• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 1988

Tetralogy of Fallot is a cyanotic congenital heart disease characterized by large ventricular septal defect[VSD] and stenosis of right ventricular outflow tract[RVOT] and the degree of RVOT stenosis and the state of pulmonary arteries are the major determinant of prognosis of this anomaly after operation. The sum of blood flow through RVOT and collateral flow from systemic arteries determine the total pulmonary blood flow and it is drained to left atrium and left ventricle. Therefore the degree of development of left ventricle not only reflects pulmonary blood flow and the status of peripheral pulmonary arteries but also affects postoperative prognosis as a systemic ventricle. In this article, left ventricular volume and its influence on postoperative cardiac function in tetralogy of Fallot were studied in 34 patients operated on at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital in 1985. Mean age of the patients was 5 1/12*3 9/12 years[range 9/12 - 14 8/12 years], mean body surface area[BSA] 0.65*0.20m2[range 0.38 - 1.22m2], mean body weight 15.6k6.48kg[range 7.0 - 36kg]and mean hematocrit 50.6*9.77%[range 32.0 - 73.5%]. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume[LVEDV] of them were from 11.2 to 113cc and there was a good linear correlation between BSA[m2, X]and LVEDV[cc, Y][Y= - 20.0+923x, r= 0.84, p < 0.005]. Mean LVEDV/m2 was [57.6 * 18.3 cc / m2[range 28.7 - 95.8 cc / m2] and there was a significant reduction of volume compared with normal value. As body surface increases, there was a increasing tendency in LVEDV/m2 but there was no statistical significance. Mean total amount of postoperatively infused dopamine in these 33 patients[except one who expired postoperatively] was 65.6*74.5mg / kg and it was 40.6*44.0mg / kg in routine RVOT widening group [Group I] and 205*49.3mg / kg in transannular RVOT widening group[Group II]. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups. In group I patients there was a good linear inverse correlation between dopamine total amount[mg / kg, Y] and LV volume[cc / m2, X] [Y = 150 - 1.89 X, r = - 0. 77, p < 0.005]. But there were no correlations between dopamine total amount and Hct, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aorta cross clamp time. In conclusion, the patient with small preoperative left ventricular volume required more amount of dopamine as an inotropic agent for the maintenance of a cardiac function in postoperative period. But this is a result of immediate postoperative period and does not reflect the long term effect of left ventricular volume in tetralogy of Fallot. There must be more study for the evaluation of its long term effect.

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2012

Background: At present, many surgeons prefer axillary artery cannulation because it facilitates antegrade cerebral perfusion and may diminish the risk of cerebral embolization. However, axillary artery cannulation has not been established as a routine procedure because there is controversy about its clinical advantage. Materials and Methods: We examined 111 patients diagnosed with acute type A aortic dissection between January 2000 and December 2009. The right axillary artery was cannulated in 58 patients (group A) and the femoral artery was cannulated in 53 (group F). The postoperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the two groups. Results: There were 46 male and 65 female patients with a mean age of $58.9{\pm}13.1$ years (range, 26 to 84 years). The extent of aortic replacement in both groups did not differ. There were 8 early deaths (7.2%) and 2 late deaths (1.8%). The mean follow-up duration was $46.0{\pm}32.6$ months (range, 1 month to 10 years). Transient neurologic dysfunction was observed in 11 patients (19.0%) in group A and 14 patients (26.4%) in group F. A total of 11 patients (9.9%) suffered from a permanent neurologic dysfunction. Early and delayed stroke were observed in 6 patients (10.3%) and 2 patients (3.4%), respectively, in group A as well as 2 patients (3.8%) and 1 patient (1.9%), respectively, in group F. There were no statistical differences in the cannulation-related complications between both groups (3 in group A vs. 0 in group F). Conclusion: There were no differences in postoperative neurologic outcomes and cannulation-related complications according to the cannulation sites. The cannulation site in an aortic dissection should be carefully chosen on a case-by-case basis. It is important to also pay attention to the possibility of intraoperative malperfusion syndrome occurring and the subsequent need to change the cannulation site.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2012

