• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.672-677
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• 1992

This is a clinical review of the results from electric cardioversion and pharmacological therapy used in our hospital for reverting cardiac arrythmia in patients with mitral valve surgery between Jan. 1990 and Jun. 1991. Of 62 evaluated patients, 16 patients had regular sinus rhythm and the other 46 had arrhythmias [42; atrial fibrillation 1; atrial flutter 1; premature ventricular contraction] preoperatively. In 2 of patients with sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation newly developed after surgery and was converted into sinus rhythm soon by intravenous administration of digoxin. Remaining 14 patient resumed sinus rhythm spontaneously. In patients with preoperative arrythmia, 3 patients reverted into sinus rhythm from atrial fibrillation by electric cardioversion at operative field, 1 patient by lidocain and mexiletine, 4 patients by combined use of digoxin and verapamil, 4 patients by 2 times of oral quinidine and 9 patient by long term use of oral amiodarone. Throughout this consecutive trials of anti-arrhythmic drugs and electric cardioversion, Conversion into normal sinus rhythm occurred in 48% of patients with arrhythmia developed after mitral valve surgery.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 대한전자공학회 2002년도 하계종합학술대회 논문집(5)
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• pp.265-268
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• 2002

For accurate interpretation, ECG signal is measured by using 12 leads method. We look shape of Measured ECG signal and decide whether interpretation is accurate or not. In this paper, we propose new effective fuzzy decision system which uses fuzzy rules and membership functions for more accurate of ECG wave. We used PR interval, QRS interval and QRS axis as conditional variables for designing fuzzy rules. And decision rule of conclusion variable is determined by (sinus rhythm), (sinus rhythm+left deviation), (sinus rhythm+right deviation) and (sinus rhythm+negative axis). Experimental results showed our system made numerically easy decision possible and had advantage of simple design method.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.368-370
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• 2013

Post-stroke atrial fibrillation has been frequently reported especially in the patients with right insular infarct as an evidence of cerebrogenic mechanism affecting on cardiac rhythm. However, conversion to normal sinus rhythm after stroke in patients who had atrial fibrillation has not been reported. A 88-year-old men who had untreated atrial fibrillation was admitted to hospital due to left middle cerebral artery territory infarction. During admission, second ischemic attack occurred in right middle cerebral artery territory. At that time, his atrial fibrillation converted spontaneously to normal sinus rhythm. Restored sinus rhythm sustained until he died due to sepsis. This case is evidence supporting a theory that brain is associated with control of cardiac rhythm. If no risk factor is revealed by intensive investigation in patients with acute cerebral infarctions that cardioembolism is strongly suspected as a cause, physicians should concern transformation of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm after stroke.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.679-691
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• 1985

Ninety patients underwent mitral valvular heart surgery associated with or without aortic valve surgery and subjected to a clinical study in relation to their control of postoperative atrial fibrillation. There were 26 males and 64 females ranged in age from 16 to 56 years with a mean of 35.2 years. Systemic arterial embolizations were observed in 11 patients [12.2%]. Four patients of them were in normal sinus rhythm and 7 in atrial fibrillation. Out of these, left atrial thrombi were found only in 2 at the operation. Intraoperatively confirmed left atrial thrombi were in 16 patients [17.7%] of all 90 patients: Eleven patients occurred at the age of more than 40 years, 14 were in atrial fibrillation and 2 only had previous episodes of systemic arterial embolization. Sixty three patients underwent isolated mitral valve surgery [OMC 28, MVR 35] and 27 patients associated with aortic valve surgery along with mitral valve [OMC+AVR 13, MVR+AVR 14]. Preoperatively, 44 patients [48.9%] were in normal sinus rhythm. Of them, 35 patients [79.5%] revealed normal sinus rhythm thoroughly after operation without any aid of digitalis or quinidine and 5 patients [11.4%] restored normal sinus rhythm with digitalization alone. Other 3 patients converted to normal sinus rhythm with the addition of quinidine, however, in 1 patient who was resistant to quinidine therapy, electrocardioversion was carried out on the postoperative third week showing normal sinus rhythm. Thus, the most atrial fibrillations that occurred for the first time in the postoperative period, were able to reverted to normal sinus rhythm responding well to antiarrhythmic therapy. Preoperatively, 46 patients [51.1%] were in atrial fibrillation. Of them, only 5 patients returned to sinus rhythm after operation without any aid of digitalis or quinidine and other 5 restored normal sinus rhythm with digitalization: namely 2 restored within early postoperative period and 3 after more than 3 months. Eight patients well responded to quinidine therapy showing normal Sinus rhythm. So far, 25 patients have remained in persistent atrial fibrillation on 6 to 36 months follow-up. In view of these, 17 patients [68%] were over 40 years of age, 22[80%] had long duration of symptom over 5 years and 10[40%] have had atrial thrombi before operation. Left atrial dimension were still more than 40mm in 21 patients on follow up M-mode echocardiogram. One month after operation, 87 hospital survivors were improved by at least one functional NYHA class. There were 3 operative deaths [3.3%, bleeding 1, LCOS 2] and 4 late deaths [LCOS 1, valve thrombosis 1, late bleeding 1, fulminant hepatitis 1] during follow-up period. According to our limited experience, we may conclude that better results will be expected with the addition of quinidine therapy judiciously in the cases of postoperative persistent atrial fibrillation who were aged or had longer history of symptom and left atrial thrombi.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.249-254
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• 1993

