Clinical observation of cardiac myxoma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Cardiac myxoma is uncommon, even though accounts for 50% of primary cardiac tumor, histologically benign disease but may be lethal because of its strategic position. It has diverse clinical manifestations mimicking various diseases, which can be described under the three headings: constitutional, obstructive and embolic and the diagnosis can be easily missed unless clinician has high index of suspicion. A correct diagnosis is made before operation with the development of echocardiography. We reviewed our clinical experience in diagnosis and management of 21 cases of myxomas from 1985 to 2000. METHODS: There were 4 males (19%) and 17 females (81%). Their ages ranged from 17 to 66 years (mean 42.2 years). All the patient's medical records on their clinical features, laboratory findings, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms, echocardiographic findings, operative findings and postoperative follow-up were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventeen cases (81%) of the myxomas originated in left atrium and four (19%) in right atrium. Most common symptom was that of intracardiac obstruction such as dyspnea or dyspnea on exertion (62%). Fatigue which accounted for most of the constitutional symptom found in 38% of the 21 patients while embolism accounted for 38%. In all patients, echocardiography was used for diagnosis and the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography was 100%. All patients received surgical treatment and immediate postoperative complications occurred in seven patients (33%). Among them, serious complications were found in two cases and one expired due to congestive heart failure. Follow-up duration ranged from 2 months to 15 years. There was no recurrence or other problem in all patients during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Although clinical suspicion is difficult due to the nonspecific presentation of myxoma, the diagnosis can be made easily with echocardiographic examination in all cases and surgical excision of myxoma may be curative with good long-term result.

Congenital Coronary Arteriovenous Fistula in Adult

Five cases of coronary arteriovenous fistula(CAVF) were diagnosed with coronary arteriography during recent 3 years in Seoul National University Hospital. In one patients, the CAVF was from right coronary artery to left ventricle at posterior aspect. In another, the CAVF was from left circumflex to left atrium. In the remaining three, it was from conal branch of left anterior descending to pulmonary artery. The correct diagnosis for the appropriate treatment of CAVF is important since the incicence of the ischemic coronary heart disease is increasing recently.

A Study on the Change of Epicardial ECG during Coronary Artery Ligation and Reperfusion, and the Effect of Diltiazem on the Reperfusion Arrhythmia

In order to observe the change of epicardial ECG(Eep), left ventricular pressure, left ventricular dp/dt and the development of arrhythmia during regional myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, proximal LAD was ligated for 30 minutes and reperfused suddenly for 30 minytes in eleven mongrel dogs which were grouped into control(n=6) and diltiazem(n=5) group. In diltiazem group, diltiazem infusion was started 10 minutes prior to reperfusion with the speed of 0.02mg/kg/min for 25 minutes. The amount of injury current was measured from TQ segment and ST segment changes of Eep, and its effect on the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmia was evaluated. Eep, LV pressure, LV dp/dt and ECG were simultaneously recoreded with the paper speed of 100mm/sec at predetermined time intervals, and 6 channel ECG(standard lead I, II, III, AVR, AVL, AVF) was recorded continuously with paper speed of 10mm/sec throughout the experiment. The results were as follows ; 1) After ligation of LAD, the polarity QRS of Eep changed to show monophasic shape from 3-4 minutes, TQ segment depressed to reach minumum level at 4-7 minutes and ST segment elevated to reach maximum level at 4-5 minutes. These changes recovered rapidly to pre-ligation state after reperfusion, and this tendency was not affected by diltiazem. 2) The absolute value of LV dp/dt max and LV dp/dt min decreased 10% at 2-4 minutes after LAD ligation, and began to recover from 7 minutes after reperfusion to reach peak recovery value at 20 minutes after reperfusion in control group. In diltiazem group, it decreased 15% after diltiazem infusion and began to recover from 1 minutes after reperfusion to reach peak recovery value at 7 minutes after reperefusion. 3) Ischemic ventricular fibrillation was observed at the time of maximum TQ depression and ST segment elevation and 4 out of 6 events were developed within 5 minutes after LAD ligation. The cases with Isch-Vf developed Rep-Vf without exception, which was observed in 8 out of 11 cases and was noted within 1 minutes after reperfusion except one. 4) Maximum ST elevation was significantly higher in group with Rep-Vf then in group without Rep-Vf(Rep-Vf(+);18.5+/-11.1, Rep-Vf(-);10.3e+/-6.9, p<0.05), and also maximum ST elevation was significantly higher in group with both Isch-Vf and Rep-Vf then in group with only Rep-Vf(Isch-Vf+Rep-Vf;28.5+/-7.8, Rep-Vf only;10,5+/-4.7, P<0.01). 5) The incidende of reperfusion ventricular fibrillation was 83% in control group(5 out of 6) and 60% in diltiazem group(3 out of 5), but the inhibitory effect of diltiazem on the reperfusion Vf could not be confirmed due to the difference of the incidence of ischemic Vf between the two groups(control group;67%(4 out of 6), ditiazem group;20%(1out of 5)). In conclusion, maximum injury current developed 4-7 minutes after coronary artery ligation, and maximum ST elevation value was significantly related with the development of ischemic Vf and reperfusion Vf, and the inhibitory effect of diltiazem on the reperfusion ventricular fibrillation could not be confirmed in this study.

