• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2007

Background : The occurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation of atrial flutter is clinically important. We investigated variables predicting this evolution in ablated patients without a previous atrial fibrillation history. Materials and Methods : Thirty-six patients (Male=28) who were diagnosed as atrial flutter without previous atrial fibrillation history were enrolled in this study. Group 1 (n=11) was defined as those who developed atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation during 1 year follow-up. Group 2 (n=25) was defined as those who has not occurred atrial fibrillation during same follow-up term. Echocardiogram was performed to all patients. We measured left atrial size, left ventricle end diastolic and systolic dimension, ejection fraction and left atrial volume index before and after ablation of atrial flutter. The differences of each variables were compared and analyzed between two groups. Results : The preablation left ventricular ejection fraction (preLVEF) and postablation left ventricular ejection fraction (postLVEF) are $54{\pm}14%$, $56{\pm}13%$ in group 1 and $47{\pm}16%$, $52{\pm}13%$ in group 2. The differences between each two groups are statistically insignificant ($2.2{\pm}1.5$ in group 1 vs $5.4{\pm}9.8$ in group 2, p=0.53). The preablation left atrial size (preLA) and postablation left atrial size (postLA) are $40{\pm}4mm$, $41{\pm}4mm$ in group1 and $44{\pm}8mm$, $41{\pm}4mm$ in group 2. The atrial sizes of both groups were increased but, the differences of left atrial size between two groups before and after flutter ablation were statistically insignificant ($0.6{\pm}0.9mm$ in group 1 vs $-3.8{\pm}7.4mm$ in group 2, p=0.149). The left atrial volume index before flutter ablation was significantly reduced in group 1 than group 2 ($32{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$, $35{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$ in group 1 and $32{\pm}10mm^3/m^2$, $29{\pm}8mm^3/m^2$ in group 2, p<0.05). Conclusion : The difference between left atrial volume index before and after atrial flutter ablation is the robust predictor of occurrence of atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation without previous atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.164-173
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• 2015

Background: Hypertrophied myocardium is especially vulnerable to ischemic injury. This study aimed to compare the early and late clinical outcomes of three different methods of myocardial protection in patients with aortic stenosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 225 consecutive patients (mean age, 65{\pm}10 years; 123 males) with severe aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement. Patients were excluded if they had coronary artery disease, an ejection fraction <50%, more than mild aortic regurgitation, or endocarditis. The patients were divided into three groups: group A, which was treated with antegrade and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia; group B, which was treated with antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia using histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution; and group C, treated with retrograde cold blood cardioplegia. Results: Group A contained 70 patients (31.1%), group B contained 74 patients (32.9%), and group C contained 81 patients (36%). The three groups showed significant differences with regard to the proportion of patients with a New York Heart Association functional classification ${\geq}III$ (p=0.035), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels (p=0.042), ejection fraction (p=0.035), left ventricular dimensions (p<0.001), left ventricular mass index (p<0.001), and right ventricular systolic pressure (p <0.001). Differences in cardiopulmonary bypass time (p=0.532) and aortic cross-clamp time (p=0.48) among the three groups were not statistically significant. During postoperative recovery, no significant differences were found regarding the use of inotropes (p=0.328), mechanical support (n=0), arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, p=0.347; non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, p=0.1), and ventilator support time (p=0.162). No operative mortality occurred. Similarly, no significant differences were found in long-term outcomes. Conclusion: Although the three groups showed some significant differences with regard to patient characteristics, both antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia with HTK solution and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia led to early and late clinical results similar to those achieved with combined antegrade and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.715-720
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• 2014

In order to maximize the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) on ventricular unloading, the therapy should be begun at appropriate level of heart failure severity. We predicted pumping efficacy of LVAD according to the severity of heart failure theoretically. We used 3 dimensional finite element model of ventricle coupled with 6 Wind-kessel compartmental model of vascular system. Using the computational model, we predicted cardiac responses such as contractile ATP consumption of ventricle, left ventricular pressure, cardiac output, ejection fraction, and stroke work according to the severity of ventricular systolic dysfunction under the treatments of continuous LVAD. Contractile ATP consumption, which indicates the ventricular energetic loading condition decreased maximally at the $5^{th}$ level heart-failure under LVAD therapy. We conclude that optimal timing for LVAD treatment is $5^{th}$ level heart-failure when considering LVAD treatment as "bridge to recovery".

