Early and Two-year Outcomes after Sutureless and Conventional Aortic Valve Replacement: a Nationwide Population-based Study

Background@#We compared early and 2-year clinical outcomes of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with conventional aortic valve replacement (CAVR) in a nationwide study based on claims data. @*Methods@#From December 2016 to November 2018, 3,173 patients underwent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacements. SAVR and CAVR were performed in 641 and 2,532 patients, respectively. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed in 640 patient pairs. @*Results@#Operative mortality rate was 2.8% without significant differences between the SAVR (3.4%) and CAVR (2.3%) groups (P = 0.324). There were no significant differences in postoperative morbidities between the groups except for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. PPM implantation rate was significantly higher in the SAVR (3.8%) than in the CAVR group (0.9%) (P < 0.001). One- and two-year overall survival was 89.1% and 87.5%, respectively, without significant differences between the groups (SAVR group vs. CAVR group = 89.9% and 90.5% vs. 87.2% and 88.7%, respectively; P = 0.475). There were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of cardiac death, stroke, aortic valve reoperation and infective endocarditis between the groups. Cumulative PPM implantation incidence at 6 months in the CAVR was 1.1%, and no patient required PPM implantation after 6 months. In the SAVR, the cumulative PPM implantation incidence at 0.5, one, and two years was 3.9%, 5.0% and 5.6%, respectively. The cumulative PPM implantation rate was higher in the SAVR group than in the CAVR group (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Early and 2-year clinical outcomes between SAVR and CAVR were not different except for a high rate of permanent pacemaker implantation in the SAVR group.

Clinical Outcomes Following Letrozole Treatment according to Estrogen Receptor Expression in Postmenopausal Women: LETTER Study (KBCSG-006) / 한국유방암학회지

Purpose@#In this trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant letrozole for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Here, we report the clinical outcome in postmenopausal women with HR-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant letrozole according to estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels. @*Methods@#In this multi-institutional, open-label, observational study, postmenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer received adjuvant letrozole (2.5 mg/daily) for 5 years unless they experienced disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or withdrew their consent. The patients were stratified into the following 3 groups according to ER expression levels using a modified Allred score (AS): low, intermediate, and high (AS 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8, respectively). ER expression was centrally reviewed. The primary objective was the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate. @*Results@#Between April 25, 2010, and February 5, 2014, 440 patients were enrolled. With a median follow-up of 62.0 months, the 5-year DFS rate in all patients was 94.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.8–96.6). The 5-year DFS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates did not differ according to ER expression; the 5-year DFS rates were 94.3% and 94.1%in the low-to-intermediate and high expression groups, respectively (p = 0.6), and the corresponding 5-year RFS rates were 95.7% and 95.4%, respectively (p = 0.7). Furthermore, 25 patients discontinued letrozole because of drug toxicity. @*Conclusion@#Treatment with adjuvant letrozole showed very favorable treatment outcomes and good tolerability among Korean postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer, independent of ER expression.

Early and Two-year Outcomes after Sutureless and Conventional Aortic Valve Replacement: a Nationwide Population-based Study

Background@#We compared early and 2-year clinical outcomes of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with conventional aortic valve replacement (CAVR) in a nationwide study based on claims data. @*Methods@#From December 2016 to November 2018, 3,173 patients underwent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacements. SAVR and CAVR were performed in 641 and 2,532 patients, respectively. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed in 640 patient pairs. @*Results@#Operative mortality rate was 2.8% without significant differences between the SAVR (3.4%) and CAVR (2.3%) groups (P = 0.324). There were no significant differences in postoperative morbidities between the groups except for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. PPM implantation rate was significantly higher in the SAVR (3.8%) than in the CAVR group (0.9%) (P < 0.001). One- and two-year overall survival was 89.1% and 87.5%, respectively, without significant differences between the groups (SAVR group vs. CAVR group = 89.9% and 90.5% vs. 87.2% and 88.7%, respectively; P = 0.475). There were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of cardiac death, stroke, aortic valve reoperation and infective endocarditis between the groups. Cumulative PPM implantation incidence at 6 months in the CAVR was 1.1%, and no patient required PPM implantation after 6 months. In the SAVR, the cumulative PPM implantation incidence at 0.5, one, and two years was 3.9%, 5.0% and 5.6%, respectively. The cumulative PPM implantation rate was higher in the SAVR group than in the CAVR group (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Early and 2-year clinical outcomes between SAVR and CAVR were not different except for a high rate of permanent pacemaker implantation in the SAVR group.

