전 좌심실 구출률이 2군에서 1군에 비해 유의하게 감소되어 있었다(p=0.044). 좌심실근량지수는 1군은 수술후 초기에 유의한 감소가 없었으나 수술후 만기에는 유의한 감소를 보여주었다. 그러나 2군은 수술후 초기와 만기에 모두 유의한 감소를 보여주었다. 결론: 21 mm이하 군과 23 mm이상 군 모두 임상적 호전이 있었다. 그러나 19 mm판막군이 2례로 적어 19 mm 판막의 사용시 환자의 나이와 체표면적, 운동량을 고려하여 신중한 판막선택이 고려된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.3 s.272
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• pp.225-227
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• 2007

The aortic inclusion technique is frequently used in the original Bentall's procedure for the control of excessive postoperative bleeding. Although this procedure has improved the outcome of patients with aortic root disease, there is a high incidence of both early and late complications, including coronary artery stenosis, kinking or pseudoaneurysm formation at the coronary suture lines. Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is a relatively rare, but fatal complication, which occurs after wrap-inclusion composite graft replacement. Herein, the case of a 45-year-old female, who developed a perigraft aortic pseudoaneurysm 10 years after a Bentall's procedure (wrap-inclusion technique), but was successfully managed using the Cabrol's method, is reported.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.652-659
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• 2004

Background: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of aortic valvuloplasty in pediatric age. Material and Method: Between January 1993 and March 2004, 35 patients underwent aortic valvuloplasty for aortic stenosis (AS) or aortic regurgitation (AR). The mean age was 81.1$\pm$61.5 (1∼223) months. The mean follow up was 50.8$\pm$30.2 (3∼121) months. Nine patients had AS, 21 had AR, and 6 had AS and AR. Valve morphology was tricuspid in 24 patients, bicuspid in 9, quadricuspid in 1, and unicuspid in 1. The mean peak pressure gradients of AS were 72.0$\pm$33.0 mmHg, and the mean grades of AR were 3.1$\pm$0.9. Result: There was one late mortality without early mortality. After operation, AS improved with mean peak pressure gradients of 23.5$\pm$21.0 mmHg (p < 0.05), and AR improved with mean grades of 1.9$\pm$0.8 (p < 0.05). At mean follow up of 35.0$\pm$23.0 months, AS maintained with mean peak pressure gradients of 31.5$\pm$24.0 mmHg, but AR progressed with mean grades of 2.8$\pm$1.3 (p < 0.05). Reoperation was required in 6 patients 38.3$\pm$21.8 months after the original operation. The actuarial figures for freedom from reoperation at 2, 5 and 8 years were 96.9$\pm$3.1%, 79.5$\pm$5.5%, and 56.8$\pm$11.4%, respectively. Age at operation, presence of AS, preoperative severity of AS or AR, and morphology of aortic valve were not significant risk factors for reoperation, and improvement of AS or AR. Conclusion: Aortic valvuloplasty showed good immediate postoperative valve function. Aortic valvuloplasty offers children many years with tolerable valve function and allows to postpone aortic valve replacement or Ross procedure in pediatric patients.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.292-304
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Calcium is a determinant of paravalvular leakage (PVL) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This is based on a fixed contrast attenuation value while X-ray attenuation is patient-dependent and without considering frame expansion and PVL location. We examined the role of calcium in (site-specific) PVL after TAVI using a patient-specific contrast attenuation coefficient combined with frame expansion. METHODS: 57 patients were included with baseline CT, post-TAVI transthoracic echocardiography and rotational angiography (R-angio). Calcium load was assessed using a patient-specific contrast attenuation coefficient. Baseline CT and post-TAVI R-angio were fused to assess frame expansion. PVL was assessed by a core lab. RESULTS: Overall, the highest calcium load was at the non-coronary-cusp-region (NCR, 436 mm³) vs. the right-coronary-cusp-region (RCR, 233 mm³) and the left-coronary-cusp-region (LCR, 244 mm³), p < 0.001. Calcium load was higher in patients with vs. without PVL (1,137 vs. 742 mm³, p = 0.012) and was an independent predictor of PVL (odds ratio, 4.83, p = 0.004). PVL was seen most often in the LCR (39% vs. 21% [RCR] and 19% [NCR]). The degree of frame expansion was 71% at the NCR, 70% at the RCR and 74% at the LCR without difference between patients with or without PVL. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium load was higher in patients with PVL and was an independent predictor of PVL. While calcium was predominantly seen at the NCR, PVL was most often at the LCR. These findings indicate that in addition to calcium, specific anatomic features play a role in PVL after TAVI.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.305-310
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• 2009

