• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.197-205
• /
• 2007

Background : The occurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation of atrial flutter is clinically important. We investigated variables predicting this evolution in ablated patients without a previous atrial fibrillation history. Materials and Methods : Thirty-six patients (Male=28) who were diagnosed as atrial flutter without previous atrial fibrillation history were enrolled in this study. Group 1 (n=11) was defined as those who developed atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation during 1 year follow-up. Group 2 (n=25) was defined as those who has not occurred atrial fibrillation during same follow-up term. Echocardiogram was performed to all patients. We measured left atrial size, left ventricle end diastolic and systolic dimension, ejection fraction and left atrial volume index before and after ablation of atrial flutter. The differences of each variables were compared and analyzed between two groups. Results : The preablation left ventricular ejection fraction (preLVEF) and postablation left ventricular ejection fraction (postLVEF) are $54{\pm}14%$, $56{\pm}13%$ in group 1 and $47{\pm}16%$, $52{\pm}13%$ in group 2. The differences between each two groups are statistically insignificant ($2.2{\pm}1.5$ in group 1 vs $5.4{\pm}9.8$ in group 2, p=0.53). The preablation left atrial size (preLA) and postablation left atrial size (postLA) are $40{\pm}4mm$, $41{\pm}4mm$ in group1 and $44{\pm}8mm$, $41{\pm}4mm$ in group 2. The atrial sizes of both groups were increased but, the differences of left atrial size between two groups before and after flutter ablation were statistically insignificant ($0.6{\pm}0.9mm$ in group 1 vs $-3.8{\pm}7.4mm$ in group 2, p=0.149). The left atrial volume index before flutter ablation was significantly reduced in group 1 than group 2 ($32{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$, $35{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$ in group 1 and $32{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$, $29{\pm}8mm^3/m^2$ in group 2, p<0.05). Conclusion : The difference between left atrial volume index before and after atrial flutter ablation is the robust predictor of occurrence of atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation without previous atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.125-135
• /
• 2024

This study analysed the factors that predict and influence heart disease through key indicators related to changes in left atrial and left ventricular size. Measurements recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography were used, and the influence of variables was assessed using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that left atrial volume index(LAVI) was significantly different by age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Left ventricular mass index(LVMI) was significantly different according to age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Increases in LVMI and relative ventricular wall thickness(RWT) were associated with changes in LAVI(p<0.05). Age, systolic blood pressure, increased LAVI, and RWT influenced changes in LVMI, and left ventricular dysfunction was analysed as an influencing factor for both changes in LAVI and LVMI. Therefore, changes in left atrial and left ventricular size are indicators for early diagnosis and prevention of heart disease, and it is necessary to carefully observe structural changes in the heart and actively manage risk factors for the prevention and management of heart disease.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.96-97
• /
• 2023

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.7
• /
• pp.647-659
• /
• 2023

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the effect of correct occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) on intracardiac blood flow and thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional (3D)-printed phantoms. Materials and Methods: Three life-sized 3D-printed left atrium (LA) phantoms, including a pre-occlusion (i.e., before the occlusion procedure) model and correctly and incorrectly occluded post-procedural models, were constructed based on cardiac computed tomography images from an 86-year-old male with long-standing persistent AF. A custom-made closed-loop flow circuit was set up, and pulsatile simulated pulmonary venous flow was delivered by a pump. 4D flow MRI was performed using a 3T scanner, and the images were analyzed using MATLAB-based software (R2020b; Mathworks). Flow metrics associated with blood stasis and thrombogenicity, such as the volume of stasis defined by the velocity threshold ($\left|\vec{V}\right|$ < 3 cm/s), surface-and-time-averaged wall shear stress (WSS), and endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP), were analyzed and compared among the three LA phantom models. Results: Different spatial distributions, orientations, and magnitudes of LA flow were directly visualized within the three LA phantoms using 4D flow MRI. The time-averaged volume and its ratio to the corresponding entire volume of LA flow stasis were consistently reduced in the correctly occluded model (70.82 mL and 39.0%, respectively), followed by the incorrectly occluded (73.17 mL and 39.0%, respectively) and pre-occlusion (79.11 mL and 39.7%, respectively) models. The surfaceand-time-averaged WSS and ECAP were also lowest in the correctly occluded model (0.048 Pa and 4.004 Pa^-1, respectively), followed by the incorrectly occluded (0.059 Pa and 4.792 Pa^-1, respectively) and pre-occlusion (0.072 Pa and 5.861 Pa^-1, respectively) models. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a correctly occluded LAA leads to the greatest reduction in LA flow stasis and thrombogenicity, presenting a tentative procedural goal to maximize clinical benefits in patients with AF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2021

