• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2013

Background: We examined perioperative predictors of sustained sinus rhythm (SR) in patients undergoing the Cox maze operation and concomitant cardiac surgery for structural heart disease. Materials and Methods: From October 1999 to December 2008, 90 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent the Cox maze operation and other concomitant cardiac surgery. Eighty-nine patients, all except for one postoperative death, were followed-up with serial electrocardiographic studies, 24-hour Holter monitoring tests, and regular echocardiographic studies. Results: Eighty-nine patients undergoing the maze operation were divided into two groups according to the presence of SR. At the time of last follow-up (mean follow-up period, $51.0{\pm}30.8$ months), 79 patients (88.8%) showed SR (SR group) and 10 patients (11.2%) had recurrent AF (AF group). Factors predictive of sustained SR were the immediate postoperative conversion to SR (odds ratio, 97.2; p=0.001) and the presence of SR at the 6th month postoperatively (odds ratio, 155.7; p=0.002). Duration of AF, mitral valve surgery, number of valves undergoing surgery, left atrial dimension, and perioperative left ventricular dimensions and ejection fractions were not predictors of postoperative maintenance of SR. Conclusion: Immediate postoperative SR conversion and the presence of SR at the 6th postoperative month were independent predictors of sustained SR after the maze operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2017

Background: In elderly patients who have atrial fibrillation (AF), surgical ablation of the arrhythmia during cardiac surgery may be challenging. Despite the reported advantages of ablating AF with the Cox maze procedure (CMP), the addition of the CMP may complicate other cardiac operations. We evaluated the effect of the CMP in elderly patients concurrent with other cardiac operations. Methods: From October 2007 to December 2015, we enrolled 27 patients aged >70 years who had AF and who underwent the CMP concurrently with other cardiac operations. The mean preoperative additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score was $8{\pm}11$ (high risk). Results: Only 1 hospital death occurred (4%). The Kaplan-Meier method showed a high 5-year cumulative survival rate (92%). At mean follow‐up of 51 months, 23 patients (89%) had sinus rhythm conversion. The postoperative left atrial dimensions did not significantly differ between the 8 patients who had reduction plasty for giant left atrium ($53.4{\pm}7.5cm$) and the 19 patients who did not have reduction plasty ($48.7{\pm}5.7cm$). Conclusion: In patients aged >70 years, concurrent CMP may be associated with a high rate of sinus rhythm conversion without increased surgical risk, despite the added complexity of the main cardiac procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.7 s.276
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• pp.508-511
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• 2007

The causes of aortic dissection are usually hypertension, connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, congenital valvular abnormality such as bicuspid aortic valve, iatrogenic injury, pregnancy and drugs. Previous studies have shown that 50% of all dissections in women less than 40 years age were associated with pregnancy. Almost all aortic dissections during pregnancy occur during the third trimester or during labor and delivery. Marfan's syndrome is a particularly important predisposing factor for aortic dissection during pregnancy. We report here on a case of surgical treatment for acute type II aortic dissection in a Marfan syndrome patient who was 24 weeks pregnant, and we include a review of literature.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2012

Anticoagulation therapy with warfarin sodium is used to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with valvular heart disease, prosthetic heart valve, recurrent myocardiac infarction, etc. To keep anticoagulation state and minimize bleeding risk, patients with high risk of thromboembolism have been usually hospitalized for heparinization before oral surgery like extraction. However, this protocol requires time and high expense because of the long period of hospitalization and this is why low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy is receiving attention in medical field as well as dentistry. LMWH has several advantages over unfractionated heparin (UFH) including predictable anticoagulant response which makes coagulation monitoring unnecessary in most patients and longer half-life than heparin which enables the patients to give themselves a subcutaneous injection once or twice daily. These advantages of LMWH make patients get oral surgery on an outpatient basis so that they can save time and cost. This case report introduces the use of LMWH in dental surgery and suggests proper use of LMWH. Though LMWH bridging therapy is widely used most of the previous studies are observational studies. Therefore randomized controlled trials are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LMWH bridging therapy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.158-163
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• 2015

Cardiac myocytes are subjected to fluid shear stress during each contraction and relaxation. Under pathological conditions, such as valve disease, heart failure or hypertension, shear stress in cardiac chamber increases due to high blood volume and pressure. The shear stress induces proarrhythmic longitudinal global $Ca^{2+}$ waves in atrial myocytes. In the present study, we further explored underlying cellular mechanism for the shear stress-induced longitudinal global $Ca^{2+}$ wave in isolated rat atrial myocytes. A shear stress of ${\sim}16dyn/cm^2$ was applied onto entire single myocyte using pressurized fluid puffing. Confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging was performed to measure local and global $Ca^{2+}$ signals. Shear stress elicited longitudinally propagating global $Ca^{2+}$ wave (${\sim}80{\mu}m/s$). The occurrence of shear stress-induced atrial $Ca^{2+}$ wave was eliminated by the inhibition of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors ($IP_3Rs$). In addition, pretreatment of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, but not its inactive analogue U73343, abolished the generation of longitudinal $Ca^{2+}$ wave under shear stress. Our data suggest that shear-induced longitudinal $Ca^{2+}$ wave may be induced by $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release through the RyRs which is triggered by $PLC-IP_3R$ signaling in atrial myocytes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2017

