• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1987

Twenty six patients were operated a total correction of tetralogy of Fallot between Jan., 1984 and July, 1985 at the Dept. of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chonnam University Medical School, and a comparison between the survived group [n = 18] and the dead group [n = B was performed to detect factors influencing laboratory data, cineangiographic findings, operative findings and methods, and pump time. Following results were obtained, 1. There was no significant difference between two groups in the preoperative P.O2 and hematocrit level. 2. The size of the interventricular defect was not related to the operative mortality. 3. There was a significant difference in mortality rate between combined type of stenosis of pulmonary artery, valve and infundibulum and other types of right ventricular outflow tract stenosis. 4. There was a significant difference in mortality rate between the transannular patch reconstruction and other types of operative procedure. 5. There was no significant difference between two groups in total bypass time and aortic time. 6. There was no significant difference between two groups in left ventricular end diastolic volume and right ventricular end diastolic volume. 7. The operative mortality was related to the ratio of the diameter of the pulmonary valve annulus or each pulmonary artery to the ascending or descending aorta in cineangiographic findings, but there was no statistical significance of which probably is due to the lack of the total number of patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 1988

Ten patients with tetralogy of Fallot were studied angiocardiographically before a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and again 25*3.2 months after the previous shunt. All of ten patients had patent previous shunt at the time of follow up examination. Pre-and postoperative diameters of left and right pulmonary artery and descending aorta were measured and pulmonary artery index [the sum of the crossectional areas of the right and left pulmonary arteries standardized by the body surface area] was calculated. The ratio of mean diameter of left and right pulmonary arteries to the diameter of the descending aorta [LPA+RPA/2xDA] was increased postoperatively by 0.20*0.068 [p=0.020]. Mean PAI [pulmonary artery index] increased from 283.8*178.4 mm/m2 BSA to 345.8~144.5 mm/m2 BSA after shunt operation [p=0.019]. This results suggested that the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was effective to help growth of the pulmonary arteries in most cases of the study populations but the ones with the PAI>233mm*/m* BSA appeared less benefited by Blalock Taussig shunt. Calculation of PAI could be an aid to making a decision whether to perform a one stage corrective surgical procedure or a palliative shunt procedure in the patient with small pulmonary arteries.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.627-634
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• 2003

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.661-667
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was performed to find the chief clinical problems associated with the ages of adult patients of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) who had undergone total correction. Methods : Of the 30 patients who were registered at the Grown-Up Congenital Heart Disease (GUCH) Clinic of Samsung Medical Center for TOF, a retrospective investigation was carried out on 28 patients who underwent total correction. Results : Mean age at retrospective study was 30.8(range : 16-53) years old. Age at total correction was 15.8(range : 2-49) years old. Problems after corrective surgery were assessed. They were arrhythmia, pulmonary valve regurgitation, left pulmonary artery stenosis, residual ventricular septal defect, mitral valve regurgitation, tricuspid valve regurgitation, right ventricle outflow tract obstruction, aortic valve regurgitation, infective endocarditis and protein losing enteropathy. After repair of TOF, such arrhythmias as atrial arrhythmia and AV conduction disturbances were observed in some patients. Cardiomegaly was found significantly in the subjects with arrhythmia(P<0.05), and arrhythmia was less observed in patients who underwent surgery at a young age. Eight patients required a reoperation; the main indications were residual ventricular septal defect, right ventricle outflow tract obstruction and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis. Conclusion : The majority of the patients seemed to live normal lives after Tetralogy of Fallot repair. However, as residual anatomic and functional abnormalities exist postoperatively, continued careful follow-up is needed to detect and correct structural and functional abnormalities.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.365-369
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• 2011

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) assumes its' most severe form when accompanied by pulmonary atresia (PA). Preserving the patent ductus arteriosus to maintain pulmonary blood flow is life-saving for patients with this congenital heart disease. Milrinone, a selective phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, is a potent vasodilator. Here, we report the successful use of milrinone for a newborn infant with TOF and PA for keeping the ductus arteriosus open and thereby maintaining pulmonary circulation. Milrinone is a useful drug because of its inotropic, lusitropic, and pulmonary vasodilating effects, in addition to its ability to keep the ductus arteriosus open and its relatively mild side-effects. Case series and comparative studies will be needed in the future to verify the effectiveness of this drug.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1982

