• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.523-526
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• 2003

A 44-year-old man had been admitted for dyspnea on exertion and abdominal distension. The echocardiography revealed abnormal mass in right atrium and tricuspid valve stenosis with right ventricular obliteration. The operation was performed with mass removal, enlargement of tricuspid valve opening, and right ventricular endocardiectormy. And then, atrial septal defect was made due to inadequate right ventricular volume. The patient's symptom was improved and he discharged without events. The endomyocardial fibrosis was diagnosed with microscopic examination. Eighteen months later, the patient was readmitted due to aggravated dyspnea and cyanosis. The right ventricular obliteration was progressed and pulmonary blood flow was severely decreased in follow up echocardiography. Palliative bidirectional cave-pulmonary shunt was performed due to functional single ventricle. The dyspnea and cyanosis was markedly improved. Bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt for advanced and isolated right ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis provided effective palliation at early postoperative period, However, long-term follow up is mandatory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.8 s.265
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• pp.588-597
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• 2006

Background: The surgical repair of a tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has been performed successfully with a favorable early and late outcome. However, the later development of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis remains a problem. The development of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis may be changed by the size of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction at the initial total correction. Hence, it is necessary to investigate the ideal size of RVOT reconstruction. Material and Method: This prospective study was carried out to determine how a surgical strategy and the RVOT size affect the occurrence of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis. From January 2002 to December 2004, 62 patients underwent the TOF total correction. The RVOT size (diameter of pulmonary valve annulus) of each case was measured after the RVOT reconstruction and converted to a Z value. A pre-scheduled follow up (at discharge, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years) was carried out by echocardiography to evaluate the level of pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis. Result: The patients were divided to two groups (transannular group n=12, nontransannular group n=50) according to the method of a RVOT reconstruction. The Z value of RVOT=iameter of pulmonary valve annulus) (transannular group -1, $range\;-3.6{\sim}-0.8;$ nontransannular group -2.1, $range\;-5.2{\sim}-1.5)$ and the average pRV/LV after surgery ${(transannular group 0.44{\pm}0.09,\;nontransannular group\;0.42{\pm}0.09)}$ did not show any significant difference between two groups. The occurrence of pulmonary regurgitation above a moderate degree was more frequent in the transannular group (p<0.01). In nontransannular group, the development of pulmonary regurgitation more than moderate degree occurred to the patients with larger RVOT size (Z value>0, p<0.02) and the progressing pulmonary stenosis more than mild to moderate degree developed in the patients with smaller RVOT size (Z value<-1.5, p<0.05). A moderate degree of pulmonary stenosis developed for 4 nontransannular patients. Three underwent additional surgery and one underwent a balloon valvuloplasty. Their Z value of RVOT were -3.8, -3.8 -2.9, -1.8, respectively. Conclusion: When carring out a TOF total correction, transannular RVOT reconstruction group has significantly more pulmonary regurgitation. In the nontransannular RVOT reconstruction. the size of the RVOT should be maintained from Z value -1.5 to 0. If the Z value is less than -1.5, we should follow up carefully for the possibility of pulmonary stenosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.566-575
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• 2009

Background: The function of a bioprosthetic heart valve is determined largely by the material properties of the valve cusps. The uniaxial tensile test has been studied extensively. This type of testing, however, does not replicate the natural biaxial loading condition. The objective of the present study was to investigate the regional variability of the biaxial strain versus pressure relationship based on the types of fixation liquid models. Material and Method: Porcine aortic valves and pulmonary valves were assigned to three groups: the untreated fresh group, the fixed with glutaraldehyde (GA) group, and the glutaraldehyde with solvent (e.g., ethanol) group. For each group we measured the radial and circumferential stretch characteristics of the valve as a function of pressure change. Result: Radial direction elasticity of porcine aortic and pulmonary valves were better than circumferential direction elasticity in fresh, GA fixed and GA+solvent fixed groups (p=0.00). Radial and circumferential direction elasticity of pulmonary valves were better than aortic valves in GA fixed, and GA+solvent fixed groups (p=0.00). Radial and circumferential direction elasticity of aortic valves were decreased after GA and GA+solvent fixation(p=0.00), except for circumferential elasticity of GA+solvent fixed valves (p=0.785). The radial (p=0.137) and circumferential (p=0.785) direction of elasticity of aortic valves were not significantly different between GA fixed. and GA+solvent fixed groups. Radial (p=0.910) and circumferential (p=0.718) direction of elasticity of pulmonary valve also showed no significant difference between GA fixed and GA+solvent fixed groups. Conclusion: When fixing porcine valves with GA, adding a solvent does not cause a loss of mechanical properties, but, does not improve elasticity either. Radial direction elasticity of porcine aortic and pulmonary valves was better than circumferential direction elasticity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 1993

Fourty-five cases of operation were performed for the correction of tricuspid regurgitation [TR] in Pusan National University Hospital between 1982 and 1991.The mean age of the patients was 32.6 years and female was dominant[M:F=1:2.2].Isolated tricuspid regurgitation was rare and 43 patients underwent concomitant other valvular operation including mitral valve replacement. Functional cause was in 39 cases and organic lesions were found in 6 cases. Operative methods were Kay annuloplasty[29], De Vega annuloplasty[12], and tricuspid valve replacement[4]. Ring annuloplasty was not performed. Operative mortality rate was 11.1%[5/45] and late mortality rate was 6.7%[2/30]. The tricuspid valve surgery itself was not a serious risk factor for hospital death and no heart block nor thrombosis was complicated. By echocardiogram early[within 30 days] and late [mean:4.9years] changes of postoperative TR were evaluated. De Vega annuloplasty seemed to bring better late result than Kay annuloplasty[p<0.05]. In four patients with late severe TR,previously replaced tissue valve degeneration[2], pulmonary hypertension[1] and rheumatic TR[1] were the possible causes. This experience suggests that De Vega annuloplasty can be a reliable method in the majority of patients with moderate-to-severe functional TR.

