• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.389-391
• /
• 2009

Antiepileptic drug hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS), a delayed immunological reaction, is a relatively rare side effect of antiepileptic drugs and is usually overlooked. An array of symptoms can occur one to eight weeks after treatment with an antiepileptic drug. Symptoms may be as simple as a fever, skin rash, or lymphadenopathy, but may eventually involve internal organs and cause fatal outcomes. Additionally, because the symptoms resemble the features of various arrays of diseases and the reported mortality rate is approximately 10%, the importance of early diagnosis and ability to differentiate AHS from other diseases cannot be overemphasized. We report a case of a 14-year-old girl with AHS caused by lamotrigine, which mimicked atypical Kawasaki disease and infectious mononucleosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2018

Background: We evaluated the early clinical outcomes of tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TAP) with the Tri-Ad annuloplasty ring for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Methods: From January 2015 to March 2017, 36 patients underwent TAP with a Tri-Ad ring for functional TR. To evaluate the early clinical outcomes of TAP with the Tri-Ad ring, we conducted a propensity score-matched analysis comparing the Tri-Ad and $MC^3$ tricuspid annuloplasty rings (n=34 in each group). The follow-up duration was $11.0{\pm}7.07$ months. Results: There was 1 case of operative mortality (2.8%) and no cases of late mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (41%), including acute kidney injury in 6 patients (16%), bleeding requiring reoperation in 4 patients (11%), and low cardiac output syndrome in 4 patients (11%). There were no ring-related complications, such as atrioventricular block or ring dehiscence. The TR grade decreased significantly (from $2.03{\pm}1.06$ to $1.18{\pm}0.92$, p<0.01), as did the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (from $43.53{\pm}13.84$ to $38.00{\pm}9.72mm\;Hg$, p=0.03). There were no cases of severe residual TR, but moderate TR was observed in 3 patients, all of whom had severe TR preoperatively. Severe preoperative TR was also associated with moderate in the univariate analysis (p<0.01). In the propensity score-matched analysis comparing the Tri-Ad and $MC^3$ rings, there was no significant difference in early clinical outcomes. Conclusion: TAP with the Tri-Ad ring corrected functional TR effectively and provided good early clinical and echocardiographic results without ring-related complications. However, severe preoperative TR was associated with moderate or severe residual TR in the immediate postoperative period. A follow-up study is necessary to confirm the stability of this procedure.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.241-251
• /
• 2010

Crucian carp (Carassius auratus) has been used as the sentinel species for POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) monitoring in aquatic environment. However, there is little information for dioxin toxicity and especially, early life stage toxicity in crucian carp have been never carried out. In this study, we investigated several toxic effects for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) in fertilized egg obtained by natural fertilization from crucian carp. The embryos at 3 h post-fertilization (hpf) were treated with 0.039, 0.156, 0.625, and 2.5 (${\mu}g/L$) TCDD by waterborne exposure for 60 minutes and changed with fresh water 2 times per day. Fertilized eggs started hatching at 51 hpf and TCDD exposed embryo showed decrease of hatching rate in a dose-dependent manner at 75 hpf. Pericardial edema was continuously observed in larvae exposed to TCDD from hatching start time (51 hpf), followed by the onset of mortality. In addition, AhR-related gene, CYP1A was clearly increased by TCDD in a dose dependent manner. These results indicated that fertilized eggs obtained from crucian carp have the TCDD related gene regulation and a distinct TCDD developmental toxicity syndrome by TCDD exposure. Therefore, we suggested that early life stage test in crucian carp could be used as test methods on dioxins toxicity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 1998

