• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.132-135
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• 2016

We report the case of a 43-year-old male with both giant left atrial appendage (LAA) aneurysm and drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). The patient was treated with percutaneous electrical isolation of cardiac arrhythmogenic substrate, and has been free of AF symptom over one year. Although the surgical resection of giant LAA aneurysm is mostly used to prevent systemic thromboembolism, we have performed follow-up of the giant LAA aneurysm using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after the successful catheter ablation of refractory AF. At one-year follow-up CMR, the giant LAA aneurysm showed remarkable enlargement as well as decreased contractility. Additionally, one-year follow-up TEE showed spontaneous echo contrast as an indicator of blood stasis in the giant LAA aneurysm. Those findings of giant LAA aneurysm suggest that the risk of thromboembolism may be high despite termination of AF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.448-451
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• 2004

Report of right atrial thrombus complicating pulmonary embolism after cardiac surgery is rare. A 54-year-old woman operated on the atrial septal defect 10 months ago was admitted for left pleuritic pain and dyspnea. Multiple segmental perfusion defects were detected in lung perfusion scan. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large mobile right atrial mass attached to the free wall of the right atrium with a stalk. Despite the intravenous heparinization for 13 days, follow-up echocardiography revealed the right atrial mass had not diminished in size. The mass which was confirmed as an organizing thrombus was excised under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on warfarin therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2016

Thrombosis at the left ventricular outflow tract occurs without any detectable heart disease or predisposing factors only extremely rarely. A 48-year-old male visited Konkuk University Medical Center with loss of consciousness one month prior to presentation. Before he visited our hospital, he had been diagnosed with a cardiac tumor, which was located between the left atrium and posterior aortic root, and which was adjacent to both the aortic and mitral valves. Cardiac transplantation was recommended at the other hospital because of the high risk of cardiac dysfunction induced by both aortic and mitral valvular dysfunction after surgical resection. Based on preoperative transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, we considered it to be a benign tumor. Complete resection was achieved and the pathology confirmed organizing thrombus. We report a case of organizing thrombus mimicking a cardiac tumor, which was located at the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa of the left ventricular outflow tract without any heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.710-713
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• 1993

Congenital coronary fistula is a rare condition, and with widespread use of cardiac catheterization, angiography and selective coronary arteriography are being recognized with increasing frequency. Fistula originating from the right coronary artery are more common than those from the left coronary artery. The fistula empties into the right side of the heart in 90% of the cases with the right ventricle being the most common recipient chamber, followed by the right atrium and the pulmonary artery. We report a case of congenital coronary artery fistula of the right coronary artery to the left ventricle with significant shunt in a 20 - year old female. It was detected by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. The fistula opening was closed with 6-0 Prolene continuously under cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate hypothermia [ 28 oC ]. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged without specific problem.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.606-609
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• 2003

A 70-year-old man with aphasia due to ischemic cerebral events by thromboemboli was admitted. The cause of thromboemboli was investigated, and transesophageal echocardiography and chest MRI revealed an encapsulated cystic mass in the right atrium, not circulating. It was a homogeneous cystic mass suggesting a tumor (Myxoma) rather than thrombus. Right atrial mass was resected together with partial atrial septum under the normgthermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Histologically it was an atrial septal aneurysm, closed on itself, filled with blood. We re-port this rarely seen case with a review of the literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.368-371
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• 2019

A unicuspid aortic valve is a rare congenital malformation that frequently presents with valvular dysfunction and dilatation or aortic aneurysm, requiring combined aortic valve surgery and aortic repair. Some patients show severe valve calcification extending into the interventricular septum, possibly resulting in damage to the conduction system during debridement for valve replacement. We present a rare case of severe aortic stenosis with a unicommissural unicuspid aortic valve diagnosed by preoperative transesophageal echocardiography in a 36-year-old man. After composite graft replacement of the aortic valve, aortic root, and ascending aorta, a permanent pacemaker was placed because of postoperative complete heart block.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2022

