Between January, 1991 and May 1995, mitral valve repair was undertaken on 32 patients under 15 years for congenital mitral regurgitation. Mean age was 24.0+/-26.1 months(range 3 months to 15 years), 16 patients were male and 16 patients were female associated cardiac anomalies were found in 26 patients (81%), and ventricular septal defects were noted in 18 patients(56%). In regards to pathologic findings, there were annular dilatation(n:7), leaflet prolapse(n=18), cleft leaflet(n=5) and restricted valve motion (n=2). The method of repair consisted of annuloplasty(Modif ed Devega type) in 14, repair of redundunt leaflet in 6, closure of cleft in 5, triangular resection in 2 and splitting of papillary muscle in one. There was no operative mortality and two late deaths occurred as a result of heart failure and sepsis. Tro patients required replacement of the mitral valve after 3 months and 7 months respectivehy because of recurrent mitral regurgitation. Actuarial survival was 92.5% at 46 months and actuarial freedom from reoperation was 95% at 12 months and 92.5% at 46 months. Actuarial freedom from valve repair failure was 68% at 12 months and 61.8% at 46 months. Although valve repair failure rate was high, we believe that mitral valve repair should be of rcrred to children because of low mortality and low reoperation rate.
Child* ; Female ; Freedom ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mortality ; Papillary Muscles ; Reoperation ; Sepsis

Treatment of esophageal perforation when diagnosed late remains controversial. Ten consecutive patients since 1990 were treated late (later than 24 hours) for esophageal perforation with primary repair. Four perforations were iatrogenic, 3 were spontaneous, 2 were foreign body aspiraton and 1 was trauma. The interval from perforation to operation was 116 hours in mean and 48 hours in median value. The principles of repair included (1) a local esophagomyotomy proximal and distal to the tear to expose the mucosal defect and intact mucosa beyond, (2) debridement of the mucosal defect and closure, (3) reapproximation of the muscle, and (4) adequate drainage. The repair was buttressed with parietal pleura or pericardial fat in 9 patients. Associated distal obstruction was treated with dilation and esophagomyotomy intraoperatively. There was one mortality and cause of death was massive gastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer on 33rd day after operation. Five patients had leak at the site of repair and these cases were treated completely with conservative treatment except a mortality case. In conclusion, in the absence of malignant or irreversible distal obstruction, meticulous repair of perforated esophagus and adequate drainage are preferred approach, regardless of the duration from the injury to the operation.
Cause of Death ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Mucous Membrane ; Pleura ; Rupture* ; Stomach Ulcer

BACKGROUND: This is a retrospective study of 42 pregnancies from 33 women with prosthetic heart valves who were on anticoagulation regimen prior to or during their pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Of the 17 women with bioprosthesis, 15 had 21 pregnancies following cessation of the anticoagulation therapy which resulted in the delivery of 20 healthy babies and 1 abortion. Remaining 2 had 3 pregnancies maintained with heparin, resulting in 2 healthy babies and 1 spontaneous abortion. RESULT: Among 16 women with mechanical heart valves, there were 7 pregnancies during which warfarin was used and this was associated with 4 fetal wastages(2 therapeutic abortion, 1 spontaneous abortion and 1 stillbirth with cerebral hemorrhage). However, in pregnancies where heparin was used, there was no fetal wastage. A patient who did not take anticoagulant for the first trimester and took warfarin for the remaining period and a patient who did not take anticoagulant during pregnancy delivered normal babies. There was an other fetal wastage in a patient on anti-platelet therapy for the first trimester and warfarin therapy for the remaining periods. There was 1 minor petechial complication in a heparin administered group. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that woman with bioprosthetic heart valves can go through pregnancy without undue risks or complications. On the other hand, the use of warfarin during pregnancy in women with mechanical heart valves, was shown to be associated with unacceptable high risk for the fetus. However, in the same group of women, judicious use of heparin during pregnancy was accompanied by a much reduced risk. The safety and adequate therapeutic range of heparin usage under such circumstances are subject to further studies.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Abortion, Therapeutic ; Bioprosthesis ; Female ; Fetus ; Hand ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves* ; Heart* ; Heparin ; Humans ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stillbirth ; Warfarin

A two-year-old spayed female pug presented with symmetrical hyperpigmented alopecic lesions on her axillary and inguinal regions. There were no remarkable findings in dermatologic examinations and hormonal assays. Histological examination of biopsied tissues revealed prominent lymphocytic perifolliculitis along with shrunk hair follicles. Immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD79a, CD4, and CD8 showed a positive stain for CD4 antigen around hair bulbs, suggesting CD4 positive T lymphocyte infiltration. This case suggests the possibility that CD4 T lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory reaction could be a main mechanism in canine alopecia areata. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the immunological mechanism in canine species.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Antigens, CD4 ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Adenosine is secreted by myocardial cells during myocardial ischemia or hypoxia. It has many beneficial effects on arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and reperfusion ischemia. Although many investigators have demonstrated that cardioplegia that includes adenosine shows protective effects in myocardial ischemia or reperfusion injury, reports of the optimal dose of adenosine in cardioplegic solutions vary. We reported the results of beneficial effects of single dosage (0.75 mg/Kg/min) adenosine by use of self-made Langendorff system. But it is uncertain that dosage was optimal. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal dose of adenosine in cardioplegic solutions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We used a self-made Langendorff system to evaluate the myocardial protective effect. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 90 minutes of deep hypothermic arrest (15degree C) with modified St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegia including adenosine. Myocardial adenosine levels were augmented during ischemia by providing exogenous adenosine in the cardioplegia. Three groups of hearts were studied: (1) group 1 (n=10) : adenosine -0.5 mg/Kg/min, (2) group 2 (n=10): adenosine -0.75 mg/Kg/min, (3) group 3 (n=10) : adenosine -1 mg/Kg/min. RESULT: Group 3 resulted in a significantly rapid arrest time of the heart beat (p<0.05) but significantly slow recovery time of the heart beat after reperfusion (p<0.05) compared to groups 1 and 2. Group 2 showed a better percentage of recovery (p<0.05) in systolic aortic pressure, aortic overflow volume, coronary flow volume, and cardiac output compared to groups 1 and 3. Group 1 showed a a better percentage of recovery (p<0.05) in the heart rate compared to the others. In biochemical study of drained reperfusates, CPK and lactic acid levels did not show significant differences in all of the groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that group 2 [adenosine (0.75 mg/Kg/min) added to cardioplegia] has better recovery effects after reperfusion in myocardial ischemia and is the most appropriate dosage compared to group 1 and 3.
Adenosine* ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Cardioplegic Solutions ; Heart ; Heart Arrest, Induced* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Research Personnel