• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 2003

Purpose : To understand morphologic and hemodynamic variations in patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum(PA/IVS), and to decide the best treatment modalities, we measured right ventricular volume, inflow, and outflow valvular annulus size in these patients and compared them with those of normal newborns. Methods : Eight patients with PA/IVS diagnosed by echocardiography from January to December 2001 were enrolled in this study. Among the total eight patients, five were male and three were female. The mean age of patients was 6.9 days(1-34 days), and the mean body weight was 3,343 gm (2,970-4,000 gm). Ten fullterm newborn infants with sepsis or hyperbilirubinemia without heart disease were enrolled as a control group. Echocardiographic and Doppler studies using Acuson Aspen (7Mh probe) were recorded on super-VHS videotape and later on, with review mode. We measured volumes of right and left ventricles, aortic, pulmonic, mitral and tricuspid valvular annulus sizes using an installed program, and then these parameters were compared with those of the control group. Results : Mean Z-value of tricuspid valvular annulus in PA/IVS was $-3.69{\pm}2.80$(-8.4--0.45), and tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio $0.68{\pm}0.15$(0.43--0.84). The more the tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio, the more Z-value of tricuspid valvular annulus(P=0.003, r=0.885). Those patients who underwent pulmonary valvuloplasty(balloon or surgical) had a tendency toward larger volume of the right ventricle, more Z-value of pulmonic and tricuspid valvular annulus, and more tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio than those patients who underwent a shunt operation. Conclusion : Compared to a measurement of the volume of the right ventricle, measurements of tricuspid/mitral valvular annulus size ratio and Z-value of tricuspid valvular annulus may be easier and better parameters to decide the treatment method and to predict prognosis in PA/IVS patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.3 s.260
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• pp.177-183
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• 2006

Background: The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS) is one of the primary palliative procedures for complex congenital heart disease. It has many advantages, but it is known to have high risks in young infants. Material and Method: From 1995 to 2003, 48 infants under the age of one year underwent BCPS. All the patients were Fontan candidates due to functional univentricular heart physiology. There were no significant differences in preoperative variables, except in mean age (67.58$\pm$3.78 vs. 212.91$\pm$13.44 days), and mean body weight (4.51$\pm$0.29 vs. 6.62$\pm$0.27 kg), between group A (<3 months, n=12) and group B ($\ge$3 months, n=36). Result: In group A, the arterial oxygen saturations serially measured were significantly lower. Hospital mortality was $25\%$, and $19\%$, respectively. During follow up, there were 2 late mortalities in group A, and 5 in group B. Conclusion: This study showed that operative risk in young infants was comparable to that of older patients, and BCPS could be a good option as a primary palliative procedure, and may eliminate other repeated palliative procedures which could be the risk factors for Fontan candidates. However, in high-risk patients accompanying pulmonary hypertension, or heterotaxia syndrome, other palliative procedures should be considered.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1048-1052
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• 2009

Plastic bronchitis is a rare disease characterized by the recurrent formation of branching mucoid bronchial casts that are large and more cohesive than those that occur in ordinary mucus plugging. Casts may vary in size and can be spontaneously expectorated, but some require bronchoscopy for removal. Plastic bronchitis can therefore present as an acute life-threatening emergency if obstruction of the major airways occurs. Three of 22 reported patients with eosinophilic casts were fatal, with death due to central airway obstruction. Here, we report a child with no history of atopy, allergy, or congenital heart disease who was diagnosed with plastic bronchitis with eosinophilic casts. Although he was administered intravenous (iv) antibiotics; iv corticosteroids; and a vigorous pulmonary toilet regimen, including chest physiotherapy and routine bronchoscopic removal of casts, he had brain death secondary to hypoxic brain damage. Plastic bronchitis can be fatal when casts obstruct the major airways, as in the present case. Clinicians should intervene early if a patient exhibits signs and symptoms consistent with plastic bronchitis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.393-404
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between blood hemoglobin (Hgb) levels and the risk of death by specific causes. Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Services-National Health Screening Cohort (n=487 643), we classified serum Hgb levels into 6 sex-specific groups. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the associations between Hgb levels and the risk of cause-specific death. Results: Hgb levels in male population showed a U-shaped, J-shaped, or inverse J-shaped association with the risk of death from ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, liver cancer, cirrhosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (all non-linear p<0.05; hazard ratio [HR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) for the lowest and the highest Hgb levels for the risk of each cause of death in male population: HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.34; HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.48 to 5.57; HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.40; HR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.44 to 6.48; HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.56; HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.26; HR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.49 to 5.33; HR, 5.97; 95% CI, 1.44 to 24.82; HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.30; HR, 3.84; 95% CI, 1.22 to 12.13, respectively), while in female population, high Hgb levels were associated with a lower risk of death from hypertension and a higher risk of death from COPD (overall p<0.05; HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.67 for the lowest Hgb levels for hypertension; overall p<0.01, HR, 6.60; 95% CI, 2.37 to 18.14 for the highest Hgb levels for COPD). For the risk of lung cancer death by Hgb levels, a linear negative association was found in male population (overall p<0.01; the lowest Hgb levels, HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.33) but an inverse J-shaped association was found in female population (non-linear p=0.01; HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.63; HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.21 to 5.50). Conclusions: Both low and high Hgb levels were associated with an increased risk of death from various causes, and some diseases showed different patterns according to sex.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.348-356
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• 2019