Lung transplantation is the only treatment option for patients with end-stage lung disease. Although more than 4,000 lung transplants are performed every year worldwide, the standardized protocols contain no guidelines for monitoring during lung transplantation. Specific anesthetic concerns are associated with lung transplantation, especially during critical periods, including anesthesia induction, the initiation of positive pressure ventilation, the establishment and maintenance of one-lung ventilation, pulmonary artery clamping, pulmonary artery unclamping, and reperfusion of the transplanted lung. Anesthetic management according to the special risks associated with a patient's existing lung disease and surgical stage is the most important factor. Successful anesthesia in lung transplantation can improve hemodynamic stability, oxygenation, ventilation, and outcomes. Therefore, anesthesiologists must have expertise in transesophageal echocardiography, extracorporeal life support, and cardiopulmonary anesthesia and understand the pathophysiology of end-stage lung disease and the drugs administered. In addition, communication among anesthesiologists, surgeons, and perfusionists during surgery is important to achieve optimal patient results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1107-1112
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• 1995

Between December 1993 and December 1994, fifty-eight percent of the mitral valve patients[33/57 had undergone mitral valve repair. Their mean age was 49[SD-16 years[range 11 - 75 and they were consisted with 15 males and 18 females. The causes of mitral disease in 33 patients were classified as follows: 19 cases[58% were degenerative, 9[27% were rheumatic, 3[9% were congenital and 2[6% were infectious. Carpentier`s functional classification was consisted with Class I 4 cases[12% , II 25 [76% and III 4 [12% . Surgical techniques included prosthetic annuloplasty in 32 cases[97% , leaflet resection in 16[48% , chorda shortening in 13[39% , chorda transfer in 9[27% , new chorda formation in 7[21% , commissurotomy in 7[21% , leaflet mobilization in 4[12% , chorda resection in 3[9% , papillary muscle splitting in 2[6% , cleft repair in 2[6% , leaflet patching in 1[3% and vegetation removal in 1[3% . Average number of mitral anatomical lesions per patient was 3.3 and We used average 3.0 procedures upon mitral valve apparatus per patient. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was carried out in 27 patients[82% for providing an immediate and accurate assessment of the adequacy of the reconstruction before closure of the chest. Operative mortality was absent. The mean functional class[NYHA was 2.87 preoperative and improved to 1.03 postoperatively. Postoperative Doppler echocardiography showed much improvement from grade II MR[5 , grade III[5 , grade IV[21 to no MR[26 , only trace MR[3 , grade III MR[2 . Postoperative mean mitral valve area was 2.4$\pm$0.6cm2[range 1.5 - 4.0 . We conclude that cautiously evaluated mitral valve reconstruction is stable and predictable operation with minimal postoperative left ventricular dysfunction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.432-436
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• 2011

We herein present a case of a successful correction of cor triatriatum associated with thrombotic pulmonary hypertension diagnosed in an adult female patient. We confirmed diagnosis using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in addition to cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical repair comprised excision of the fibromuscular membranous septum in the left atrium, patch closure of an atrial septal defect, and reconstruction of the pulmonary arteries with a vascular graft. Cor triatriatum complicated pulmonary thrombotic hypertension with atrial septal defect is amenable to surgical correction with satisfactory results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.719-723
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• 1997

We experienced a case of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva dissecting into the ventricular dseptum. This dissection was induced by paravalvular leakage after aortic and mitral valve replacement. This 37-year-old male was admitted via emergence room due to progressive dyspnea. He had undergone aortic valve replacement(carbomed c" 23 mm) and mitral valve replacement(carbomedic 31 mm) due to aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation about 6 years prior to admission and followed up regularly. The diagnosis was made by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and reconfirmed by root aortography. The inlet of the ventricular septal aneurysmal sac was repaired by one layer suture with 3-0 prolene of the endocardium, epicardium and homograft muscle shoulder altogether. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 11th postoperative day. day.