Clinical Outcomes Following Letrozole Treatment according to Estrogen Receptor Expression in Postmenopausal Women: LETTER Study (KBCSG-006) / 한국유방암학회지

Purpose@#In this trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant letrozole for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Here, we report the clinical outcome in postmenopausal women with HR-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant letrozole according to estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels. @*Methods@#In this multi-institutional, open-label, observational study, postmenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer received adjuvant letrozole (2.5 mg/daily) for 5 years unless they experienced disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or withdrew their consent. The patients were stratified into the following 3 groups according to ER expression levels using a modified Allred score (AS): low, intermediate, and high (AS 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8, respectively). ER expression was centrally reviewed. The primary objective was the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate. @*Results@#Between April 25, 2010, and February 5, 2014, 440 patients were enrolled. With a median follow-up of 62.0 months, the 5-year DFS rate in all patients was 94.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.8–96.6). The 5-year DFS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates did not differ according to ER expression; the 5-year DFS rates were 94.3% and 94.1%in the low-to-intermediate and high expression groups, respectively (p = 0.6), and the corresponding 5-year RFS rates were 95.7% and 95.4%, respectively (p = 0.7). Furthermore, 25 patients discontinued letrozole because of drug toxicity. @*Conclusion@#Treatment with adjuvant letrozole showed very favorable treatment outcomes and good tolerability among Korean postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer, independent of ER expression.

Concomitant Wrapping of a Moderately Dilated Ascending Aorta during Aortic Valve Replacement: Postoperative Remodeling of a Distinctive Aorta

Urinary Iodine Concentration and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies in the Korean Population Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI

Background and Objectives@#This study was planned to investigate the relationship between iodine intake and thyroid peroxidase antibody in Korean population. @*Materials and Methods@#We used the data of the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2015. A total of 6564 subjects who had the data of thyroid function test were included. We analyzed urinary iodine concentration and thyroid peroxidase antibody using the complex sample method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed according to clinical factors and thyroid function tests. @*Results@#In the multivariate analysis, the thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity was not related to urinary iodine concentration in the total group (p=0.102), male group (p=0.245) and female group (p=0.098). The urinary iodine concentration was associated with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (p=0.001) and free T4 (p=0.001) but not associated with thyroid peroxidase antibody (p=0.218). When high TSH group was divided into the positive and negative thyroid peroxidase antibody, high TSH group with negative thyroid peroxidase antibody increased according to increasing urinary iodine concentration (p＜0.001).But there was no difference in the high TSH group with positive thyroid peroxidase antibody (p=0.826). @*Conclusion@#This study did not show a statistically significant relationship between urinary iodine concentration and thyroid peroxidase antibody. As urinary iodine concentration increased, thyroid function was decreased only in the negative thyroid peroxidase antibody group. This confirmed that the increased urinary iodine concentration caused hypothyroidism which was not associated with thyroid peroxidase antibody.

Unmasked Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy after Mitral Valve Repair for Severe Mitral Regurgitation

No abstract available.

