• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.122-133
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• 1986

Thirteen patients with cyanotic cardiac malformations having more complex intracardiac defects, hemodynamics and operative procedures than ones in Tetralogy of Fallot undertaken total surgical corrections from July 1981 to August 1985. The cases of corrective surgery for complex cardiac malformations were 3.9% of all congenital cardiac malformations and 12.6% of cyanotic cardiac malformations. Six patients died within 30 days after surgery. So operative mortality was 46%; Transposition of the great arteries, two of 4 patients, due to low cardiac output syndrome and tracheal bleeding ; Univentricular heart, one of 3 patients, due to bleeding; Corrected transposition of the great arteries, one of 2 patients, due to acute heart failure; Tricuspid atresia, one of 2 patients, due to low cardiac output syndrome; Double outlet right ventricle, one of single patient, due to respiratory failure. The cases of surgical correction for complex cardiac malformations are progressively increasing in numbers. The more accurate evaluation of anatomical condition and hemodynamics in preoperative diagnosis, studies on applicable surgical procedure and perioperative care of patients are necessary in the improvement of clinical and surgical results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2022

Background: While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all aspects of health care, its impact on cardiac surgical practice and outcomes is yet to be determined. We compared the outcomes of our cardiac surgical practice from the past year during the pandemic to those in a similar pre-pandemic period. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from 307 patients who were involved in all adult cardiac surgical procedures performed between March 2020 and February 2021, which was considered the pandemic period, at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, India. These were compared with data from the 1-year period between March 2019 and February 2020. During that earlier period, 491 patients underwent surgery, and the surgical outcomes were assessed. Outpatient visit data were also collected to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on outpatient follow-up visits. Results: A 37% decrease in surgical case volume was observed during the study period. No difference was found in operative mortality between the 2 time periods (3.3% vs. 2.6%, p=0.383). Overall postoperative complications were less frequent during this period, at 23% compared to 38% the previous year (p<0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic decrease in surgical volume and outpatient medical follow-up. However, the pandemic and its attendant social restrictions did not yield a significant change in the surgical outcomes of our patients. Hence, it is reasonable to continue cardiac surgical care during global health crises, and this can be done with good results.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.273-281
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• 1999

Purpose: We investigated whether myocardial SPECT had additional usefulness to clinical, functional or surgical indices for the preoperative evaluation of cardiac risks in noncardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: 118 patients (M: F=66: 52, $62.7{\pm}10.5$ years) were studied retrospectively. Eighteen underwent vascular surgeries and 100 nonvascular surgeries. Rest T1-20l/ stress Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was performed before operation and cardiac events (hard event: cardiac death and myocardial infarction; soft event: ischemic ECG change, congestive heart failure and unstable angina) were surveyed through perioperative periods ($14.6{\pm}5.6$ days). Clinical risk indices, functional capacity, surgery procedures and SPECT findings were tested for their predictive values of perioperative cardiac events. Results: Perioperative cardiac events occurred in 25 patients (3 hard events and 22 soft events). Clinical risk indices, surgical procedure risks and SPECT findings but functional capacity were predictive of cardiac events. Reversible perfusion decrease was a better predictor than persistent decrease, Multivariate analysis sorted out surgical procedure risk (p=0.0018) and SPECT findings (p=0.0001) as significant risk factors. SPECT could re-stratify perioperative cardiac risks in patients ranked with surgical procedures. Conclusion : We conclude that myocardial SPECT provides additional predictive value to surgical type risks as well as clinical indexes or functional capacity for the prediction of preoperative cardiac events in noncardiac surgery.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2021

Treating cardiac injuries following blunt trauma to the chest requires thorough examination, accurate diagnosis, and therapeutic plan. We present two cases; pulmonary vein rupture and left atrial appendage laceration, both as a result of blunt chest trauma. Through these cases, our team learned the importance of maintaining hemodynamic stability during the examination of injured cardiac structures. And based on the comprehensive cardiac examination, a decision to surgically intervene with median sternotomy via cardiopulmonary bypass was made, saving lives of the patient. This report introduces how such decision was made based on what supporting evidence and the diagnostic process leading to the initiation of surgical intervention. This report may help with decision-making process when confronted by blunt cardiac injury patients who need cardiac exploration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2015

Background: We report our initial experiences of robot-assisted cardiac surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. Methods: Between February 2010 and March 2014, 50 consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive robot-assisted cardiac surgery. Results: Robot-assisted cardiac surgery was employed in two cases of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass, 17 cases of mitral valve repair, 10 cases of cardiac myxoma removal, 20 cases of atrial septal defect repair, and one isolated CryoMaze procedure. Average cardiopulmonary bypass time and average aorta cross-clamping time were $194.8{\pm}48.6$ minutes and $126.1{\pm}22.6$ minutes in mitral valve repair operations and $132.0{\pm}32.0$ minutes and $76.1{\pm}23.1$ minutes in myxoma removal operations, respectively. During atrial septal defect closure operations, the average cardiopulmonary bypass time was $128.3{\pm}43.1$ minutes. The median length of stay was between five and seven days. The only complication was that one patient needed reoperation to address bleeding. There were no hospital mortalities. Conclusion: Robot-assisted cardiac surgery is safe and effective for mitral valve repair, atrial septal defect closure, and cardiac myxoma removal surgery. Reducing operative time depends heavily on the experience of the entire robotic surgical team.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2023

