• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.718-721
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• 1998

The surgical closure of VSD in patient with severe pulmonary hypertension has been considered a difficult problem for surgeons, because sudden hemodynamic change after closure of the defect could bring on high perioperative mortality. Recently, it was reported that UVP(unidirectional valve patch), which allows some blood to flow from right to left in case of acute right heart failure, is effective in improving the postoperative hemodynamics after closing septal defects. This 42-year old woman had suffered from VSD for 20 years and recently complained of worsening exertional dyspnea for three months, and was diagnosed of a large VSD(2.0 cm in diameter) with severe pulmonary hypertension(116/38 mm Hg), equal to systemic arterial pressure. We could successfully close VSD with severe pulmonary hypertension using one UVP and the other UVP for the creative ASD to be prepared against possible acute right heart failure. She was discharged on the fourteenth postoperative day and has been well for twelve months with spontanenous closure of UVP patch at the ninth postopeative month.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2010

Septic pulmonary embolism is the process in which an infected thrombus becomes detached from its site of origin and lodges in a pulmonary artery, and is usually associated with infective endocarditis, especially right-sided, or infection-associated with indwelling catheters, peripheral septic thrombophlebitis, and periodontal diseases, etc. Here, we report a case of septic pulmonary embolism associated with tricuspid valve infective endocarditis. A 23-year-old female was admitted to our hospital, due to fever, sore throat, and myalgia. In her past medical history, she had undergone a surgical operation for closure of a ventricular septal defect, but was informed that the operation resulted in an incomplete closure. The initial chest radiograph demonstrated multiple rounded, parenchymal nodules in various sizes; several nodules had central lucency suggesting cavitations. Echocardiography demonstrated a large vegetation attached to the septal tricuspid valve leaflet, extending from right ventricular inflow tract to outflow tract. Computed tomography of thorax revealed bilateral peripheral nodules and wedge-shaped consolidation at various sizes, mostly accompanied by cavitations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.724-728
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• 2001

We report a case of an 8 years and 11 month-old male patient who had developed severe tricuspid insufficiency(TI) after correction of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery(ALCAPA). Transthoracic echocardiogram and coronary angiography confirmed ALCAPA, ischemic mitral regurgitation and trivial TI. He underwent direct reimplantation of the left coronary artery to the aortic root by using additional cannulation at the main pulmonary artery for arterial inflow and cardioplegia delivery to the left coronary artery. After the correction of ALCAPA, transesophageal echocardiogram(TEE) revealed good antegrade flow at the aortic implantation site of the left coronary artery and severe TI(Gr III-IV/IV). Cardiopulmonary bypass was reestablished and tricuspid valve was repaired with Kay-type annuloplasty, artificial chordae formation and chordal shortening plasty. The postrepair TEE revealed trivial to mild TI.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.213-226
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• 1978

One hundred cases of open heart surgery were done at this Department in 1977. There were 65 congenital anomaly and 35 acquired diseases. Out of 65 cases of congenital malformation 35 acyanotic and 30 cyanotic cases were found. Fifteen cases of ventricular septal defect and 29 tetralogy of Fallot were noted eight patients expired out of 65 congenital anomaly [12.3%] , 4 out of 35 acyanotic [11. 4%] and 4 among 30 cyanotic anomaly[13.3%]. Among 35 cases of acquired heart disease 3 atrial myxoma [2 left and one right] and 32 valvular lesions were noted. In two cases open mitral commissurotomy, and in 30 valve replacement were done. Twenty-two single valve and 8 double valve replacement were done. Seven patients expired out of 30 patients [23.3%]. Among 22 single valve replacement cases 2 and among 8 double valve 5 died. ~ In eighteen mitral valve replacement cases 2 deaths occurred. One mitral insufficiency patient who expired suffered from severe pulmonary` hypertension [PA=120/67mmHg], tricuspid insufficiency and a large ventricular septal defect. The patient underwent mitral valve replacement, tricuspid annuloplasty and patch closure of ventricular septal defect. Over all mortality rate for 100 open heart surgery cases was 15%. Since 1977 open heart surgery cases were done routinely in this institution and cases are increasing rapidly. With present rapid improvement of economical status and introduction of medical insurance system, open heart surgery will be firmly established in Korea in the very near future.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 1992