Background: The Ross procedure is known as a good surgical option for a young age group with aortic valve problems, but few reports on the Ross procedure are available in the Korean literature. This study is a review of our midterm results of 10 year experience with the pediatric Ross operation in Asan Medical Center. Material and Method: From March 1997 to October 2008, eighteen patients who were aged less than 16 years underwent the Ross procedure. There were 11 males and 7 females. The patients median age was 8.5 years (range: $0.5\sim14.0$). The aortic valve pathophysiology was 6 patients with aortic insufficiency, 4 patients with aortic stenosis, 7 patients with mixed aortic stenoinsufficiencey and 1 patient with infective endocarditis. The valve morphology was bicuspid in 11 and tricuspid in 7. All the patients were operated on with the root replacement technique. All the pumonic valves were replaced with an allograft except for one pericardial monocusp valve. The mean follow up duration was 52.8 months (range: 5.8$\sim$138.2 months). We reviewed the echocardiographic data with focusing on the, auto-graft dysfunction and reoperation. Result: There was no hospital mortality and late mortality. According to the last echocardiographic data, 2 autografts showed aortic regurgitation grade 2, 4 autografts showed aortic regurgitation grade 1 and the others were less than trivial. Reoperation of the pulmonic position conduit was performed 4 times in three patients. The rate of freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 72.2%. On the serial follow up, the Z-values of the aortic annulus/aortic sinus were changed from $1.6{\pm}1.7/0.9{\pm}1.7$ at preoperation to $1.8{\pm}1.6$(p=0.64)/$2.2{\pm}0.9$ (p=0.01) at the last follow-up. There was no significant relation between the growth of the neoaortic root and neoaortic insufficiency. Conclusion: Our midterm results of the Ross procedure in pediatric patients showed good autograft function and growth potential. Vet reoperation due to allograft dysfunction was a major concern.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.667-673
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• 2007

Background: Patients with severe aortic valve disease frequently display mitral valve regurgitation (MR). In such patients, the clinical course of MR after isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) may be important for determining the treatment strategies. After isolated AVR, the change of the concomitant moderate degree or less of MR according to the type of aortic valve disease is not known well. The aim of this study was to analyze the post-operative changes of MR after performing AVR in those patients with severe AS (Group S) and those with severe AR (Group R). Material and Method: We retrospectively evaluated 43 patients with severe aortic disease and a moderate degree or less of mitral valve regurgitation, and these patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement from January 1996 to June 2005. The patients were divided into two groups: the aortic valve stenosis group (n = 29) and the aortic valve regurgitation group (n = 14). The patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography preoperatively and at 7 days, $6{\sim}10$ months and more than 18 months (mean follow-up duration: 38 months) postoperatively. Result: The mean age was 60.9 years (Group S: 62 years, Group R: 52.5 years) and 60% (Group S=55%, Group R=71%) of the patients were male. The preoperative MR was mild in 29 (67.5%), mild to moderate in 11 (25.5%), and moderate in 3 (6.9%) patients. In the Group S patients, MR improved in 16 (55%) patients at the immediate postoperative days and in 17 (59%) patients at more than 18 months postoperatively. On the other hand, all the Group R patients exhibited earlier improvement. The decrease of LA size had a similar pattern to the MR change, but there were no significant differences in the change of the ejection fraction of the two groups. Conclusion: In the patients with severe aortic valve disease and concomitant low grade MR, the MR after AVR improved earlier and more effectively in the patients with AR than in those patients with AS.