• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.536-543
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• 1987

The Fontan procedure was physiological correction which was initially applied to tricuspid atresia. We had used the modified Fontan operation in 8 cases at National Medical Center, Seoul, from Aug. 1984 to Oct. 1986. Age range was 20 months to 15 years [mean: 9 years] and male: female ratio was 5:3. 5 patients had tricuspid atresia [lb: 2 cases, Ic: 1 case, lib: 1 case, & llc: 1 case], 2 Patients had univentricular heart of left ventricular type, and one patient had transposition of great arteries with complete endocardial cushion defect. The operative principle was direct anastomosis between right atrium and pulmonary artery, whether main pulmonary artery or right pulmonary artery without any conduits. Postoperatively all patients needed high central venous pressure for adequate hemodynamic status in both survival [20-24 CmH2O] and mortality groups [20-24 CmH2O]. The fatal complications were as follows: empyema with bronchopleural fistula [1 case], bleeding tendency & brain damage [1 case], low cardiac output syndrome & acute renal failure [2 cases], and right to left shunt of unknown origin [1 case]. There were 5 hospital deaths; 3 of 5 tricuspid atresia patients, 1 of 2 univentricular heart patients, and 1 of 1 transposition of great arteries with complete endocar4ial cushion defect patient. The overall mortality was 62.5%. 3 survivors were nearly compatible with Choussat & Fontan criteria. Thus appropriate patient selection and experienced surgical technique were required for good results.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1135-1144
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Mitochondria play a key role in the pathophysiology of heart failure and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) play a critical role in cell death and a critical target for cardioprotection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of cyclosporine A (CsA), one of MPTP blockers, and morphological changes of mitochondria and MPTP related proteins in monocrotaline (MCT) induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods: Eight weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to control, MCT (60 mg/kg) and MCT plus CsA (10 mg/kg/day) treatment groups. Four weeks later, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and morphological changes of right ventricle (RV) were done. Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for MPTP related protein were performed. Results: In electron microscopy, CsA treatment prevented MCT-induced mitochondrial disruption of RV. RVH was significantly increased in MCT group compared to that of the controls but RVH was more increased with CsA treatment. Thickened medial wall thickness of pulmonary arteriole in PAH was not changed after CsA treatment. In western blot, caspase-3 was significantly increased in MCT group, and was attenuated in CsA treatment. There were no significant differences in voltage-dependent anion channel, adenine nucleotide translocator 1 and cyclophilin D expression in western blot and RT-PCR between the 3 groups. Conclusions: CsA reduces MCT induced RV mitochondrial damage. Although, MPTP blocking does not reverse pulmonary pathology, it may reduce RV dysfunction in PAH. The results suggest that it could serve as an adjunctive therapy to PAH treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.770-775
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• 1998

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly, accounting for 30 percent of congenital heart disease detected in the adult. Many patients with ASD are well tolerated and reach adult without significant symptoms. The patients with ASD die 4th and 5th decades, but prolonged survival is not uncommon. In general, the survival depends on whether pulmonary hypertension develops during adulthood or not. The most common cause of death in the patients with ASD is right ventricular failure or arrhythmias. Materials and methods: From January 1988 to June 1997, 33 cases of ASD underwent open heart surgeries in our hospital. Among them, 31 cases were adult ASD, and 2 tricuspid regurgitation, 1 pulmonic stenosis, 1 mitral regurgitation, 1 tricuspid regurgitation, and 1 coronary artery disease were combinded. All of the patients underwent surgical repair using autologus pericardial patch or direct closure. Results: The postoperative course was smooth and uneventful. Most of the patients showed significant improvement in ECG finding, hemodynamic profile, radiologic finding, and echocardiography, after surgery. Conclusions: Conclusively, most of the ASD should be closed even in patients over the age of 60 years, and early surgical repair must be done to prevent pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure, and arrythmias.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a well-recognized congenital heart disease. Despite improvements in the outcomes of surgical repair, the optimal timing of surgery and type of surgical management of patients with TOF remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes following the repair of TOF in infants depending on the surgical procedure used. Methods: This study involved the retrospective review of 120 patients who underwent TOF repair between 2010 and 2013. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the surgical procedure that they underwent. Corrective surgery was done via the transventricular approach (n=40), the transatrial approach (n=40), or a combined atrioventricular approach (n=40). Demographic data and the outcomes of the surgical procedures were compared among the groups. Results: In the atrioventricular group, the incidence of the following complications was found to be significantly lower than in the other groups: complete heart block (p=0.034), right ventricular failure (p=0.027) and mediastinal bleeding (p=0.007). Patients in the atrioventricular group had a better postoperative right ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed among the three surgical groups in the occurrence of tachycardia, renal failure, and tricuspid incompetence. The one-year survival rates in the three groups were 95%, 90%, and 97.5%, respectively (p=0.395). Conclusion: Combined atrioventricular repair of TOF in infancy can be safely performed, with acceptable surgical risk, a low incidence of reoperation, good ventricular function outcomes, and an excellent survival rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 1999

We describe a case of successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) in a small infant with cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) failure after an open heart surgery. A 35-day-old male infant weighing 4.4 kg who had congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension underwent patch closure of ventricular septal defect without any intraoperative event. Postoperative course was unremarkable in the intensive care uint for about 5 hours before the junctional ectopic tachycardia developed. Sudden cardiac decompensation with bradycardia occurred about 50 minutes after the development of junctional ectopic tachycardia. He was put on ECMO by arterial cannulation at the ascending aorta and by venous cannulation at the right atrial appendage after 4 hours' CPR. The hemodynamics were stable with enough urine output during ECMO. He was weaned from ECMO 38.5 hours after initiation. Delayed sternal closure was attempted. He was extubated on postoperative day 7 and discharged home on postoperative day 21 without any neurologic sequelae.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.197-205
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• 2022

