• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.655-662
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• 1985

From January 1985 to July 1985, prosthetic heart valves were replaced in 5 patients at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. The patients included three women and two men ranging in age from 22 to 41 years. Three mitral valve replacements, one aortic valve replacement and one double valve replacement [mitral and aortic valve replacement] were done at the first valve operations. Reoperation were performed 2 to 76 months after the first operations, Prosthetic valve endocarditis occurred in 3 patients, early in one and late in two and primary valve failure occurred in 2 patients. In operative findings, vegetation in prosthetic valve endocarditis and calcification in primary valve failure were found. All except one had relatively successful operative results. One died of early fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis due to relapsed prosthetic valve endocarditis with heart failure and block.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.584-594
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• 1986

Despite the multivariate improvements in tissue treatment, material, and design of prosthetic heart valves in recent years, numerous complications that may lead to valve dysfunction remain a constant threat after valve replacement. Most common indications for prosthetic valve failure are primary valve failure, infective endocarditis, paravalvular leakage, and thromboembolism. From 1977 to 1986, 15 patients underwent reoperation for prosthetic valve failure in 278 cases of valve surgery. The etiology of prosthetic valve failure were primary valve failure in 12 patients [80 %], infective endocarditis in 2 patients [13.3 %], and a paravalvular leakage [6.7 %]. The average durations of implantation were 45.5 months; 53.9 months in primary valve failure, 16 months in infective endocarditis, and 4 months in paravalvular leakage. The rate of valve failure was high under age of 30 [11/15]. Calcifications and collagen disruption of prosthesis were main cause of primary valve failure in macro- & micropathology. Prosthesis used in reoperation were 5 tissue valves and 10 mechanical valves. Operative mortality were 13.3 % [2/15], due to intractable endocarditis and ventricular arrhythmia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.208-211
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• 2013

A 51-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with complaints of fever and hemoptysis. After evaluation of the fever focus, he was diagnosed with pulmonary valve infective endocarditis. Thus pulmonary valve replacement and antibiotics therapy were performed and discharged. He was brought to the emergency unit presenting with a high fever (> $39^{\circ}C$) and general weakness 6 months after the initial operation. The echocardiography revealed prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis. Therefore, redo-pulmonary valve replacement using valved conduit was performed in the Rastelli fashion because of the risk of pulmonary arterial wall injury and recurrent endocarditis from the remnant inflammatory tissue. We report here on the successful surgical treatment of prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis with an alternative surgical method.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1995

From January 1985 to December 1992, of 1257 patients who underwent a heart valve replacement 210 [16.8% underwent reoperation on prosthetic heart valves, and 6 of them had a second valve reoperation. The indications for reoperation were structural deterioration [176 cases, 81.5% , prosthetic valve endocarditis [25 cases, 11.6% , paravalvular leak [12 cases, 5.6% , valve thrombosis [2 cases, 0.9% and ascending aortic aneurysm [1 case, 0.4% . Prosthetic valve failure developed most frequently in mitral position [57.9% and prosthetic valve endocarditis and paravalvular leak developed significantly in the aortic valve [40%, 75% [P<0.02 . Mean intervals between the primary valve operation and reoperation were 105.3$\pm$28.4 months in the case of prosthetic valve failure, 61.5$\pm$38.5 months in prosthetic valve endocarditis, 26.8$\pm$31.2 months in paravalvualr leak, and 25.0$\pm$7.0 months in valve thrombosis. In bioprostheses, the intervals were in 102.0$\pm$23.9 months in the aortic valve, and 103.6$\pm$30.8 months in the mitral valve. The overall hospital mortality rate was 7.9% [17/26 : 15% in aortic valve reoperation [6/40 , 6.5% in reoperation on the mitral prostheses [9/135 and 5.7% in multiple valve replacement [2.35 . Low cardiac output syndrome was the most common cause of death [70.6% . Advanced New York Heart Association class [P=0.00298 , explant period [P=0.0031 , aortic cross-clamp time [P=0.0070 , prosthetic valve endocarditis [P=0.0101 , paravalvularr leak [P=0.0096 , and second reoperation [P=0.00036 were the independent risk factors, but age, sex, valve position and multiple valve replacement did not have any influence on operative mortality. Mean follow up period was 38.6$\pm$24.5 months and total patient follow up period was 633.3 patient year. Actuarial survival at 8 year was 97.3$\pm$3.0% and 5 year event-free survival was 80.0$\pm$13.7%. The surgical risk of reoperation on heart valve prostheses in the advanced NYHA class patients is higher, so reoperation before severe hemodynamic impairment occurs is recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1354-1357
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• 1992

