Since 1960s, when Ross and Barratt-Boyes introduced homograft replacement of the aortic valve, the valvular replacement using homografts or autografts has been gained increasing acceptance. Aortic or pulmonary valves (with or without associated vascular conduits) transplanted from one individual to another have exceptionally good hemodynamic profiles, a low incidence of thromboembolic complications without chronic anticoagulation, and a low re-infection rate following valve replacement for endocarditis. The homografts were primarily used for complex congenital reconstructions in infants, and children. However, more recently they have been increasingly used in adults requiring aortic valve replacement. Even though there are many advantages, the lack of available homografts, as well as concerns of long-term stenotic problems, may limit their use.
Adult ; Allografts* ; Aortic Valve ; Autografts* ; Child ; Endocarditis ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Pulmonary Valve

Since 1960s, when Ross and Barratt-Boyes introduced homograft replacement of the aortic valve, the valvular replacement using homografts or autografts has been gained increasing acceptance. Aortic or pulmonary valves (with or without associated vascular conduits) transplanted from one individual to another have exceptionally good hemodynamic profiles, a low incidence of thromboembolic complications without chronic anticoagulation, and a low re-infection rate following valve replacement for endocarditis. The homografts were primarily used for complex congenital reconstructions in infants, and children. However, more recently they have been increasingly used in adults requiring aortic valve replacement. Even though there are many advantages, the lack of available homografts, as well as concerns of long-term stenotic problems, may limit their use.
Adult ; Allografts* ; Aortic Valve ; Autografts* ; Child ; Endocarditis ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Pulmonary Valve

Surgical anterior ventricular endocardial restoration (SAVER) is a technique that improves hemodynamic status by excluding akinetic or dyskinetic portions of the left ventricle, restores the ventricle to normal elliptical shape and reduces ventricular wall tension to normal level in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction that accompanies aneurysm. We performed redo-SAVER procedure in a 40-year old man with remodeled dilated ventricle who had already underwent LV aneurysmectomy 12 years earlier, and the results were satisfactory.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics ; Humans

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy of postoperative hemodynamic goal-directed therapy (GDT) using a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and bioreactance-based noninvasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM) in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing valvular heart surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eight patients were randomized into two groups of GDT with common goals to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 60-80 mm Hg and cardiac index > or =2 L/min/m2: the PAC group (n=29), based on pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and the NICOM group (n=29), based on changes in stroke volume index after passive leg raising. The primary efficacy variable was length of hospital stay. Secondary efficacy variables included resource utilization including vasopressor and inotropic requirement, fluid balance, and major morbidity endpoints. RESULTS: Patient characteristics and operative data were similar between the groups, except that significantly more patients underwent double valve replacement in the NICOM group. The lengths of hospital stay were not different between the two groups (12.2+/-4.8 days vs. 10.8+/-4.0 days, p=0.239). Numbers of patients requiring epinephrine (5 vs. 0, p=0.019) and ventilator care >24 h (6 vs. 1, p=0.044) were significantly higher in the PAC group. The PAC group also required significantly larger amounts of colloid (1652+/-519 mL vs. 11430+/-463 mL, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: NICOM-based postoperative hemodynamic GDT showed promising results in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing valvular heart surgery in terms of resource utilization.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Output/*physiology ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz ; Female ; Goals ; Heart Valves/*surgery ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Length of Stay/*statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative/methods ; Monitoring, Physiologic/methods ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology/prevention & control ; Postoperative Period