Clinical Study on the Antiplatelet Aggregation Effect of Ticlopidine Hydrochloride(Ticlid(R))

The antiplatelet aggregation effect of ticlopidine was studied in 22 cases of coronary artery disease(CAD) and 17 cases of control by obseving changes of plarma beta-thromboglobulin(beta-TG) and platelet factor 4(PF-4) before and after administration of ticlopidine 500mmg daily for 2 weeks. 1) Compared with the controls, CAD patients had significantly greater plasm levels of beta-TG(52.6+/-32.7ng/ml. mean +/-SD vs. 91.0+/-52.0, P<0.05) and PF-4(17.5+/-12.8 ng/ml vs. 32.9+/-24.5, P<0.05). 2) In controls, plasma levels of beta-TG and PF-4 didn't change significantly after taking ticlopidine. 3) In CAD patients, plasma levels of beta-TG (91.0+/-52.0ng/ml vs. 53.9+/-20.0, P<0.05) and PF-4(32.9+/-24.5ng/ml vs. 18.8 +/-11.9(P<0.05) decreased significantly after ticlopidine. 4) The side effects were observed in 2 cases such as mild indigestion and urticaria.

Clinical Observation on Antihypertensive Effects of Nicardipine Hydrochloride(Perdipine(R))

The antihypertensive effect of nicardipine was studied in 31 cases of essential hypertension and following results were obtained. 1) Daily dose was 30-60mg for 10 weeks. 2) Mean systolic and diastolic pressure were decreased by 39.5mmHg 921%) and 17.2mmHg(15%) respectively(P<0.005) and in 84% of cases, good or fair control of blood pressure was proved. 3) There was no significant change in heart rates before and after treatment. 4) There were no significant side effects except two cases of mild headache and facial flushing which subsided spontaneously.

Clinical Observation of Cardiac Myxoma

Cardiac myxoma is rare and has protean clinical manifestations mimicking various disease. Unless clinician has a high index of suspicion, the diagnosis can be easil missed. However diagnosis is all the more important since surgery can be dramatically successful, where as untreated myxoma invariably leads to death. Cardiac myxoma accounts for 50% of primary cardiac tumor and mainly originates in left atrium.(75%). The features of myxoma can be described under the three headings : Constitutional, obstructive, and embolic. From 1977 to 1985, the authors have experienced 30 cases of cardiac myxoma, one of which recurred. Of 29 patients, 8 were male and 21 were female. Their ages ranged from 11 to 55 years with average of 39.8 years. Constitutional manifestation was found in 25 of the 27 patients, obstructive manifestation in 27, and embolic phenomenon in 5. The diagnosis of myxoma was made on the basis of 2-D echocardiography. The sensitivity was 100%. Except 1 case who refused operation, all received surgical treatment. Immediate postoperative complication occurred in 6 patients(23%). Among them serious complication could be found only in 2 cases(7.7%). During long term follow up there was one recurrence and one patient with right ventricular myxoma has tricuspid regurgitation. In other cases, we could not found any problems.

Clinical Observation on Antihypertenisive Effect of Carteolol Hydrochloride

The antihypertensive effect of carteolol hydrochloride was observed in 20 cases of essential hypertension, and following results were obtained. 1. Mean drops in systolic and diastolic blood pressure by carteolol hydrochloride were 13mmHg and 9mmHg. The results of antihypertensive therapy revealed good control in 25%, fair control in 35%, poor in 20% and failure in 20% of the cases. 2. After the administration of carteolol hydrochloride, no drop in average heart rate was observed. 3. The side effect of carteolol was mild indigestion in two cases.

A Clinical Study on Pentoxifylline (Trental(R)) in the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease

Pentoxifylline (Trental(R)) is a drug which blocks pathophysiologic process of cerebrovascular disease by inhibiting platelet aggregation, improving cerebral microcirculation preventing development of cerebral edema. In an attempt to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline for the treatment of 25 patients (male 17 cases, female 8 cases) with cerebrovasculaar disease, we administered pentoxifylline 600mg daily in devided dosage for 1 to 7 months. Most of them were patients with cerebral thrombosis (52%), cerebral embolism (24%), cerebral hemorrhage (12%) and transient ischemic attack (12%). Clinical effects were evaluated at least 1 month later by the criteria using scoring method of serverity of symptoms. In summary, definite effect was found in 15 cases (60%), mild effect in 6 cases (24%) and no efect or aggravation in 4 cases (16%), especially in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. During treatment there was no significant side effect except mild elevation of serum creatinine in one case who was associated with chronic renal failure.

