• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.862-868
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• 1997

Shone's syndrome is a congenital cardiac malformation that consists of multiple levels of left heart obstruction including supravalvular mitral ring, congenital mitral stenosis(parachute mitral valve), subaortic stenosis, and coarctation of aorta. This syndrome is a very rare congenital anomaly and its prognosis is poor. We experienced 9 patients with Shone's syndrome between 1985 and 1994. There were 8 male and 1 female patients, and mean age was 33.0$\pm$31.0 months ranged from 2 months to 1 1 years. The congenital mitral, stenosis and coarctation of aorta existed in all patients and the supravalvular mitral ring and subaortic stenosis in 4 patients. Two patients had all four anatomic lesions. 3 patients underwent one stage total correction and the other 6 patients underwent two staged operation that was initial coarctoplasty with thoracotomy and later correction of intracardiac anomalies with median sternotomy. A third operation was performed in 2 patients. These procedures included reoperation for coarctation and replacement of mitral valve for persistent mitral stenosis. There was no operative death at the first operation but two operative deaths at the second operation. The cause of death in two cases was severe heart failure secondary to left ventricular hypoplasia. There was no operative death at the third operation. The seven survivors have beeli followed from 11 months to 12 years(mean follow-up 6.7 $\pm$ 3.6 years). There was no late death and the New York HeArt Association activity level was class I for all patients. We conclude that a food lone-term outcome can be expected by proper surgical treatment tailred to each individual's anatomy and pathophysiology although the operative mortality and morbidity of Shone's syndrome are high.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.244-250
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• 2000

Purpose : To see the relationship between the response to chemotherapy and the final outcome of neoadiuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with mocanry advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods and Materials :A retrospective analysis was done for thirty-two patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer treated in the Seoul National University Hospital with neoadiuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy from August 1979 to July 1997. The patients were treated with Co-60 teletherapy unit or 4MV or 6MV photon beam produced by linear accelerator. Daily fractionation was 1.75 to 2 Gy, delivered five times a week. Total dose ranged from 60.8 Gy to 73.8 Gy. Twenty-nine patients received continuous infusion of cisplatin and 5-FU. Other patients were treated with cisplatin combined with bleomycin or vinblastin. Twenty-four (75$\%$) patients received all three prescribed cycles of chemotherapy delivered three weeks apart. Six patients received two cycles, and two patients received only one cycle. Results :The overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates are 65.6$\%$ and 43.0$\%$, respectively. 5-year local control rate is 34$\%$. Organ preservation for more than five years is achieved in 12 patients (38$\%$). After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 24 patients achieved more than partial remission (PR): the response rate was 75$\%$ (24/32). Five patients had complete remission (CR), 19 patients PR, and 8 patients no response (NR). Among the 19 patients who had PR to chemotherapy, 8 patients achieved CR after radiotherapy. Among the 8 non-responders to chemotherapy, 2 patients achieved CR, and 6 patients achieved PR after radiotherapy. There was no non-responder after radiotherapy. The overall survival rates were 60$\%$ for CR to chemotherapy group, 35.1$\%$ for PR to chemotherapy group, and 50$\%$ for NR to chemotherapy group, respectively (p=0.93). There were significant difference in five-year overall survival rates between the patients with CR and PR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (73.3$\%$ vs. 14.7$\%$, p<0.01). The prognostic factor affecting overall survival was the response to overall treatment (CR vs. PR, p<0.01). Conclusion :In this study, there were only five patients who achieved CR after neoadiuvant chemotherapy. Therefore the difference of overall survival rates between CR and PR to chemotherapy group was not statistically significant. Only the response to chemo-radiotherapy was the most important prognostic factor. There needs to be more effort to improve CR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and consideration for future use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.749-755
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• 1998

