Objective: To identify the association between morphological and functional characteristics of the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and bicuspid aortopathy and to identify the determinants of aortic dilatation using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT). Materials and Methods: This study included 312 subjects (mean [SD] age, 52.7 [14.3] years; 227 males [72.8%]) who underwent TTE and CCT. The BAVs were classified by anterior-posterior (BAV-AP) or right-left (BAV-RL) orientation of the cusps and divided according to the presence (raphe+) or absence of a raphe (raphe-) based on the CCT and intraoperative findings. The dimensions of the sinus of Valsalva and the proximal ascending aorta were measured by CCT. We assessed the determinants of aortic root and proximal ascending aortic dilatation (size index > 2.1 cm/m2) by Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 312 patients, BAV-AP was present in 188 patients (60.3%), and 185 patients (59.3%) were raphe+. Moderateto-severe aortic stenosis (AS) was the most common hemodynamic abnormality (54.8%). The most common type of aortopathy was the combined dilated root and mid-ascending aortic phenotype (62.5%). On multivariable analysis, age and AS severity were significantly associated with aortic root dilatation (p < 0.05), and age, sex, and AS severity were significantly associated with ascending aortic dilatation (p < 0.05). However, the orientation of the cusps, presence of a raphe, and severity of aortic regurgitation were not associated with aortic root and ascending aortic dilatation. Conclusion BAV morphological characteristics were not determinants of aortic dilatation. Age, sex, and AS severity were predictors of bicuspid aortopathy. Therefore, age, sex, and AS severity, rather than valve morphology, need to be considered when planning treatment for BAV patients.

Objective: To identify the association between morphological and functional characteristics of the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and bicuspid aortopathy and to identify the determinants of aortic dilatation using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT). Materials and Methods: This study included 312 subjects (mean [SD] age, 52.7 [14.3] years; 227 males [72.8%]) who underwent TTE and CCT. The BAVs were classified by anterior-posterior (BAV-AP) or right-left (BAV-RL) orientation of the cusps and divided according to the presence (raphe+) or absence of a raphe (raphe-) based on the CCT and intraoperative findings. The dimensions of the sinus of Valsalva and the proximal ascending aorta were measured by CCT. We assessed the determinants of aortic root and proximal ascending aortic dilatation (size index > 2.1 cm/m2) by Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 312 patients, BAV-AP was present in 188 patients (60.3%), and 185 patients (59.3%) were raphe+. Moderateto-severe aortic stenosis (AS) was the most common hemodynamic abnormality (54.8%). The most common type of aortopathy was the combined dilated root and mid-ascending aortic phenotype (62.5%). On multivariable analysis, age and AS severity were significantly associated with aortic root dilatation (p < 0.05), and age, sex, and AS severity were significantly associated with ascending aortic dilatation (p < 0.05). However, the orientation of the cusps, presence of a raphe, and severity of aortic regurgitation were not associated with aortic root and ascending aortic dilatation. Conclusion BAV morphological characteristics were not determinants of aortic dilatation. Age, sex, and AS severity were predictors of bicuspid aortopathy. Therefore, age, sex, and AS severity, rather than valve morphology, need to be considered when planning treatment for BAV patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic performance of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial perfusion at 1.5- and 3-tesla (T) for detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD), with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the reference method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 281 patients (age 62.4 ± 8.3 years, 193 men) with suspected or known CAD who had undergone 1.5T or 3T CMR and ICA. Two independent radiologists interpreted perfusion defects. With ICA as the reference standard, the diagnostic performance of 1.5T and 3T CMR for identifying significant CAD (≥ 50% diameter reduction of the left main and ≥ 70% diameter reduction of other epicardial arteries) was determined. RESULTS: No differences were observed in baseline characteristics or prevalence of CAD and old myocardial infarction (MI) using 1.5T (n = 135) or 3T (n = 146) systems. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for detecting significant CAD were similar between the 1.5T (84%, 64%, 74%, 76%, and 0.75 per patient and 68%, 83%, 66%, 84%, and 0.76 per vessel) and 3T (80%, 71%, 71%, 80%, and 0.76 per patient and 75%, 86%, 64%, 91%, and 0.81 per vessel) systems. In patients with multi-vessel CAD without old MI, the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC with 3T were greater than those with 1.5T on a per-vessel basis (71% vs. 36%, 92% vs. 69%, and 0.82 vs. 0.53, respectively). CONCLUSION: 3T CMR has similar diagnostic performance to 1.5T CMR in detecting significant CAD, except for higher diagnostic performance in patients with multi-vessel CAD without old MI.
Area Under Curve ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion* ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the morphological and functional characteristics of quadricuspid aortic valves (QAV) on cardiac computed tomography (CCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 11 patients with QAV. All patients underwent CCT and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and 7 patients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The presence and classification of QAV assessed by CCT was compared with that of TTE and intraoperative findings. The regurgitant orifice area (ROA) measured by CCT was compared with severity of aortic regurgitation (AR) by TTE and the regurgitant fraction (RF) by CMR. RESULTS: All of the patients had AR; 9 had pure AR, 1 had combined aortic stenosis and regurgitation, and 1 had combined subaortic stenosis and regurgitation. Two patients had a subaortic fibrotic membrane and 1 of them showed a subaortic stenosis. One QAV was misdiagnosed as tricuspid aortic valve on TTE. In accordance with the Hurwitz and Robert's classification, consensus was reached on the QAV classification between the CCT and TTE findings in 7 of 10 patients. The patients were classified as type A (n = 1), type B (n = 3), type C (n = 1), type D (n = 4), and type F (n = 2) on CCT. A very high correlation existed between ROA by CCT and RF by CMR (r = 0.99) but a good correlation existed between ROA by CCT and regurgitant severity by TTE (r = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Cardiac computed tomography provides comprehensive anatomical and functional information about the QAV.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortic Valve* ; Classification ; Consensus ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Membranes ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Retrospective Studies

