• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.16.1-16.11
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• 2022

Background: Antimony is used in catalysts, pesticides, brake systems, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic fire retardants in the plastic, paint, and rubber industries. Accumulation of trivalent antimony compounds in the body can cause cardiotoxic effects and increase the risk of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and sudden death. Antimony exposure can result in action potential prolongation, causing a cardiac repolarization delay, which appears as QTc prolongation and T-wave abnormalities on the ECG. There are no studies on antimony-associated cardiac toxicity in Korea. Case presentation: Accordingly, the present study reports cases of ECG abnormalities in workers handling antimony trisulfide at a company located in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region. Nineteen workers employed at an automobile brake lining manufacturer were exposed to antimony trisulfide dust through thermoforming, grinding, and drilling processes. In 2020, the workers were reported to work 12-hour shifts, 5 days a week. The time-weighted average (TWA) of antimony trisulfide exposure measured in workers was 0.0028 mg/m³. Two workers were excluded from the analysis due to pre-existing medical conditions (cardiovascular disease). Of the remaining 17 workers, ECG abnormalities were found in 41% (seven out of 17: four with QTc prolongation and T-wave abnormalities; two with only T-wave abnormalities; and one with only QTc prolongation). Conclusions: This case report outlines the first few cases in Korea in which potential cardiac toxicity caused by occupational exposure to antimony was identified. However, data regarding cardiac toxicity caused by antimony exposure are still lacking in Korea; thus, additional studies are needed to identify causal relationships.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 1978

There appears some conduction defects frequently after total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. Common defect is right bundle branch block due to surgical intervention. We experienced complete A-V block which occured 3 months later after total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot in a 8 year old boy. The patient was completely free of any A-V block after the operation for 3 months, and sudden onset of A-V block with coupled premature ventricular contractions resulted him in shock state during the attack of severe bronchopneumonia for 4 days prior to the second visit. Emergency implantation of Cordis demand type temporary pacemaker was necessary to control the complete heart block with bradyarrhythmia and frequent ventricular fibrillation. Permanent cardiac pacemaker was implanted two weeks later as indicated with Cordis Stanicor lambda demand pacemaker, and the patient was discharged uneventfully on the 8th post implantation day with the heart rate of 72/min. Another 3 months after the implantation, the patient was transported to this hospital as dead on arrival after an accidental fall from a 2 meter height, and all possible cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 60 minutes at the emergency room in vain. Autopsy was done to find out the cause of sudden death and the etiology of complete heart block. Microscopic focal infarctions with scar formation were noted along the course of conduction system in the interventricular septum, which might be the main cause of complete heart block during the attack of severe bronchopneumonia complicated with acute bacterial endocarditis. The tip of the pacemaker wire was slipped from the granulation scar at the apex of the right ventricular cavity, and this might be the direct cause of pacing failure and death.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.208-215
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• 2017

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a cardiomyopathy characterized by predominant right ventricular fibro-fatty replacement, right ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. It is a rare but important cause of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults. A meta-analysis on risk stratification of major ventricular tachyarrhythmic events indicating the need for implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in ARVC was performed. Methods: The pubmed database was searched from its inception to May 2015. Of the 433 citations identified, 12 were included in this meta-analysis. Data regarding major ventricular tachyarrhythmic events were retrieved in 817 subjects from the studies. For the variables, a combined odds ratio (OR) was calculated using a fixed-effects meta-analysis. Results: Extensive right ventricular dysfunction (OR, 2.44), ventricular late potential (OR, 1.66), inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmia during electrophysiology study (OR, 3.67), non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (OR, 3.78), and history of fatal event/sustained VT (OR, 5.66) identified as significant risk factors (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that extensive right ventricular dysfunction, ventricular late potential, inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmia during electrophysiological study, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and history of sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation are consistently reported risk factors of major ventricular tachyarrhythmic events indicating implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in patients with ARVC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.355-359
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• 1995

A clinical analysis was performed on 48 cases with mitral stenosis who received open mitral commissurotomy from December 1983 to June 1991 at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital. Fifteen patients were men and 33 were women. the mean age was 35.6 years with the range of 16 to 61 years. The distribution of preoperative NYHA Functional Classes was as follows; class II, 25 patients; class III, 20 patients; class IV, 3 patients. Three patients had cerebral emboli preoperatively, all of whom were in atrial fibrillation. The preoperative electrocardiographic studies revealed that 32 patients had sinus rhythms and 16 had atrial fibrillations. Twenty-six patients had open mitral commissurotomy alone and 22 patients had additional cardiac procedures. Intraoperatively, there were 6 cases of left atrial thrombosis. There was no perioperative death but early postoperative complications were found in 3 cases. The patients were followed up from 2 to 99 months[mean 33.7 months . There was one case of late unexplained sudden death. There was a case of late postoperative cerebral infarction, 5 cases of mitral restenosis and 3 cases of congestive heart failure and/or arrhythmia. Mitral valve replacements were required in 3 patients.But, it is evident that open mitral commissurotomy has many advantages beyond mitral valve replacement concerning the results of the mitral valve replacement underwent during the same period at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.514-517
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• 2003