Atrial fibrillation is commonly associated with organic mitral valve disease including rheumatic valvular heart diasease or mitral valve prolapse and so forth. Although spontaneous sinus reversion may occur in some patients after mitral valve operation, recurrence of atrial fibrillation is the rule in most of these patients. We have tried to maintain sinus rhythm after mital valve operation with oral quinidine therapy, and we will show the efficacy of this therapy in this report. From January 1986 to August 1992, 60 patients of mitral valvular heart disease, who had had atrial fibrillation preoperatively and gained sinus rhythm postoperatively, were selected for this study. These patients were divided into 2 groups: Control group [n=30] and Quinidine trial group [n=30]. The age,sex, duration of symptoms,left atrial size and other risk factors of the reversion to atrial fibrillation were adjusted to be similar between the two groups. The maintenance rate of sinus rhythm was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and the rate was significantly higher in quinidine trial group than in control group [ p=0.0001 ]. Univariate analysis was performed on the risk factors of reversion to atrial fibrillation, and the difference of maintenance rate between the two groups were corrected with this result: the difference was still statistically significant [ p=0.0205 ]. The quinidine levels were measured in postoperative days, and there were no difference of serum quinidine level between the quinidine success group and quinidine failure group. In conslusion, oral quinidine therapy was effective for the maintenance of sinus rhythm after mitral valve operation compared to control group, and there was no correlation between the serum quinidine level and clinical efficacy of quinidine therpy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.358-366
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• 2014

Background: To improve sinus rhythm conversion, the Cox maze III procedure with narrow mazes (width: ${\leq}3.0cm$) was performed in combination with left atrial volume reduction. Methods: From October 2007 to April 2013, 87 patients with atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal in 3, persistent in 14, and permanent in 70) underwent the Cox maze procedure concomitant with another cardiac procedure. They were followed-up with serial electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies. We used 24-hour Holter monitoring tests to evaluate postoperatively symptomatic patients. Results: At the mean follow-up time of 36.4 months, 81 patients (94.2%) had sinus rhythm and two were on anti-arrhythmic medication (one on a beta-blocker and the other on amiodarone). Five patients (5.8%) with postoperative recurrent and persistent atrial fibrillation never experienced sinus rhythm conversion; however, they did not require any medication for rate control. On postoperative echocardiography, the left atrial A waves were more frequently observed after concomitant mitral valve repair than after concomitant mitral valve replacement (82.4% vs. 40.4%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusion: For the Cox maze procedure, narrow mazes and atrial volume reduction resulted in excellent sinus rhythm conversion without the preventive use of anti-arrhythmic drugs, and they did not affect the presence of the left atrial A waves on echocardiography.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.231-243
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• 1984

Despite its known limitation in the diagnostic value, the electrocardiography is one of the most common and routine examinations in the management of the patients with cardiac problems. The clinical results of 291 patients who underwent isolated mitral valve replacement from October 1978 to June 1983 were already reported. Their electrocardiograms were studied to assess the value of electrocardiographic examination in following the patients after valve replacement. The patients were divided into 5 groups beforehand according to the types of valve lesion on the bases of preoperative diagnosis and operative findings: Groups I: stenosis, I1: stenosis-dominant mixed, II1: equally mixed, IV: insufficiency-dominant mixed, and V: insufficiency. Their preoperative cardiac rhythm was sinus in 39.2% and atrial fibrillation in 59.1% of the patients. Seventy-three [42.4%] of the patients with atrial fibrillation gained sinus rhythm after operation, occurring in 67 from the day of surgery, and 42 returned to atrial fibrillation while 37 kept sinus rhythm at the follow-up end [mean follow-up period, 13.4\ulcorner1.4 months]. The P waves on the electrocardiograms of the preoperative sinus rhythm in 114 patients were normal in 5.3% and the findings of left atrial enlargement in 94.7% of the cases. They were normal in 42.1% and the findings of left atrial enlargement in 57.9% of the 140 patients with sinus rhythm at the follow-up. The preoperative major chamber enlargement was the right ventricle in Group I while it was the left ventricle in Group V, and it was in-between in Groups II-IV. The postoperative regression of the findings in ventricular enlargement was statistically significant only in Groups I and V. These results may suggest the importance of the serial electrocardiograms in following the patients with mitral valve replacement on the bases of outpatient. The electrocardiographic follow-up data were presented in patients with suspected or proved tissue valve failures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.59-65
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• 1998