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 1986

15 patients with constrictive pericarditis who underwent interphrenic pericardiectomy from January, 1981 to April, 1983 and 11 patients who underwent radical pericardiectomy from May, 1983 to September, 1984 were compared to the clinical improvement and the results of pre- and postoperative cardiac catheterization. In the group of partial pericardiectomy the pericardium was removed anteriorly from the left phrenic nerve to the right phrenic nerve and in the group of radical pericardiectomy the pericardium was removed from almost entire surface of the heart including diaphragmatic surface and posterior wall of the left ventricle. The following results were obtained. 1. Both group of the patients showed marked symptomatic improvement early after operation. 2. The central venous pressure was decreased significantly after operation in both group of the patients. 3. The right atrial mean pressure and pulmonary arterial mean pressure decreased significantly after operation in both group of the patients and there was no significant difference in the amplitude of decrease between the two groups. 4. The right ventricular end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were decreased postoperatively in both group of the patients and the patients of the radical pericardiectomy showed more decrease than the patients of interphrenic pericardiectomy, and in the group of radical pericardiectomy the right and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were normalized postoperatively but in the group of partial pericardiectomy they showed abnormally high pressure persistently. 5. The ejection fraction showed normal level pre- and postoperatively in both group of the patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.381-391
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• 2002

Purpose: The presence of perfusion defect may influence the left ventricular mass (LVM) measurement by quantitative gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (QGS), and ischemic myocardium, usually showing perfusion defect may produce post-stress LV dysfunction. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of extent and reversibility of perfusion defect on the automatic measurement of LVM by QGS and to investigate the effect of reversibility of perfusion defect on post-stress LV dysfunction. Subjects and Methods: Forty-six patients (male/female=34:12, mean age=64years) with perfusion defect on myocardial perfusion SPECT underwent rest and post-stress QGS. Forty patients (87%) showed reversible defect. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), LV ejection fraction (EF), and LV myocardial volume were obtained from QGS by AutoQUANT program, and LVM was calculated by multiplying the LV myocardial volume by the specific gravity of myocardium. Results: LVMs measured at rest and post-stress QGS showed good correlation, and higher correlation was founded in the subjects with fixed perfusion defect and with small defect (smaller than 20%). There were no significant differences in EDVs, ESVs and EFs between obtained by rest and post-stress QGS un patients with fixed myocardial defect. Whereas, EF obtained by post-stress QGS was lower than that by rest QGS in patients with reversible defect and 10 (25%) of them showed decreases in EF more than 5% in post-stress QGS, as compared to that of rest QGS. Excellent correlations of EDVs, ESVs, EFs between rest and post-stress QGS were noted. Patients with fixed defect had higher correlation between EDVs, ESVs, EFs than patients with reversible defect. Conclusion: These results suggest that perfusion defect can affect LVM measurement by QGS and patients with reversible defect shows post-stress LV dysfunction more frequently than patients with fixed perfusion defect.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.12 s.269
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• pp.906-912
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• 2006

Background: Ventricular septal defect(VSD) is rare but feared complication after acute myocardial infarction. The patient could survive by surgery only, but the surgical mortality is still high. We investigate the surgical result and predictors for early surgical mortality. Material and Method: Between August 1993 and February 2006, 8 patients (male, 2: female, 6) with postinfarct VSD underwent surgical repair. Seven patients had one-vessel disease of left anterior descending artery, and 6 of them had wide extension of infarction to posterior septal wall as well as anterior septal wall of both ventricles. One patient had concomitant coronary bypass grafting to a coronary lesion unrelated to the infarction. Two patients had concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty and 1 patient mitral valvuloplasty. Result: Surgical mortality was 37.5%(3 patients). They all had only one-vessel disease of left anterior descending artery, which made extended posterior septal wall infarction as well as anterior septal wall infarction of both ventricles. In preoperative M-mode echocardiographic study of left ventricle, they had lower ejection fraction than survivors($34.9{\pm}4.2\;vs.\;54.8{\pm}12.3$; p=0.036). Conclusion: Most of patients with postinfarction VSD had one-vessel disease of left anterior descending artery. Early surgical mortality occurred in the patients with poor ejection fraction of left ventricle and the wide anterior septal wall infarction extending to the posterior septum.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1202-1210
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• 2006