• 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.21 no.5
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• pp.877-881
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• 1988

A coronary arteriovenous fistula represents an abnormal communication from a coronary artery that may enter any cardiac chamber, a pulmonary artery, the coronary sinus, the superior vena cava or the pulmonary vein. We had a successful experience with 46 year-old male who complained exertional dyspnea[NYHA classification II] and anginal pain since 5 years ago. In intensive study of cardiac catheterization and coronary cineangiography, multiple bilateral coronary arteriovenous fistulas and mitral stenoinsufficiency with left atrial thrombi were recognized. The coronary arterio-venous fistula of left coronary artery was revealed large tortuous aberrant vessels that were connected between just distal portion of first diagonal branch of left anterior descending artery and main pulmonary artery. Other fistula was small tortuous vessel which was originated from left atrial branch of left circumflex artery, was drained into left atrium. The fistula of right coronary artery was communicated conal branch of right coronary artery to main pulmonary artery. But there was no 0y step-up in the right cardiac catheterization. The operative procedure were suture-ligation of draining orifice of coronary arteriovenous fistula in main pulmonary artery, mitral valve replacement[Ionescu-Shiley 25mm] with removal of left atrial thrombi and plication of left atrium under the extracorporeal circulation. The postoperative course was uneventful without any complication and discharged without problem at 17th postoperative days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.854-857
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• 2001

Double-outlet left ventricle(DOLV) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation, defined as the origin of both the aorta and the pulmonary artery being entirely or predominantly above the morphologically left ventricle, which is difficult to diagnose accurately. A 3-year old male was admitted for cyanosis and dyspnea. At the age of 2 months, he had undergone pulmonary artery banding and coarctoplasty. He was diagnosed as DOLV with subaortic ventricular septal defect(VSD). Biventricular repair was achieved by patch closure of VSD, primary closure of PFO, and pulmonary trunk translocation from left ventricle to right ventricle. The advantages of this procedure using native tissue for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction are growth potential and preserved valve function, which contribute to a decreased likelihood of reoperation related to the right ventricular dysfunction related to pulmonary insufficiency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.406-411
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• 1992

Thirty-four patients were received bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt[BCPS] from Aug. 1989 to Apr. 1991 at Sejong General Hospital, Puchon, Korea. Their ages were from 43 days to 21 years old with 19 cases of infant, 10 from 1 to 5 years old and 5 cases above 6 years old. Their diagnoses were as follows: 13 cases with uni-ventricular heart, 9 tricuspid atresia, 6 double outlet of right ventricle, 4 pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, and 2 transposition of great arteries with pulmonary stenosis. Among them, 10 patients had received other palliative operations before. The BCPS operations were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass and 10 patients who had bilateral superior vena cava received bilateral BCPS. Other associated procedures were 9 cases of takedown of Blalock-Taussig shunt, 3 pulmonary artery angioplasty, 1 unifocalization, 1 repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return, 1 Damus procedure, 1 relief of sub-aortic stenosis, 1 right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and one case of tricuspid valve obliteration. There were 3 operative deaths[8.8%] and two late deaths. The remainders show good postoperative state and their oxygen saturation was increased significantly. Conclusively, the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt is very effective and safe palliative or pre-Fontan stage operation for the many complex congenital anomalies with low pulmonary blood flow especially for the patients who have the risk of Fontan repair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 1983

Tetralogy of Fallot is characterized by the interventricular septal defect associated with obstruction of the right ventricular outflow. The importance of the latter anatomic malformation was clinically evaluated according to the angiographic measurements of the pulmonary arteries along with the pulmonary valve annulus. Seventy of a total 76 patients operated on during a whole year of 1981 were the patients for clinical evaluation. Fifteen patients died within 1 month after operation with the operative mortality of 21.4%. The young age and the severity of pulmonary arterial hypoplasia were ones among the surgical risk factors at a total corrective surgery of tetralogy. Preoperative angiographic measurements of the pulmonary arteries to speculate the expected postoperative ratio between the left ventricular and the right ventricular pressures were retrospectively calculated according to the formula. The predicted values of P RV/LV greater than 0.5 carried apparenliy higher complication and mortality rates than the group of P RV/LV less then 0.5. The selection of the candidates for either a total correction or the staged operation In tetralogy of Fallot can be evaluated on the preoperative angiographic measurements and the expected Improvements of the clinical results were discussed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.759-763
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• 1994

Between November 1990 and December 1993, 9 patients underwent surgical intervention for acute active endocarditis at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. All the patients were operated on within the first six weeks after onset of symptoms for various reasons. Surgical indications for early surgery were heart failure, systemic septic emboli, new murmur and growing vegetation. Most common infecting organism was Staphylococcus[55 %], and the others were Streptococcus, anaerobes, Candida and unknown in 1 case. The infection was in the mitral valve in 5 patients, the aortic valve in 2, the aortic and mitral in 1, and the aortic and pulmonary in 1. There was one operative death[11 %] and no late death. Preoperative Functional Class were II in 4 patients, III in 5 and after surgery all the patients improved to Class I. We conclude that early surgical intervention in acute active endocarditis is effective in most instances.