From May 1984 through December 1991, twelve patients underwent valve replacement for infective endocarditis at National Medical Center. There were 7 male and 5 female, ranged in age 16 to 61[mean 34.1] years. Four had native valve endocarditis, six had prosthetic valve endocarditis and two were associated with congenital heart disease. The indication of surgery was medically intractable congestive heart failure in all patients. 5 patients revealed systemic embolization and 4 patients had uncontrollable sepsis. The causative organism was Streptococcus in 4 patients, Staphylococcus in 1 patient and Pseudomonas in 2 patients. Hospital mortality was 33.3%[4/12]. The main cause of death was low cardiac output due to perioperative myocardial damage and cerebral vascular accident. There were 2 late mortality because of recurrent endocarditis. This review showed much higher mortality in prosthetic valve endocarditis[66.7%] than native valve endocarditis[33.3%].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.285-288
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• 2013

Prosthetic valves are being widely used in the treatment of heart valve disease. Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is one of the most catastrophic complications seen in these patients. In particular, prosthetic valve dehiscence can lead to acute decompensation, pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock. Here, we discuss the medical management of late PVE in a patient with a prior history of late and redo early PVE and recurrent dehiscence. According to the present case, we can summarize the learning points as follows. A prior history of infective endocarditis increases the risk of relapse or recurrence, and these patients should be evaluated very cautiously to prevent late complications. Adequate debridement of infected material is of paramount importance to prevent relapse. A history of dehiscence is associated with increased risk of relapse and recurrent dehiscence.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2009

Background: Prosthetic valve endocarditis usually presents with clinical symptoms that are more severe than native valve endocarditis, and prosthetic valve endocarditis shows the spread of infection into the surrounding tissue as well as into the superficial endocardial layers. The postoperative prognosis is especially poor for valve re-replacement for the cases of active endocarditis that are unable to receive a full-course of pre-antibiotic therapy due to complications and the ensuing clinical aggravation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical profiles, laboratory findings and mid-term surgical results of active prosthetic valve endocarditis. Material and Method: Among the 276 surgically treated infective endocarditis patients who were treated during the period from January 1998 to July 2008, 31 patients were treated for prosthetic valve endocarditis. Among these patients, 24 received surgical treatment for an 'active' state, and they were selected for evaluation. Result: The most frequently encountered symptom was a febrile sensation. Eight cases (33.3%) were accompanied by systemic thromboembolism, among which 5 cases (20.8%) had an affected central nervous system. 'Vegetations' were most commonly found on transesophageal echocardiography, and the 'Staphylococcus species' were the most frequent pathogens. There were 4 deaths in the immediate postoperative period, and an additional 4 patients died during the follow-up period (Mean$\pm$SD, 42.1$\pm$36.9 months). The cumulative survival rate was 79% at 1 year, 73% at 3 years, 66% at 5 year, and 49.5% at 7 years. Conclusion: The cases of active prosthetic valve endocarditis that were unable to receive a full course of preoperative antibiotics therapy generally have a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, early surgery and extensive resection of all the infected tissue is pivotal in improving the survival rate of patients with surgically treated active prosthetic valve endocarditis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 1998

Surgical treatment is recommended in tricuspid valve endocarditis not responding to antibiotics or presenting severe heart failure. However, risk of early prosthetic valve endocarditis especially in drug addictors is principal concern in the treatment. A 37 year-old man with tricuspid valve endocarditis underwent staged operation of primary tricuspid valvulectomy and secondary bioprosthetic valve implantation successfully. We report it with references of literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 1984

Prosthetic valve replacement has resulted in marked improvement in the functional status of many patients with valvular heart disease. But valve failure from various causes has necessitated re-replacement of prosthetic valve in some of these patients. This selective group of patients has many inherent problems. This report presents our experience with seven patients who received re-replacement of prosthetic valve in the Seoul National University Hospital from 1981, to 1983. The patients included one woman and six men in the range of 9 and 49 years old. As the first valve operations, there were five MVR using tissue valves, one DVR [Bjork-Shiley and Ionescu-Shiley valve] and one case of modified Bentall operation with composite graft [Ionescu-Shiley valve]. Reoperations on prosthetic valve failure were performed 17 to 54 months after the first operation [mean 34 months]. Amon8 seven patients, there were two cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis and five cases of primary tissue failure. Gross calcification of the xenograft was found in two children with Ionescu-Shiley valve. All except one had relatively successful operative results. The unsuccessful one died intraoperatively from low output syndrome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 1981

Bacterial endocarditis is a well-recognized complication of prosthetic valve replacement. Postoperative fungal endocarditis of aortitis has been reported with increasing frequency. Aspergillus endocarditis or aortitis following open heart surgery has been reported in several patients. The difficulty in the diagnosis of this type of infection, the problems of therapy of prosthetic valve endocarditis0 and the relative ineffectiveness of antifungal agents account for the high mortality. Recently, we have experienced a patient with aspergillus aortitis after replacement of mitral valve. The diagnosis was finally established by histotogical examination of emboli removed from the femoral artery. The patient died after second open heart surgery for replacement of ascending aorta.