Purpose : A quantitative and easily measured Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic ventricular myocardial performance (Tei index) was recently proposed as a potentially useful predictor of global myocardial performance. However, presence of heart rate fluctuation makes it unreliable. Therefore, the modified Tei index was introduced by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) which enables measuring contraction and relaxation velocities from myocardium simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the modified Tei index in the evaluation of global cardiac function. Methods : Forty eight patients in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) were studied. These patients were divided into two groups according to the modified Tei index. TDI and conventional echocardiography were performed. Systolic velocity, systolic displacement, E' velocity, E' displacement, A' velocity and A' displacement were measured at the base, mid-septum and the apex of the interventricular septum. Ejection fraction (EF), Tei index and modified Tei index were estimated. Results : Modified Tei index correlated negatively with systolic displacement, E' displacement and A' displacement at the base. Modified Tei index correlated positively with ESR and CRP. EF and Tei index were normal in KD patients. Conclusion : Modified Tei index is a safe, feasible and sensitive index for evaluating global ventricular functions in spite of normal EF and Tei index in KD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.353-357
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• 1999

Background: Mitral valve replacement(MVR) with chordal preservation in patients with mitral vlavular disease has been proven to be beneficial for left ventricular function and for reduction of postoperative complication. Material and Method: From January 1995 to July 1996, the early postoperative results of mitral valve replacement were compared between 20 patients who underwent chordae resection(classic MVR group) and 10 patients who underwent chordae preservation(preservation MVR group) in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chunbuk National University Hospital. Result: There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, sex, NYHA functional class, cardiothoracic ratio, echocardiographic finding, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamping time. The difference between preoperative and postoperative cardiothoracic ratio after 3 months was not statistically significant. At echocardiographic left ventricular evaluation, ejection fraction and fractional shortening decreased slightly in the preservation group then preoperative value (p=0.47, p=0.12), however, decreased significantly in the classic MVR group(p=0.03, p=0.04), and were statistically significant between the two groups(p=0.03, p=0.02). Conclusion: We conclude that MVR with chorda preservation seems to have a beneficial effect on postoperative left ventricular performance in mitral valve disease than the classic MVR.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.207-218
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• 2003

Myocardial perfusion imaging has been increasingly used to provide prognostic data and guidance on the choice of appropriate management of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. The electrocardiogram gated myocardial SPECT program is corning into wide use with an advent of $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ tracers and an improvement of SPECT machines. The gated technique permits measurement of important cardiac prognostic indicators without any further discomforts or radiation burden in patients underwent standard myocardial perfusion SPECT. In addition, gated study significantly improves diagnostic yield by reducing the number of borderline interpretations and could find myocardial stunning and viable myocardium. Gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging allows the automated calculation of end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction, myocardial mass and the assessment of regional wall motion and thickening, and it have dramatically improved assessment of coronary artery disease in routine nuclear practice. This allows the simultaneous assessment of both perfusion and function within the same acquisition, and serves as a cost-effective technique for providing more diagnostic data with fewer diagnostic tests. Because the diagnostic and prognostic power derived from knowledge of left ventricular function can be added to that provided by assessing myocardial perfusion, gated SPECT imaging has rapidly gained widespread acceptance and is now used on a routine clinical basis in a growing number of laboratories, including South Korea. The gated SPECT technique for measurement of left ventricular parameters has been validated against a variety of well established techniques. In this work, overview of gated myocardial perfusion SPECT focus on functional parameters is presented.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2014

A 13-year-old girl, who had undergone the total correction of partial atrioventricular septal defect at the age of 4 years, was admitted with severe tricuspid regurgitation in echocardiography. She had received one-and-a-half ventricle repair during follow-up. Her right ventricle showed global akinesia, and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle was 25% with paradoxical interventricular septal motion. We performed right ventricular exclusion adjunct to the Fontan procedure. She is doing well two years after the operation without complications.