Background: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has emerged as an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for ventricular volumetry. However, the clinical use of cardiac CT requires external validation. Methods: Both cardiac CT and MRI were performed prior to pulmonary valve implantation (PVI) in 11 patients (median age, 19 years) who had undergone total correction of tetralogy of Fallot during infancy. The simplified contouring method (MRI) and semiautomatic 3-dimensional region-growing method (CT) were used to measure ventricular volumes. Results: All volumetric indices measured by CT and MRI generally correlated well with each other, except for the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LV-ESVI), which showed the following correlations with the other indices: the right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RV-EDVI) (r=0.88, p<0.001), the right ventricular end-systolic volume index (RV-ESVI) (r=0.84, p=0.001), the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LV-EDVI) (r=0.90, p=0.001), and the LV-ESVI (r=0.55, p=0.079). While the EDVIs measured by CT were significantly larger than those measured by MRI (median RV-EDVI: $197mL/m^2$ vs. $175mL/m^2$, p=0.008; median LV-EDVI: $94mL/m^2$ vs. $92mL/m^2$, p=0.026), no significant differences were found for the RV-ESVI or LV-ESVI. Conclusion: The EDVIs measured by cardiac CT were greater than those measured by MRI, whereas the ESVIs measured by CT and MRI were comparable. The volumetric characteristics of these 2 diagnostic modalities should be taken into account when indications for late PVI after tetralogy of Fallot repair are assessed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2001

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is rare, chronic, relapsing, and multisystemic inflammatory disease targeting the cartilaginous structures. Respiratory track involvement occurs in approximately half of the cases. Subglottic stenosis is a rare manifestation of RP. Here, we report a case of RP with a subglottic stenosis, resulting in acute respiratory failure. A 63-year old man was admitted complaining of multiple joint pain, general weakness, weight loss, throat pain, hoarseness, exertional dyspnea, and hearing difficulties. A laryngoscopy and neck CT revealed a subglottic stenosis. Four days after admission, he complained severe dyspnea resulting in acute respiratory failure. Immediately, a tracheostomy was done for airway preservation. After high dose steroid therapy, the general symptoms were improved. However, the subglottic stenosis was sustained. Thus, a laryngotracheal augumentation and stent insertion was performed. The speech valve was then replaced. The subglottic stenosis was managed with low dose steroid and monthly cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, and the patient has been followed up regularly.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.989-994
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• 1994

Between January 1986 and August 1993, 11 patients underwent surgical repair of ventricular septal defect [VSD] complicated with myocardial infarction. The ages of patients were ranged from 22 years to 83 years with a mean of 64 years. There were 8 male and 3 female patients. The preoperative cineangiograms of all patients were reviewed to measure both ventricular function and to evaluate coronary artery disease. The mean time interval between occurance of VSD and operation was 13 days. The operations were performed as soon as possible if there were hemodynamic derangement. Postmyocardial infarction VSD were repaired simultaneuously with coronary artery bypass graft in 3 patients, repaired with left ventricular aneurysmectomy in 6 patients, with left ventricular thrombectomy in 1 patient and with mitral valve chordae repair in 1 patient. There was no early death [within 30 days]. There were 6 postoperative complications; one with perioperative myocardial infarction, two with recurred VSD on postoperative 1 and 6 days respectively, two with lower leg embolism associated with intraaortic balloon pump insertion, one with wound infection. Of the complicated patients, 1 patient with lower leg embolism performed left above ankle amputation. Among two patients with recurred ventricular septal defect, one patient is doing well without problem. On follow up echocardiogram, the residual VSD was occluded completely. However another patient was with recurred VSD died 3 months after the operation because of congestive heart failure. Of the long term survivors, all patients are in NEW YORK Heart Association functional Class I or II. Although number of patients were small, our results of surgical closure of postmyocardial infarction VSD were favored to the others. Moreover, seven patients with preoperative cardiogenic shock among 11 were performed early operation after diagnosis of ventricular septal rupture. All of the patients were survived and doing well during the follow up period. Therefore early diagnosis with aggressive preoperative care with intraaortic balloon pumping and early operation seems to be very important for prevention of deterioration of vital organ.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 1980

We present one case of 26-year-old male having saddle block combined with mitral valvular disease [NYHA Class IV] with auricular fibrillation. The most common cause of emboli is atrial fibrillation. The clinical manifestations of saddle emboli are relatively slow due to development of collateral circulation and large size of lumen of the aorta. The 5month duration of saddle emboli in this case led to severe atrophic changes, coldness, peripheral cyanosis on the both lower extremities, and flexion deformity on the knee and ankle joint of the left lower extremity. We planned staged operation for the saddle block and for mitral stenoinsufficiency and tricuspid insufficiency, because of poor general condition of the patient. The thromboembolectomy of aortic bifurcation was performed through the transabdominal approach without trial of Fogarthy catheter embolectomy, because of expectation of the secondary inflammatory changes of the vessel wall and thrombi which was 3 cm X 1 cm X 0.5 cm in size with irregular surfaced solid in consistency. 1 month later, after thromboembolectomy, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty were performed, with successful early operative result. During operation organized thrombi [1 cm X 0.5 cm] in the left auricle was removed. We wonder if simple management using Fogarthy catheter might be possible to remove the thromboemboli instead of thromboembolectomy by aortotomy in this case.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2018

Recently, the smart health care industry has been rising rapidly and interest and efforts for public health have been greatly increased. As a result, the public does not visit medical specialists and medical facilities, but the desire to check their health condition in everyday life is increased. Therefore, many domestic and foreign companies continuously research and develop wearable devices that can measure body activity information anytime and anywhere And the market. Especially, it is used for heart activity measurement device using pulse wave sensor and electrocardiogram sensor. However, in this study, a monitoring system that can detect cardiac activity using cardiac sounds, heart sound measurement rather than pulse wave measurement and electrocardiogram measurement, was performed and its performance was evaluated. Experimental results confirmed the predictability of cardiac heart rate and heart valve disease during daily living.