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical results of surgically managing patients with Ebstein's anomaly. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between Feb. 1984 and June 2006, 50 patients who underwent surgical treatment for Ebstein's anomaly at Yonsei Cardiovascular Center were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 26.9 years and 19 patients were male. Associated anomalies included atrial septal defect (33), patent ductus arteriosus (2), ventricular septal defect (1), and pulmonary stenosis (4), and 90% (45/50) of the patients had more than a moderate degree of tricuspid regurgitation. Carpentier type A was present in 6 patients, type B in 26, type C in 14 and type D in 4. Ten patients were associated with WPW syndrome. Conservative surgery was possible in 31 patients (tricuspid annuloplasty, plication of the atrialized RV), Fontan's operation was performed in 4 patients, tricuspid valve replacement was done in 12 and palliative surgery was done in 2 patients. Thirteen patients were associated with bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS: one and a half ventricular repairs); 10 patients with WPW syndrome and 4 patients with atrial fibrillation underwent concomitant ablation. RESULT: The postoperative median NYHA functional class (3-->1) and the mean cardio-thoracic ratio (0.65-->0.59) were decreased significantly (p<0.001, p=0.014). The mean oxygen saturation (86.6-->94.1%), and median TR grade (4-->1) were also significantly improved (p=0.004, p<0.001). For comparison of BCPS and conservative surgery, the preoperative right ventricular pressure (33.0 vs. 41.3 mmHg), the ICU stay (2.86 vs. 1.89 days), the hospital say (10.6 vs. 16.8 days), and the left ventricular ejection fraction (64.3 vs. 72.8%) were statistically different. Postoperative mortality occurred in 3 patients (6%) due to biventricular failure in 2 patients and sepsis in the other patient. The mean follow up duration was 101.5 months, and one patient died of Fontan failure and 6 patients required reoperation (bioprosthetic degenerative change (2) and Fontan conversion (4)). The overall survival rate at 10 years was 90.2%; the freedom from reoperation rate and rate of cardiac related events were 78.9% and 49.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of Ebstein's anomaly can be performed safely, and the associated BCPS may be helpful for high-risk patients. Adequate application of surgical management may increase the long-term survival with a reduced rate of reoperation.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Ebstein Anomaly* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fontan Procedure ; Freedom ; Heart Bypass, Right ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Palliative Care ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Stroke Volume ; Survival Rate ; Tricuspid Valve ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Ventricular Pressure ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

This report describes the case of a 45-year-old Korean female who had suffered from Behcet's syndrome for two years with a huge, unruptured aneurysm originating from the left coronary sinus. The aneurysm had caused myocardial and aortic insufficiency by compressing the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The orifice of the aneurysm was at the left coronary sinus, about 5mm from the left main coronary ostium, and it was filled with organized thrombi. Surgical repair was performed by closing the entrance of the aneurysm with a Dacron patch and by implementing aortic valve repair and coronary artery bypass grafting. The patient's coronary flow was restored postoperatively, and all anginal symptoms disappeared.
Aortic Aneurysm/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Behcet Syndrome/*complications ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*etiology ; *Sinus of Valsalva/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) has been developed as an alternative surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of SU-AVR through an assessment of hemodynamic performance and safety. METHODS: From December 2014 to June 2016, a total of 12 consecutive patients with severe AS underwent SU-AVR. The endpoints were overall survival and valve-related complications (paravalvular leakage, valve thrombosis, migration, endocarditis, and permanent pacemaker implantation). The mean follow-up duration was 18.1±8.6 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 77.1±5.8 years and their mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 9.2±17.7. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times were 94.5±37.3 minutes and 54.9±12.5 minutes, respectively. Follow-up echocardiography showed good prosthesis function with low transvalvular pressure gradients (mean, 13.9±8.6 mm Hg and peak, 27.2±15.0 mm Hg) at a mean of 9.9±4.2 months. No cases of primary paravalvular leakage, valve thrombosis, migration, or endocarditis were reported. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted in 1 patient (8.3%). The 1-year overall survival rate was 83.3%±10.8%. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience with SU-AVR demonstrated excellent early clinical outcomes with good hemodynamic results. However, there was a high incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation compared to the rate for conventional AVR, which is a problem that should be solved.
Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortic Valve ; Bioprosthesis ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surgeons ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) has been developed as an alternative surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of SU-AVR through an assessment of hemodynamic performance and safety. METHODS: From December 2014 to June 2016, a total of 12 consecutive patients with severe AS underwent SU-AVR. The endpoints were overall survival and valve-related complications (paravalvular leakage, valve thrombosis, migration, endocarditis, and permanent pacemaker implantation). The mean follow-up duration was 18.1±8.6 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 77.1±5.8 years and their mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 9.2±17.7. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times were 94.5±37.3 minutes and 54.9±12.5 minutes, respectively. Follow-up echocardiography showed good prosthesis function with low transvalvular pressure gradients (mean, 13.9±8.6 mm Hg and peak, 27.2±15.0 mm Hg) at a mean of 9.9±4.2 months. No cases of primary paravalvular leakage, valve thrombosis, migration, or endocarditis were reported. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted in 1 patient (8.3%). The 1-year overall survival rate was 83.3%±10.8%. CONCLUSION Our initial experience with SU-AVR demonstrated excellent early clinical outcomes with good hemodynamic results. However, there was a high incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation compared to the rate for conventional AVR, which is a problem that should be solved.