Aortic aneurysm has poor prognosis and high mortality, but the incidence of aortic aneurysm is in increasing state. From July, 1986 to July, 1996, we operated on 25 patients with aortic aneurysm and analysed the clinical results and relations between the duration from symptoms onset to operation(Sx-Op), the duration from admission to operation(Adm-Op), preoperative blood pressure, preoperative heart rate and postoperative mortality, retrospectively. The patients were classified as dissecting aneurysm(10 cases), abdominal aortic aneurysm(9 cases), Marfan's syndrome(3 cases), descending thoracic aortic aneurysm(3 cases). The operative technique were graft interposition in 17 cases, Bentall's operation in 4 cases, aneurysm bypass in 2 cases, and wrapping of aorta in 2 cases. Seven patients died of several causes, bleeding in 5 cases, acute renal failure in 1 case and respiratory failure in another one case. Before 1992, the early stage of operation, 6 mortality among 14 operated patients occurred, and after then 1 mortality among 11 operated patients occurred. Eighteen survivors were followed up from 1 to 118 months(mean 50.6 months), and total follow up was 911 patient-months. During the follow up period one patient died of melena 30 months after operation. The other patients did not complain chest pain or dyspnea. The surgical mortality was improved in the late period, and the major cause of death was intraoperative or postoperative bleeding. The Sx-Op duration, the Adm-Op duration, preoperative blood pressure and preoperative heart rate were proven to have no statistical relations with postoperative mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.426-433
• /
• 2009

Background: Remarkable progress has recently been made in achieving successful early repair of congenital heart disease with using cardiopulmonary bypass in the neonatal period. The aim of this study is to evaluate our short-term outcomes for performing neonatal cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation. Material and Method: Fifty five neonates underwent open heart surgery from February 2002 to December 2007. The mean ages and body weight was 13.5 days. and 3.2 kg, respectively. The diagnoses of the patients were transposition of the great arteries (14), total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (7), large ventricular septal defect (VSD) (7), coarotation of the aorta with VSD (6), interrupted aortic arch (5) and others (16). Result: Six patients had difficulties being weaned from extracorporeal circulation. Four patients left the operating room with an open sternum. Low cardiac output syndrome and acute renal insufficiency were observed in 3 patients each, respectively. Post-operative complications were observed in 27 patients (49.1%). The postoperative mortality was 12.7% (7 patients); 5 patients experienced early hospital death and 2 experienced late death (2). Conclusion: In our hospital, early surgical repair with extracorporeal circulation in neonates was feasible with tolerable mortality. Further follow-up required to establish the long-term survival and complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.210-215
• /
• 2008

Background: Drug-eluting stents are contributing to the exponential growth of percutaneous coronary intervention, and even in the patients with left main coronary artery disease, owing to the decreased restenosis rate. Our study aimed at comparing the one-year results after coronary artery bypass grafting versus percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents in patients with left main coronary artery disease. Material and Method: Those patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery or stenting at our hospital under the diagnosis of left main coronary artery disease were divided in two groups. The variables for comparison were the preoperative disease severity, the length of the hospital stay, the early mortality and the cumulative incidence of mortality, myocardial infarction and repeated revascularization. Result: There were 101 cases in the surgery group and 78 cases in the stent group. Age, gender, the risk factors, the left ventricular ejection fraction and the proportion of acute coronary syndrome showed no significant differences between the two groups. The surgery group showed a more severe condition according to the Euroscore, a greater incidence of urgency, a longer hospital stay and a greater incidence of multi-vessel disease. The early mortality and one-year cumulative mortality were not different between the groups. The Euroscore-matched comparison for the surgery group (41 patients) and the stent group (78 patients) showed no significant differences in the Euroscore, age, gender, risk factors and the proportion of acute coronary syndrome. The surgery group in the Euroscore-matched comparison showed more multi-vessel disease and a longer hospital stay. The surgery group showed lower early mortality and lower one-year cumulative mortality, but this was statistically insignificant (0% vs 2.6%, respectively, p=0.55; 0% vs 6.6%, respectively, p=0.30). The rates of repeated revascularization and major adverse events (death or myocardial infarct) were lower in the CABG group, but this was not statistically significant (13.3% vs 6.3%, respectively, p=0.48; 10.0% vs 0%, respectively, p=0.09). Conclusion: Percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting stents in low-risk patients with left main coronary artery disease resulted in a shortened length of the hospital stay, as compared with that of the CABG group of patients. However, the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting stents showed a tendency for an increased rate of repeated revascularization and higher one-year cumulative mortality. Further studies with large populations and longer follow-up will be necessary to reaffirm our findings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.233-241
• /
• 1998