Background: Recently, the number of lung transplants in South Korea has increased. However, the long-term outcome data is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of adult lung transplantation recipients. Methods: Among the patients that underwent lung transplantation at a tertiary referral center in South Korea between 2008 and 2017, adults patient who underwent deceased-donor lung transplantation with available follow-up data were enrolled. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Through eligibility screening, we identified 60 adult patients that underwent lung (n=51) or heart-lung transplantation (n=9) during the observation period. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (46.7%, 28/60) was the most frequent cause of lung transplantation. For all the 60 patients, the median follow-up duration for post-transplantation was 2.6 years (range, 0.01-7.6). During the post-transplantation follow-up period, 19 patients (31.7%) died at a median duration of 194 days. The survival rates were 75.5%, 67.6%, and 61.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Out of the 60 patients, 8 (13.3%) were diagnosed with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), after a mean duration of $3.3{\pm}2.8years$ post-transplantation. The CLAD development rate was 0%, 17.7%, and 25.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. The most common newly developed post-transplantation comorbidity was the chronic kidney disease (CKD; 54.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (25.9%). Conclusion: Among the adult lung transplantation recipients at a South Korea tertiary referral center, the long-term survival rates were favorable. The proportion of patients who developed CLAD was not substantial. CKD was the most common post-transplantation comorbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.787-791
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• 2001

Coronary artery aneurysm is a rare disorder. It is defined as abnormal dilatation of coronary artery with diameter exceeding 1.5 times the adjacent normal segments. The incidence of coronary aneurysm is 2.6% in Caucasians and 0.25% in Asians. Over half of the former were associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. However, 70 percents of the latter were nonobstructive coronary artery aneurysms. Coronary artery fistula is a rare disorder. It has been identified in only 0.2% of routine cardiac angiographic studies conducted over a 10-year period. The clinical spectrums are various, asymtomatic, asymptomatic murmur, dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, and congestive heart failure. The right coronary artery (56%) and left coronary artery(36%) are mainly involved in the origin site of congenital coronary artery fistula. The draining site of fistula are right ventricle(39%), right atrium(33%), and pulmonary artery(20%) and so on. This 54 years-old woman had intermittent chest tightness and an abnormal mediastinal shadow on chest roentgenogram and chest C-T examination, which was diagnosed as a mediastinal mass such as teratoma. We performed the operation under left anterolateral thoracotomy for mass excision. However, we knew the mass had the pulsating arterial blood flow through a fine needle puncture of the mass and that it was attached to the left ventricle. We believed the excision of mass on beating heart would be very dangerous. Therefore, we closed the wound without excising the mass. After several days, we performed an echocardiography and coronary angiography, We knew it was cardiac tumor. Incidentally, the patient had a tortuous coronary fistula from the right coronary artery to pulmonary trunk. Using cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate systemic hypothermia, the mass was resected and the fistula was clipped with surgical clips. Pathology of the specimen was a giant coronary arterial aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.538-544
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• 2005

Background: Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is an initial palliative procedure for a diverse group of patients with congenital cardiac anomalies and unrestricted pulmonary blood flow. We proved the usefulness of PAB through retrospective investigation of the surgical indication and risk analysis retrospectively. Material and Method: One hundred and fifty four consecutive patients (99 males and 55 females) who underwent PAB between January 1986 and December 2003 were included. We analysed the risk factors for early mortality and actuarial survival rate. Mean age was $2.5\pm12.8\;(0.2\sim92.7)$ months and mean weight was $4.5\pm2.7\;(0.9\sim18.0)\;kg$. Preoperative diagnosis included functional single ventricle $(88,\;57.1\%)$, double outlet right ventricle $(22,\;14.2\%)$, transposition of the great arteries $(26,\;16.8\%)$, and atrioventricular septal defect $(11,\;7.1\%)$. Coarctation of the aorta or interrupted aortic arch $(32,\;20.7\%)$, subaortic stenosis $(13,\;8.4\%)$ and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection $(13,\;8.4\%)$ were associated. Result: The overall early mortality was $22.1\%\;(34\;of\;154)$, The recent series from 1996 include patients with lower age $(3.8\pm15.9\;vs.\;1.5\pm12.7,\;p=0.04)$ and lower body weight $(4.8\pm3.1\;vs.\;4.0\pm2.7,\;p=0.02)$. The early mortality was lower in the recent group $(17.5\%;\;16/75)$ than the earlier group $(28.5\%;\;18/45)$. Aortic arch anomaly (p=0.004), subaortic stenosis (p=0.004), operation for subaortic stenosis (p=0.007), and cardiopulmonary bypass (p=0.007) were proven to be risk factors for early death in univariate analysis, while time of surgery (<1996) (p=0.026) was the only significant risk factor in multivariate analysis. The mean time interval from PAB to the second-stage operation was $12.8\pm10.9$ months. Among 96 patients who survived PAB, 40 patients completed Fontan operation, 21 patients underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt, and 35 patients underwent biventricular repair including 25 arterial switch operations. Median follow-up was $40.1\pm48.9$ months. Overall survival rates at 1 year, 5 years and 10 years were $81.2\%\;65.0\%,\;and\;63.5\%$ respectively. Conclusion: Although it improved in recent series, early mortality was still high despite the advances in perioperative management. As for conventional indications, early primary repair may be more beneficial. However, PA banding still has a role in the initial palliative step in selective groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.523-528
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• 2005

