• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.53 no.8
• /
• pp.550-562
• /
• 2023

Background and Objectives: To identify the factors associated with adverse outcomes following surgery for functional insufficiency of the mitral valve (MV) or tricuspid valve (TV) associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We evaluated 100 patients (age, 66.5±10.0 years; 47 males) who consecutively underwent surgery for functional insufficiency of the MV or TV associated with AF between January 2000 and December 2020 at our center. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause death, valve reoperation, congestive heart failure (CHF) requiring rehospitalization, and stroke. Results: During follow-up (532 patients-years [PYs]), adverse events included death in 16 (3.0%/yr), MV reoperation in 1 (0.2%/yr), CHF in 14 (2.6%/yr), and stroke in 5 (0.9%/yr) patients, demonstrating a 5-year rate of freedom from the primary endpoint of 69.5%. The rate of postoperative AF was high even in those who underwent AF ablation (n=92), with cumulative rates of 48.1% at 1 year and 60.2% at 5 years. In multivariable analyses, the primary outcome was significantly associated with age (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.10; p=0.005), chronic kidney disease (aHR, 7.76; 95% CI, 2.28-26.38; p=0.001), left atrial appendage exclusion (aHR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-1.78; p=0.010), and postoperative AF as a time-varying covariate (aHR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.50-7.40; p=0.003). Conclusion: Among patients undergoing surgery for functional atrioventricular insufficiency associated with AF, a significant proportion showed recurrence of AF over time after concomitant AF ablation, which was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.85 no.2
• /
• pp.308-326
• /
• 2024

A comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function includes information in relation to cardiac output and systemic venous return. The heart is composed of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles, each with its own unique mechanical function. These four cardiac chambers, their valves, and the pulmonary circulation system are inter-related as they preload or afterload on each other. Cardiac dysfunction is a failure of global cardiac function, resulting in typical clinical manifestations. To investigate the underlying cause of cardiac dysfunction, a step-by-step evaluation of cardiac blood flow tracks is necessary. In this context, imaging markers showing details of the cardiac structures have an important role in assessing cardiac function. An image-based evaluation allows for investigation of function in terms of individual cardiac components. Evaluation of cardiac function using cardiac CT has recently been validated. This review aimed to discuss cardiac CT-based imaging markers for comprehensive and detailed cardiac function assessment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.586-590
• /
• 1998

Background: The regression of the left ventricular hypertrophy after prosthetic valve replacement in patients with aortic valvular stenosis is an important factor to determine the appropriateness of the replaced prosthetic valvular size. Methods: To assess the regression of myocardial hypertrophy, a retrospective analysis of Doppler echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data was undertaken before, soon after(7.5$\pm$2.1 day), and late after(10.7$\pm$1.8 months) surgery in 36 patients(22 males, 14 female, mean age 54$\pm$12.1 years, mean BSA 1.61$\pm$0.15m2) with predominant aortic valvular stenosis. The patients underwent St. Jude Medical aortic valve replacement. By the size of the valves used, the patients were divided into three groups(19, 21 and 23+). Results: The mean body surface area(1.48$\pm$0.13) in the patients with the 19 mm valve was smaller than that in the other groups(1.63$\pm$0.12)(p<0.05). No significant changes of ejection fraction were detected in all groups over time. Left ventricular muscle mass index(gm/m2) was reduced significantly in the 21 and 23+ groups over time(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in the 19 mm valve group. The electric voltage height on EKG at the period of late after surgery was reduced significantly in all groups(p<0.05). Conclusion: Despite clinical improvement, the LVH was not reduced significantly in 19 mm valve group. Thus we suggest that more attention and additional procedures such as annular enlargement should be taken in patients who will undergo the replacement of 19 mm prosthetic valve.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.223-230
• /
• 1984

