• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.693-700
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• 1997

To assess the effectiveness of subxipoid pericardial drainage for the treatment of pericardial effusion, we reviewed 80 cases of subxiphoid pericardial drainage between January 1986 and December 1995. There were 39 males and 41 females with ages ranging from 20 to 80 years. The diagnosis of pericardial effusion was made by echocardiography. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia in 50(62.5%) and under local anesthesia in 30 patients(37.5%). Among the 33 p tients with malignant pericardial effusion, cytology was positive .in 14 of 31(45%), and pericardial biopsy showed malignancy in 7 of 29 patients(24%). Among the 27 patients with tuberculous pericardial effusion, the diagnosis was confirmed by histology of pericardial biopsy in 12 patient or bacteriologic culture in 1 patient. The operative mortality was 17.5% (14180 patients) and all the mortality occurred in the malignant group. There were no operation-related mortality Sixty six patients were followed from 9 days to 5 years; mean follow-up was 452 days. Recurrent pericardial effusions, necessitating further surgical intervention, occurred in 6 (7.5%) patients. Constrictive pericarditis developed later in 4 patients(5%) and two of them had undergone complete pericardiectomy. In summary, subxiphoid pericardial drainage allowed safe and efficient drainage of pericardial effusions with sampling for cytology and pericardial biopsy, and had an acceptable morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 1997

From August 1986 until June 1995, single aortic valve replacement was performed in 65 patients at the Chonnam National University Hospital. worthy-eight were male and 17 were female patients, ranging from 19 to 68 years of age(median : 43 years). The causes of the valve lesions were rheumatic in 29 patients (44.6%), bicuspid aortic valve in 6 patients (6.2%), endocarditis in 6 patients(6.2%), unknown in others. Concomitant surgical procedures were performed in 10 patients : repair of congenital defect in 5, pericardiectomy in 1, coronary artery bypass grafting in 1, noncoronary sinus plication in 1, Valsalva sinus aneurysmectomy in 1, subaortic membrane resection in 1 Used valves were 51. Jude-Medical valve in 42, Duromedics valve in 22, Bjork-Shiley valve in 2, Carpentier-Edward valve in 1. There were 3 hospital deaths (4.6%), and 2 late deaths (3.2%). Follow-up was 95.2% complete. The 10-year acturlal survival rate was 85.3%. Postoperative complications were low cardiac utput in 8, arrythmia in 5, valve related hemolysis in 1, cerebral infarction in 1, and gastrointestinal bleeding in 2. Reoperation was performed in 4 for surgical bleeding, in 3 for paravalvular leak. The mean improvement in New York Heart Association functional class is from 2.79 $\pm$ 0.66 preoperatively to 1.25 $\pm$ 0.49 postoperatively(p < 0.001) The change of cardiothoracic ratio from preoperative to postoperative is 0.57 $\pm$ 0.06 to 0.54 $\pm$ 0.05 (p < 0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction change is not significant perioperatively. There are no mechanical failures. This early and intermediate-term follow-up suggests that in adults in whom valve repair is not possible, the mechanical valve is a reliable and durable prosthesis with good hemodynamic function and a low rate of thromboembolic event.