Thrombosis at the left ventricular outflow tract occurs without any detectable heart disease or predisposing factors only extremely rarely. A 48-year-old male visited Konkuk University Medical Center with loss of consciousness one month prior to presentation. Before he visited our hospital, he had been diagnosed with a cardiac tumor, which was located between the left atrium and posterior aortic root, and which was adjacent to both the aortic and mitral valves. Cardiac transplantation was recommended at the other hospital because of the high risk of cardiac dysfunction induced by both aortic and mitral valvular dysfunction after surgical resection. Based on preoperative transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography, we considered it to be a benign tumor. Complete resection was achieved and the pathology confirmed organizing thrombus. We report a case of organizing thrombus mimicking a cardiac tumor, which was located at the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa of the left ventricular outflow tract without any heart disease.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aneurysm, False ; Causality ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Neoplasms* ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Pathology ; Thrombosis* ; Unconsciousness

BACKGROUND: There have been a number of studies on mitral valve replacement and repeated percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy for mitral valve restenosis after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy. However, studies on mitral valve repair for these patients are rare. In this study, we analyzed postoperative outcomes of mitral valve repair for mitral valve restenosis after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy. METHODS: In this study, we assessed 15 patients (mean age, 47.7+/-9.7 years; 11 female and 4 male) who underwent mitral valve repair between August 2008 and March 2013 for symptomatic mitral valve restenosis after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy. The mean interval between the initial percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy and the mitral valve repair was 13.5+/-7 years. The mean preoperative Wilkins score was 9.4+/-2.6. RESULTS: The mean mitral valve area obtained using planimetry increased from 1.16+/-0.16 cm2 to 1.62+/-0.34 cm2 (p=0.0001). The mean pressure half time obtained using Doppler ultrasound decreased from 202.4+/-58.6 ms to 152+/-50.2 ms (p=0.0001). The mean pressure gradient obtained using Doppler ultrasound decreased from 9.4+/-4.0 mmHg to 5.8+/-1.5 mmHg (p=0.0021). There were no early or late deaths. Thromboembolic events or infective endocarditis did not occur. Reoperations such as mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement were not performed during the follow-up period (39+/-16 months). The 5-year event-free survival was 56.16% (95% confidence interval, 47.467-64.866). CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, we could not conclude that mitral valve repair could be an alternative for patients with mitral valve restenosis after percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy. However, some patients presented with results similar to those of mitral valve replacement. Further studies including more patients with long-term follow-up are necessary to determine the possibility of this application of mitral valve repair.
Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Ultrasonography