Background: Twelve patients with acyanotic tetralogy of Fallot(TOF), characterized by the combination of a malaligned ventricular septal defect(VSD) and infundibular pulmonic stenosis with the clinical finding of acyanosis at rest, underwent surgical correction between January 1988 and July 1997. Materials and methods: 9.92% of patients with the diagnosis of TOF were acyanotic TOF in the same period. Ages ranged from 12 to 42 months(mean 25.2 months). 2D-echocardiographic studies, cardiac catheterization, and angiocardiograms were performed in all patients before operation. The preoperative mean systemic arterial oxygen saturation was 93.5%. According to the 2D-echocardiographic analysis, there was Lt-to-Rt shunt through VSD in 4 patients, bidirectional shunt in 2 patients, and no shunt in 6 patients. Results: The preoperative mean right ventricle to pulmonary artery(RV-PA) pressure gradients were 52.3 mmHg on 2D- echocardiogram and 48.4 mmHg on cardiac catheterization. The repair of ventricular septal defect was performed through a right atrial approach and the hypertrophic infundibular muscle bundles were resected by the transatrial and transpulmonary approach. Six patients(50%) received a transannular patch. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 135.0 minutes, and the aortic crossclamp time was 87.8 minutes. Postoperative complications included bleeding necessitating reentry in one and chylothorax in one. No patient died after operation and there were no late deaths. Postoperative 2D-echocardiograms revealed tiny patch dehiscence in 5 cases and a moderate RV-PA pressure gradients(mean 15.3 mmHg). All patients were in New York Heart Association functional class 1 after operation. Conclusions: acyanotic TOF is the uncommon form of TOF, and acyanotic TOF can be repaired with a good outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2002

This study was undertaken to analyze the outcome of composite valve graftreplacement(CVGR) for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving the aortic root. Material and Method: Between April 1995 and June 2001, 56 patients had replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic root with a composite graft valve and were reviewed retrospectively. Aortic regurgitation was present in 50 patients(89%), Marfan's syndrome in 18 patients(32%), and bicuspid aortic valve in 7(12.5%). The indications for operation were annuloaortic ectasia(AAE) in 30 patients(53.6%), aortic dissection in 13(23.2%), aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving aortic root in 11(19.6%), and aortitis in 2(3.6%). Cardiogenic shock due to the aortic rupture was present in 2 patients. Nine patients(16%) had previous operations on the ascending aorta or open heart surgery. The operative techniques used for CVGR were the aortic button technique in 51 patients(91%), the modified Cabrol technique in 4, and the classic Bentall technique in 1. The concomitant procedures were aortic arch replacement in 24 patients(43%), coronary artery bypass graft in 8(14.3%), mitral valve repair in 2, redo mitral valve replacement in 1, and the others in 7 The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 21$\pm$14 minutes, 186$\pm$68 minutes, and 132$\pm$42 minutes, respectively. Result: Early mortality was 1.8%(1/56). The postoperative complications were left ventricular dysfunction in 16 patients(28.6%), reoperation for bleeding in 7(12.5%), pericardial effusion in 2, and the others in 7. Fifty-three patients out of 55 hospital survivors were followed up for a mean of 23.2 $\pm$ 18.7 months(1-75 months). There were two late deaths(3.8%) including one death due to the traumatic cerebral hemorrhage, and CVGR-related late mortality was 1.9%. The 1- and 6-year actuarial survival was 98.1$\pm$1.9% and 93.2$\pm$5.1%, respectively. Two patients required reoperation for complication of CYGR(3.8%) and two other patients required subsequent operations for dissection of the remaining thoracoabdominal aorta. The 1- and 6-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 97.8$\pm$2.0% and 65.3$\pm$26.7%, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.573-579
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• 2002