Atrial fibrillation is the most common of all cardiac arrhythmias. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is frequently resistant to medical therapy. On the experimental and clinical study, the presence of macroreentrant circuits and the absence of either microreentrant circuits or evidence of atrial automaticity suggests that atrial fibrillation should be amenable to surgical ablation. The results of the maze III procedure are associated with a higher incidence of postoperative sinus rhythm, improved long-term sinus node function, fewer pacemaker requirements, less arrhythmia recurrence, and improved long-term atrial transport function. We had experienced 4 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. For the first time, Hioki procedure had been performed in the first patient with ASD and atrial fibrillation, regular sinus rhythm showed on postoperative EKG, but junctional rhythm and bradycardia developed postoperative 3 years. The maze III procedure for the rest with mitral valvular disease and atrial fibrillation had been done, followed by regular sinus rhythm for 2 patients and atrial fibrillation for 1 patient, managed with amiodarone, on immediate postoperative state. Echocardiogram documented good contraction of right atrium and hardly contraction of left atrium for 2 patients with regular sinus rhythm postoperative 3 months.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.347-352
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• 1999

Background: The atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valvular heart disease is frequently converted to sinus rhythm after the mitral valve surgery. This sinus restoration implies an important meaning in that it not only helps postoperative convalescence in patients with unstable hemodynamics but also reduces the rate of postoperative thromboembolism. Material and Method: We retrospectively analyzed 184 patients who received mitral valve surgery from June 1986 to December 1996 to investigate the trend of rhythm change following mitral valve surgery and thus to clarify the predisposing factors of postoperative sinus rhythm conversion and its maintenance. Result: The sinus rhythm was restored after the operation in 54 out of 139 patients with atrial fibrillation preoperatively(38.8%). However, the atrial fibrillation recurred in 41 patients at the time of discharge showing a recurrence rate of 75.9 percent. The mean duration of sinus rhythm in patients with eventual atrial fibrillation recurrence was 8.2${\pm}$5.9 days. Only 15 patients were in sinus rhythm at the time of late follow-up with the mean follow-up period of 84.4${\pm}$34.7 months. While the age, duration of symptoms, duration of atrial fibrillation, left atral size, and pulmonary artery pressure were thought to be the predisposing factors for sinus conversion after the operation, only the duration of atrial fibrillation and ejection fraction were considered risk factors for the recurrence of the atrial fibrillation following sinus conversion. Conclusion: This study suggests that the early operation is mandatory for the satisfactory result regarding postoperative rhythm. Moreover, additional operative measure in adjunct to the intervention of mitral valve should be considered for the maintenance of restored sinus rhythm as reflected by high postoperative recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.31-37
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• 1972

The right cervical vagus nerve was electrically stimulated for 30 sec, and 30 minutes recording cardiac rate responses and electrocardiogram. The main purposes of the present experiment are to determine effect of stimulation frequency on the maintenance of cardiac rate responses and to determine recovery time of sinus rhythm after asystole period followed by idioventricular rhythm during prolonged electrical stimulation of the vagus, and the optimal stimulation parameters for vagal stimulation were studied as well. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The maximum negative chrontropic responses were obtained with the following ranges of electrical parameters. Intensity: 3V-7V, Frequency: 20/sec-60/sec, and pulse duration: 5 msec-20 msec. 2. Compared with the responses from sympathetic effectors, cardiac rate responses to electrical stimulation of vagus nerve were well maintained with all stimulation frequencies. 3. At all stimulation frequencies except 20/sec, sinus node started to take over primary pacemaker activity when cardiac rates were restored to about 38-40/min. 4. It was indicated that upper limit of idioventricular rhythm does not exceed 38-40/min. 5. With the stimulation parameter set of 20/sec-5 msec-3 V, sinus rhythm did not appear during 30 minutes of stimulation period. Therefore, this electrical parameter set appears to be optimal for elicitation of prolonged and maximum cardiac rate responses by vagal stimulation.