Here, we present a rare case of cardiac parasitic infection found in an adult female patient who had the symptoms of dyspnea upon exertion. She was diagnosed with a double-chambered right ventricle due to infundibular hypertrophy confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography. We performed surgery of infundibulectomy around the pulmonary valve. In the end, histopathological findings of the resected infundibular muscle demonstrated trichinellosis, a type of roundworm infection.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Ventricles* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Pulmonary Valve ; Trichinellosis*

BACKGROUND: Delirium after cardiac surgery is associated with serious long-term negative outcomes and high costs. The aim of this study is to evaluate neurobehavioral, hemodynamic, and sedative characteristics of dexmedetomidine, compared with the current postoperative sedative protocol (remifentanil) in patients undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: One hundred and forty two eligible patients who underwent cardiac surgery on CPB between April 2012 and March 2013 were randomly divided into two groups. Patients received either dexmedetomidine (range, 0.2 to 0.8 microg/kg/hr; n=67) or remifentanil (range, 1,000 to 2,500 microg/hr, n=75). The primary end point was the prevalence of delirium estimated daily via the confusion assessment method for intensive care. RESULTS: When the delirium incidence was compared with the dexmedetomidine group (6 of 67 patients, 8.96%) and the remifentanil group (17 of 75 patients, 22.67%) it was found to be significantly less in the dexmedetomidine group (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in the extubation time, ICU stay, total hospital stay, and other postoperative complications including hemodynamic side effects. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that dexmedetomidine as a postoperative sedative agent is associated with significantly lower rates of delirium after cardiac surgery.
Adult* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Delirium* ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Critical Care ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Prevalence ; Thoracic Surgery*

BACKGROUND: Open heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is considered one of the most frequent surgical procedures in which acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and serious complication. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an early AKI biomarker after CPB in cardiac surgery (CS). METHODS: Thirty-seven adult patients undergoing CS with CPB were included in this retrospective study. They had normal preoperative renal function, as assessed by the creatinine (Cr) level, NGAL level, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Serial evaluation of serum NGAL and Cr levels was performed before, immediately after, and 24 hours after the operation. Patients were divided into two groups: those who showed normal immediate postoperative serum NGAL levels (group A, n=30) and those who showed elevated immediate postoperative serum NGAL levels (group B, n=7). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 18. RESULTS: Of the 37 patients, 6 (6/37, 16.2%) were diagnosed with AKI. One patient belonged to group A (1/30, 3.3%), and 5 patients belonged to group B (5/7, 71.4%). Two patients in group B (2/7, 28.5%) required further renal replacement therapy. Death occurred in only 1 patient (1/37, 2.7%), who belonged to group B. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that postoperative plasma NGAL levels can be used as an early biomarker for the detection of AKI following CS using CPB. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm our results.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Creatinine ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Lipocalins* ; Neutrophils* ; Plasma* ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sample Size ; Social Sciences ; Thoracic Surgery*

Leiomyosarcoma may occur anywhere in the body but rarely occurs in the heart or great vessels. Leiomyosarcoma may be managed by surgical resection with or without chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Owing to the high rate of metastasis and poor prognosis, a definitive treatment modality for leiomyosarcoma has not yet been suggested. This case study reports the surgical management of the recurrent leiomyosarcoma of the heart and the great vessels in a 63-year-old woman.
Drug Therapy ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Saphenous Vein