Since January 1977 to the end of September 1982, total 60 Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenograft heart valves were implanted for valve replacement in 50 patients at the Han Yang University Hospital. The operative procedures were as follow: Mitral valve replacement [MVR] in 25 patients, Mitral valve replacement [MVR] and Tricuspid valve [TV] annuloplasty in 7 patients, Aortic valve replacement [AVR] in 8 patients, Aortic valve replacement [AVR] and Mitral valve replacement [MVR] in 8 patients. Aortic valve replacement [AVR] and Mitral valve replacement [MVR] and Tricuspid valve [TV] annuloplasty in 2 patients. To evaluate the immediate hemodynamic changes after valve replacements, the pressures of each cardiac chamber and ulmonary artery were checked before and after valve replacement on the operation table. Right ventricle [RV] pressure was decreased from 52.09\ulcorner6.71 to 45.57\ulcorner5.03 mmHg, Pulmonary artery [PA] pressure was decreased from 45.97\ulcorner2.69 to 41.00\ulcorner3.99 mmHg, and Left atrium [LA] pressure was decreased from 30.33\ulcorner13.02 to 22.76\ulcorner.97 mmHg before and after valve replacement. In MVR group, RV pressure was decreased from 49.17\ulcorner7.89 to 43.14\ulcorner4.14 mmHg, PA pressure was decreased from 44.67\ulcorner3.18 to 38.67\ulcorner2.85 mmHg, and LA pressure was decreased from 31.46\ulcorner13.47 to 21.91\ulcorner.17 mmHg. In AVR group, RV pressure was decreased from 53.0\ulcorner7.44 to 44.71 \ulcorner3.24 mmHg, PA pressure was decreased from 34.83\ulcorner0.73 to 31.86\ulcorner.36 mmHg, and LA pressure was not changed. In double valve replacement [MVR and AVR] group, RV pressure was decreased from 57.50\ulcorner3.82 to 42.50\ulcorner.80 mmHg, PA pressure was decreased from 51.17\ulcorner1.42 to 43.33\ulcorner4.53mmHig, and LA pressure was decreased from 34.33\ulcorner2.09 to 25.50\ulcorner0.21 mmHg. But in the group where MVR and TV annuloplasty were performed, preoperative RV and PA pressure were markedly increased and no pressure decrease in RV and PA noticed after valve replacement. This study shows good immediate postoperative hemodynamic results after valve replacement using Ionescu-Shiley xenograft valve except in the cases of MVR and TV annuloplasty and advanced disease with pulmonary hypertension.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.328-334
• /
• 2004

There are only limited numbers of reports about long-term results of tricuspid valve replacement(TVR) with bioprosthetic and mechanical prostheses. We analyzed risk factors for tricuspid valve replacement and compared long-term clinical results of bioprosthetic and mechanical valves in tricuspid position. Material and Method: We reviewed 77 cases of TVR, which were performed between October 1978 and December 1996. Mean age was 38.8 15.9 years. Bioprostheses were implanted in 26 cases and mechanical prostheses were implanted in 51 cases. Result The operative mortality was 15.6% and late mortality was 12.3%. Survival for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group at 5, 10 and 13 years was 81.3% vs. 100%, 66.1% vs. 100%, 60.6% vs. 100% (p=0.0175). Free from valve related re-operation for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group at 5, 10 and 13 years was 100% vs. 93.9%, 100% vs. 93.9% and 58.3% vs. 93.9% (p=0.3274). Linealized incidences of valve related re-operation for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group was 2.27 %/patient-years and 1.10 %/patient-years. Risk factor analysis showed that presence of preoperative ascites, hepatomegaly larger than 2 finger breaths, poor preoperative NYHA functional class and number of tricuspid valve replacement were risk factors for early mortality, and the use of bioprosthetic valve and number of open heart surgery were risk factors for late mortality. Conclusion: Long-term survival of mechanical valve was superior to bioprosthetic valve in tricuspid position. We recommend mechanical valve in tricuspid position if the patient can be closely followed up.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.255-258
• /
• 2012

A 14-year-old spayed female, Shihtzu dog, presented with anorexia, depression and respiratory distress. She had a history of mastectomy for mammary gland tumor before 2 weeks. Severe gingivitis, dental plaque, and calculus were confirmed on physical examination. On auscultation, the dog had a diastolic and systolic murmur at the left heart base and right heart apex respectively. The dog had valvular vegetation including tricuspid and aortic valves with regurgitation on echocardiography. Blood culture was performed to confirm bacterial endocarditis and identify pathogens of bacterial endocarditis. Before the result of blood culture was confirmed, antibiotic (cefalexin, 30 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) with furosemide (2 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) and benazepril (0.25 mg/kg, PO, q12hr) were administered empirically and the patient was well controlled. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was confirmed later. One week later, however, the patient died of acute respiratory distress caused by fulminant pulmonary edema. The owners denied necropsy of the patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.552-559
• /
• 2000

Background; The aim of this study is to evaluate our clinical experience with the Carbomedics heart valve prosthesis. Material and Method; Between Aug. 1988 and Dec. 1998, 294 Carbomidics valves were implanted in 235 patients(mitral; 143, mitral and aortic; 59, aortic; 33) The mean age at operation is 40.0$\pm$12.3 years(range 7 to 68 years); 63.8% (150patients) were woman. Follow up was 97.4% complete and mean follow up time was 5.7years with a total of 1209.2 patient-years. Result; The hospital mortality was 8.9%(mitral; was 95.2$\pm$1.6%(mitral ; 94.9$\pm$2.1%, mitral and aortic 95.0$\pm$3.7%, aortic 96.2$\pm$3.8%). Actual freedom rates from complications(linearized rates in parentheses) were fllowings; thromboembolism 96.2$\pm$1.5%(0.59%pt-yr), valve thrombosis 96.7$\pm$1.4%(0.5%/pt/yr), anticoagulant related hemorrhage 98.3$\pm$1.0%(0.25%/pt-yr), perivalvular leak 99.0$\pm$1.4%(0.5%/pt-yr), endocarditis 98.7$\pm$1.0%(0.25%/pt-yr), perivalvular leak 99.0$\pm$0.7%(0.17%pt-yr), endocarditis 98.7$\pm$1.0%(0.17%$\pm$pt-yr) and overall valve-related complications 88.9$\pm$2.5%(1.68%/pt-yr). Conclusion; The clinical performance of the Carbomedics valve was quite satisfactory with a low incidence of valve related mortality and morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.504-509
• /
• 1996

