• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.983-988
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• 1996

Aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is fairly rare. Between 1987 and 1994, we operated on a total of 12 cases of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva at the Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. This represents 0.7% of all cardiac operation under cardiopulmonary bypass. There were eight male and four female patients aged from 8 to 38 years(mean, 19.2 years). 8 of 12 patients had ruptured aneurysms. The origin of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was the right coronary sinus in 10(83. 3%), and the noncoronary sinus in 2(16.6%). In ruptured aneurysm, the origin was the right oronary sinus in 6, and the noncoronary sinus in 2. The aneurysms originating from the right coronary sinus ruptured into the right ventricle in 5, and into both the right atrium and right ventricle in 1. The aneurysms originating from the noncoronary sinus ruptured into the right ventricle in 1, and into the right atrium in 1. Associated congenital cardiac defects included ventricular septal defect in 10(83.3%) patients 39 cases of these were associated with the aneurysms of the right coronary sinus), aortic regurgi- tation in 3 (all of these had an additional ventricular septal defect), mitral regurgitation in 1, and double chambered right ventricle in 1. No hospital deaths occurred, although one late death occurred as a result of endocarditis 15 months after the first operation. The mean follow-up period was 29 months, range from 4 to 60 months. Eleven patients except one late death were in New York Heart Association class 1. Due to the low mortality risk o( an operation for aneur sm of the sinus of Valsalva, a ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva should be corrected surgically when the diagnosis is mane, and unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsava with complication should also be operated. In most cases the aorta was opened to examine the morphology of the aneurysm and the aortic cusps, and an associated aortic valve defect should be corrected simultaneously.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.693-698
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• 2005

Background: Sinus valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare disease, and it is frequently accompanied by ventricular septal defect and aortic valve regurgitaion. For treatment of SVA, several surgical mordalities were applied, but there was no report on the long-term result after surgical repair in Korea. We reviewed our 28 years of experiences and analyzed the long-term results after treatment of sinus valsalva aneurysm with or without rupture. Material and Method: Between March 1974 and February 2002, 81 patients were operated under the impression of sinus valvsalva aneurysm or sinus valsalva aneurym rupture. Retrospectively we reviewed the patients' record. Mean age of patients was $29.2\pm11.5$ and there were 49 males. Accompanyng diseases were as follows: VSD in 50, PDA in 2, Behcet's disease in 2, TOF in 1, RVOTO in 1, AAE in 1. Seventy-seven $(95\%)$ patients had sinus valsalva rupture and in 14 patients, subacute bacterial endocarditis was accompanied. Degree of aortic valve regurgitation was as follows: grade I: 8, II: 10, III: 9, IV: 4. Most common rupture site was right coronary sinus (66 patients, $81\%$) and most common communication site was right ventricle (53 patients). In repair of sinus valsalva rupture, patch was used in 37 patients, and direct suture was done in 38 patients. Result: There was one surgical death $(1.2\%)$. Follow up was done in 78 patients $(97.5\%)$, mean follow up period was $123.3\pm80.9(3\~330\;months)$. During the follow up period, 3 patients died $(3.8\%)$. One patient died of heart failure, another patient died of arrhythmia and the other one died of unknown cause. In two patients, complete atrio-ventricular block was developed during follow up period, and there was no operation related event or complication. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed $92.5\pm3.5\%$ survival at 15 and 27 years and it seems to be satisfactory. Conclusion: Long-term surgical results and survival is satisfactory after repair of sinus valsalva aneurysm with or without rupture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.23-28
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• 2005

Ross procedure is ideal aortic valve replacement method with several merits of hemodynamic superiority and durability without the need of anticoagulation. Based upon this presumption, we studied its procedure performed in our hospital and tried to get the mid-term results Material and Method: From Jan 1999 to Oct 2001, 22 patients underwent the Ross procedure. The mean age of experimented (including 17 men and 5 women) was $30.9{\pm}8.1(17\~44)$. The diagnosis before the surgery had shown 20 as accompanied with AR and the rest 2 as with ASR. The follow-up period ranged from 0.6 to 40.6 months, mean of $38.9{\pm}1.6\;months,\;and\;follow-up\;rate\;was\;100{\%}$. Result. There was no operative death and two late deaths, one of whom was cardiac originated and the other, non-cardiac relate The survival rate was $94.1{\pm}5.7{\%}$(40.6 months). Postoperatively there were 2 exploration for bleeding, 3 low cardiac output patients. The pulmonary autograft technique was root replacement in 14 and inclusion technique in 8. Pulmonary homografts were used at the pulmonary position in all cases. There was no patient with significant aortic regurgitation. Conclusion: These showed that the mortality and morbidity of the Ross procedure were acceptable and postoperative AR was not significant. However, further long-term follow-up will be necessary for the improvement of the function of pulmonary autograft and homograft.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.271-276
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• 2005

