BACKGROUND: Discrete subaortic stenosis is known to recur frequently even after surgical resection. We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative and postoperative changes in pressure gradient through left ventricular outflow tract, and the recurrence rate. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between September 1984 and December 2004, 34 patients underwent surgical treatment. Mean age of patients was 17.1+/-15.2 years and 19 patients (55.9%) were male. 16 patients (47.1%) had previous operations and associated diseases were aortic regurgitation (11), coarctation of aorta (3), and others. RESULT: Immediate postoperative peak pressure gradient was significantly lower than preoperative peak pressure gradient (21.8 mmHg vs 75.8 mmHg, p<0.01). Peak pressure gradient measured after 50.3 months of follow up was 20.2 mmHg, which was also significantly lower than that of preoperative value but not significantly different from that of immediate postoperative value. There was no surgical mortality but one patient developed cerebral infarction. Mean follow up duration was 69.8+/-54.6 months. During this period, 5 patients (14.7%) had reoperation, 3 (8.8%) of whom were due to recurred subaortic stenosis. We found no risk factors for recurrence and survival for free from reoperation was 76.4%. CONCLUSION: Excision of subaortic membrane combined with or without myectomy in discrete subaortic stenosis showed sufficient relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with low mortality and morbidity, but careful long term follow up is necessary for recurrence, since it is not predictable.
Aortic Coarctation ; Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Discrete Subaortic Stenosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Surgery for mitral valve disease in children carries both technical and clinical difficulties that are due to both the wide spectrum of morphologic abnormalities and the high incidence of associated cardiac anomalies. The purpose of this study is to assess the outcome of mitral valve surgery for treating congenital mitral regurgitation in children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 1997 to 2007, 22 children (mean age: 5.4 years) who had congenital mitral regurgitation underwent mitral valve repair. The median age of the patients was 5.4 years old and four patients (18%) were under 12 months of age. 15 patients (68%) had cardiac anomalies. There were 13 cases of ventricular septal defect, 1 case of atrial septal defect and 1 case of supravalvar aortic stenosis. The grade of the preoperative mitral valve regurgitation was II in 4 patients, III in 15 patients and IV in 3. The regurgitation was due to leaflet prolapse in 12 patients, annular dilatation in 4 patients and restrictive leaflet motion in 5 patients. The preoperative MV Z-value and the regurgitation grade were compared with those obtained at follow-up. RESULT: MV repair was possible in all the patients. 19 patients required reduction annuloplasty and 18 patients required valvuloplasty that included shortening of the chordae, papillary muscle splitting, artificial chordae insertion and cleft closure. There were no early or late deaths. The mitral valve regurgitation after surgery was improved in all patients (absent=10, grade I=5, II=5, III=2). MV repair resulted in reduction of the mitral valve Z-value (2.2+/-.1 vs. 0.7+/-.3, respectively, p<0.01). During the mid-term follow-up period of 3.68 years, reoperation was done in three patients (one with repair and two with replacement) and three patients showed mild progression of their mitral regurgitation. CONCLUSION: Our experience indicates that mitral valve repair in children with congenital mitral valve regurgitation is an effective and reliable surgical method with a low reoperation rate. A good postoperative outcome can be obtained by preoperatively recognizing the intrinsic mitral valve pathophysiology detected on echocardiography and with the well-designed, aggressive application of the various reconstruction techniques.
Aortic Stenosis, Supravalvular ; Child ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Papillary Muscles ; Prolapse ; Reoperation

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is one of the most prevalent of all arrhythmias and in up to 79% of the patients with mitral valve disease. This study examined whether the atrial fibrillation that occur in patients with mitral valve operation could be eliminated by a concommitant maze operation without cryoablation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From May 1997 to April 1998, 14 patients with atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease underwent Maze III operation without cryoablation. Preoperatively there were 6 men and 8 women with an average age of 46.2+/-10.7 years. Eleven patients had mitral stenosis, and three had mitral insufficiency. The associated heart diseases were aortic valve disease in 4, tricuspid valve regurgitation in 1 and ASD in 2. Using transthoracic echocardiography, the mean left atrial diameters was 54.7+/-5.3 mm and thrombi were found in the left atrium of 2 patients. Postoperatively the ratio between the peak speed of the early filling wave and that of the atrial contraction wave (A/E ratio) was determined from transmitral flow measurement. Operations were mitral valve replacement in 13 including 4 aortic valve replacements, 1 DeVega annuloplasty and 2 ASD closures. Maze III operation was performed in 1 patient. RESULT: Five patients (38%) had recurred atrial fibrillation, which was reversed with flecainide or amiodarone at the average time of postoperative 38.8+/-23.5 days. Postoperative complications were postoperative transient junctional rhythm in 6, transient atrial fibrillation in 5, reoperation for bleeding in 3, postpericardiotomy syndrome(1), unilateral vocal cord palsy(1), postoperative psychosis(1), and myocardial infarction(1). Postoperatively A/E ratio was 0.43+/-0.22 and A wave found in 9(64%) patients. 3 to 14 months postoperatively (average follow- up, 8.1 months), all of patients had normal sinus rhythm and 9(64%) patients had left atrial contraction and 11(79%) patients were not on a regimen of antiarrhythmic medication. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Maze III operation without cryoablation is an effective surgical treatment in atrial fibrillation associated with the mitral valve disease.
Amiodarone ; Aortic Valve ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cryosurgery* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Flecainide ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Vocal Cords