Background: In this study, the role and the surgical outcome of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in the treatment of the infants with cyanotic complex congenital heart diseases were investigated. Material and Method: Over the last 12 years, 105 modified BT shunts were performed in 100 infants. Postoperative course, shunt patency rate, complications, mortality and its risk factors were reviewed restrospectively. Result: The mean age at operation was 43.0$\pm$36.6 days. Sex ratio was 60:40(M:F). The postoperative oxygen saturations were lowest after mean duration of 11 hours after the shunt procedure. The operative mortality was 8%(8) with 3 late deaths. Causes of operative death included failure of maintenance of minimum oxygenation during the procedure(2), immediate postoperative shunt occlusion(2), respiratory failure(2), low cardiac output due to heart failure and pericardial effusion(2) and sepsis(2). Late deaths resulted from acute cardiac arrest during the follow up cardiac catheterization, hypoxic myocardial failure, and arrhythmia. Year of surgery, shunt size, age at operation, and complexity of the anomalies were not the risk factors for mortality. Six month shunt patency rate was 97% and overall patency rate was 96%. Postoperative complications comprised of shunt occlusion(6), phrenic nerve palsy(3), and wound infection(2). Conclusion: We demonstrated that modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was a useful tool to palliate the infants with complex cyanotic heart disease in whom early complete repair was not feasible with acceptable mortality and patency rate. An adequate postoperative management and a meticulous surgical technique may be key factors for the better results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.356-364
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• 2002

Background: This study was undertaken to investigate the outcome of composite graft aortic root replacement using coronary button reimplantation technique for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving the aortic root. Material and Method: Between April 1995 and September 2001, 54 patients having aortic root replacement with a composite valve graft using direct coronary button reimplantation were reviewed retrospectively. Left ventricular dysfunction was present in 14 patients(25.9%), aortic regurgitation in 48(89%), and Marfan's syndrome in 17(31.5%). The indications for operation were annuloaortic ectasia in 29 patients(53.7%), aortic dissection in 11(20.4%), aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving aortic root in 12(22.2%), and aortitis in 2(3.7%). Six patients(11.1%) had previous cardiac or ascending aortic operations. Concomitant procedures were arch replacement in 21 patients(38.9%), coronary artery bypass graft in 7(13%), mitral valve repair or replacement in 4(7.4%), and others in 6. The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 18 $\pm$ 9 minutes, 177 $\pm$ 42 minutes, and 127 $\pm$ 31 minutes, respectively. Result: There was 1 early death(1.9%). Mean follow-up was 24.6$\pm$ 19.5 months. There were two late deaths(3.8%) including one death due to the traumatic cerebral hemorrhage. The Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 98.0 $\pm$ 2.0% and 93.1 $\pm$ 5.1% at 1 and 6 years, respectively. Two patients required reoperation owing to a false aneurysm at the root anastomosis site and a malfunction of prosthetic aortic valve(3.8%). Staged operation for dissection of the remaining thoracoabdominal aorta was performed in 1 patient. The freedom rate from reoperation was 97.8 $\pm$ 2.0% and 65.3 $\pm$ 26.7% at 1 and 6 years, respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.1030-1038
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate whether early visual acuity response at 4 weeks after the first intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection or 4 weeks after the third injection in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is associated with 12-month follow-up outcome. Methods: Thirty treatment-naive patients (30 eyes) with nAMD, treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF, were retrospectively included. Initially, all patients were injected at least three times for three consecutive months and followed up with a pro re nata regimen for at least 12 months. The relationship between 4 weeks after the first and third anti-VEGF injections in visual acuity response was explored, including the mean change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The mean change in BCVA was classified into three groups according to visual improvement: <1, 1-<3, or ${\geq}3$ logMAR line(s) in BCVA. The associations among baseline characteristics (gender, age, duration of symptoms, initial BCVA, central macular thickness, and intraocular pressure) and visual acuity responses 4 weeks after the first and third anti-VEGF injections were also assessed. Results: The proportions of eyes with <1, 1-<3, and ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement at 4 weeks after the first injection were 6 eyes (20%), 7 eyes (23.3%), and 17 eyes (56.6%), respectively. The proportions of eyes with <1, 1-<3, and ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement at 4 weeks after the third injection were 9 eyes (30%), 9 eyes (30%), and 12 eyes (40%), respectively. A BCVA response ${\geq}3-lines$ improvement at 4 weeks after the third injection showed significant associations with ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement and BCVA response at 12 months in multiple logistic and linear regression analyses (p = 0.04). Conclusions: In this study, BCVA response ${\geq}3-lines$ improvement at 4 weeks after the third injection showed a significant association with ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement and BCVA response at 12 months.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.498-506
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• 2005