We analysed differences in operative methods and postoperative outcome according to the severity of preoperative cyanosis in adult ToF (Tetralogy of Fallot) patients. Material and Method: From August 1989 to June 2001, thirty three adult patients, 18 females and 15 males, underwent total correction for ToF. Their age ranged from 15 years to 54 years (median: 34). Patients were divided into 2 groups by preoperative $SaO_2$ (arterial oxygen saturation): group I$(n=cyanotic,\;SaO_2\;\geq94\%)$ and group II $(acyanotic,\; SaO_2\geq95%)$. Preoperative median hemoglobin level was higher in group I compared to group II (17.5 g/dl vs 15 g/dl). Postoperative follow-up duration ranged from 1 to 94 months (670 patient-month, median: 14 months), and 63 two-dimensional echocardiographic examinations were done during this period. Result: There were no early or late mortality. With regard to RVOT (right ventricular outflow tract) reconstruction, trans-annular patch and RV-PA extracardiac conduit were used in 7 and 3 patients respectively, and all of them belonged to group I. In group I, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, ICU day, hospital day were significantly longer than in group II, and postoperative inotropic support was significantly greater than in group II. There was no ventricular arrhythmia in both groups, and one patient in group I suffered from atrial arrhythmia, which was resolved spontaneously after tricuspid and pulmonary valve replacement. During follow-up periods, functional class, residual RVOT stenosis and pulmonary regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, occurrence of ventricular and atrial arrhythmias were comparable between two groups. Conclusion: In adult ToF patients with severe preoperative cyanosis, more aggressive RVOT reconstruction and careful postoperative care are mandatory. However intermediate-term outcome of this group of patients is comparable to the patients with minimal or no preoperative cyanosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.825-830
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• 2007

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery appears to offer certain advantages such as earlier postoperative recovery and a greater cosmetic effect than that achieved through conventional sternotomy. However, this approach has not yet been widely adopted in Korea to replace complex open heart surgery such as mitral valve reconstruction. This study compared the results of robot assisted minimally invasive mitral valve repair with those results of conventional sternotomy. Material and Method: From December 1993 to December 2005, 520 consecutive patients underwent mitral valve reconstruction for mitral regurgitation in our institution. These patients were subdivided according to those whose surgery used the conventional sternotomy approach (Group S, n=432) and those who underwent minimally invasive right anterior thoracotomy (Group M, n=88); we then compared the clinical results of both groups. When we performed minimally invasive right thoracotomy, we used a robot (AESOP 3000) and made an incision less than 5 cm. Result: Our study patients in both groups were similar for their age, gender and preoperative ejection fraction. There were two hospital mortalities in group S. but there was no mortality in the group M patients. Significant reductions in the ICU stay and the postoperative hospital stay were observed in the group M patients compared with the group S patients. However, both the bypass time and the aortic cross-clamp time were significantly longer in the group M patients. In spite of the confined incision in the group M patients, there were no limitations on the mitral valve repair techniques. There was a similar frequency of postoperative significant residual mitral regurgitation in both groups. Conclusion: In this study, the minimally invasive mitral valve repair showed comparable early results with the conventional sternotomy patients. We will now need long-term follow-up of these patients who underwent minimally invasive mitral valve repair, but we anticipate that based on the results of this study, we will begin to routinely perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery as out primary approach for mitral valve reconstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.568-572
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• 2008

Background: Minimally invasive surgery is currently popular, but this has been applied very sparingly to cardiac surgery because of some limitations. Our study evaluated the safety and efficacy of atrial septal defect (ASD) closure through a video-assisted mini-thoracotomy. Material and Method: Fifteen patients were analyzed. Their mean age was $31{\pm}6$ years. The mean ASD size was $24{\pm}5mm$ and there were 3 cases of significant tricuspid regurgitation. The working window was made through the right 4th intercostal space via a $4{\sim}5cm$ inframammary skin incision, CPB was conducted with performing peripheral cannulation. After cardioplegic arrest, the ASDs were closed with a patch (n=11) or direct sutures (n=4), and the procedures were assisted by using a thoracoscope. There were 3 cases of tricuspid repair and 1 case of mitral valve repair. The mean CPB time and aortic occlusion time were $160{\pm}47\;and\;70{\pm}26 $minutes, respectively. Result: There was no mortality, but there were 3 minor complications (one pneumothorax, one wound dehiscence and one arrhythmia). The mean hospital stay was $5.9{\pm}1.8$ days. The mean follow-up duration was $10.7{\pm}6.4$ months. The follow-up echocardiogram noted no residual ASD or significant tricuspid regurgitation. Three patients suffered from pain or numbness. Conclusion: This study showed satisfactory clinical and cosmetic results. Although the operative time is still too long, more experience and specialized equipment would make this technique a good option for treating ASD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.580-585
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• 2008