Background: Investigation of the change of ventricular function and mitral regurgitation after surgical repair of patient with anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is key issue for the better surgical outcome. Material and Method: From April 1986 to July 2002, 12 patients presented with ALCAPA. The median age at repair was 4 months. Surgical methods included left coronary artery transfer to the aorta (10), Takeuchi procedure (1), saphenous vein free graft bypass (1). Mitral valve was repaired in 1. Result: There were 2 hospital death $(16.7\%)$. The mean follow-up period was $7.1\pm4.1$ years (range, 7 months to 13 years). Four patients required postoperative circulatory assist for $2.2\pm1.1$ days and one needed left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for 1day. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated significant improvements in mean fractional shortening $(33.4\pm9.1\%\;vs\;17.7\pm9.6\%,\;n=10,\;p<0.05);$ left ventricular end diastolic dimension $(33.4\pm7.3\;mm\;vs\;44.8\pm7.0\;mm,\;n=10,\;p<0.05)$ and systolic dimension $(22.2\pm7.5\;mm\;vs\;33.4\pm7.9\;mm,\;n=10,\;p<0.05)$. Severities of mitral regurgitation decreased in all survivors at 1st and 4th year follow-up echocardiography. There were 2 reoperation due to residual MR and right ventricular outflow obstruction (Takeuchi case). Conclusion: Anatomic repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery offered an excellent surgical results, especially in terms of the recovery of left ventricle function and mitral regurgitation. However, preoperative indications for mitral procedure is to be evaluated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.417-422
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• 2008

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long term results of creating various right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits for treating complex congenital heart disease. Material and Method: Between June 1986 and July 2006, we retrospectively reviewed 245 patients who underwent reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract with various kinds of conduits. 410 operations were done in 245 patients, the mean age at operation was $3.2{\pm}4.9$ years (range: 7 days$\sim$45 years) and the mean body weight was $12.5{\pm}8.7\;kg$ (range: $2.4\sim76.3\;kg$). Result: We used the following conduits: Polystan conduit, Shelhigh conduit, Carpenter-Edward conduit, Dacron graft with an artificial valve, valveless Gore Tex vascular graft, homograft and hand-made bovine or autologous pericardial conduit. The mean follow up duration was $6.3{\pm}5.2$ years. Redo operation for RV-PA conduit dysfunction was performed in 131 patients, a second redo was done in 31 and a third redo was done in 3. The reoperation free rates were 67.3%, 48.5% and 39.4% for 5 years, 10 years and 15 years, respectively. The homograft showed the best durability, followed by the Dacron graft with artificial valve and the Carpentier-Edward conduit. The larger sized conduit showed better durability. Conclusion: The homograft showed lowest reoperation rate and a smaller size of conduit showed the highest reoperation rate. The reoperation rate for the RV-PA conduit was about 35% at 5 years, so it is mandatory to develop the more durable conduit for RV outflow.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.123-131
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• 2005

Background: The number of elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is increasing. Elderly patients are at increased risk for a variety of perioperative complications and mortality. We identified determinants of operative complications and mortality in elderly patients undergoing CABG. Material and Method: Between January 1995 and July 2003, 91 patients older than 75 years underwent isolated CABG at Asan Medical Center. There were 67 men and 24 women with mean age of $77.0\pm2.4$ years. Thirty clinical or hemodynamic variables hypothesized as predictors of operative mortality were evaluated. Result: CABG was performed under emergency conditions in 5 patients. The internal thoracic artery was used in 85 patients and 10 patients received both internal thoracic arteries. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 3.7 per patient. Operative mortality was $3.3\%$. Twenty-two patients had at least one major postoperative complication. Low cardiac output syndrome was the most common complication, followed by reoperation for bleeding, pulmonary dysfunction, perioperative myocardial infarction, stroke, acute renal failure, ventricular arrhythmia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, infection, and delayed sternal closure. None were the predictors of mortality. Renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, emergency operation, recent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, New York Heart Association (HYHA) class III or IV, Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina scale III or IV, and low left ventricle ejection fraction below $40\%$ were univariate predictors of overall complications. Actuarial probability of survival was $94.9\%,\;89.8\%,\;and\;83.5\%$ at postoperative 1, 3 and 5 years respectively. During the follow-up period $93.3\%$ of patients were in NYHA class I, or II and $91.1\%$ were free from angina. Conclusion: Although operative complication is increased, CABG can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality and excellent late results in patients older than 75 years.