When a valve prosthesis is to be implanted in the aortic position, simple interrupted suture, figure-of- eight suture, or horizontal mattress suture technique is used as a suture method. However, the suture techniques may be unacceptable for aortic valve replacement in patients with friable annulus caused by some lesions, such as endocarditis and degenerative change. We used an alternative technique for the aortic vlave replacement in 4 patients with valve endocarditis, ) patients with degenerative valvular lesion, and 1 with rheumatic valvular disease. Mattress sutures through the annulus were placed with pledgets on the ventricular side of the annulus, whi h resulted in implantation of the prosthesis at a supra-annular level. Mechanical valves of 21 mm or larger were implanted in the supra-annular position in all patients and there was no impeded motion of leaflets during the follow-up period of mean 13.3 mouths. The transvalvular pressure gradient was less than 6 mm Hg in 3 patients and 20 to 40 mm Hg in 5 patients. The supra-annular implantation of mechanical aortic valve using a vertical mattress suture technique may be a useful alternative method of aortic valve replacement for the selected patients with friable or destroyed aortic annulus.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1996 no.05
• /
• pp.199-202
• /
• 1996

Artificial hearts are intended for use in patients with severe forms of heart disease for which no surgical repair is possible. The moving-actuator pump was developed to decrease the overall volume size of the electromechanical total artificial heart (TAH) by eliminating the occupied space of the fixed-actuator in the conventional pusher-plate type pump. In our pump, the actuator moves back and forth for alternative ejections of left and right ventricles. The problem of fitting the TAH to atrial remnants and arterial vessels could also be improved by circular or penduluous mot ion of the actuator instead of linear mot ion of the pusher-plate in the conventional pumps. We have evaluated two types of moving- actuator pump; one is a rolling cylinder type, and the other a pendulum type pump. In the rolling cylinder pump, frictional energy loss exists between the pump housing's guide bars and the actuator's end caps, while the bottom rack under the cylindrical actuator increases the height of the pump, the pump is therefor not implantable inside the small chest of human-sized animals with a body weight of less than 70kg. The new human type pump has a penduluous mot ion actuator to correct the above problems while maintaining the advantage of the moving- actuator's small total volume. The totally implantable TAH is composed of a blood pump, a control system and pheriperal equipments. The blood pump, which is constructed by a moving actuator, a right and left blood sac, and four artificial valves, is implanted in the thoracic. In 1988, the first implantation of the rolling cylinder TAH was performed into a female calf weighing 100kg, and the cal f recovered to the degree of voluntary standing and eat ing and survived to 100 hrs. We then survived two female sheep weighing about 63kg with the new human type TAH for three days.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.53 no.11
• /
• pp.744-755
• /
• 2023

Background and Objectives: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is considered a class I indication for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, there is little evidence regarding the potential benefits of early AVR in symptomatic patients diagnosed with normal-flow, low-gradient (NFLG) severe AS. Methods: Two-hundred eighty-one patients diagnosed with symptomatic NFLG severe AS (stroke volume index ≥35 mL/m², mean transaortic pressure gradient <40 mmHg, peak transaortic velocity <4 m/s, and aortic valve area <1.0 cm²) between January 2010 and December 2020 were included in this retrospective study. After performing 1:1 propensity score matching, 121 patients aged 75.1±9.8 years (including 63 women) who underwent early AVR within 3 months after index echocardiography, were compared with 121 patients who received conservative care. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. Results: During a median follow-up of 21.9 months, 48 primary outcomes (18 in the early AVR group and 30 in the conservative care group) occurred. The early AVR group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of primary outcomes (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.93; p=0.028); specifically, there was no significant difference in all-cause death (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.23-1.16; p=0.110), although the early AVR group showed a significantly lower incidence of hospitalization for HF (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-0.95, p=0.037). Subgroup analyses supported the main findings. Conclusions: An early AVR strategy may be beneficial in reducing the risk of a composite outcome of death or hospitalization for HF in symptomatic patients with NFLG severe AS. Future randomized studies are required to validate and confirm our findings.