No abstract available.
Adult* ; Esophageal Atresia* ; Fistula* ; Humans

Neurologic complications after open-heart surgery are not only relatively common but also often fatal. In order to know the clinical characteristics and causative risk factors, we carried out the retrospective study on 655 patients who had been admitted and undergone OHS at Seoul National University Children's Hospital during 2-year period from July 1990 to June 1992. The results were as follows; 1) The incidence of neurologic complications after OHS was 4.7% (31 cases) of the total 655 cases. 2) In the viewpoint of the pre-op diagnosis, neurologic complications developed in 20 cases (7.8%) among cyanotic congenital heart disease and in 11 cases (2.9%J among acyanotic CHD. 3) In the viewpoint of the type of operation, the incidence of neurologic complications was 33.3% in Jatene procedure and 12.1% in Fontan procedure. 4) Compared with the group who didn't develp neurologic complications (624 cases), cardiopulmonary bypass time, aorta cross clamp time, and total arrest time were longer and the degree of hypothermia was lower in the group who had neurologic complications (31 cases), which are statistically significant each other(p<0.01). 5) In 25 cases (80.6%), neurologic complications occurred within 72 hours after OHS. 6) Clinical manifestations of neurologic complications were seizures (26 cases, 84%), consciousness change (13 cases, 42%), hemiplegia (1 case), and decreased muscle tone (1 case). 7) Of the 31 cases, 16 cases showed more than one abnormal finding among EEG, Brain CT, or Brain MRI. 8) The possible etiologies of neurologic complications were diffuse hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (16 cases, 51.6%), focal or multiple ischemic stoke that was thought to be due to microembolisms (3 cases, 9.7%), electrolyte or acid-base imbalance (8 cases, 25.8%), and the remainders were unknown (4 cases. 12.9%) 9) In the course of neurologic complications, 11 cases (35.5%) expired, 14 cases(45.2%) recovered at discharge, 3 cases (9.7%) were controlled at discharge, and 2 cases (6.5%) had long-term sequela(one spastic quadriplegia and one hemiparesis). 10) The cause of death among mortality cases were mainly due to brain damage (7 cases), while 4 cases had other direct causes such as heart failure, respiratory failure, or sepsis.
Acid-Base Imbalance ; Aorta ; Brain ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cause of Death ; Child* ; Consciousness ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Fontan Procedure ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Failure ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mortality ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Quadriplegia ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND & METHODS: Approximately 10% of the essential hypertensive patient have overt proteinuria due to renal target organ damage, which indicates poor prognosis. Recently microalbuminuria has been prove to be a good early predictor for renal damage in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Some authors reported that near 40% of the essential hypertensives have microalbuminuria. To determinate prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korea essential hypertensives, 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and radioimmunoassay to detect BP and UAER were performed after 4 weeks wash-out period in 137(78 hypertensive and 54 normotensive) consecutive cases. RESULTS: Among 78 hypertensives, overt proteinuria was seen in 8.97%(7/78). And prevalence of microalbuminuria were 29.4%(23/78) in hypertensives and 16.7%(9/54) in normotensives. Urine microalbumin excretion rate(UAER) was significantly correlated with mean arterial pressure(MAP) in total subjects(r=0.286, p=0.0012), but not in total hypertensives(r=0.135, p=NS) or in hypertensives with UAER(r=-0.098, p=NS).UAER of female hypertensives was increase than that of male hypertensives(13.17+/-16.28microg/min vs 22.87microg/min, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korean hypertensives was relatively lower then other reports. Overt proteinuria was noted in 8.97% of the hypertensives which is same prevalence as other countries. Moreover MAP was well correlated with UAER in total subjects. Further evaluation should be done to detect exact role of UAER in hypertensives as an early predictor for renal target organ damage.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Radioimmunoassay

BACKGROUND & METHODS: Approximately 10% of the essential hypertensive patient have overt proteinuria due to renal target organ damage, which indicates poor prognosis. Recently microalbuminuria has been prove to be a good early predictor for renal damage in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Some authors reported that near 40% of the essential hypertensives have microalbuminuria. To determinate prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korea essential hypertensives, 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and radioimmunoassay to detect BP and UAER were performed after 4 weeks wash-out period in 137(78 hypertensive and 54 normotensive) consecutive cases. RESULTS: Among 78 hypertensives, overt proteinuria was seen in 8.97%(7/78). And prevalence of microalbuminuria were 29.4%(23/78) in hypertensives and 16.7%(9/54) in normotensives. Urine microalbumin excretion rate(UAER) was significantly correlated with mean arterial pressure(MAP) in total subjects(r=0.286, p=0.0012), but not in total hypertensives(r=0.135, p=NS) or in hypertensives with UAER(r=-0.098, p=NS).UAER of female hypertensives was increase than that of male hypertensives(13.17+/-16.28microg/min vs 22.87microg/min, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korean hypertensives was relatively lower then other reports. Overt proteinuria was noted in 8.97% of the hypertensives which is same prevalence as other countries. Moreover MAP was well correlated with UAER in total subjects. Further evaluation should be done to detect exact role of UAER in hypertensives as an early predictor for renal target organ damage.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Radioimmunoassay

