• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2019

Background: Optimal graft selection for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction remains debatable. We report an analysis of our experiences of isolated CABG in patients with severe LV dysfunction and the impact of graft strategy on long-term outcomes. Methods: We analyzed 209 patients with severe LV dysfunction (ejection fraction [EF] <30%) who underwent primary isolated CABG. Of these, 169 were revascularized with a bilateral internal thoracic arterial (ITA) graft (BITA group) and 40 were revascularized with a single ITA graft (SITA group). The mean follow-up duration was $22{\pm}32$ months. Results: There were 18 early deaths (8.6%). Overall survival at 5 years was 66.7%. The rate of freedom from cardiac-related death at 5 years was 74.1%, and was significantly higher in patients who underwent off-pump CABG (p=0.005) and in the BITA group (p=0.023). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that old age (hazard ratio [HR], 2.548; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.134-5.762; p=0.024), off-pump CABG (HR, 0.245; 95% CI, 0.090-0.661; p=0.006), and BITA grafts (HR, 0.333; 95% CI, 0.146-0.757; p=0.009) were correlated with cardiac mortality. Conclusion: CABG in patients with severe LV dysfunction (EF <30%) showed reasonable long-term outcomes. The rate of freedom from cardiac-related death was significantly higher in patients who underwent off-pump CABG and in the BITA group. Off-pump BITA grafting strategies can be accepted as a viable primary option in patients with severe LV dysfunction if performed by an experienced surgeon.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1261-1263
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• 1992

Primary cardiac fibroma of the left ventricular myocardium is a rare tumor of the heart which is usually located within the anterior wall and /or septum of the left ventricle and is the second most common cardiac tumor in infant and children. Although the tumor is benign histologically, it may cause severe cardiac dysfunction and sudden death. A 30-day-old neonate with a huge intramural fibroma involving the posterolateral wall of the left ventricle underwent it`s partial resection under extracorporeal circulation on April 1992.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.755-761
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• 2004

We evaluated the efficacy of Dor procedure in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. Material and Method: Between April 1998 and December 2002, 45 patients underwent the Dor procedure con-comitant with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic/end-systolic volumes (LVEDV/LVESV) were measured by echocardiography, myocardial SPECT, and cardiac catheterization and angiography performed at the sequence of preoperative, early postoperative, and one year postoperative stage. Result: Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic clamp times were mean 141$\pm$64, 69$\pm$24 minutes, respectively. Intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy was required in 19 patients (42%; 7 preoperatively, 9 intraoperatively, 3 postoperatively). Operative mortality rate was 2.2% (1/45). Postoperative morbidities were low cardiac output syndrome (12), atrial fibrillation (5), acute renal failure (4), and postoperative bleeding (4). Functional class (NYHA) was improved from classes 2.8 to 1.1 (p < 0,01). When we compared between the preoperative and early postoperative values, LVEF was improved from 32$\pm$9% to 52$\pm$11% (p<0.01). The asynergy portion decreased from 57$\pm$12% to 22$\pm$9%, and LVEDV/LVESV indexes improved from 125$\pm$39 mL/$m^2$, 85$\pm$30 mL/$m^2$ to 66$\pm$23 mL/$m^2$, 32$\pm$16 mL/$m^2$ (p<0.01). Although these changes in volumes were relatively preserved at postoperative one year, the left ventricular volumes showed a tendency to increase. Conclusion: After the Dor procedure for ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, LVEF improvement and left ventricular volume reduction were maintained till postoperative one year. The tendency for left ventricular volume to increase at postoperative one year suggested the requirement of strict medical management.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.434-436
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• 2014

Left ventricular thrombus is a common complication related to acute myocardial infarction. Removing this with an incision of the free wall of the left ventricle may cause fatal cardiac dysfunction or arrhythmias. Furthermore, performing incision and suture on the fragile myocardium of an acute myocardial infarction patient may cause serious bleeding complications. If there is a patient with left ventricular thrombus who needs thoracotomy for another reason, the case is attempted with the thought that if effective intraventricular visualization and manipulation can be done, fatalities caused by incision and suture may be reduced. For patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, if intracardiac manipulation is required, an endoscope can be used, and given the potential complications after the incision and suturing of the infarcted tissue, the benefits are deemed sufficient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2012

A 61-year-old female patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy with severe left ventricle dysfunction. Two days after admission, continuous renal replacement therapy was performed due to oliguria and lactic acidosis. On the fifth day, an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted due to low cardiac output syndrome. Beginning 4 days after admission, she was supported for 15 days thereafter with an extracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) because of heart failure with multi-organ failure. A heart transplant was performed while the patient was stabilized with the LVAD. She developed several complications after the surgery, such as cytomegalovirus pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, wound dehiscence, and H1N1 infection. On postoperative day 19, she was discharged from the hospital with close follow-up and treatment for infection. She received follow-up care for 10 months without any immune rejection reaction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.350-355
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• 2016