Cardiac arrhythmia which was observed during 5 years and 10 months from September 1975 to June 1981 on 11, 273 ECG records of the pediatric patients were analysed. Simple sinus arrhythmia and bundle branch blocks were excluded from this study. 602 cases of arrhythmia were seen among the 11,273 cases(5.3%). The types of arrhythmia in the order of frequency are: A-V block ectopic beat, multifocal rhythm, paroxysmal tachycardia, A-V junctional rhythm. A-V dissocation, atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation and escape beat. The main underlying causes of the serious cardiac arrhythmia were congenital heart disease, open heart surgery, rhematic heart disease, cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.
Arrhythmia, Sinus ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cardiomyopathies ; Child* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant* ; Myocarditis ; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal ; Thoracic Surgery ; United Nations ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Discrete subaortic stenos is one of the subtype of congenital left ventricular outflow obstruction and frequently associated with other defect such as ventricular septal defect, coarctation of the aorta, inturrupted aortic arch, double-chambered right ventricle and atrioventricular canal. It is progressive disease from the neonatal period and can be a cause of secondary endocarditis or aortic regurgitation. The authors have experienced a case of discrete subaortic stenosis without other associated lesions in 8 years old male patient who has complained chest discomfort. The diagnosis was established by the findings of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. We report this case with a brief review of related literatures.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Coarctation ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Discrete Subaortic Stenosis* ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Thorax ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

Combined double chambered right ventricle(DCRV) and discrete subaortic stenosis(DSAS) is a rare entity on which only 12 cases have been reported in the literature. We presented a case of combined DCRV and DSAS in an 18 year old girl. She had type II(thin membranous type) DSAS and the peak systolic prssure gradient between aorta and left ventricle was 38 mmHg. Aberrant muscle bundle was found on the right ventriculography and the pressure gradient in the right ventricle was 35 mmHg. She also had aortic regurgitation, persistent left sided superior vena cava and extracardiac malformations such as kyphoscoliosis and congenital cloacal anomaly.
Adolescent ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Discrete Subaortic Stenosis* ; Female ; Heart Ventricles* ; Humans ; Vena Cava, Superior

Supravalvular aortic stenosis is an uncommon, congenital narrowing of the ascending aorta which originates just distal to the level of the ostium of the coronary artery. We conducted a successful surgical treatment in a 39 year- old female patient with a congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation who did not show signs of William's syndrome. After we performed an inverted Y-shaped aortotomy toward the noncoronary sinus and right coronary sinus, pantaloon shaped prosthetic patch(Vascutek, Ino, USA) was used to repair the narrowing sinotubular junction. The aortic valve was replaced concommittently using Sorin Bicarbon 19mm. Her postoperative course was uneventful. The patient discharged at 9th postoperative day in good health.
Aorta ; Aortic Stenosis, Supravalvular* ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was performed in order to analyze the incidence of postoperative cardiovascular complications in patients who had undergone hip surgery and to identify risk factors associated with these complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,390 patients who had undergone hip surgery from 1998 to 2008 were divided into case or control groups according to occurrence of postoperative cardiovascular complications. Both groups were sorted and analyzed by age, gender, mode of operation, bilaterality and history of preoperative cardiovascular disease. Postoperative cardiovascular complication was defined as having any condition including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, unstable angina, arrhythmia, hypotension, or pulmonary thromboembolism during the surgical admission period. RESULTS: Forty three out of 1,390 patients(3.1%) experienced cardiovasucular complications and 1 patient (0.07%) died. Increasing patient age (P=0.001), history of bilateral hip surgery (P=0.000), hypertension (P=0.002), coronary artery disease (P=0.000) or valvular heart disease (P=0.010), and ASA category 3 (P=0.000) were all associated with significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSION: Intensive preoperative management though adequate hypertension control and prevention of coronary artery occlusive disease for patients who are elderly or receiving bilateral operation will help decrease the incidence of postoperative cardiovascular complications after hip surgery.
Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart Failure ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Hip ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Risk Factors