To define the risk factors affecting the early major morbidity and mortality after multiple- valve operations, the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative informations were retrospectively collected on 124 consecutive patients undergoing a multiple-valve operation between October 1985 and July 1996 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Pusan Paik Hospital. The study population consists of 53 men and 71 women whose mean age was 37.9$\pm$11.5(mean$\pm$SD) years. Using the New York Heart Association(NYHA) classification, 41 patients(33.1%) were in functional class II, 60(48.4%) in class III, and 20(16.1%) in class IV preoperatively. Seven patients(5.6%) had undergone previous cardiac operations. Atrial fibrillations were present in 76 patients(61.3%), a history of cerebral embolism in 5(4.0%), and left atrial thrombus in 13(10.5%). The overall early mortality rate and postoperative morbidity was 8.1% and 21.8% respectively. Among the 124 cases of multiple-valve operation, there were 57(46.0%) of combined mitral valve replacement(MVR) and aortic valve replacement(AVR), 48(38.7%) of combined MVR and tricuspid annuloplasty(TVA), 12(9.7%) of combined MVR, AVR and TVA, 3(2.4%) of combined MVR and aortic valvuloplasty, 2(1.6%) of combined MVR and tricuspid valve replacement, and others. The patients were classified according to the postoperative outcomes; Group A(27 cases) included the patients who had early death or major morbidity such as low cardiac output syndrome, mediastinitis, cardiac rupture, ventricular arrhythmia, sepsis, and others; Group B(97 cases) included the patients who had the good postoperative outcomes. The patients were also classified into group of early death and survivor. In comparison of group A and group B, there were significant differences in aortic cross-clamping time(ACT, group A:153.4$\pm$42.4 minutes, group B:134.0$\pm$43.7 minutes, p=0.042), total bypass time(TBT, group A:187.4$\pm$65.5 minutes, group B:158.1$\pm$50.6 minutes, p=0.038), and NYHA functional class(I:33.3%, II:9.7%, III:20%, IV:50%, p=0.004). In comparison of early death(n=10) and survivor(n=114), there were significant differences in age(early death:45.2$\pm$8.7 years, survivor:37.2$\pm$11.6 years, p=0.036), sex(female:12.7%, male:1.9%, p=0.043), ACT(early death:167.1$\pm$38.4 minutes, survivor:135.7$\pm$43.7 minutes, p=0.030), and NYHA functional class(I:0%, II:4.9%, III:1.7%, IV:35%, p=0.001). In conclusion, the early major morbidity and mortality were influenced by the preoperative clinical status and therefore the earlier surgical intervention should be recommended whenever possible. Also, improved methods of myocardial protection and operative techniques may reduce the risk in patients with multiple-valve operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.3 s.260
• /
• pp.214-219
• /
• 2006

Background: Perforation of esophagus is relatively uncommon. but it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment and outcome are largely determined by the time of presentation. We performed a retrospective review of patients with esophageal perforation to assess the outcome of current management techniques. Material and Method: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients treated for perforation of esophagus from March 1990 to March 2005. There were 28 patients (22 men and 6 women: mean age 51 years, range 17 to 82 years) The causes of the perforations were as follows: foreign body retention (9 patients), trauma (7 patients), spontaneous rupture (7 patients), and iatrogenic (5 pati-ients). 18 patients were presented within 24 hours and 10 patients were presented after 24 hours., Esophageal repair was performed in 21 ($75\%$) of them, 4 patients were treated with esophagectomy, 3 patients were treated with feeding gastrostomy and drainage. Result: Hospital mortality was $18\%$ and iatrogenic was increase the mortality rate (p < 0.05). Site of perforation, time from perforation, and treatment method had no influence on mortality. Postoprative leaks occurred in 4 patients after primary repair and were treated conservatively. Conclusion: Esophageal perforation remains a devastating event which is difficult to diagnose and manage. Primary repair can be performed in most patients with esophageal perforation regardless of time to presentation with a low mortality. Accurate diagnosis and early treatment are essential to the successful management of patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.335-342
• /
• 2003

