Free flap transplantation with microvascular anastomosis has been successfully performed by development of surgical technique, materials and postoperative monitoring equipments of flap. But success rate of microvascular anastomosis is influenced by various factors, and failure rate is about 5-10%. The most influential factor for success rate is surgical technique and other factors that influence failure of microvascular anastomosis are ischemic time of free flap, thrombus formation of anastomosis region and vascular spasm. In this study, vascular patency and thrombus formation in experimental micro-venous anastomosis, and endothelial repair were observed with histologic analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopic examination. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In vascular patency test in 30 minute and 7 days after micro-venous anastomosis with heparin irrigation, all of 12 anastomosis site were good vascular patency. 2. In thrombus formation in 2 weeks group(Experimental I), 2 site of 6 cases were observed thrombus, and in 4 weeks group(Experimental II), 1 site of 6 cases were observed thrombus. 3. In histologic examination, normal vein(Control Group) showed continued internal elastic lamina, well formed thick smooth muscle layer and connective tissue. The group of 2 weeks after microvenous anastomosis(Experimental I) showd locally recovered internal lamina, discontinued internal lamina, disorganized smooth muscle cells and granulation tissue around suture silk. In the group of 4 weeks after micro-venous anastomosis(Experimental II), anastomosis site showed almostly continued internal lamina, disorganized smooth muscle cells and cicartrized tissue around suture silk. 4. In scanning electron microscope examination in 2 weeks(Experimental I) after micro-venous anastomosis, mesh fibrin formation showed near to endothelial cells, and in 4 weeks after micro-venous anastomosis(EXperimental II), numerous blood cells and fibrin mesh formation was seen associated with irregular endothelial cell arrangement. 5. In transmission electron microscope examination in 2 weeks after micro-venous anastomosis(Experimental I), irregular arrangement of smooth muscle cells was seen adjacent to collagenized tissue around suture silk. In 4 weeks after micro-venous anastomosis(Experimental II), denuded venous wall composed of relatively well arranged smooth muscle cells was covered by endothelial cells, but fibroblast cells and foreign body giant cells near to suture silk was remained. From the results obtained in this study, results of good vascular patiency and anti-thrombotic effect of heparin were obtained as a local irrigation solution, and repair of venous endothelial cell was observed in 2 weeks after micro-venous anastomosis.
Blood Cells ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Endothelial Cells ; Femoral Vein* ; Fibrin ; Fibroblasts ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Granulation Tissue ; Heparin ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Regeneration* ; Silk ; Spasm ; Sutures ; Thrombosis ; Vascular Patency ; Veins*

Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a valuable diagnostic procedure for the surveillance of cardiac allograft rejection. Interpretation of individual cases is still problematic due to variations of findings for grading of rejection and other associated lesions. We reevaluated an experience on endomyocardial biopsies to develop better diagnostic criteria for rejection and other complications. Immunohistochemical studies against cytokines were performed to assess the usefulness of the method for the diagnosis or researches. A total of 249 EMBs taken from 33 cardiac allograft recipients were reviewed. There were 25 males and 8 females. Dilated cardiomyopathy was present (24 cases) and valvular heart disease (4 cases), restrictive cardiomyopathy (3 cases) were also common conditions. We applied the grading system of the International Society for Heart Transplantation (ISHT) for the assessment of acute cellular rejection. Grades of 0, 1A, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B were 39.0%, 28.1%, 11.2%, 11.5%, 12.4% and 1.6% respectively, but 3.2% were inadequate. Thirty five episodes of grade 3A or 3B were present in 17 patients. The response to therapy was assessed using a next follow up biopsy, which revealed resolving or resolved rejection in 85% of patients. The intensity of immunohistochemical stains for IL-6 and TNF-alpha was increased in proportion to the histologic grade but Quilty lesion and cardiomyopathy also showed a positive reaction. The other pathologic findings were ischemic change, previous biopsy site, interstitial edema and fibrosis, and Quilty lesion. These findings showed usefulness of endomyocardial biopsy not only for the evaluation of cardiac allograft rejection but also for the diagnosis of associated cardiac lesions. Immunohistochemical study of the cytokines was related to the degree of inflammation rather than degree of rejection.
Allografts ; Biopsy* ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Coloring Agents ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Male ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation is a definite treatment modality of the patients with end-stage heart failure. Heart transplantation has been performed in Korea since 1992, and currently it is an established procedure for the management of terminal heart failure. The purpose of this study is to clarify the Korean status of heart transplantation. METHODS: Six major heart transplantation centers' 137 cases during the period November 1992 through May 1999 are analyzed to evaluate the general demographics, underlying heart diseases, postoperative management, complications, and survival. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients is 37 years old, and the mean follow-up period is 25 months (1 day - 80 months, median 20 months). Most common underlying disease related to heart failure is cardiomyopathy (86%). Total 16% of patients underwent cellular rejection of ISHLT (International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation) grade 3A or more within 1 year after transplantation. The most common type of clinical infection is bacterial (18%), and the most common organism is Herpes zoster virus (6.4%). Graft coronary artery disease examined by coronary angiography detected in 3.7% of recipients within 12 months after transplantation. One, 2, 3, and 5-year overall survival rates of recipients are 81% , 72%, 71%, and 62%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Distribution of underlying heart diseases and the frequency of graft coronary artery disease of Korean heart transplantation recipients were different from those of the western patients. Although the history of heart transplantation in Korea is relatively short, the early and long-term results are comparable with well-established centers.
Adult ; Cardiomyopathies ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Demography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Korea* ; Lung ; Survival Rate ; Transplants