• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.435-442
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• 2016

Background: Blunt traumatic cardiac rupture is rare. However, such cardiac ruptures carry a high mortality rate. This study reviews our experience treating blunt traumatic cardiac rupture. Methods: This retrospective study included 21 patients who experienced blunt traumatic cardiac rupture from 1999 to 2015. Every patient underwent surgery. Several variables were compared between survivors and fatalities. Results: Sixteen of the 21 patients survived, and 5 (24%) died. No instances of intraoperative mortality occurred. The most common cause of injury was a traffic accident (81%). The right atrium was the most common location of injury (43%). Ten of the 21 patients were suspected to have cardiac tamponade. Significant differences were found in preoperative creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) levels (p=0.042) and platelet counts (p=0.004) between the survivors and fatalities. The patients who died had higher preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale scores (p=0.007), worse Trauma and Injury Severity Scores (p=0.007), and higher Injury Severity Scores (p=0.004) than those who survived. Conclusion: We found that elevated CK-MB levels, a low platelet count, and multi-organ traumatic injury were prognostic factors predicting poor outcomes of blunt cardiac rupture. If a patient with blunt traumatic cardiac rupture has these factors, clinicians should be especially attentive and respond promptly in order to save the patient's life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1001-1006
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• 1995

From January, 1990 to December, 1994, we have operated 10 patients with cardiac rupture. The patients are divided into two groups according to their clinical manifestation ; five patients in each hemorrhage and tamponade group. The patients in both groups could maintain their vital signs with closed thoracostomy and fluid resuscitation. The effect of pericardiocentesis was especially dramatic in three patients of tamponade group. The average time from injury to admission was 101 minutes and that of the patients who came our hospital via one or two other hospitals was 170 minutes comparing 31 minutes of those who came directly. The average time from admission to operation was 211 minutes. Considering 98 minutes for the diagnosis and preoperative management and another 30 minutes for the preparation for operation, operations were delayed by 83 minutes to get permission. We conclude that this delaying time for transport and operation of heart-ruptured patients should be shortened in order to manage them more effectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.209-213
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• 2008

In young adolescent girls, anorexia nervosa is a significant cause of weight loss, and hospital admissions among children and adolescents. Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening disorder, with about one-third of deaths caused by cardiac complications. A high rate of pericardial effusion has been recently reported in patients with anorexia nervosa, although relatively few cases require pericardiocentesis. Here, we describe three patients with anorexia nervosa who were diagnosed with large pericardial effusions. To prevent cardiac tamponade, pericardiocentesis was performed in two girls.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.168-170
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• 2011

Blunt cardiac rupture is uncommon and is associated with significant mortality. Patients with blunt cardiac rupture usually have combined injury and do not always show signs of cardiac tamponade, which delays the diagnosis of cardiac rupture and increases mortality. We report a case of cardiac rupture diagnosed and treated by using only thoracic exploration based on clinical impression, with radiologic studies, including even echocardiography, showing negative results.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.638-639
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• 2022

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.95-97
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• 2008

Ischemic ventricular rupture is one of the most fatal complications following myocardial infarction, and this requires prompt diagnosis and operation. A 75-year-old female was admitted to the ER in a semicomatous mentality with cyanotic extremities. Cardiac echography was carried out in the ER, and a $1.5{\sim}2\;cm$ thickness of effusion in the pericardium was seen. Because the patient's heart had declined to 35 times per min, an emergency operation was started while giving cardiac massage. After observing a 1 cm rupture on the right ventricular wall and a necrotic hemorrhagic scar with a rupture on the left ventricular apical wall, repair of the ruptured areas with a large Satinsky clamp was carried out to control bleeding without cardiopulmonary bypass. On the 28th day after surgery, she was discharged home with a minimal degree of dyspnea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1068-1073
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• 1991

Bleeding after open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass was a cause of concern. requiring reexploration of the chest in approximately 8 percent of patients who have had operations on the heart. From April., 1983 to October, 1991, 16 patients[2%] out of 777 patients who underwent open cardiac surgery had emergency reexploration with bleeding at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital. In 12 cases[75%], reexploration was performed for continuous bleeding and the reminder[4 cases] were performed for suspected tamponade & hypotension. There were 9 cases[56%] of congenital heart disease and 7 cases of acquired heart disease. The mean blood loss were 997$\pm$472ml /sq. M in total cases and 1442$\pm$ 647ml /sq. M in cases repair of cyanotic heart disease. The mean interval till reoperation was 16.6hr [1hr~72hr] and 41 hr[12~72hr] in tamponade cases and 8.4hr[1hr~24hr] in continuous bleeding cases. The bleeding sites were identified in 7 cases: aortotomy site in 2 cases, ventriculotomy site, SVC, thymus, pleura and sternum wiring site in each other case. But no specific sites was found in the remaining 9 cases. The 8 cases had complications but all except 1 cases with hypoxic brain damage were recovered without sequale. We conclude that emergency thoractomy after open heart surgery may be lifesaving and-/or diminishing complications with bleeding if performed promptly with excessive bleeding, tamponade and unexpected hypotension.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.211-214
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• 2003

Sternal fracture is relatively common in chest trauma. Mediastinal hematoma secondary to sternal fracture is not in common, and it has minor symptoms such as mild dyspnea and chest tightness, which usually resolve spontaneously. We experienced two cases of extrapericardial tamponade by hematoma caused by sternal fractures. Two patients were diagnosed by chest CT scan and sent to the operating room within 2 hours after arriving at emergency room because of unstable vital signs. Cardiovascular signs were relieved immediatly after the operation. We report these cases with a brief review of the literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.702-705
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• 2006

Severe left ventricular dysfunction after relief of massive pericardial effusion has been rarely reported. Interventricular volume mismatch, acute distention of the cardiac chambers and interplay of autonomic none system are believed to be the possible causes for ventricular dysfunction. Presenting two patients who had marked decrease in global ventricular systolic function after relief of pericardial tamponade by subxyphoid pericardial window, we recommend gradual removal of pericardial fluid under hemodynamic monitoring, especially in patient with postcardiotomy tamponade.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.780-785
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• 1984

We had studied 20 cases of VSD patients whose murmur was sustained after open heart surgery from 1977 to 1984. The postoperative cardiac catheterization was performed on post-op. 20th day. Their ages ranged from 5 to 25 years old. Among them, 4 patients had significant residual shunt which required reoperation. [1 patient; re-op, 3 patient; refused]. Sex ratio was 13:7 in male and female. Associated anomalies were PDA, ASD, Pulmonary stenosis, Mitral insufficiency. Except 1 case, all of them was Kirklin type II VSD. Postoperative complications were I RBBB, residual shunt, cardiac tamponade due to bleeding, wound infection. Preoperative pulmonary artery systolic pressure was highly related to residual shunt in our study. Postoperative LVEDV returned to normal range on the 3rd week.