Background: Complete surgical excision is the only curative treatment for primary cardiac tumors. For wide excision, interatrial septal reconstruction (ISR) is commonly performed. We hypothesized that ISR may increase the risk of postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) after surgical resection of cardiac myxoma. Methods: After excluding patients with a history of cardiac surgery and concomitant procedures unrelated to tumor resection and those with AT or permanent pacemakers, we finally enrolled 272 adult patients who underwent benign cardiac tumor surgery from 1995 to 2021 at our institution. They were divided into the ISR (n=184) and non-ISR (n=88) groups. The primary outcome was postoperative new-onset AT. Results: The study cohort predominantly consisted of women (66.2%), with a mean age of 57.2±13.6 years. The incidence of postoperative new-onset AT was 15.4%. No 30-day mortality or recurrence was observed. The cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time were significantly longer in the ISR group than in the non-ISR group (p<0.001). The median duration of hospital stay of all patients was 6.0 days (interquartile range, 5.0-7.0 days), and no significant difference was observed between the 2 groups (p=0.329). ISR was not an independent predictor of new-onset AT (p=0.248). Male sex and hypertension were found to be independent predictors of new-onset AT. Conclusion: ISR was not a significant predictor of postoperative new-onset AT. ISR might be a feasible and safe procedure for surgical resection of cardiac myxoma and should be considered if needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.532-534
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• 2021

This study examined a rarely seen benign heart tumor that was found incidentally on a chest X-ray. Radiological images were taken of a 42-year-old patient with no symptoms of a heart condition, showing a thick-walled left lung cavity that appeared after prior inflammation and concomitant enlargement of the cardiac shadow. A large subepicardial lipoma in combination with a chronic abscess on the left lung was revealed on chest computed tomography. The treatment consisted of simultaneous surgical removal of both the lung and heart lesions using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2013

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional open surgery. This report reviews our experience with atrial septal defect using the da VinciTM surgical robot system. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 50 consecutive patients who underwent atrial septal defect repair using the da VinciTM surgical robot system between October 2007 and May 2011. Among these, 13 patients (26%) were approached through a totally endoscopic approach and the others by mini-thoracotomy. Nineteen patients had concomitant procedures including tricuspid annuloplasty (n=10), mitral valvuloplasty (n=9), and maze procedure (n=4). The mean follow-up duration was $16.9{\pm}10.4$ months. Results: No remnant interatrial shunt was detected by intraoperative or postoperative echocardiography. The atrial septal defects were mainly repaired by Gore-Tex patch closure (80%). There was no operative mortality or serious surgical complications. The aortic cross clamping time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were $74.1{\pm}32.2$ and $157.6{\pm}49.7$ minutes, respectively. The postoperative hospital stay was $5.5{\pm}3.3$ days. Conclusion: The atrial septal defect repair with concomitant procedures like mitral valve repair or tricuspid valve repair using the da VinciTM system is a feasible method. In addition, in selected patients, complete port access can be helpful for better cosmetic results and less musculoskeletal injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2023

Background: With recent advances in cardiac surgery through minimal access, mini-thoracotomy has emerged as an excellent alternative for cardiac myxoma resection. This study analyzed the surgical results of this approach, focusing on postoperative cerebral embolism and tumor recurrence. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 64 patients (mean age, 56.0±12.1 years; 40 women) who underwent myxoma resection through mini-thoracotomy from October 2008 to July 2020. We conducted femoral cannulation and antegrade cardioplegic arrest in all patients. Patient characteristics and perioperative data, including brain diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) findings, were collected. Medium-term echocardiographic follow-up was performed. Results: Thirteen patients (20.3%) had a history of preoperative stroke, and 7 (11.7%) had dyspnea with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Sixty-one cases (95.3%) had myxomas in the left atrium. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac ischemic times were 69.0±28.6 and 34.1±15.0 minutes, respectively. Sternotomy conversion was not performed in any case, and 50 patients (78.1%) were extubated in the operating room. No early mortality or postoperative clinical stroke occurred. Postoperative DWI was performed in 32 (53%) patients, and 7 (22%) showed silent cerebral embolisms. One patient underwent reoperation for tumor recurrence during the study period; in that patient, a genetic study confirmed the Carney complex. Conclusion: Mini-thoracotomy for cardiac myxoma resection showed acceptable clinical and neurological outcomes. In the medium-term echocardiographic follow-up, reliable resection was proven, with few recurrences. This approach is a promising alternative for cardiac myxoma resection.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.127-138
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the effects of the environmental nursing intervention using eye-shields and earplugs on the incidence of delirium, environmental stress and sleep among the patients with open-heart surgery in the post-cardiac ICU(intensive care units). Method: This study was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. The subjects consisted of 93 patients who received ICU care after the cardiac surgery. Among those, 32 subjects was assigned in one experimental group with eye-shields, 31 in the other experimental group with earplugs, and 30 in the control group. ICU delirium was measured by CAM-ICU, environmental stress by ICUESS, and sleep by two sleep scales developed by Oh, et al. and Kim. The data were analyzed by the SPSS 13.0 program including frequency, percentage, t-test, $x^2$ test, ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results: There are no statistically significant differences in the incidence of delirium among three groups (p=.139). The ICU environmental stress scores from the subjects of two experimental groups demonstrated lower (F=6.731, p=.002) than the control group. Also, the degrees of sleep pattern (p=.000, p=.000) and sleep satisfaction (p=.000, p=.000) were greater than those of the control group. Conclusion: Although the environmental nursing intervention using eye-shields and earplugs did not demonstrate the effects in decreasing the incidence of ICU delirium, it has affirmative effects in decreasing environmental stress and improving the quality sleep among the patients with open-heart surgery while they stay in ICU. Further nursing implications are discussed.