Clinical Study on Congenital Heart Diseases in Korean Adult

A clincal study was made on 383 adult patients with congenital heart disease who visited the Seoul National university Hospital during the period of March, 1961-July, 1979. 1. The incidence of congenital heart disease for the consecutive years was increasing in 1970s, especially in recent two years. 2. The sex incidence of congental heart disease was female 47.0%, male 53.0%, with male preponderance in tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, aortopulmonary window and female preponderance in atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus. 3. Age distribution of congenital heart disease showed that 79.1% of all were below 30 years of age but atrial septal defect showed wide distribution below and above 30 years of age. 4. The incidences of each congenital heart disease were atrial septal defect 20.9%, tetralogy of Fallot 20.6%, ventricular septal defect 19.%, patent ductus arteriosus 12.0%, pulmonary stenosis 7.6%, trilogy of Fallot 1.8%, Ebstein's anomaly 1.8%, ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis 1.3%, coarctation of aorta 1.3%, ventricular septal defect with aortic insufficiency 1.0%, transposition of great vessels 1.0%, in order and rare and various combined anomalies. 5. Average duration of illness in congenital heart disease was less than 15 years in majority, but duration from 11 years to 20 years was most common in tetralogy of Fallot. 6. Functional class of congenital heart disease is class II and I in majority, but class III was most common in tetralogy of Fallot. 7. Comparision of precatheterization diagnosis with postcatheterization diagnosis showed concordence in 92.2% and comparison of postcatheterization diagnosis with postoperative diagnosis showed concordence in 95.5% of cases. 8. Electrocardiographic findings in 5 major congenital heart disease were observed as follows; right ventricular hypertrophy 86.3%, right atrial enlargement 16.4% in tetralogy of Fallot, right ventricular hypertrophy 30.9%, incomplete right bundle branch block 27.9% in atrial septal defect, left ventricular hypertrophy 28.8%, right ventricular hypertrophy 10.6%, biventricular hypertrophy 10.6% in ventricular septal defect, left ventricular hypertrophy 63.2% in patent ductus arteriosus and right ventricular hypertrophy 70% in pulmonary stenosis. 9. Postoperative changes in electrocardiographic findings were observed in 36.1% of operated patients, of whom teteralogy of Fallot 61.7%, ventricular septal defect 48.0% were most common. Pstoperative electrocardiographic changes were complete right bundle branch block 58.3%, incomplete right bundle branch block 11.7%, myocardial ischemia 10%, nonspecific ST-T changes 10%, etc. in order.

Clinical Study on Congenital Heart Diseases in Korean Adult

A clincal study was made on 383 adult patients with congenital heart disease who visited the Seoul National university Hospital during the period of March, 1961-July, 1979. 1. The incidence of congenital heart disease for the consecutive years was increasing in 1970s, especially in recent two years. 2. The sex incidence of congental heart disease was female 47.0%, male 53.0%, with male preponderance in tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, aortopulmonary window and female preponderance in atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus. 3. Age distribution of congenital heart disease showed that 79.1% of all were below 30 years of age but atrial septal defect showed wide distribution below and above 30 years of age. 4. The incidences of each congenital heart disease were atrial septal defect 20.9%, tetralogy of Fallot 20.6%, ventricular septal defect 19.%, patent ductus arteriosus 12.0%, pulmonary stenosis 7.6%, trilogy of Fallot 1.8%, Ebstein's anomaly 1.8%, ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis 1.3%, coarctation of aorta 1.3%, ventricular septal defect with aortic insufficiency 1.0%, transposition of great vessels 1.0%, in order and rare and various combined anomalies. 5. Average duration of illness in congenital heart disease was less than 15 years in majority, but duration from 11 years to 20 years was most common in tetralogy of Fallot. 6. Functional class of congenital heart disease is class II and I in majority, but class III was most common in tetralogy of Fallot. 7. Comparision of precatheterization diagnosis with postcatheterization diagnosis showed concordence in 92.2% and comparison of postcatheterization diagnosis with postoperative diagnosis showed concordence in 95.5% of cases. 8. Electrocardiographic findings in 5 major congenital heart disease were observed as follows; right ventricular hypertrophy 86.3%, right atrial enlargement 16.4% in tetralogy of Fallot, right ventricular hypertrophy 30.9%, incomplete right bundle branch block 27.9% in atrial septal defect, left ventricular hypertrophy 28.8%, right ventricular hypertrophy 10.6%, biventricular hypertrophy 10.6% in ventricular septal defect, left ventricular hypertrophy 63.2% in patent ductus arteriosus and right ventricular hypertrophy 70% in pulmonary stenosis. 9. Postoperative changes in electrocardiographic findings were observed in 36.1% of operated patients, of whom teteralogy of Fallot 61.7%, ventricular septal defect 48.0% were most common. Pstoperative electrocardiographic changes were complete right bundle branch block 58.3%, incomplete right bundle branch block 11.7%, myocardial ischemia 10%, nonspecific ST-T changes 10%, etc. in order.

Two Cases of Familial Asymmetric Septal Hypertrophy

Two cases of familial asymmetric septal hypertrophy diagnosed by myocardial biopsy and clinical studies are reported with literature reviewed. Myocardial biopsy was done at right ventricular septal wall, and pedigree of family members was observed clinically and examined by noninvasive methods including chest X-ray and echocardiography.