Background: Many types of tricuspid annuloplasty are used in surgical correction of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR). We evaluated the mid-term and long-term outcomes in patients treated with a posterior annular plication technique (a modified Davila technique) for FTR. Material and Method: Between January 1991 and August 2006, 58 adult patients (male, 22; female, 36) with FTR of grade 2/4 or more or with tricuspid annular dilatation of more than 5.0cm in diameter, even with an FTR of less than grade 2, had received a posterior annular placation. Preoperatively, 26 patients (44.8%) had a grade 3 or more FTR. All patients had received a mitral valve replacement, and 20 (34.5%) had concomitant aortic valve replacement. Result: During the mean follow-up period of $101.4{\pm}51.6$ months, FTR disappeared or remained trivial in 28 patients (49.1%), was grade $2{\sim}3$ (${\geq}$grade 2 and $2.66{\pm}0.73\;vs.\;0.82{\pm}0.89$; p<0.0001). Patients did not require a second surgery for FTR and did not show further FTR aggravation. Conclusion: The modified Davila posterior annular plication technique for FTR has reasonable mid-term and long-term results and is a useful surgical procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2002

We report one case of an 18-day-old female patient, weighing 3.4 kg, with severe cyanosis. The diagnosis was made with only transthoracic echocardiography, which revealed cor triatriatum with an atretic small opening of fibromuscular membrane, obstructive infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage(TAPVD), severely restrictive interatrial communication, and scanty mitral inflow and aortic forward flow. The preoperative decision-making for biventricular repair was not easy due to collapsed left heart system caused by remarkably reduced blood flow An emergent operation was performed due to severe cyanosis. All left heart structures were somewhat hypoplastic but thought to be adequate for systemic circulation. Biventricular repair was done without specific intraoperative problems. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has been doing well with no evidence of pulmonary vein stenosis or mitral regurgitation for 4 months after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.931-938
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• 1998

Background: Anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries by means of the arterial switch operation is now accepted as the therapeutic method of choice. This retrospective study attempts to assess the results of the neonatal arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries performed by our newly established institution. Materials and methods: 33 consecutive neonates underwent the arterial switch operation between October 1991 to November 1997. There were 27 neonates with transposition and intact ventricular septum, 3 with ventricular septal defect, and 3 with Taussig-Bing anomaly. The mean age was 10.9$\pm$7.9 days and mean body weight was 3.29$\pm$0.44kg. Results: Overall postoperative hospital mortality was 30.3% (10 patients). The mortality has improved with time; 75% (6 patients) among first 8 consecutive patients before 1994, 20% (2 patients) among 10 patients in 1994 and 1995, and 13.3% (2 patients) among 15 patients since 1996. Univariated analysis of risk factors revealed that earlier date of the operations and one of preoperative events were determinants for operative death. There were two late deaths. A mean follow-up of 17.4$\pm$16.5 months was achieved in all 21 survivors. All were in New York Heart Association functional class I. One patient had mild pulmonary stenosis and two had mild aortic valve regurgitation on their echocardiography. Conclusions: We concluded that we should continue to perform arterial switch operation for neonates with transposition of the great arteries because the mortality of the operation has been improved and the operative survivors have good functional results with low incidence of late complications.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.303-306
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• 2014

Three Yorkshire Terriers (12-year-old, 13-year-old, and 15-year-old castrated males) with respiratory distress, coughing and anorexia were the subjects of this report. In laboratory examinations, there were no remarkable findings. However, the thoracic radiographic findings included a large mass of soft tissue density in the cardiac base region, tracheal elevation, and aortic bulging in all three Yorkshire Terriers. There were no remarkable findings in the abdominal radiographs. In echocardiography, a homogeneous hyperechoic mass around the aorta and bicuspid valve regurgitation were found in all three dogs. There were no remarkable findings in abdominal ultrasonography. Computed tomographic findings showed a large well -defined heterogeneous mass in the cranial vena cava, which was dominant in the left side in all three Yorkshire Terriers. The mass sizes were about $3{\times}4cm$. In post-contrast scanning, contrast enhancement was evident. These cases were diagnosed as heart-base tumor. Treatments provided to the three dogs were based on symptomatic medical management of cardiac failure and tracheal collapse. Case 1 (12-year-old) survived for 3 months, case 2 (13-year-old) for 5 months, and case 3 (15-year-old) for 32 months after the diagnosis. Our results show that the clinical findings, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) and symptomatic medical management in dogs suspected to have heart base tumor.