Purposes: Most medical schools in Korea do not provide adequate education in end-of-life care. This study was designed to illustrate the need to improve end-of-life care education and to assess the effect of the education on fourth-year medical students' awareness and attitude towards hospice and palliative care for terminally ill patients. Methods: One hundred sixty six fourth-year medical students were surveyed with questionnaires on end-of-life care before and after they received the education. Results: Before receiving the education, students most frequently answered "at the end of life" (33.6%) was appropriate time to write an advance medical directive. After the education, the most frequent answer was "in healthy status" (58.7%). More students agreed to withholding or withdrawing futile life-sustaining treatment increased after the education (48.1% vs. 92.5% (P<0.001) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 38.3% vs. 92.5% (P<0.001) for intubation and mechanical ventilation, 39.1% vs. 85.8% (P<0.001) for inotropics, 60.9% vs. 94.8% (P<0.001) for dialysis and 27.8% vs. 56.0% (P<0.001) for total parenteral nutrition). Significantly more students opposed euthanasia after the education (46.6% vs. 82.1%, P<0.001). All students agreed to the need for education in end-of-life care. Conclusion: After reflecting on the meaning of death through the end-of-life care education, most students recognized the need for the education. The education brought remarkable changes in students' awareness and attitude towards patients at the end of life. We suggest end-of-life care education should be included in the regular curriculum of all medical schools in Korea.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' emotional responses and ethical attitudes towards elderly patients' Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) decision. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire which was filled out by 153 nurses who worked in nursing homes and general hospitals. Data were analyzed using real numbers, percentages, means, standard deviations and Pearson's correlation coefficients with SPSS 19.0 program. Results: The average score for ethical attitudes towards the DNR decision was 2.68 out of 4. Under the ethical attitudes category, the highest score was found with a statement that said 'Although they will not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitate (CPR), it is right to do their best with other treatments for DNR Patients'. Items regarding emotional responses to the DNR decision, the average score was 2.36 out of 4. Among them, the highest score was achieved on 'I understand and sympathize'. No significant correlation was found between ethical attitudes and emotional responses in relation to patients' DNR decision (r=-0.12, P=0.13). Conclusion: Regarding elderly patients' DNR decision, nurses showed somewhat highly ethical attitudes and slightly positive emotional response. A follow-up study is needed to investigate variables that affect our results.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.818-824
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• 2009

The mechanisms responsible for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury have direct or indirect relevance to clinical lung injury after severe shock, cardiopulmonary bypass, and transplantation. This study investigated the effects of aspirin on intestinal I/R-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in A549 and RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 macrophages had shown greater expression of COX-2 than A549 cells. In addition, the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 attenuated LPS-stimulated COX-2 expression. To induce ALI, intestinal ischemia was performed for 60 min prior to the 4 hr reperfusion by clamping the superior mesenteric artery in Sprague-Dawley rats. In order to test and compare the effect of non-specific COX inhibitor aspirin with the effect of mepacrine, a well known phospholipase$A_{2}$ inhibitor, rats were divided into 4 groups: Sham, I/R, Mepa+I/R (mepacrine, 60 mg/kg, i.p.), ASA+I/R (aspirin, 10 mg/kg, i.p.). In the present investigation, myeloperoxidase activities in the lung and intestinal tissues were increased by I/R. These changes were reduced by single pretreatment of mepacrine (60 mg/kg, i.p.) or aspirin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before I/R. Structural studies demonstrated that the tissue injuries in the lung and intestine after I/R were also attenuated by the pretreatment of mepacrine or aspirin. These results suggest that I/R-induced ALI is mediated, in part, by the activation of COX. In addition, pretreatment of aspirin might be helpful for the prevention of ALI in ARDS-prone patients. In addition, the p38 MAPK inhibitor and apocynin also might be helpful to ALI through the inhibition of COX-2 expression.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2016

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode parasite that causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs. The purpose of this study was the development of real-time PCR assays for efficient detection of D. immitis. The D. immitis-specific primers confirmed in our previous study and a newly designed TaqMan probe were used for quantitative diagnostics. First, SYBR Green real-time PCR was performed using the specific primers and serially diluted genomic DNA or plasmid DNA, and melting curve analyses were performed after amplification. The melting curve showed one specific peak in each of the genomic and plasmid DNA reactions, suggesting that the primers specifically amplify the D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Comparison of SYBR Green and TaqMan real-time PCR using serially diluted plasmid DNA showed higher efficiency and specificity with TaqMan real-time PCR. The real-time PCR assays developed in this study will provide improved diagnostic methods to overcome the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools and facilitate more rapid and accurate diagnoses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 1998

Homologous blood transfusion entails substantial risks, including allergic reactions, transmission diseases such as hepatitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Autotransfusion system is a common method of reducing the need for homologous blood transfusion during cardiac operation. Between July 1993 and July 1995, a series of 40 patients undergoing open heart surgery was selected to an autotransfusion group(n=20) or a control group(n=20). The cell saver system(AT1000, Electromedics, Englewood, CO, USA) was employed for autotransfusion. With this system, shed blood in operative field during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) and remained blood in cardiotomy reservior after CPB was aspirated by means of a locally heparinized collecting system. After centrifuge salvaged blood, the resulting red cell concentrate reinfused subsequently. The amounts of blood loss were 766.5$\pm$121.3 ml in cell saver group, 770.1$\pm$113.6 ml in control group, and there were no significant differences between two groups(P=NS). The amounts of blood transfused were 2.91$\pm$1.72 units in cell saver group, 4.82$\pm$1.72 units in control group. Composition of processed blood by cell saver was hemoglobin 17.4 gm%, hematocrit 56.4%, RBC 5,780,000/ul, WBC 9,900/ul, and platelet 33,000/ul. There was no complication related to cell saver. Conclusively, cell saver autotransfusion system is safe, effective method for reducing the homologous blood trasfusion in cardiac surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.404-420
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• 1991

Surgical treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease preceded the development of accurate techniques for diagnosis, heart lung machine and cardiopulmonary bypass, intraoperative myocardial protection, operative techniques and cardiac anesthesia. For 5 years from Sep. 1985 to Sep. 1990, six hundred cases of open heart surgeries [OHS] were performed in the department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The annual number of OHS[cases per year] was above 100 since 1987, and the increasing rate of cases was 23.5% per year since 1986. 2. Among the total 600 cases, there were 470 cases of congenital heart diseases and 130 cases of acquired. Age range of the congenital patients was 8 months to 44 years with the mean age of 10 years, and acquired patients was 16 to 56 years with the mean age of 36 years. 3. Among the 470 congenital anomalies, there were 429 cases of acyanotic and 41 cyanotic patients. Totally, VSD was 286 cases[60.6%], ASD 103 cases[21.9%], TOF 35 cases [7.4%], PS 20 cases [4.1%], ECD 12 cases [2.0%], Ebstein`s anomaly 3 cases [0.6%], Valsalva sinus rupture 3 cases [0.6%] and others. The appropriate one stage radical operations were applied to the all congenital cases with the result of 2.6% immediate postoperative hospital mortality rate. 4. Among the 130 acquired cases, there were 122 cases of valvular heart diseases, 6 of heart tumors [5 myxoma, one malignant histiocytoma], one of LA thrombus and one of annuloaortic ectasia. Cardiac tumors and LA thrombus were removed through the atrial septal approach. Bentall procedure was adopted to the annuloaortic ectasia case. AVR, MVR and TVA [DeVega procedure] were applied to 120 valve diseases, and there were also one of OMC and one of MVA[Jerome-Kay procedure]. 5. Among the 120 valve replacement cases, there were 87 of single valve replacement cases [AVR: 8, MVR: 79], 11 of double valve replacement [AVR+MVR: 11], 12 of MVR+TVR and 10 of MVR+AVR+TVA. The total number of implanted prosthetic valves were 141. In MVR, 45 of St. Jude Medical valves, 63 of Carpentier-Edward valves and 4 of Ionescu-Shiley valves were used. In AVR, 18 of St. Jude Medical valves and 11 of Carpentier-Edward valves were used. in MVR, 29mm and 31mm sized valves were used mostly and In AVR, 23mm sized valves were used mostly. 6. Postoperatively many kinds of complications were occurred. Among them, wound problems [30 cases], low output syndrome [29 cases], arrhythmia [20 cases], pleural effusion and pneumothorax [13 cases] were occurred frequently. The postoperative immediate hospital mortality was 3.0% in total [congenital 2.6%, acquired 4.6%].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.874-882
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• 1999