Anomalous aortic origin of left coronary artery is a rare congenital coronary anomaly that can cause clinical manifestations such as ischemic chest pain, arrhythmic syncope or even sudden cardiac death. We describe a case of anomalous aortic origin of left main coronary artery presented as a cardiogenic shock which was successfully treated by coronary artery transfer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2009

Brugada syndrome is characterized by an ECG pattern of right bundle branch block and ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads ($V_1-V_3$) without structural heart disease. It is also characterized by sudden cardiac death that's caused by ventricular fibrillation. This is a familial syndrome with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and it may be considerably more common in Southeast Asia. Many factors during anesthesia can precipitate malignant dysrrhythmia in these patients, so careful choice of anesthetics is required. We experienced a case of Brugada syndrome in a 59-year-old male patient who was under general anesthesia for trans-sphenoidal surgery to treat a pituitary adenoma, and the patient was diagnosed as having Brugada syndrome without any untoward cardiovascular events.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to development CPR training course to promote wide spread training. The course objectives was based on international Guidelines 2000. The course presents information about the AHA adult Chain of survival and signs of heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, and chocking in adult, and includes information about healty heart living and actions to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The course also presents information about the AHA infant and chila Chain of survival, signs of breathing emergencies and chocking in infants and children, prevention of sudden infant death syndrome, and prevention of the most common fatal injuies in infants and children. Vedio-mediated instruction is the primary approach to teaching psycomotor skills.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 1982

Congenital pericardial defect is a rare anomaly, which was first described by M. Columbus in 1559. Four hundred years later the first clinical diagnosis was reported by Ellis et al. The congenital pericardial defect Is usually asymptomatic and Is found Incidentally at thoracotomy and autopsy, but it appears that partial absence of pericardium Is not Innocuous because of sudden death due to herniation of a portion of heart. We experienced congenital left pericardial defect in 20 year old female who was diagnosed as left ventricular aneurysm before operation. This patient complained of dyspnea on exertion and anterior chest discomfortness. Physical examination revealed Grade II pansystolic murmur on the 3rd and 4th intercostal space left sternal border. There were specific abnormal findings on the chest plain film, EKG, ultrasonography, and left ventriculography. On 9th July 1981, an operation was performed and found the left partial pericardial defect through which a large portion of left ventricle was herniated Into left pleural space. The method of operation was removal of adhesion and widening of the pericardial defect to avoid Incarceration. After operation, we observed marked Improvement of symptoms and disappearance of cardiac murmur.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.470-475
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• 1983

Myxoma of the heart can now be successfully treated but the success is obviously dependent upon the correct diagnosis and treatment prior to development of catastrophic complications such as sudden death, embolism or cardiac failure. The right ventricular myxoma is very rare, and we treated successfully a case of giant right ventricular myxoma, sessile tumor originated from ventricular apex, weighed 175 gm. The tumor base was broad, about 3 cm x 3cm, and it was hardly adhesed to the tricuspid valvular structures, but could remove with the preservation of adequate residual ventricular chamber size and the maintenance of functional tricuspid valve anatomy. The postoperative course was excellent and uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.337-341
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• 1983

The experience with operative treatment for total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Hospital from January, 1977, through April, 1983 was reviewed. Of the 29 patients reviewed, male to female occurrence ratio was 22:7 Type of V.S.D. was type II in 26 cases[90%] and total conus defect in 3 cases[10%]. Average size of V.S.D. was 19 mm. Type of Right ventricular outflow tract stenosis was highest frequency with pulmonary valvular and infundibular stenosis combined type in 21 cases[72%], and there were 8 deaths In this group. Type of R.V.O.T. reconstruction contains 2 cases of infundibulectomy only, 1 case of infundibulectomy with valvular commissurotomy, 2 cases of pericardial patch, 23 Cases of pericardial patch with Teflon or Dacron felt reinforced and 1 case of pulmonary valved conduit reconstruction. Operative mortality was higher in outflow patch through pulmonary valve ring. Overall mortality was 31%. Major causes of death and postoperative complications were low output syndrome, complete A-V block acute renal failure, ventricular fibrillation, bleeding brain abscess, and sudden cardiac arrest.