Utility of Cardiac CT for Preoperative Evaluation of Mitral Regurgitation: Morphological Evaluation of Mitral Valve and Prediction of Valve Replacement

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac computed tomography (CT) for the detection of mitral valve (MV) prolapse in mitral regurgitation (MR) with surgical findings as the standard reference, and to assess the predictability of MV replacement based on morphologic CT findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 156 patients who had undergone preoperative cardiac CT and subsequently received MV surgery due to severe MR were retrospectively enrolled. Non-repairable MV was defined when at least one of the following conditions was met: 1) anterior leaflet prolapse, 2) bi-leaflet prolapse, or 3) valve morphology (leaflet thickening, calcification, or mitral annular calcification [MAC]). Diagnostic performance of CT for the detection of the prolapsed segment was assessed with surgical findings as the standard reference. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the value of CT findings to predict actual valve replacement. RESULTS: During surgery, MV prolapse was identified in 72.1%. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for the detection of MV prolapse were 99.1%, 81.4%, and 94.2%, respectively, per patient. One-hundred eighteen patients (75.6%) underwent MV repair and the remaining 38 patients received MV replacement. Bi-leaflet prolapse and valve morphology were independent predictors of valve replacement after adjusting for clinical variables (adjusted odds ratio, [OR] 8.63 for bi-leaflet prolapse; OR, 4.14 for leaflet thickening; and OR, 5.37 for leaflet calcium score > 5.6; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiac CT can have high diagnostic performance for detecting the prolapsed segment of the MV and predictability of valve replacement before surgery. Bi-leaflet prolapse and valve morphology, such as leaflet thickening, or calcification or MAC, are the most important predictors of valve replacement.

Historical Perspectives of Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Inauguration and Activities of the Historical Records Preservation Committee

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KTCVS) was founded in 1968 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2018. The launch of the KTCVS may seem somewhat recent, given that the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was founded in 1917. However, considering the circumstances of the Korean medical community after the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), World War II (1940–1945), and the Korean War (1950–1953), this apparent delay is understandable. Even before the foundation of the KTCVS, the early pioneers of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery promptly adopted medical technologies from more advanced countries such as the United States, and contributed significantly to both cardiac and thoracic surgery despite difficult circumstances. In 2012, before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS, members shared the opinion that objective records of the activities of the early pioneers should be identified and preserved, and reacted positively towards the necessity for historians who would preserve such records. With this background, the Historical Records Preservation Committee of the KTCVS (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the Committee’) was launched. The Committee published a white paper on the history of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 2015 and held an exhibition of the achievements of the pioneers at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS. The Committee also published a book entitled “The history of Korean thoracic surgery with photographs: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the society.” The Committee will keep making efforts to find and preserve materials related to activities during the early development of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Korea.

Historical Perspectives of Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Inauguration and Activities of the Historical Records Preservation Committee / 대한흉부외과학회지

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KTCVS) was founded in 1968 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2018. The launch of the KTCVS may seem somewhat recent, given that the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was founded in 1917. However, considering the circumstances of the Korean medical community after the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), World War II (1940–1945), and the Korean War (1950–1953), this apparent delay is understandable. Even before the foundation of the KTCVS, the early pioneers of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery promptly adopted medical technologies from more advanced countries such as the United States, and contributed significantly to both cardiac and thoracic surgery despite difficult circumstances. In 2012, before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS, members shared the opinion that objective records of the activities of the early pioneers should be identified and preserved, and reacted positively towards the necessity for historians who would preserve such records. With this background, the Historical Records Preservation Committee of the KTCVS (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the Committee’) was launched. The Committee published a white paper on the history of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 2015 and held an exhibition of the achievements of the pioneers at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS. The Committee also published a book entitled “The history of Korean thoracic surgery with photographs: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the society.” The Committee will keep making efforts to find and preserve materials related to activities during the early development of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Korea.

Development of an Excel Program for the Updated Eighth American Joint Committee on Cancer Breast Cancer Staging System

PURPOSE: The eighth American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for breast cancer was recently published to more accurately predict the prognosis by adding biomarkers such as estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. However, this system is very complicated and difficult to use by clinicians. The authors developed a program to aid in setting up the staging system and confirmed its usefulness by applying it to theoretical combinations and actual clinical data. METHODS: The program was developed using the Microsoft Excel Macro. It was used for the anatomic, clinical and pathological prognostic staging of 588 theoretical combinations. The stages were also calculated the stages using 840 patients with breast cancer without carcinoma in situ or distant metastasis who did not undergo preoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: The anatomic, clinical and pathological prognostic stages were identical in 240 out of 588 theoretical combinations. In the actual patients' data, stages IB and IIIB were more frequent in clinical and pathological prognostic stages than in the anatomic stage. The anatomic stage was similar to the clinical prognostic stage in 58.2% and to the pathological prognostic stage in 61.9% of patients. Oncotype DX changed the pathological prognostic stage in 2.1% of patients. CONCLUSION: We developed a program for the new American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system that will be useful for clinical prognostic prediction and large survival data analysis.