Background : This study compared the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of tiotropium inhalation capsules ($18{\mu}g$ once daily) with a ipratropium metered dose inhaler (2 puffs of $20{\mu}g$ q.i.d.) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Method : After the initial screening assessment and a two-week run-in period, patients received either tiotropium $18{\mu}g$ once daily or ipratropium $40{\mu}g$ four times daily over a period of 4 weeks in a double blind, double dummy, parallel group study. The outcome measures were the lung function, the daily records of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), the patients' questionnaire, and the use of concomitant salbutamol. The forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured 5 minutes before inhalation, and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after inhaling the study drug on days 0, 14 and 28. Result : In 16 centers, 134 patients with a mean (SD) age of 66 (7) years and a predicted $FEV_1$ of 42 (12)% were analyzed. The trough $FEV_1$ response was significantly higher in the tiotropium group than in the ipratropium group after a four-week treatment period. The weekly mean morning PEFR of the tiotropium group was consistently higher than that of the ipratropium group during the 4-week treatment period with differences ranging from 12.52 to 13.88 l/min, which were statistically significant. Tiotropium was well tolerated by the COPD patients during the 4-week treatment period and had a similar safety profile to ipratropium. Conclusion : This study shows that tiotropium administrated once daily has a superior bronchodilator effect with a similar safety profile in treating COPD patients compared with ipratropium, inhaled four times daily.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2004

Purpose: To investigate the effects of radiation dose-escalation on the treatment outcome, complications and the other prognostic variables for glioblastoma patients treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). Materials and Methods: Between Jan 1997 and July 2002, a total of 75 patients with histologically proven diagnosis of glioblastoma were analyzed. The patients who had a Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) of 60 or higher, and received at least 50 Gy of radiation to the tumor bed were eligible. All the patients were divided into two arms; Arm 1, the high-dose group was enrolled prospectively, and Arm 2, the low-dose group served as a retrospective control. Arm 1 patients received $63\~70$ Gy (Median 66 Gy, fraction size $1.8\~2$ Gy) with 3D-conformal radiotherapy, and Arm 2 received 59.4 Gy or less (Median 59.4 Gy, fraction size 1.8 Gy) with 2D-conventional radiotherapy. The Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) was defined by the surgical margin and the residual gross tumor on a contrast enhanced MRI. Surrounding edema was not included in the Clinical Target Volume (CTV) in Arm 1, so as to reduce the risk of late radiation associated complications; whereas as in Arm 2 it was included. The overall survival and progression free survival times were calculated from the date of surgery using the Kaplan-Meier method. The time to progression was measured with serial neurologic examinations and MRI or CT scans after RT completion. Acute and late toxicities were evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group neurotoxicity scores. Results: During the relatively short follow up period of 14 months, the median overall survival and progression free survival times were $15{\pm}1.65$ and $11{\pm}0.95$ months, respectively. The was a significantly longer survival time for the Arm 1 patients compared to those in Arm 2 (p=0.028). For Arm 1 patients, the median survival and progression free survival times were $21{\pm}5.03$ and $12{\pm}1.59$ months, respectively, while for Arm 2 patients they were $14{\pm}0.94$ and $10{\pm}1.63$ months, respectively. Especially in terms of the 2-year survival rate, the high-dose group showed a much better survival time than the low-dose group; $44.7\%$ versus $19.2\%$. Upon univariate analyses, age, performance status, location of tumor, extent of surgery, tumor volume and radiation dose group were significant factors for survival. Multivariate analyses confirmed that the impact of radiation dose on survival was independent of age, performance status, extent of surgery and target volume. During the follow-up period, complications related directly with radiation, such as radionecrosis, has not been identified. Conclusion: Using 3D-conformal radiotherapy, which is able to reduce the radiation dose to normal tissues compared to 2D-conventional treatment, up to 70 Gy of radiation could be delivered to the GTV without significant toxicity. As an approach to intensify local treatment, the radiation dose escalation through 3D-CRT can be expected to increase the overall and progression free survival times for patients with glioblastomas.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.871-877
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• 1995