Clinical experience of 21 patients with infective endocarditis was reviewed. Endocarditis involved the left-sided valve in 16 cases, the right-sided valve in 2, and PDA in the remaining 3 patients. Valve abnormalities included leaflet perforation in 9 patients, chordal rupture in 2,; annular abscess in 6; and aorticoleft atnal perforation in 2. Sixteen patients underwent valve replacement[aortic valve replacement in 7 patients, mitral replacement in 4 and double valve replacement in 5], two had VSD closure with pulmonary valve excision, three had ductus arteriousus closure. The patients were classified into two groups. I ] Healed endocarditis group: including the patients who had completed a planned cou-rseof antibiotic therapy[N=10], II ] Active endocarditis group: patients in which operations were performed prior to completetion of antibiotic treatment course[N=11]. The indications for operation included congestive heart failure, embolism, and persistent sepsis. Organisms were predominantly streptococcus[N=5] and staphylococcus [N=4] followed by candida, moraxella, and E-coli. By NYHA functional classification, all patients were in Class III or IV preoperatively. There was only one operative mortality in patient from group II. All patients substantially, improved postoperatively with NYHA classification in class I or II. This study shows that early surgical intervention in patients with active endocarditis has desirable outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.672-677
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• 1984

Thromboembolism is a major cause of morbidity and death following implantation of cardiac prosthetic devices. Effective systemic anticoagulation is very important. The presence of thrombus can often be detected by pulmonary edema associated with the disappearance of valve clicks. 2-D echocardiography and phonocardiography are also valuable tools. The most common treatment is reoperation and replacement after discovery early. We have experienced one death of fatal thromboembolism after St. Jude valve replacement was done in 48 years old male diagnosed of severe mitral stenosis. He was treated with warfarin, aspirin, ticlopidine for 10 weeks but died suddenly. At autopsy, valve dysfunction was seen due to organic thrombus arising from atrial septum and confirmed with microscopic findings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.409-411
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• 1995

One patient developing left main coronary stenosis following double valve replacement is reviewed. Angina pectoris developed 5 months postoperatively. Coronary perfusion with a balloon tip perfusion catheter was performed during previous operation and was considered technically satisfactory. Coronary angiography confirmed stenosis of the left main coronary artery. There was no further coronary arterial disease. An anterior approach between the aorta and pulmonary artery to expose the left main coronary artery was used and patch angioplasty was done. Repeat coronary angiography showed a widely patent left main coronary artery with excellent runoff. A careful search for coronary arterial injury should be made in all symptomatic patients following aortic valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 1979

A 23-year-old male patient complained dyspnea on exertion and orthopnea since December 1977. On examination, he was tall and slender. There was grade IV/VI to-and-fro murmur on the left sternal border especially on Erb`s point. The liver was descended 2 fingers breadth below right costal margin. There were no signs of Marfan`s syndrome. Echocardiography demonstrated partial closure of aortic valve and dilated aortic root with enlargement of ascending aorta. Left heart cardiac catheterization revealed moderately elevated pulmonary wedge pressure and right ventricular pressure. The left ventricular end diastolic pressure was markedly elevated to 26 mmHg. On aortography, the aortic regurgitation was severe and it was belonged to angiographically Grade IV. The aortic valve was replaced with Carpentier-Edwards valve without excision and replacement of ascending aorta, under the impression of rheumatic valvular heart disease. After closure of aortotomy, blood pressure was transiently elevated and bleeding from the site of inserting air vent needle of ascending aorta was developed. The bleeding was not controlled by any means. On postmortem microscopic study, the histologic changes were strikingly limited to the ascending aorta from the region of the aortic valve ring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.688-694
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• 1986

Takayasu`s disease is an arteritis of unknown etiology involving larger elastic arteries such as aorta and its branches, pulmonary arteries and rarely coronary arteries. Especially, aortic root involvement with the valvular leaflets has been reported in several cases of Takayasu`s arteritis. Recently we have experienced one case of Takayasu`s arteritis involving left subclavian artery, descending aorta, left renal artery and multiple valvular leaflets. The patient was 33 year-old female and admitted with complaints of cough, dyspnea and general weakness. Aortogram revealed extensive type of arteritis showing dilatation of ascending aorta, segmental narrowing of thoracic aorta and Riolan`s anastomosis. Double valve replacement [mitral and aortic valve] and tricuspid valve annuloplasty were performed. The patient made an excellent postoperative recovery and has shown striking improvement in cardiac status, NYHA functional class II eight months after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 1988

During one year period from Sep. 1986 to Sep. 1987, we have experienced 6 cases of infective endocarditis requiring surgical interventions. All 6 patients had class IV or V cardiac disability at the time of surgery. The indication for surgery was rapidly progressive congestive heart failure in all cases. Four patients underwent aortic valve replacement including one double valve replacement. Two other patients required other surgical procedures, removal of large left atrial vegetation mass in one patient and excision of destroyed pulmonary valve and aortic vegetation in the other patient. Two patients died; one of mitral annulus rupture after release of aortic clamp and the other of mediastinal bleeding 3 months after replacement of aortic valve. Three out of 4 survivors are in NYHA Class I and the remaining patient is in Class II. We emphasize that early operative intervention is life-saving in patients with persistent or progressive congestive heart failure, irrespective of the activity of the infective process or the duration of antibiotic therapy.