The present study was performed to evaluate hemodynamic effects on the pericardial patch graft for stenosis of right ventricle outflow tract in 19 patients of tetralogy of Fallot. The stenosis of right ventricle outflow tract was associated with or without pulmonary annular nar-rowing, pulmonary valvular stenosis, and hypoplastic narrowing of pulmonary artery. Total correction of tetralogy of Fallot was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia and cardioplegic cardiac arrest. Ventricular septal defects were closed with Teflon patch graft. The chamber pressures in the heart were measured before and after a total correction of tetralogy of Fallot. The data of pressure measurement and the results of postoperative observation of pericardial patch were as followings: 1. Systolic and diastolic pressure of right ventricle was decreased after operation from $96.0{\pm}14.7/10.0{\pm}14.4mmHg$ to $61.0{\pm}13.1/8.0{\pm}9.3mmHg$. 2. Systolic and diastolic pressure of pulmonary artery was increased after operation from $18.0{\pm}5.6/10.0{\pm}5.5mmHg$ to $31.0{\pm}10.7/14.0{\pm}4.9mmHg$. 3. Preoperative pressure gradient between right ventricle and pulmonary artery was decreased immediately after operation from 78.0mmHg to 30.0mmHg. 4. It was observed that excellent widening effects of right ventricle outflow tract was resulted from pericardial patch graft. 5. No postoperative bleeding from pericardial patch graft was observed. 6. Aneurysm formation of pericardial patch was not be observed during 1 to 6 years postoperative periods.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a well-recognized congenital heart disease. Despite improvements in the outcomes of surgical repair, the optimal timing of surgery and type of surgical management of patients with TOF remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes following the repair of TOF in infants depending on the surgical procedure used. Methods: This study involved the retrospective review of 120 patients who underwent TOF repair between 2010 and 2013. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the surgical procedure that they underwent. Corrective surgery was done via the transventricular approach (n=40), the transatrial approach (n=40), or a combined atrioventricular approach (n=40). Demographic data and the outcomes of the surgical procedures were compared among the groups. Results: In the atrioventricular group, the incidence of the following complications was found to be significantly lower than in the other groups: complete heart block (p=0.034), right ventricular failure (p=0.027) and mediastinal bleeding (p=0.007). Patients in the atrioventricular group had a better postoperative right ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed among the three surgical groups in the occurrence of tachycardia, renal failure, and tricuspid incompetence. The one-year survival rates in the three groups were 95%, 90%, and 97.5%, respectively (p=0.395). Conclusion: Combined atrioventricular repair of TOF in infancy can be safely performed, with acceptable surgical risk, a low incidence of reoperation, good ventricular function outcomes, and an excellent survival rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.235-241
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• 2013

Repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has shown excellent outcomes. However it leaves varying degrees of residual hemodynamic impairment, with severe pulmonary stenosis (PS) and free pulmonary regurgitation (PR) at both ends of the spectrum. Since the 1980s, studies evaluating late outcomes after TOF repair revealed the adverse impacts of residual chronic PR on RV volume and function; thus, a turnaround of operational strategies has occurred from aggressive RV outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction for complete relief of RVOT obstruction to conservative RVOT reconstruction for limiting PR. This transformation has raised the question of how much residual PS after conservative RVOT reconstruction is acceptable. Besides, as pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) increases in patients with RV deterioration from residual PR, there is concern regarding when it should be performed. Regarding residual PS, several studies revealed that PS in addition to PR was associated with less PR and a small RV volume. This suggests that PS combined with PR makes RV diastolic property to protect against dilatation through RV hypertrophy and supports conservative RVOT enlargement despite residual PS. Also, several studies have revealed the pre-PVR threshold of RV parameters for the normalization of RV volume and function after PVR, and based on these results, the indications for PVR have been revised. Although there is no established strategy, better understanding of RV mechanics, development of new surgical and interventional techniques, and evidence for the effect of PVR on RV reverse remodeling and its late outcome will aid us to optimize the management of TOF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2014

Background: Our objectives were to review our institutional early and midterm experience with primary tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair, and identify predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity. Methods: We analyzed perioperative and midterm follow-up data for all cases of primary TOF repair from 2001 to 2012. The primary endpoint was early mortality and morbidity, and the secondary endpoint was survival and functional status at follow-up. Results: Ninety-seven patients underwent primary repair. The median age was 4.9 months (range, 1 to 9 months), and the median weight was 5.3 kg (range, 3.1 to 9.8 kg). There was no early surgical mortality. The incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia and persistent complete heart block was 2% and 1%, respectively. The median length of ICU stay was 6 days (range, 2 to 21 days), and the median duration of mechanical ventilation was 19 hours (range, 0 to 136 hours). By multiple regression analysis, age and weight were independent predictors of the length of ICU stay, while the surgical era was an independent predictor of the duration of mechanical ventilation. At the 8-year follow-up, freedom from death and re-intervention was 97% and 90%, respectively. Conclusion: Primary TOF repair is a safe procedure with low mortality and morbidity in a medium-sized program with outcomes comparable to national standards. Age and weight at the time of surgery remain significant predictors of morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 1978

There appears some conduction defects frequently after total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. Common defect is right bundle branch block due to surgical intervention. We experienced complete A-V block which occured 3 months later after total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot in a 8 year old boy. The patient was completely free of any A-V block after the operation for 3 months, and sudden onset of A-V block with coupled premature ventricular contractions resulted him in shock state during the attack of severe bronchopneumonia for 4 days prior to the second visit. Emergency implantation of Cordis demand type temporary pacemaker was necessary to control the complete heart block with bradyarrhythmia and frequent ventricular fibrillation. Permanent cardiac pacemaker was implanted two weeks later as indicated with Cordis Stanicor lambda demand pacemaker, and the patient was discharged uneventfully on the 8th post implantation day with the heart rate of 72/min. Another 3 months after the implantation, the patient was transported to this hospital as dead on arrival after an accidental fall from a 2 meter height, and all possible cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 60 minutes at the emergency room in vain. Autopsy was done to find out the cause of sudden death and the etiology of complete heart block. Microscopic focal infarctions with scar formation were noted along the course of conduction system in the interventricular septum, which might be the main cause of complete heart block during the attack of severe bronchopneumonia complicated with acute bacterial endocarditis. The tip of the pacemaker wire was slipped from the granulation scar at the apex of the right ventricular cavity, and this might be the direct cause of pacing failure and death.