Background: The index which could predict the prognosis of critically ill patients is needed to find out high risk patients and to individualize their treatment. The APACHE III scoring system was established in 1991, but there has been only a few studies concerning its prognostic value. We wanted to know whether the APACHE III scores have prognostic value in discriminating survivors from nonsurvivors in sepsis. Methods: In 48 patients meeting the Bones criteria for sepsis, we retrospectively surveyed the day 1(D1), day 2(D2) and day 3(D3) scores of patients who were admitted to intensive care unit. The scores of the sepsis survivors and nonsurvivors were compared in respect to the D1 score, and also in respect to the changes of the updated D2 and D3 scores. Results: 1) Of the 48 sepsis patients, 21(43.5%) survived and 27(56.5%) died. The nonsurvivors were older($62.7{\pm}12.6$ vs $51.1{\pm}18.1$ yrs), presented with lower mean arterial pressure($56.9{\pm}26.2$ vs $67.7{\pm}14.2\;mmHg$) and showed greater number of multisystem organ failure($1.2{\pm}0.8$ vs $0.2{\pm}0.4$) than the survivors(p<0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in sex and initial body temperature between the two groups. 2) The D1 score was lower in the survivors (n=21) than in the nonsurvivors ($44.1{\pm}14.6$, $78.5{\pm}18.6$, p=0.0001). The D2 and D3 scores significantly decreased in the survivors (D1 vs D2, $44.1{\pm}14.6$ : $37.9{\pm}15.0$, p=0.035; D2 vs D3, $37.9{\pm}15.0$ : $30.1{\pm}9.3$, p=0.0001) but showed a tendency to increase in the nonsurvivors (D1 vs D2 (n=21), $78.5{\pm}18.6$ : $81.3{\pm}23.0$, p=0.1337; D2 vs D3 (n=11), $68.2{\pm}19.3$ : $75.3{\pm}18.8$, p=0.0078). 3) The D1 scores of 12 survivors and 6 nonsurvivors were in the same range of 42~67 (mean D1 score, $53.8{\pm}10.0$ in the survivors, $55.3{\pm}10.3$ in the nonsurvivors). The age, sex, initial body temperature, and mean arterial pressure were not different between the two groups. In this group, however, D2 and D3 was significantly decreased in the survivors(D1 vs D2, $53.3{\pm}10.0$ : $43.6{\pm}16.4$, p=0.0278; D2 vs D3, $43.6{\pm}16.4$ : $31.2{\pm}10.3$, p=0.0005), but showed a tendency to increase in the nonsurvivors(D1 vs D2 (n=6), $55.3{\pm}10.3:66.7{\pm}13.9$, p=0.1562; D2 vs D3 (n=4), $64.0{\pm}16.4:74.3{\pm}18.6$, p=0.1250). Among the individual items of the first day APACHE III score, only the score of respiratory rate was capable of discriminating the nonsurvivors from the survivors ($5.5{\pm}2.9$ vs $1.9{\pm}3.7$, p=0.046) in this group. Conclusion: In sepsis, nonsurvivors had higher first day APACHE III score and their updated scores on the following days failed to decline but showed a tendency to increase. Survivors, on the other hand, had lower first day score and showed decline in the updated APACHE scores. These results suggest that the first day and daily updated APACHE III scores are useful in predicting the outcome and assessing the response to management in patients with sepsis.