One case of Tachycardia-Bradycardia Syndrome was reported with brief review. A 42 year old woman was admitted to Seoul national University Hospital because of palpitation and dizziness. She had had the intermittent episodes of such attacks for 4 years. The electrocardiogram checked 3 days prior to admission showed atrial fibrillation but the electrocardiogram at admission revealed irregular bradycardia with wandering pacemaker. The patient had complained palpitation and dizziness throughout the hospital days, but only one attack of Adams-Stokes Syndrome was developed. She was improved symptomatically by isoproterenol infusion during the hospital course.
Adams-Stokes Syndrome ; Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Bradycardia ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; Seoul

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Unstable angina is an inhomogenous syndrome. A substantial percentage of patients, ranging from 12 to 30% in most series, develops acute myocardial infarction or dies suddenly soon after their hospitalization, while the remainder have a benign prognosis without adverse coronary events. Unstable angina is a complex condition such as angina at rest, crescendo angina, new onset angina and postinfarction angina. These variable clinical presentations suggest that unstable angina have a heterogenous pathogenesis and prognosis. We divided unstable angina into 5 groups and studied the relationship between clinical presentations and coronary angiographic morphology. METHODS: One hundred sixty six patients were selected from the patients who were diagnosed as an unstable angina between January 1989 and March 1991, at Hallym University Hospital. Angiography was performed in patient with typical angina symptoms and transient ECG changes of myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiogram was done as usual method. Calcification of coronary artery as well as the presence of collateral circulation were recorded. Ergonovine test was performed in patients with near normal or normal angiogram. Coronary lesions were morphologically classified as follows; type A is simple lesion such as symmetric, concentric narrowing and smooth border. and type B is complex lesion such as asymmetric, eccentric, ulcerated narrowing and irregular border. RESULTS: These groups were classified as follows; Group I(represented the patients with angina at rest but typical Prinzmetal angina was excluded) 30 patients, Group II(represented the patients with crescendo angina) 24 patients, Group III(represented the patients with new onset angina) 62 patients, Group IVA(represented the patients with early postinfarction angina within 2 weeks after AMI) 34 patients, Group IVB(represented the patients with delayed postinfarction angina) 16 patients, There were no significant differences in age and sex among the 5 groups. Locations of involved vessel were similar among the five groups, and left anterior descending artery was most frequently(mean 60%) involved. Single vessel disease was frequently observed in new onset angina and early postinfarction angina(Group III*, IVa** 48%, 65% VS Group II, IVB 25%, 19% respectively, *p<0.05, **p<0.005) whereas multivessel disease was frequent in crescendo angina and delayed postinfarction angina(Group II, IVB 51%, 76% VS Group II, IVA 16%, 27% respectively, p<0.005). More than two third of patients with unstable angina had complex B lesion of coronary artery (77%), but in new onset angina simple A lesion was frequently observed (Group III 45% VS Group I, IVA, IVB 16%, 10%, 13% respectively, p<0.05). The frequency of calcification increased in early postinfarction angina(Group IVA 18% VS Group III 3%, p<0.05). The frequency of coronary collateral circulation increased in cresendo angina, early postinfarction and delayed postinfarcion angina(Group II*, IVA*, IVB** 38%, 35%, 50% VS Group III 10% respectively, *p<0.005.**p<0.0001). Incidence of coronary vasospasm was higher in resting angina than the others(Group I*, III 30%, 19% VS Group II, IVA 4%, 6% respectively, *p<0.02). The coronary vasospasm was frequently observed in an insignificant lesion(insignificant lesion/total vasopasm: 12/24(50%)). Early postinfarction angina had frequent intracoronary thrombus in infact-related artery(incidence of thrombus : Group IVA*, IVB 21%, 13% VS Group I, II, III 3%, 4%, 5% respectively, *p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients with unstable angina pectoris may be heterogeneous groups. Coronary angiography must be performed in patients with unstable angina, in order to classify the clinical correlates with each possible angiogrphic finding that could affect treatment modality and outcome of cardiac events.
Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Angina, Unstable* ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer