• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.14-29
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• 2022

Purpose:In order to improve the quality of cardiac rehabilitation, it is important to examine the experiences of the patients and how they feel about each part of the process. We used a qualitative research methodology to conduct an in-depth review of the experiences of patients who participated in cardiac rehabilitation. Methods: According to semi-structured guidelines, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of five patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Results: A total of 232 codes was derived; these codes were split into 4 categories and 10 subcategories. Although the patients were apprehensive about the diagnosis of heart disease, it also gave them a chance to reflect on their health behaviors of the past. In addition, they began to appreciate their families and support networks more as the disease progressed. The participants did not know about cardiac rehabilitation until the medical staff recommended it, but they participated in the program with the expectation that they could become healthier. The participants felt that they became more physically and mentally healthy while undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Rehabilitation served as an opportunity to improve other health behaviors as well. However, they emphasized that it is necessary to continuously maintain improved health behavior, find an exercise method that is suitable for one's physical ability and not monotonous, and prepare a plan to reduce the time and economic burden of cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusion: The participants' positive experiences confirmed in this study will be used as evidence for the expansion of cardiac rehabilitation programs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.619-626
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• 2010

Background: The indications and the optimal time of surgery of infective endocarditis are controversial. We report the surgical results of our hospital during the last 10 years with literature review. Material and Method: Between January 2000 and December 2009, we enrolled 23 infective endocarditis patients who underwent surgery, and analyzed retrospectively. In the preoperative blood culture, 8 cases (34.8%) were positive. The average preoperative antibiotics treatment period was $20.78{\pm}16.00$ days. There were 12 (52.2%) urgent operations. The average follow up period was $49.26{\pm}33.21$ months. Result: 20 mechanical valve replacements were performed, 9 in aortic position, 8 in mitral position and 3 in the both positions. The other procedures were one mitral valvuloplasty, one infected myxoma extirpation, and one infected pacemaker lead removal with debridement. The average period of postoperative intravenous antibiotic treatment was $24.39{\pm}15.98$ days. There were 5 complications, including 2 cases of postoperative bleeding, one postcardiotomy syndrome, one cerebral ischemia, and a low cardiac output syndrome. There were statistically significant postoperative improvement in NYHA class, left ventricle end diastolic/end systolic volume, and left atrium size (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: We could obtain the satisfactory results without any moftalities by using sufficient preoperative antibiotics in hemodynamically stable patients, and by prompt surgery in unstable patients.

• 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.7 s.252
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• pp.496-500
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• 2005

There was no difference between the bileaflet mechanical valves on the midterm and longterm clinical outcome. We reviewed the hemodynamic comparison between recently available mechanical valves by Doppler Echocardiography. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed 396 postoperative hemodynamic datas (EOA, MDPG, and MSPG) by doppler echocardiography in 345 patients. Mechanical valves from 5 venders (Sorin Bicarbon, SJM, ATS, On-X, and Edward MIRA) were compared. There were 232 valves in mitral position, 162 in aortic, and 2 in tricuspid. Result: There were 178 men (mean age; $50.6\pm13.9$ years old) and 167 women $(52.6\pm,4.6)$. MDPG/EOA of 27 mm in mitral position was Sorin; $4.2\pm1.5 mmHg/3.0\pm0.9cm^2,\;SJM;\;2.3\pm1.2/3.5\pm0.6$. In 29mm, Sorin, SJM, ATS, On-X, MIRA revealed $3.4\pm1.2/3.1\pm0.6,\;3.3\pm1.1/2.7\pm0.4,\;3.8\pm0.8/3.2\pm0.6,\;4.0\pm3.0/3.1\pm0.9,\;2.9\pm0.9/3.0\pm0.8$ In 31mm, Sorin, SJM, ATS, MIRA revealed $3.9\pm1.9/2.9\pm0.6,\;3.5\pm1.2/3.0\pm0.6,\;3.4\pm0.8/2.8\pm0.2,\;3.7\pm1.5/2.7\pm0.7$. In 33mm, Sorin, SJM, MIRA revealed $4.4\pm0.9/2.5\pm0.4,\;3.4\pm1.5/3.3\pm0.5,\;4.7\pm2.4\3.0\pm0.3$. MSPG/EOA of 19mm aortic position was Sorin, SJM, ATS, On-X, MIRA $18.0 mmHg/1.2cm^2,\;25.6\pm8.7/1.1\pm0.3,\;25.9\pm12.6/1.2\pm0.3,\;23.0/1.3,\;27.9\pm7.1/1.2\pm0.1$ in that order. In 21mm, SJM, ATS, On-X, MIRA revealed $18.3\pm6.7/1.5\pm0.5,\;13.7\pm2.1/1.7\pm0.3,\;17.0/1.4,\;17.1\pm5.5/1.8\pm0.5$. In 23mm Sorin, SJM, ATS, On-X, MIRA revealed $14.0\pm4.6/1.7\pm0.6,\;12.8\pm3.2/2.0\pm0.2,\;16.8\pm12.2/2.1\pm0.9,\;14.0/1.5,\;15.0\pm5.5/1,8\pm0.5$. In 25mm, SJM and MIRA revealed $14.0\pm5.1/1.8\pm1.0,\;11.0/2.3$. There was no statistically significant difference in these values between the venders given the same position and size. 2 redo valve replacements were performed, 1 due to severe hemolysis in ATS and 1 due to leaflet immobilization in SJM. Conclusion: Postoperative hemodynamic comparison by doppler echocardiography shows no statistically significant difference between recently available mechanical valves in this country.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.422-425
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• 2015

This study evaluated the myocardial performance on echocardiography after the sedation/anesthesia of medetomidine (D), the combination of medetomidine and tiletamine/zolazepam (DZ), and the combination of medetomidine, tiletamine/zolazepam and tramadol (DZT) in Beagle dogs. Ten healthy adult Beagle dogs (weighing $8.6{\pm}1.0kg$) were enrolled in this study. Heart rate (HR), fractional shortening (%FS), left ventricular ejection fraction (%LVEF), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LVIDs) and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd) using M-mode echocardiography were measured prior to anesthesia, then every 10 min for 60 min. The HR, %FS, %LVEF, SV and CO were significantly decreased during sedation/anesthesia with D, DZ and DZT combination of anesthesia. Although those anesthetic protocols provided acceptable quality of sedation/anesthesia, levels of cardiovascular suppression were substantial and persistent and thus the continuous monitoring on vital signs should be accompanied in any situation. Close attention is required for dogs with pre-existing heart diseases, when those anesthetic protocols were applied.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.584-589
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• 2002

Background : The thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery is a complicated procedure that has various method of approach and protection. The authors have performed several methods to treat these diseases. Therefore, we attempt to analyze their results and risks. Material and Method: From June of 1992 to August of 2001, we performed 26 cases of thoracic aortic surgery and 10 cases of thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. There were 17 aortic dissections, 17 aortic aneurysms, one coarctation of aorta and one traumatic aortic aneurysm. The thoracic aortic replacement was performed under a femorofemoral bypass, an LA to femoral bypass, or a deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The thoracoabdominal aortic replacement was performed under a femorofemoral bypass or a pump assisted rapid infusion. Result: There were 7 renal failures, 11 hepatopathies, 7 cerebral vascular accidents, 2 heart failures, 5 respiratory insufficiencies, and 2 sepsis in postoperative period. There were 9 hospital mortalities which were from 2 bleedings, 2 heart failures, 2 renal failures, a sepsis, a respiratory failure, and a cerebral infarction. There were 3 late deaths which were from ruptured distal anastomosis, cerebral infarction, and pneumonia. Conclusion: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was not good supportive methods for thoracic aortic replacement. Total thoracoabdominal aortic replacement was a high risk operation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1299-1305
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• 2010

Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are routine cardiac markers for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Recently, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has garnered attention as a marker of heart failure. This study was retrospectively designed to investigate the relationships between preoperative BNP, other cardiac markers levels and perioperative parameters in seventy-four adult patients that underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and to assess its usefulness for predicting postoperative outcomes. Preoperative levels of BNP, cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP had significantly positive or negative correlations with echocadiographic parameters. There were significantly positive relationships between BNP, cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP concentration. Postoperative mechanical ventilation time had a positive correlation to preoperative levels of cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP, while ICU-staying period had a positive correlation with BNP, cTnI and CK-MB. These results reveal that a preoperative level of BNP is a good predictor and that its combination with cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP might be useful for diagnosis and comprehensive risk stratification of patients with coronary heart diseases, as well as prognosis of perioperative outcomes in OPCAB patients.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2009

Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases and it causes cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. While antihypertensive drug use increased, it took 15% of national health insurance drug expenditure. This study aimed to examine the pattern of antihypertensive drug prescription using National Health Insurance claims database and compare it with recommendations of Korea Hypertension Treatment Guidelines. Among the antihypertensive drugs, calcium channel blocker(64.4%) was most commonly prescribed class, and diuretics(44.6%), angiotensin II receptor blocker(33.3%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(11.7%) was followed. Approximately 81% of antihypertensives prescription were without cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, and among the comorbid conditions, diabetes(10.7%) was most common. calcium channel blocker(62.3%) was mostly prescribed class for hypertension with angina pectoris, angiotensin receptor blocker(45.3%) with myocardial infarction, diuretics(70.2%) and calcium channel blocker(49.5%) with congestive heart failure. For Hypertension with cerebrovascular disease, calcium channel blocker(68.0%) and angiotensin receptor blocker(43.3%) were prescribed mainly. When it comes to diabetes, calcium channel blocker(57.2%) was still mostly prescribed and angiotensin receptor blocker(45.9%) followed. But in hospitals and tertiary hospitals, angiotensin receptor blocker(65.7, 66.1%) was mostly prescribed for the patients with diabetes. For Hypertension with chronic renal disease, angiotensin receptor blocker(59.5%), calcium channel blocker(56.5%), diuretics(54.6%) were mainly used. Average number of classes per prescribing was $1.89{\pm}0.89$ class, average days per prescribing was $33{\pm}19$ day. Among the hypertension without comorbidity, 40.5% of prescription was monotherapy and 58.8% of polytherapy included diuretics. Among the outpatient prescriptions, calcium channel blocker was the most commonly used class, and the prescription pattern in clinic did not closely followed recommendations of Hypertension Treatment Guidelines.