Early Clinical Experience with Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis

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.

Early Clinical Experience with Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

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.

Effect of Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch in Aortic Position on Late-Onset Tricuspid Regurgitation and Clinical Outcomes after Double Valve Replacement

PURPOSE: Significant late-onset tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is unfortunately common after double valve replacement (DVR); however, its underlying factors remain undefined. We evaluated the effect of aortic patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) on late-onset TR and clinical outcomes after DVR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 2392 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement between January 1990 and May 2014 at our institution, we retrospectively studied 462 patients who underwent DVR (excluding concomitant tricuspid valvular annuloplasty or replacement). Survival and freedom from grade >3 TR were compared between PPM (n=152) and non-PPM (n=310) groups using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Although the overall survival rates were similar between the two groups at 5 and 10 years (95%, 91% vs. 96%, 93%, p=0.412), grade >3 TR-free survival was significantly lower in the PPM group (98%, 91% vs. 99%, 95%, p=0.014). Small body-surface area, atrial fibrillation, PPM, and subaortic pannus were risk factors for TR progression. However, aortic prosthesis size and trans-valvular pressure gradient were not significant factors for either TR progression or overall survival. CONCLUSION: Aortic PPM in DVR, regardless of mitral prosthesis size, was associated with late TR progression, but was not significantly correlated with overall survival. Therefore, we recommend careful echocardiographic follow-up for the early detection of TR progression in patients with aortic PPM in DVR.

Effect of Rosuvastatin on Bovine Pericardial Aortic Tissue Valve Calcification in a Rat Subdermal Implantation Model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are pathophysiologic similarities between calcification and atherosclerosis because both are the product of an active inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of statin treatment on calcification in bovine pericardial tissue valves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to hypercholesterolemia induction and statin intake (Group 1, n=10: normal diet without statin treatment, Group 2, n=10: normal diet with statin treatment, Group 3, n=10: high fat diet without statin treatment, Group 4, n=10: high fat diet with statin treatment). Serum lipid levels were measured just before the experiment and after 4 and 12 weeks. Bovine pericardial tissue valve cusps were surgically implanted in rat dorsal subcutis at 4 weeks. After the surgery, statin was administered daily to Groups 2 and 4. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was measured at 5 weeks. Cusps were explanted at 12 weeks and calcium levels were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. RESULTS: Mean IL-6 was significantly higher in Group 3 at 5 weeks (7.14, 2.03, 31.70, and 6.90 pg/dL for each group, respectively). Mean calcium level in Group 3 was significantly higher among groups but Group 4 was significantly lower compared to Group 3 and was similar to Group 1, 2 (1.86, 1.92, 2.55, and 1.80 mg/g for each group, respectively, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Hypercholesterolemia may be a significant risk factor for bovine pericardial valve calcification. Statin treatment significantly attenuated calcification of bovine pericardial valve tissue in a rat subdermal implantation model and might prolong the durability of bioprostheses.

The Practice Patterns and Perceptions of Korean Surgeons Regarding Margin Status after Breast-Conserving Surgery / 한국유방암학회지

Two consecutive surveys for breast surgeons in Korea were conducted to comprehend the practice patterns and perceptions on margin status after breast-conserving surgery. The surveys were conducted online in 2014 (initial) and 2016 (follow-up). A total of 126 and 88 responses were obtained in the initial and follow-up survey, respectively. More than 80% of the respondents replied to routinely apply frozen section biopsy for intraoperative margin assessment in both surveys. Re-excision recommendations of the margin for invasive cancer significantly changed from a close margin to a positive margin over time (p=0.033). Most of the respondents (73.8%) defined a negative margin as “no ink on tumor” in invasive cancer, whereas more diverse responses were observed in ductal carcinoma in situ cases. The influence of guideline establishment for negative margins has been identified. A high uptake rate of intraoperative frozen section biopsy was noted and routine use needs reconsideration.

Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch after Mitral Valve Replacement: Comparison of Different Methods of Effective Orifice Area Calculation

PURPOSE: The incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after mitral valve replacement (MVR) has been reported to vary. The purpose of the current study was to investigate incidence of PPM according to the different methods of calculating effective orifice area (EOA), including the continuity equation (CE), pressure half time (PHT) method and use of reference EOA, and to compare these with various echocardiographic variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 166 individuals who received isolated MVR due to rheumatic mitral stenosis and had postoperative echocardiography performed between 12 and 60 months after MVR. EOA was determined by CE (EOA(CE)) and PHT using Doppler echocardiography. Reference EOA was determined from the literature or values offered by the manufacturer. Indexed EOA was used to define PPM as present if < or =1.2 cm2/m2. RESULTS: Prevalence of PPM was different depending on the methods used to calculate EOA, ranging from 7% in PHT method to 49% in referred EOA method to 62% in CE methods. The intraclass correlation coefficient was low between the methods. PPM was associated with raised trans-prosthetic pressure, only when calculated by CE (p=0.021). Indexed EOA(CE) was the only predictor of postoperative systolic pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, even after adjusting for age, preoperative systolic PA pressure and postoperative left atrial volume index (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of mitral PPM varied according to the methods used to calculate EOA in patients with mitral stenosis after MVR. Among the various methods used to define PPM, EOA(CE) was the only predictor of postoperative hemodynamic parameters.

Passion in Cardiothoracic Surgery in Korea: Remembering Professor Pill Whoon Hong, M.D

No abstract available.

The Beneficial Effect of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Blockade in Marfan Syndrome Patients after Aortic Root Replacement

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated the long term beneficial effect of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) blockade therapy in treatment of Marfan aortopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients who underwent aortic root replacement (ARR) between January 1996 and January 2011. All patients were prescribed beta-blockers indefinitely. We compared major aortic events including mortality, aortic dissection, and reoperation in patients without RAAS blockade (group 1, n=27) to those with (group 2, n=63). The aortic growth rate was calculated by dividing the diameter change on CT scans taken immediately post-operatively and the latest scan available. RESULTS: There were no differences in clinical parameters except for age which was higher in patients with RAAS blockade. In group 1, 2 (7%) deaths, 5 (19%) aortic dissections, and 7 (26%) reoperations occurred. In group 2, 3 (5%) deaths, 2 (3%) aortic dissections, and 3 (5%) reoperations occurred. A Kaplan-Meier plot demonstrated improved survival free from major aortic events in group 2. On multivariate Cox, RAAS blockade was an independent negative predictor of major aortic events (hazard ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.43, p=0.002). Mean diameter change in descending thoracic and supra-renal abdominal aorta was significantly higher in patients without RAAS blockade (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In MFS patients who underwent ARR, the addition of RAAS blockade to beta-blocker was associated with reduction of aortic dilatation and clinical events.

Histopathological Evaluation of Collagen Sheet (Permacol®) after Augmentation Rhinoplasty / 대한이비인후과학회지

In Asian rhinoplasty, allograft materials are often required due to insufficient amount of autologous sources for dorsal augmentation. Nowadays, Silicon and polytetrafluoroethylene are commonly used allograft materials although these can often lead to postoperative complications such as protrusion, migration or infection of implanted graft. Permacol® is a collagen sheet which is indicated for soft tissue reinforcement or repair of the head and face area in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Its clinical safety and stability is well established with low complication rates. However, its histopathology has rarely investigated, especially in human. Thus, we reviewed histopathology of two graft-removal cases of patients who had undergone rhinoplasty using Permacol®. In conclusion, Permacol® can lead to fibrosis of imbedded tissues with or without absorption in long-term follow-up. Although Permacol® is gradually absorbed as time passes, the implanted graft can maintain its volume by replaced fibrotic connective tissues.