Aortic stenosis is the most frequent type of valvular heart disease in adult. Approximately 2-7% of the population over the age of 65 suffer from aortic valve stenosis. Due to the increasing average life expectancy in Korea, degenerative aortic stenosis is increasing and becoming a troublesome health problem in older population. Because older patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis have many other medical conditions so they are not suitable candidate for surgery. Recently, transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) has been suggested as a less invasive treatment for patients with high perioperative risk. We report a successful TAVI case in severe aortic stenosis patient with high perioperative risk.
Adult ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Expectancy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between vaginal cytology and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In 93 postmenopausal women, vaginal cytology smears were taken for maturation index, serum estradiol level and bone mineral density were also taken. the percentage of each cell type found By vaginal cytology was multiplied to its specific value:superficial cells, 1.0; intermediate cell, 0.6; parabasal cell, 0.2 and modified to maturation value. Bone mineral density was measured at lumbar spine using DEXA. RESULTS: The mean bone mineral density was 0.88+/-0.14g/cm2. Mean maturation value was 50.53+/-20.74 and it was related with age and bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: Maturation value of vaginal epithelial cell represents the influence of estrogen on bone mineral density.
Bone Density* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study was performed to clarify the change of lumbar bone mineral density(BMD) according to the duration of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and the other factors such as age, years since menopause(YSM) and initial BMD in postmenopausal women. METHODS: From January, 1995 to December, 1998 we measured lumbar bone mineral density in 100 postmenopausal women in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Inha University Hospital. These women had been followed for 2 years after taking HRT. We investigated whether there were any relation between the duration of HRT, age, YSM, initial BMD and change of BMD. RESULTS: Lumbar BMD was increased 2.06% after one year of HRT(p=0.0001) but there was no change of BMD at the 2nd year of HRT(p=0.847). The response to HRT was greatest in those who were oldest(r=0.209 ; p=0.039) and furthest YSM(r=0.209; p=0.039), and consequently among those who had the lowest BMD(r=0.590 ; p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: The bone mass was increased upto 2.06% at the 1st year of HRT but no more progressive increase was occurred. It suggest that intensive HRT is needed at 1st year of therapy. The risk of fracture is not decreased to that of the healthy population inspite of HRT, so the earlier therapy is necessary to prevent osteoporotic fracture despite of intervention.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A variety of experimental heterotopic heart transplantation models have been developed for the purpose of this study. However most were complicated and used extracorporeal circulation. A new and simple experimental working heterotopic intrathoracic heart transplantation model has been developed in dogs, which could be performed without support of extracorporeal circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six mongrel dogs were used for the three heterotopic heart transplantation experiments. The heterotopic hearts were transplanted in the right thoracic cavity using a right thoracotomy. The superior vena cava and left atrial cuff of the donor heart was anastomosed to the superior vena cava and left atrium of the recipient heart. Consequently, the aorta and pulmonary artery were anastomosed to the ascending aorta and right atrial appendage of the recipient heart, without cardiopulmonary bypass. The electrocardiograms of the donor and recipient hearts were measured by electrodes placed at the ventricular apexes and on the skin. RESULTS: The donor hearts survived for 10, 6 and 18 days after transplantation, without any immunosuppressive agents or anticoagulants. The electrocardiograms of both hearts could be measured using the electrodes. There were no wave or voltage changes on electrocardiography. CONCLUSION: This working heart model of heterotopic intrathoracic transplantation, without cardiopulmonary bypass, may be useful in studies for various purposes, i.e., the effects of different pharmacological agents on the conduction system of the denervated heart and the hemodynamic changes of the recipient with auxiliary support of the transplanted heart.
Animals ; Anticoagulants ; Aorta ; Atrial Appendage ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Dogs ; Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Heart Atria ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Models, Theoretical* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Skin ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracotomy ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Heterotopic ; Vena Cava, Superior

No abstract available.
Arteries* ; Atherectomy*

In order to evaluate the effect of cardiac rhythm on hemodynamic changes and pulmonary arterial atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) levels after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty(PMV), we measured and analyzed the correlations between hemodynamic parameters and pulmonary arterial ANP levels in 65 patients with mitral stenosis before, 20 minutes, and 24 hours after PMV. The results are as follows: 1) Normal sinus rhythm was present in 49 patients(group1), whereas the other sixteen (group 2) had chronic atrial fibrillation. 2)PMV decreased mean left atrial pressure(LAP) in both groups(p<0.001). Left atrial volume was also reduced after PMV in group 1(p<0.0001), whereas it was not decreased significantly in group 2. 3) Pulmonary arterial ANP levels at 24 hours after PMV decreased significantly in group 1(p<0.001), compared to those prior to PMV. However there was no significantl changes in group 2. 4) In group 1, there was a significant linear relationship between extents of drop in pulmonary arterial ANP levels and LAP, measured 24hours after PMV. These results suggest that ANP secretion might be influenced not only by hemodynamic changes of the left atrium, but also by possible structural changes of left atrial wall induced by chronic atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Heart Atria ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis

To evaluate the coronary vasomotor tone in vasospasic angina, we compared the diameters of non-spastic segments of vasospastic group with those of control group. The internal diameters of each segment of three major coronary arteries were measured on the basal coronary angiogram, and nitroglycerin administration after provocation with ergonovine or acetylcholine. The vasospastic angina group consisted of 26 patients(20 males, 6 females, mean age of 54 years) and control group consisted of 25 patients (7 males, 18 females, mean age of 55 years). The basal coronary arterial diameters in vasospastic angina group were smaller than those in control group(p<0.05) except the distal segment of right coronary artery. The percent dilation ratio in vasospastic angina group was greater than that in control group(p<0.05). In vasospastic angina group there was no significant difference in the degree of constriction after provocation with ergonovine or acetylcholine between proximal and distal segment. These observations suggest that in vasospastic angina, basal coronary arterial tone is increased in the entire coronary arterial tree and the localized spasm may reflect local hyperrespon siveness.
Acetylcholine ; Constriction ; Coronary Vessels ; Ergonovine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nitroglycerin ; Spasm

BACKGROUND: Normally major forward pulmonary venous flow(PVF) into left atrium occurs during systole and early diastole. This is followed by the reversal of the PVF with atrial contraction during late diastole. Chronic increase of left atrial pressure and volume, and decrease of the left atrial compliance might alter the PVF pattern in patients with mitral stenosis. Moreover, the cardiac rhythm could be changed from sinus rhythm(SR) to atrial fibrillation(AF) with the progression of the disease. To elucidate the effect of these changes on PVF, we performed transesophageal echocardiographic(TEE) Doppler examination in 20 patients of mitral stenosis who were going to be taken Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy(PMC). METHOD: We measured the velocities of the PVF by TEE pulsed Doppler examination, and compared it with the hemodynamic parameters measured by cardiac catheterization in 20 patients of mitral stenosis who underwent the PMC. The SR was found in 12 patients and the rest showed established AF. RESULTS: 1) Doppler variables measured by TEE. 2) Hemodynamic parameters measured by cardiac catheterization. 3) In patients with SR, S-PV, S-VTI and S-FVTI showed negative correlation with mean LAP(r=-0.66, -0.67, -0.71, respectively, p<0.05). However in AF group, there is no correlation between Doppler variables and mean LAP. CONCLUSION: In mitral stenosis with SR, systolic PVF decreases with the increase of mean left atrial pressure and finally, diastolic PVE becomes predominant with the development of AF.
Atrial Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Compliance ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Atria ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Systole

BACKGROUND: To evaluvate the hypothesis that reperfusion injury and reperfusion arrhythmia could be caused by oxyzen free redicals and that prolonged myocardial dysfunction could be induced by oxyzen free redical. METHODS: Experimnetal model of anesthetized open chest dogs was used. Coronary artery was occluded for 60 minutes and reperfusion was performed 4 hours. In 5 dogs, superoxide dismutase and catalase were infused concomitantly 15 minutes after coronary occlusion to 15 minutes after reperfusion. In 9 dogs, 0.9% saline was infused instead of free redical scavengers. Hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate, left ventricular peak systolic pressure, end-diastolic pressure, peak positive dP/dt, and peak negative dP/dt were analysed. Infarct size was estimated by the unstained area in nitroblue tetrazolium staining and risk area was calculated from the unstained area after methylen blue infusion. Regional systolic function was observed in systolic thickening of ischemic area by echocardiogram. RESULTS: 1) Reperfusion arrhythmia occurred in 67% of control group and in 50% of drug treated group. 2) Systolic hemodynamic parameters such as peak systolic pressure, peak positive dP/dt showed no difference between control and drug-treated group. 3) Diastolic parameters such as end-diastolic pressure and peak negative dP/dt were not different in two groups. 4) Regional systolic parameter measured by systolic thickening in ischemic area improved after reperfusion and continued to be better in drug treated group than in control group. 5) Infarct size, risk area, ratio of infarct size to risk aera were not different in two groups. CONCLUSION: Superoxide dismutase and catalase showed no effect in reducing the infarct size in anesthetized open chest canine model with 60 minutes of coronary occlusion 4 hours of reperfusion. However, postischemic prolonged myocardial dysfunction tended of improve-after reperfusion in drug treated group.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Catalase* ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Necrosis* ; Nitroblue Tetrazolium ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides* ; Thorax

Despite the high incidence of subdural block (SDB) during epidural anesthesia, the condition is unfamiliar to anesthesiologist. We experienced a case of SDB: severe hypotension, transient hemiplegia, wide extent of block and late onset and recovery from block. The case described is an examples of SDB and should remind anesthesiologist of the clinical course and treatment.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Hemiplegia ; Hypotension ; Incidence