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital heart disease. However, the details of cardiac chamber remodeling after surgery are not well known, although this is an important issue that should be analyzed to understand long-term outcomes. Methods: Between November 2017 and January 2019, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed preoperatively, at a 1-month postoperative follow-up, and at a 1-year postoperative follow-up. Cardiac chamber volume, valve regurgitation volume, and ejection fraction were measured as functions of time. Results: Thirteen patients (10 men and 3 women) were included. The median age at surgery was 51.4 years. The preoperative median ratio of flow in the pulmonary and systemic circulation was 2.3. The preoperative mean right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume index (EDVi) and RV end-systolic volume index (ESVi) had significantly decreased at the 1-month postoperative follow-up (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The decrease in the RVEDVi (p=0.085) and RVESVi (p=0.023) continued until the postoperative 1-year follow-up, although the rate of decrease was slower. Tricuspid valve regurgitation had also decreased at the 1-month postoperative follow-up (p=0.022), and continued to decrease at a reduced rate (p=0.129). Although the RVEDVi and RVESVi improved after ASD closure, the RV volume parameters were still larger than the left ventricular (LV) volume parameters at the 1-year follow-up (RVEDVi vs. LVEDVi: p=0.016; RVESVi vs. LVESVi: p=0.001). Conclusion: Cardiac remodeling after ASD closure is common and mainly occurs in the early postoperative period. However, complete normalization does not occur.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.177-186
• /
• 1994

Pentastarch is a hydroxyethyl starch similar to hetastarch, but lower average molecular weight and fewer hydroxyethyl groups which result in enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis and faster renal elimination.This report was performed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of 10 % pentastarch[Pentaspan , group I] for plasma volume expansion after open heart surgery with that of 5% albumin[Plasmanate, group II]. There were no statistically significant differences between the group I [n=18] and group II [n:19] in the preoperative parameters [age, sex, body weight] and operative parameters[bypass time, aorta cross clamping time]. During the first 24 hours after arrival of the patient in the surgical intensive care unit, colloid solution [500--1000 ml] was infused to maintain left atrial pressure of more than 8 mmHg, or cardiac index of 2.0 L/min/M2 of more. In results, there were 3 complications of hypotension immediately after infusion of 5 % albumin solution and 2 among the 3 patients were excluded for the study. However there was no complication after infusion of 10 % pentastarch solution. Hemodynamic responses to infusion was similar for both groups, although in group I a greater increase in both left atrial pressure[mean 1.8 versus 0.7 mmHg, p< 0.05] and right atrial pressure [mean 2.2 versus 1.7 mmHg, p < 0.05] was observed during infusion of the first 500 ml. There were no significant differences in any of the measured respiratory parameters[PaO2, intrapulmonary shunt, and effective lung compliance]. Homodilution with colloid significantly reduced hemoglobin [mean 1.2 versus 0.8 gm/dl], and serum protein and albumin level[total protein;4.8$\pm$ 0.5 versus 5.2 $\pm$0.5 gm/dl, p < 0.05: albumin: 3.2 $\pm$0.4 versus 3.6 $\pm$0.6 gm/dl, p < 0.05] by 6:00 AM on 1 day postoperatively, however there were no significant differences on 7 day postoperatively. The mean serum colloid osmotic pressure and osmolarity was similar in both group.There were no abnormal findings of liver function and kidney function in all the patients. There were no significant between-group differences in bleeding time, platelets, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and amount of chest tube output measured on 1st and 7th postoperative day. These findings demonstrated that 10% pentastarch is more effective and safe for plasma volume expension than 5 % albumin solution with no adverse effects on coagulation. Also 10 % pentastarch is less expensive than 5 % albumin and it would appeare to be a reasonable first choice for plasma volume expansion.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.209-213
• /
• 2016

This study evaluated several known echocardiographic markers related to the assessment of severity in dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after the closure of ductus arteriosus (DA). Forty-two dogs with patent ductus arteriosus were enrolled in this study. Evaluated echocardiographic markers were left atrial to aortic root ratio, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension to aortic root ratio, indexed left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, end-diastolic and end systolic volume index, pulmonic flow to systemic flow (Qp/Qs) ratio, velocities of pulmonary regurgitant and systolic jets, pulmonary flow profiles and the presence of mitral regurgitation. Those markers were evaluated before, 1 day, and 30 days after the closure of DA. Statistically significant changes in some echocardiographic markers (i.e., Qp/Qs) were observed. Although several studies in human and dogs have evaluated the clinical outcome of PDA occlusion using several echocardiographic markers, this study has firstly evaluated all echocardiographic markers known to be useful for assessing the clinical outcome of PDA occlusion in human, and has demonstrated that those markers including the Qp/Qs and pulmonary flow profiles were useful in evaluating of clinical outcome of PDA in dogs and the reduction of LA and LV preload after ductal closure could dramatically reduce after successful ductal occlusion of PDA in dogs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2020

Background: We investigated the impact of previous catheter ablation (CA) on the midterm outcomes of totally thoracoscopic ablation in patients with lone atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Between February 2012 and July 2018, 332 patients underwent totally thoracoscopic ablation for the treatment of AF (persistent AF; n=264, 80%). The patients were stratified into CA (n=47, 14%) and non-CA (nCA; n=285, 86%) groups according to their CA history. Results: All the baseline clinical characteristics and risk factors were similar between the groups except for age, percentage of male patients, prevalence of paroxysmal AF, prior percutaneous coronary intervention, and left atrial volume index (LAVI). No significant intergroup differences were observed in the incidence of early and late complications. At late follow-up, normal sinus rhythm was observed in 92% (43 of 47) of the patients in the CA group and 85% (242 of 285) of the patients in the nCA group (p=0.268). The rate of freedom from AF recurrence at 5 years was 55.3%±11.0% in the CA group, which was similar to that in the nCA group (55.7%±5.1%, p=0.690). In Cox regression analysis, preoperative brain natriuretic peptide levels and LAVI were associated with AF recurrence, but CA history was not significant. Conclusion: Totally thoracoscopic ablation was safe and effective in treating AF irrespective of CA history. A history of CA did not appear to affect the procedural complexity.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.98-104
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in end-stage renal disease patients and its change after kidney transplantation (KT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent KT between 2007 and 2018 at two tertiary centers. We analyzed 488 patients (median age, 53 years; 58% male) who had obtained echocardiography both before and within 3 years after KT. Conventional echocardiography and LV GLS assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography were comprehensively analyzed. Patients were classified into three groups according to the absolute value of pre-KT LV GLS (|LV GLS|). We compared longitudinal changes of cardiac structure and function according to pre-KT |LV GLS|. RESULTS: Correlation between pre-KT LV EF and |LV GLS| were statistically significant, but the constant was not high (r = 0.292, p < 0.001). |LV GLS| was widely distributed at corresponding LV EF, especially when the LV EF was > 50%. Patients with severely impaired pre-KT |LV GLS| had significantly larger LV dimension, LV mass index, left atrial volume index, and E/e' and lower LV EF, compared to mildly and moderately reduced pre-KT |LV GLS|. After KT, the LV EF, LV mass index, and |LV GLS| were significantly improved in three groups. Patients with severely impaired pre-KT |LV GLS| showed the most prominent improvement of LV EF and |LV GLS| after KT, compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in LV structure and function after KT were observed in patients throughout the full spectrum of pre-KT |LV GLS|.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.205-217
• /
• 2022

Background and Objectives: The prognostic value of left atrial (LA) function in terms of long-term clinical outcomes after mitral regurgitation (MR) surgery remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of preoperative LA global longitudinal strain (LAGLS) on the long-term postoperative clinical outcomes in chronic severe MR patients who underwent mitral valve (MV) repair surgery. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2017, we analyzed 338 patients (mean age, 51.9±12.5 years; 218 males [64.5%]) treated with MV repair surgery for severe MR. The primary outcome was cardiovascular events, defined as the composite of all-cause death, newly developed atrial fibrillation (AF), and re-hospitalization for cardiovascular causes. Results: During a median follow-up of 45 months (interquartile range, 26-65), 30 (8.9%) cardiovascular events, 5 (1.5%) all-cause death, 8 (2.4%) newly developed AF, and 26 (7.7%) re-hospitalizations occurred. On multivariable analysis, baseline LAGLS was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidential interval [CI], 0.85-0.97; p=0.004) and re-hospitalization (adjusted HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00; p=0.037). According to the optimal cutoff value of LAGLS, patients with low LAGLS (<23.6%) had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted HR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.04-7.00; p=0.041) than those with high LAGLS (≥23.6%). In a subgroup analysis, patients with high LAGLS had better clinical outcomes regardless of whether the patient had a LA volume index <60 mL/m². Conclusions: In patients with chronic severe MR who received successful MV repair surgery, preoperative LAGLS is an independent predictor of long-term postoperative outcomes.