Background: Mitral stenosis (MS) remains one of the important heart diseases. There are many factors that influence the clinical outcomes, and little is known about how left ventricular (LV) dysfunction clinically affects the prognosis of the patient with MS after mitral valve replacement (MVR). We reviewed our clinical experiences of MVR in patients with MS who had LV dysfunction. Methods: Between January 1991 and January 2013, 110 patients with MS who underwent MVR were analyzed and divided into two groups according to ejection fraction (EF). Group 1 ($EF{\leq}45%$) included 13 patients and group 2 (EF>45%) included 97 patients. Results: Thromboembolism occurred in 8 patients after MVR (group 1: n=3, 23.1%; group 2: n=5, 5.2%) and its incidence was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p=0.014). There were 3 deaths each in groups 1 and 2 during follow-up. The overall rate of cardiac-related death in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (group 1: n=3, 23.1%; group 2: n=3, 3.1%; p=0.007). The cumulative survival rate at 1 and 15 years was 83.9% and 69.9% in group 1 and 97.9% and 96.3% in group 2 (p=0.004). The Cox regression analysis revealed that survival was significantly associated with postoperative stroke (p=0.011, odds ratio=10.304). Conclusion: This study identified postoperative stroke as an adverse prognostic factor in patients with MS after MVR, and a s more prevalent in patients with LV dysfunction. Postoperative stroke should be reduced to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Preventive care should be made in multiple ways, such as management of LV dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, and anticoagulation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.715-720
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• 2014

In order to maximize the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) on ventricular unloading, the therapy should be begun at appropriate level of heart failure severity. We predicted pumping efficacy of LVAD according to the severity of heart failure theoretically. We used 3 dimensional finite element model of ventricle coupled with 6 Wind-kessel compartmental model of vascular system. Using the computational model, we predicted cardiac responses such as contractile ATP consumption of ventricle, left ventricular pressure, cardiac output, ejection fraction, and stroke work according to the severity of ventricular systolic dysfunction under the treatments of continuous LVAD. Contractile ATP consumption, which indicates the ventricular energetic loading condition decreased maximally at the $5^{th}$ level heart-failure under LVAD therapy. We conclude that optimal timing for LVAD treatment is $5^{th}$ level heart-failure when considering LVAD treatment as "bridge to recovery".

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.340-344
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• 2011

Purpose: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been considered a biochemical marker for myocarditis in Kawasaki disease. We performed this study to determine its quantitative significance. Methods: We attempted to correlate log-transformed BNP concentrations (log-BNP) and clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic variables in 81 children with Kawasaki disease. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the variables independently associated with log-BNP concentration. Results: Serum C-reactive protein level (P<0.0001), serum alanine aminotransferase concentration (P =0.0032), white blood cell count (P=0.0030), and left ventricular mass index (P=0.0024) were positively related with log-BNP, and hemoglobin level (P<0.0001), serum albumin level (P<0.0001), $Na^+$ concentrations (P<0.0001), left ventricular fractional shortening (P=0.0080), and peak early diastolic tissue velocity of the left ventricular basal lateral segment (P=0.0045) were negatively related to the log-BNP concentration. Multiple regression analysis showed that serum albumin concentration ($R_2$=0.31, P=0.0098) and left ventricular mass index ($R_2$=0.09, P=0.0004) were significantly associated with the log-BNP concentration. Conclusion: Elevated BNP levels during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease may be attributable to cardiac dysfunction associated with the increase in left ventricular mass, and log-BNP concentration may be a quantitative biochemical marker of myocarditis in Kawasaki disease.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2018

Fabry disease is a hereditary lysosomal storage disorder caused by the reduction or absence of lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A and the accumulation of glycosphingolipids, such as globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), in various organs, including the heart. The prevention of cardiac involvement in Fabry disease can only be achieved by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), and the method of assessing the efficacy of ERT should be confirmed. Changes in the electrocardiogram, such as the shortening of PQ interval, prolongation of QTc and repolarization abnormalities as well as left ventricular hypertrophy in voltage criteria, can be used to identify Fabry disease patients; however, the usefulness of electrocardiograms for evaluating the efficacy of ERT is limited. The assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy using echocardiography has been established to evaluate the efficacy of ERT during long-term period. A new technique involving speckled tracking method might be useful for detecting early cardiac dysfunction and identifying the effect of ERT for a relatively short period. The estimation of left ventricular hypertrophy using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is also useful for assessing the efficacy of ERT. Identifying late gadolinium enhancement in CMR may affect the effectiveness of ERT, and the new technique of T1 mapping might be useful for monitoring the accumulation of Gb3 during ERT. Histopathology in cardiac biopsy specimens is another potentially useful method for identifying the accumulation of GB3; however, the use of histopathology to evaluate of the efficacy of ERT is limited because of the invasive nature of an endomyocardial biopsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.518-522
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• 2003

Left ventricular thrombosis is a frequent and potentially dangerous complication in acute myocardiac infarction, but its occurrence and adequate therapy has not been known in patients with Dor procedure for the ischemic cardiomyopathy. We report a patient, 45 year-old male, who had a new left ventricular thrombus developed after coronary arterial bypass graft, Dor procedure, and removal of the left ventricular thrombus for ischemic car-diomyopathy. Left ventricular thrombus was disappeared on the follow-up cardiac MRI following intravenous heparin injection and oral coumadin therapy. This case suggest that anticoagulation therapy may prevent patients with the severe left ventricular dysfunction and apical aneurysm and dyskinesia from developing the left ventricular thrombus, and that thrombi will resolve without clinical evidence of systemic embolism.