Necrotizing aortitis is a rare and life-threatening complication of local or generalized bacterial infections and most commonly affects the abdominal aorta. We described a case of a 79-year-old man with an acupuncture-induced bacterial aortitis associated with pseudoaneurysm formation causing near rupture. The patient underwent emergent explolapartomy, resection of the infected aorta, wide debridement of surrounding infected tissues, and extra-anatomic axillary to bifemoral graft bypass. The microbiologic examination revealed Escherichia coli and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Necrotizing aortitis is very serious and fatal disease, careful history taking as well as rapid diagnosis and urgent treatment are of critical importance.
Acupuncture/*methods ; Acupuncture Therapy/adverse effects ; Aged ; Aneurysm, False/microbiology/*pathology ; Aortitis/etiology/microbiology/*pathology ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Although ramicotomy (division of the rami communicantes of the thoracic sympathetic ganglia) is a selective and physiological surgical method for essential hyperhidrosis, it has some problems such as higher recurrence rates and the different surgical results among the patients and between left and right sides in the same individual. As one of the factors that are related to the differences in surgical result and recurrences, we investigated the anatomical variations of the rami communicantes. The purpose of this study is to help develop new surgical methods to decrease surgical differences among the patients or between the left and right sides of the same individual and recurrence rates in the clinical application of ramicotomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We dissected 118 thoracic sympathetic chains in 59 adult Korean cadavers (male: 33, female: 26) to examine the anatomical variations of the rami communicantes from the second to the fourth thoracic sympathetic ganglia that have major components innervating to the hands. After the dissection of bilateral thoracic sympathetic chains, we compared the anatomy of left and right sides and examined the anatomical variations of rami communicantes. RESULT: The number and variation of communicating rami connecting the spinal nerves and the second sympathetic thoracic ganglion were much larger than lower levels. There was considerably less variability in the anatomy of the rami communicantes at successive levels. Among the 59 cadavers dissected, only 14.3% (9/59) had similar anatomy of thoracic sympathetic chains at both sides. As the components related to the essential palmar hyperhidrosis, intrathoracic nerve of Kuntz from the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the first intercostal nerve or brachial plexus were observed in 55.9% (66/118). The incidence of descending rami communicates from the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the third intercostal nerve and from the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the fourth intercostal nerve were 49.2% (58/118) and 28.0% (33/118). And the incidence of ascending rami communicates from the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the second intercostal nerve and from the fourth thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the third intercostal nerve were 6.8% (8/118) and 3.4% (4/118), respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on the various anatomical evidences of the rami communicantes from this study, only the ramicotomy at the third sympathetic ganglion level is insufficient for the treatment of the essential palmar hyperhidrosis to decrease the difference of surgical results and recurrences. When one is planning to perform the ramicotomy for the essential palmar hyperhidrosis, it is advantageous to divide the intrathoracic nerve of Kuntz on the second rib and the descending or ascending rami communicantes on the third and the fourth ribs as well as all the communicating rami from the third sympathetic ganglion.
Adult ; Brachial Plexus ; Cadaver ; Female ; Ganglia, Sympathetic* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Incidence ; Intercostal Nerves ; Recurrence ; Ribs ; Spinal Nerves