PURPOSE: We evaluated the imaging abnormalities of the brain observed during and after treatment of acute childhood lymphoblastic leukemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 30patients (male: female= 19:11; mean age, 64months) with acute childhood lymphoblastic leukemia during the previous ten-year period who had undergone pro-phylaxis of the central nervous system. Irrespective of the CNS symptoms, baseline study of the brain involving CT and follow-up CT or MRI was undertaken more than once. We retrospectively evaluated the imaging findings, methods of treatment, associated CNS symptoms, and the interval between diagnosis and the time at which brain abnormalities were revealed by imaging studies. RESULTS: In 15 (50% ; male : female=9:6 ; mean age, 77months) of 30 patients, brain abnormalities that included brain atrophy (n=9), cerebral infarctions (n=4), intracranial hemorrhage (n=1), mineralizing microangiopathy (n=2), and periventricular leukomalacia (n=3) were seen on follow-up CT or MR images. In four of nine patients with brain atrophy, imaging abnormalities such as periventricular leukomalacia(n=2), infarction (n=1) and microangiopathy (n=1) were demonstrated. Fourteen of the 15 patients underwent similar treatment; the one excluded had leukemic cells in the CSF. Six patients had CNS symptoms. In the 15 patients with abnormal brain imaging findings, the interval between diagnosis and the demonstration of brain abnormalities was between one month and four years. After the cessation of treatment, imaging abnormalities remained in all patients except one with brain atrophy. CONCLUSION: Various imaging abnormalities of the brain may be seen during and after the treatment of acute childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and persist for a long time. In children with this condition, the assessment of brain abnormalities requires follow-up study of the brain.
Atrophy ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Infarction ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infarction ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Withholding Treatment

PURPOSE: To determine the MRI features which distinguish complete and partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and to thus improve MRI interpretation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 80 patients, we analyzed MR findings of direct and indirect signs of ACL tear (complete tear, 61 cases, partial tear, 19 cases) confirmed by arthroscopy or surgery, and compared the relative incidence of each sign in cases of complete and partial tear. RESULTS: Direct and indirect signs were found in 61 (100%) and 60 cases (98.4%), respectively, in complete tears, but in 16 (84.2%) and 15 cases (78.9%), respectively, in partial tears. Poor visualization, discontinuity and hyperintensity were seen in all complete tears but in only nine case (47.4%) of partial tear. A wavy or abnormal contour was seen in 53 cases (86.9%) of complete tear and 14 (73.7%) of partial tear. A wavy contour without other direct signs was seen in only five cases (26.3%) of partial tear. Three cases (15.8%) of partial tear showed normal MR finding. Indirect signs, i. e. abnormal ACL angle, abnormal ACL-Blumensaat line angle, abnormal posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) line, abnormal PCL angle, PCL buckling, anterior displacement of tibia, posterior displacement of lateral meniscus, bone bruise, Segond fracture, tear of collateral ligaments, PCL, and tear of meniscus were commoner in complete than in partial tears. Two cases of O'Donoghue's triad and two of popliteus injury were seen only in complete tears. CONCLUSION: Direct and indirect signs of ACL tear were more commonly noted in complete than in partial tears. The latter showed MR features varying from normal to almost complete tear. We suggest that a wavy contour other direct signs is indicative of a partial tear, and that O'Donoghue's triad and popliteus muscle injury are indirect signs of a complete tear.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Contusions ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Menisci, Tibial ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Tibia

BACKGROUND: little is known about the mechanisms responsible for ventricular tachycardia during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the autonomic nervous system on ventricular tachycardia in dogs. METHODS: Four groups of eight dogs were studied. The control group had intact autonomic neural innervation:the stellectomy group had bilateral transection of stellate ganglia:the vagotomy group had bilateral transection of cervical vagi; and the autonomic denervation group underwent bilateral transection of stellate ganglia and cervical vagi. Open-chest dogs anesthetized with ketamine were studied in 3 sequential steps: denervation, ischemia, and reperfusion stage. At the end of each step, we estimated effective refractory period (ERP) at four sites : the apex of non-ischemic area, the base of non-ischemic area, the apex of ischemic area, and the base of ischemic area. We observed early afterdepolarization (EAD) through recording monophasic action potential on the ischemic epicardium during ischemia and reperfusion stages. RESULTS: In ischemia stage, deltaERPs(ERPmax.-ERPmin.) were significantly prolonged, compared to deltaERPs at denervation stage, and deltaERPs of the vagotomy group tended to be prolonged to 60 minutes after myocardial ischemia, as compared to those of the stellectomy group and the autonomic denervation group. The incidence of ventricular tachycardia during ischemia presented a significant increase in the vagotomy group, compared to the control group. However, there was no difference in incidence of ventricular tachycardia between the stellectomy group and the control group. deltaERP at the group with the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia were significantly prolonged , compared to the other group without the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia. In terms of the incidence of EAD, there was no difference between the groups and it was not associated with ventricular tachycardia. deltaERP was significantly decreased to 30 minutes after reperfusion, at which point there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no correlation between EAD and ventricular tachycardia. However, deltaERP with ventricular tachycardia indicated much more significant increase than deltaERP without ventricular tachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: Sympathetic nerve may be related to prolongation of deltaERP and incidence of ventricular tachycardia in the ischemic period. However, EAD is not related to ventricular tachycardia during ischemia and reperfusion. These findings suggest that the major mechanism of ventricular tachycardia may be a reentry in ischemia and reperfusion period.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Autonomic Denervation* ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Denervation ; Dogs ; Heart* ; Incidence ; Ischemia* ; Ketamine ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pericardium ; Reperfusion* ; Stellate Ganglion ; Tachycardia* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Vagotomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Passive smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, but the factors responsible for this association remain largely unknown. We sought to determine whether passive smoke exposure is associated with systemic inflammation in a dose-dependent fashion, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular events. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data of self-reported non-smokers, > or =40 years of age, who were from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=6,595). We quantified the passive nicotine exposure by dividing the non-smokers into quartiles, as based on the serum cotinine values. We used multiple linear and logistic regression models to determine the independent relationship between serum cotinine and the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and leukocytes, and the platelet expression. RESULTS: After adjustments were done for age, gender, body mass index and race, the participants in the highest serum cotinine quartile (quartile 4) had circulating platelet, fibrinogen and homocysteine levels that were 6,893/microliter higher (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1,886 to 11,900/microliter, p=0.007), 8.74 mg/dL (95% CI: 2.63 to 14.84 mg/dL, p=0.005) and 0.90 micromol/L (95% CI: 0.36 to 1.43 (micromol/L, p=0.001), respectively, than in those in the lowest quartile of serum cotinine (quartile 1). There was a dose-dependent increase in the circulating fibrinogen, homocysteine and platelet levels across the quartiles of cotinine. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that even among nonsmokers, elevated serum cotinine is an independent risk factor for systemic inflammation. This suggests that passive smoke exposure promotes systemic inflammatory response in a dose-dependent fashion. These observations may explain why passive smoking is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
Atherosclerosis ; Blood Platelets ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Continental Population Groups ; Cotinine ; Epidemiology ; Fibrinogen ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Leukocytes ; Logistic Models ; Nicotine ; Nutrition Surveys ; Observational Study* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that increased QT dispersion has been observed during episodes of myocardial ischemia or infarction and identified the patients at risk of arrhythmia or sudden death. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between QT dispersion and left ventricular (LV) function (systolic and diastolic), dimension and mass as well as to analyze the differences of this relationship according to the extent of angiographic coronary stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: The study population included 262 patients (male 129, female 133;average age 60 years). Echocardiography was done for the measurement of left ventricular function, dimension and mass on admission. Electrocardiography for QT and QTc (corrected QT) dispersion were recorded 25 mm/sec paper speeds before the coronary angiography. Patients were divided into two groups; Group A where angiographic coronary stenosis <50%, and Group B where angiographic coronary stenosis >or =50%. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) QT dispersion was higher in those with depressed LV systolic function (EF<55%) than in those with normal LV systolic function among Group A (p<0.05). 2) QT dispersion was higher in those with abnormal IVRT (isovolumic relaxation time) than in those with normal IVRT among Group A (p<0.05). But, there was no correlation between QT dispersion and other diastolic parameters in Group A. 3) QT dispersion was positively correlated with increased LVDd (diastolic left ventricular dimension), LVDs (systolic left ventricular dimension), LAD (left atrial dimension) and IVS (interventricular septum) in those in Group A. But, there found no correlation between QT dispersion and LV dimension parameters in Group B. 4) QT dispersion also had a positive correlation with LV mass in all patients and in those in Group A (all patients p<0.01;Group A p<0.001). But, there found no correlation between QT dispersion and LV mass in Group B. 5) On multiple logistic regression analysis, sex, abnormal IVRT and significant stenosis (> or =50%) of the coronary artery were independent prognostic factors of prolonged QT dispersion (p<0.05). 6) QTc dispersion showed the same result as QT dispersion. CONCLUSION: LV systolic function (EF), some diastolic function (IVRT), dimension (LVDd, LVDs, LAD IVS), and mass are associated with the increased QT dispersion in patients with coronary artery disease, especially minimal angiographic stenosed (<50%) patients. So, we consider echocardiography is an important tool to predict the QT dispersion in patients with coronary artery disease.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Relaxation ; Ventricular Function, Left*

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