Background: The aortic arch replacement in an acute aortic dissection is technically demanding procedure that has a lot of postoperative morbidity and high mortality The authors have applied several techniques of aortic arch replacement to overcome the risks of the procedure. Therefore we analysed the results of these techniques. Material and Method: From March of 1996 to July of 2002, we performed 31 cases of the aortic arch replacement in the Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. There were 12 male and 19 female patient's with 59.6$\pm$9.4 years of mean age. Among them 18 cases were treated with the hemiarch replacement and 13 cases with the total arch replacement. We approached the aortic arch through median sternotomy in all but 3 cases of Clamshell incision and applied the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. The associated procedures were 2 Bentall's procedures, an axillobifemoral bypass, a femorofemoral bypass and a carotid artery bypass. Result: The postoperative morbidities were 8 acute renal failures, 3 CNS complications, 2 low cardiac output syndromes, 2 malpefusion syndromes, and 2 deep wound infections. There were 4 cases of early hospital mortality which were from an acute renal failure a postoperative bleeding, a low cardiac output syndrome, and a reperfusion syndrome. There were 3 cases of late hospital mortality which were from an acute renal failure, and 2 multiorgan failures. So the total mortality rate was 22.5%. There were 4 cases of late mortality after the discharge, which were form 2 cases of distal anastomotic rupture and 2 cases of intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusion: The hemiarch replacement has relatively shorter operative time and lower hospital mortality but higher late mortality than the total arch replacement. The total arch replacement needs more technically demanding procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.446-455
• /
• 1985

A total and consecutive 156 patients have undergone cardiac valve surgery including 13 closed mitral commissurotomy, 13 open mitral commissurotomy, one mitral annuloplasty, 75 mitral valve replacement, one aortic annuloplasty, 24 aortic valve replacement, 3 tricuspid valve replacement, 25 double valve replacement and one triple valve replacement. 155 prosthetic valves were replaced in a period between September 1976 and August 1985. There were 68 males and 88 females with age range from 8 to 69 yrs [mean 36.5 yr]. Out of replaced valves, 61 was tissue valve including 54 Carpentier-Edwards, and 4 was mechanical valves including 74 St. Jude Medical, and the position replaced was 101 valves for mitral, 46 for aortic and 8 for tricuspid. Single valve replacement in 102 cases, double valve replacement in 25 cases [17 for AVR+MVR, and 8 for MVR+TVR], and only one case was noted in the triple valve replacement. Early mortality within 30 days after operation was noted in 11 cases [7%]; 7 after MVR, 2 after DVR, and each one after open mitral commissurotomy and mitral annuloplasty. Cause of death was valve thrombus, cerebral air embolism, low output syndrome, uncontrollable arrhythmia, parapneumonic sepsis, acute cardiac tamponade and left atrial rupture. 7 late deaths were noted during the follow-up period from 1 to 104 months [average 48 month]; three due to valve and left atrial thrombus formation, two due to CVA from overdose of warfarin, and each one due to congestive heart failure and chronic constrictive pericarditis, Anticoagulants after prosthetic valve replacement were maintained with warfarin, dipyridamole and aspirin to the level of around 50% of normal prothrombin time in 79 cases, and Ticlopidine with aspirin in 47 cases to compare the result of each group. There were 11 major thromboembolic episodes including 3 deaths in the warfarin group. Two cases of CVA due to overdose of warfarin was noted in the warfarin group. In the ticlopidine group, there was only one left atrial thrombus confirmed at the time of autopsy. Among the survived 138 cases, nearly all cases[136 cases] were included in NYHA functional class I and II during the follow-up period. In conclusion, surgical treatment of the cardiac valve disease in 156 clinical cases revealed excellent result with acceptable operative risk and late mortality. Prevention of thrombus formation with anti-platelet aggregator Ticlopidine has better result than warfarin group presently with no specific side effect such as bleeding or gastrointestinal trouble.