배경: 체외순환 후의 부종현상 및 이에 따른 여러 장치의 기능 저하를 방지하기 위하여, 최근에 체외 순환 이탈 후 환자의 혈액을 짧은 시간에 관류하여 여과해 주는 변형 초여과법의 사용이 늘고 있다. 이에 대한 긍정적인 임상결과들의 보고도 있으나, 다른 한편 체외 순환 후 염증반응을 포함한 폐손상의 기전에 혈구 성분의 영향이 보고되고 있는 바, 변형 초여과법의 효과, 특히 폐 조직에 대한 영향을 밝혀 보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 몸무게 15에서 22 Kg(평균 16.5$\pm$0.5)의 16 쌍의 잡견을 이용한 정소성 심장이식, 실험에서, 통상적인 인공심폐기 작동군과 인공심폐기 작동 후 변형 초여과 관류를 시행한 군으로 무작위 구분하였다. 변형초여과법은 체외순환 정지 후에 대동맥관에서 나온 혈류를 Roller pump를 거쳐 Amicon Diafilter 초여과 관에 150 mL/m 정도의 속도로 10~15 분 정도 관류시켜 정맥관을 통하여 우심방에 직접 주입하였다. 혈액 채취 및 폐생검은 심폐기 시작 전과 정지 직후, 그리고 변형초여과 시행 군은 초여과 완료 직후에, 대조군은 심폐기 정지 10~15분 후에 각각 시행하였다. 혈류역학 측정요소는 동맥압, 우심방압, 좌심방압 등이었으며, 혈액 검사 항목은 동맥혈 가스분석, 혈색소 농도, 헤마토크릿, 백혈구 수, 혈소판 수, 혈중 단백 성분, 알부민 성분 등이었다. 폐 생검 조직으로는 냉동 건조법을 이용한 수분 함유량을 측정하였고, 광학 및 전자현미경으로 관찰을 하였다. 결과: 변형 초여과 군에서 혈중 혈색소 농도는 수술전 10.3$\pm$1.7 mg/dL, 심폐기 정지 직후 6.3$\pm$1.7 mg/dL, 초여과 직후는 8.3$\pm$2.8 mg/dL의 변화를(p=0.0078, 0.0117), 혈중 총 단백질의 농도 변화는 4.3$\pm$0.9, 3.1$\pm$1.5, 4.1$\pm$1.6 mg/dL, 혈중 알부민의 농도는 1.9$\pm$0.5, 1.4$\pm$0.7, 1.8$\pm$0.8 mg/dL로서, 각각 초여과법의 시행 전후에 유의한 증가를 가져왔고(p=0.0280, 0.0277), 폐조직의 수분 함유량의 변화는 수술전 75.1$\pm$8.6%, 심폐기 정지 직후 82.8$\pm$6.0%, 초여과 직후 77.88%를 보인 반면, 대조군에서는 각각 74.7$\pm$4.9, 82.1$\pm$5.9, 82.3$\pm$5.1%의 변화를 보였다. 미세 구조의 관찰에서, 폐포의 내포세피의 융합 기저막층과 미토콘드리아에서의 부종은 변형 초여과 후에 급격히 감소하였으나, 미토콘드리아내 크리스티의 파괴성 변화와 막성 파괴 성향이 초여과 후에 심화되게 관찰되었고, 세포질 내 소체의 팽창과 공포화 현상도 심폐기 가동 후 발생하여 초여과 후에 더 심화되게 관찰되었다. 세포질 내 소체의 팽창과 공포화 현상도 심폐기 가동 후 발생하여 초여과 후에 더 심화되게 관찰되었다. 폐조직 내의 백혈구는 심폐기 작동 후에 그 수에 있어서 증가하였으며 백혈구의 괴변, 탈과립 정도도 심폐기 작동 후 및 초여과 후에 증가한 소견을 보였다. 결론: 변형 초여과법은 인공 심폐기 후의 혈색소 농도 및 혈중 단백질 농도의 복원에 효과가 있었으며 변형 초여과 관류후 폐의 미세 조직내에서 부종의 급격한 감소 등을 관찰할 수 있었다.