Background: The integrated design of the HeartMate 3 (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA) affords flexibility to place the pump within the pericardium or thoracic cavity. We sought to determine whether the presence of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in either location has a meaningful impact on overall patient outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all 165 patients who received a HeartMate 3 LVAD via a median sternotomy from November 2014 to August 2019 at our center. Based on operative reports and imaging, patients were divided into intrapleural (n=81) and intrapericardial (n=84) cohorts. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality, while secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, cumulative readmission incidence, and 3-year survival. Results: There were no significant between-group differences in baseline demographics, risk factors, or preoperative hemodynamics. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 6%, with no significant difference between the cohorts (9% vs. 4%, p=0.20). There were no significant differences in the postoperative rates of right ventricular failure, kidney failure requiring hemodialysis, stroke, tracheostomy, or arrhythmias. Over 3 years, despite similar mortality rates, intrapleural patients had significantly more readmissions (n=180 vs. n=117, p<0.01) with the most common reason being infection (n=68/165), predominantly unrelated to the device. Intrapleural patients had significantly more infection-related readmissions, predominantly driven by non-ventricular assist device-related infections (p=0.02), with 41% of these due to respiratory infections compared with 28% of intrapericardial patients. Conclusion: Compared with intrapericardial placement, insertion of an intrapleural HM3 may be associated with a higher incidence of readmission, especially due to respiratory infection.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1002-1011
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: The prognostic impact of left axis deviation (LAD) on clinical outcomes in acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) with left bundle branch block (LBBB) is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of axis deviation in acute heart failure patients with LBBB. Methods: Between March 2011 and February 2014, 292 consecutive AHFS patients with LBBB were recruited from 10 tertiary university hospitals. They were divided into groups with no LAD (n=189) or with LAD (n=103) groups according to QRS axis <-30 degree. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results: The median follow-up duration was 24 months. On multivariate analysis, the rate of all-cause death did not significantly differ between the normal axis and LAD groups (39.7% vs. 46.6%, adjusted hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.66, 1.53; p=0.97). However, on the multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the predictors of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), presence of LAD significantly predicted a worse LVEF (adjusted beta, -3.25; 95% confidence interval, -5.82, -0.67; p=0.01). Right ventricle (RV) dilatation was defined as at least 2 of 3 electrocardiographic criteria (late R in lead aVR, low voltages in limb leads, and R/S ratio <1 in lead V5) and was more frequent in the LAD group than in the normal axis group (p<0.001). Conclusions: Among the AHFS with LBBB patients, LAD did not predict mortality, but it could be used as a significant predictor of worse LVEF and RV dilatation (Trial registry at KorAHF registry, ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT01389843).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 1978

Congenital aortic stenosis, a relatively uncommon congenital heart disease, may cause heart failure and may be fatal. In recent years, increased clinical awareness and improved diagnostic and operative technique has made accurate diagnosis and successful treatment possible. Recently we experienced 2 cases of congenital aortic stenosis, and which was corrected surgically. The first case was 9 years old boy, and second case was 16 years male. Preoperative diagnosis was entertained by angiography and cardiac catheterization in both cases. In each case, aortic valve opening was widened by incision along the fused commissure between the combined left and right coronary cusp on one side, and the noncoronary cusp on the other side. Post-op. pressure gradient between the aorta and left ventricle markedly reduced, in the first case, 50mmHg, and in the 2nd case, 55mmHg.Both patients discharged with good results 2 weeks after open heart surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2001

Chronic mitral valvular insufficiency (CMVI) is the most common heart disease in dogs. The prevalence of CMVI is age-dependent. CMVI is usually affected to small to medium size breeds. It is more prevalent in males than females. The characteristic lesions of CMVI are caused by an acquired chronic structural degeneration of the mitral valve defined as endocardiosis or myxomatous degeneration. The main clinical signs are cough, respiratory distress, weakness and pleural effusion and ascites by secondary right-sided heart failure. The most prominent clinical finding is a systolic heart murmur. The thoracic radiography and echocardiography are useful methods in diagnosis of CMVI. Thoracic radiographic findings are left atrial enlargement, left main stem bronchial compression and pulmonary edema. Echocardiography is confirmed to increased left atrial and ventricular dimension, mitral regurgitation, mitral valve thickening and abnormal movement. Thoracic radiography and echocardiography are used to obtain a definite diagnosis of CMVI, and then to study the progression of the condition.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2014

Cardiovascular beriberi is caused by thiamine deficiency and usually presents as high cardiac output failure associated with predominantly right-sided heart failure and rapid recovery after treatment with thiamine. Because of its rarity in developed countries, the diagnosis can often be delayed and missed. We recently experienced a case of cardiovascular beriberi with pulmonary hypertension which successfully treated with thiamine infusion. A 50-year-old man with chronic heavy alcoholics was refered to our department for dyspnea with mental change. Echocardiography showed marked right ventricular (RV) dilatation and flattening of the interventricular septum with a D-shaped deformation of the left ventricle. Moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation was found and estimated RV systolic pressure was 52 mm Hg. Because of his confused mentality and history of chronic alcohol intake, neurological disorder due to thiamine deficiency was suspected and intravenous thiamine was administered and he continuously received a daily dose of 100 mg of thiamine. Follow up echocardiography showed marked reduction of RV dilatation and improvement of a D-shaped deformation of the left ventricle. He finally diagnosed as cardiovascular beriberi on the basis of dramatic response to intravenous thiamine. Thiamine deficiency can cause reversible pulmonary hypertension, and can still be encountered in the clinical setting. Thus high index of suspicion is critically needed for diagnosis.