Acute Type A Aortic Dissection in a Patient with Situs Inversus Totalis

We describe the occurrence of acute type A aortic dissection in a patient with situs inversus totalis. A 37-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute chest pain. Initial chest X-ray findings showed a right-sided heart and a left-sided liver. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a Stanford type A acute aortic dissection, aortic root dilatation, and situs inversus totalis. All of the thoracic structures were mirror-image reversed and an abnormal coronary artery was observed. The Bentall operation was performed. This report demonstrates that computed tomography and echocardiography were useful for understanding the anatomy and the presence or absence of concurrent anomalies in a patient with situs inversus totalis. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful.

Erratum: Predictive Value of Procalcitonin for Infection and Survival in Adult Cardiogenic Shock Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / 전남의대학술지

In the published article, the Figure 4 was published with incorrect y-axis and legend.

Predictive Value of Procalcitonin for Infection and Survival in Adult Cardiogenic Shock Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / 전남의대학술지

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a predictive marker for the occurrence of bacterial infection and the decision to terminate antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients. An unusual increase in PCT, regardless of infection, has been observed during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. We evaluated trends and the predictive value of PCT levels in adult cardiogenic shock during treatment with ECMO. We reviewed the clinical records of 38 adult cardiogenic shock patients undergoing veno-arterial ECMO support between January 2014 and December 2016. The exclusion criteria were age 10 ng/mL during the first week of ECMO support was significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.01). The change in PCT level was not useful in predicting new infection during ECMO support. However, higher PCT levels within the first week of the ECMO run are associated with significantly higher mortality.

Anticoagulation Therapy during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator Support in Pediatric Patients / 전남의대학술지

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a salvage therapy for critically ill patients. Although ECMO is becoming more common, hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications remain the major causes of death in patients undergoing ECMO treatments. These complications commence upon blood contact with artificial surfaces of the circuit, blood pump, and oxygenator system. Therefore, anticoagulation therapy is required in most cases to prevent these problems. Anticoagulation is more complicated in pediatric patients than in adults, and the foreign surface of ECMO only increases the complexity of systemic anticoagulation. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of coagulation, anticoagulants, and monitoring tools in pediatric patients receiving ECMO.

Nosocomial Infection in Adult Patients Undergoing Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Data on the frequency of nosocomial infections during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adult populations remain scarce. We investigated the risk factors for nosocomial infections in adult patients undergoing venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) support. From January 2011 to December 2015, a total of 259 patients underwent ECMO. Of these, patients aged 17 years or less and patients undergoing ECMO for less than 48 hours were excluded. Of these, 61 patients diagnosed with cardiogenic shock were evaluated. Mean patient age was 60.6 ± 14.3 years and 21 (34.4%) patients were female. The mean preoperative Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 8.6 ± 2.2. The mean duration of ECMO support was 6.8 ± 7.4 days. The rates of successful ECMO weaning and survival to discharge were 44.3% and 31.1%, respectively. There were 18 nosocomial infections in 14 (23.0%) patients. These included respiratory tract infections in 9 cases and bloodstream infections in a further 9. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of infection during ECMO were the preoperative creatinine level (hazard ratio [HR], 2.176; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.065–4.447; P = 0.033) and the duration of ECMO support (HR, 1.400; 95% CI, 1.081–1.815; P = 0.011). A higher preoperative creatinine level and an extended duration of ECMO support are risk factors for infection. Therefore, to avoid the development of nosocomial infections, strategies to shorten the length of ECMO support should be applied whenever possible.

Anticoagulation Therapy during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator Support in Pediatric Patients / 전남의대학술지

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a salvage therapy for critically ill patients. Although ECMO is becoming more common, hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications remain the major causes of death in patients undergoing ECMO treatments. These complications commence upon blood contact with artificial surfaces of the circuit, blood pump, and oxygenator system. Therefore, anticoagulation therapy is required in most cases to prevent these problems. Anticoagulation is more complicated in pediatric patients than in adults, and the foreign surface of ECMO only increases the complexity of systemic anticoagulation. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of coagulation, anticoagulants, and monitoring tools in pediatric patients receiving ECMO.

Total Occlusion of Pulmonary Arteries by Embolization of Myxoma

No abstract available.

Modified Surgical Intervention for Extensive Mitral Valve Endocarditis and Posterior Mitral Annular Calcification

The concomitant presence of posterior mitral annular calcification and infectious mitral valve lesions poses a technical challenge with considerable perioperative risk when using previously proposed techniques for mitral valve surgery. Herein, we report a case of the use of a modified surgical technique to successfully treat a patient with mitral infective endocarditis complicated by a subendocardial abscess and extensive posterior mitral annular calcification.

Minimally Invasive Approach for Redo Mitral Valve Replacement: No Aortic Cross-Clamping and No Cardioplegia

A 75-year-old woman who had previously undergone a double valve replacement was admitted to Asan Medical Center because of severe bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation. Under hypothermic fibrillatory arrest without aortic cross-clamping, minimally invasive mitral and tricuspid valve surgery was performed via a right minithoracotomy.

Titanium Plate Fixation for Sternal Dehiscence in Major Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND: Sternal dehiscence is one of the most troublesome complications following cardiac surgery. Treatment failure and consequent lethal outcomes are very common. The aim of this study was to evaluate titanium plate fixation as a treatment for sternal dehiscence following major cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2010 and 2012, 17 patients underwent sternal reconstruction using horizontal titanium plating for the treatment of post-cardiac-surgery sternal dehiscence. The plates were cut and shaped, and then were fixed to corresponding costal segments using 2-3 titanium screws per each side. RESULTS: The median age of our patients was 66 years (range, 50 to 78 years) and 9 were female. Indications for sternal reconstruction included aseptic sternal dehiscence in 3 patients and osteomyelitis in 14 patients including 6 patients who were diagnosed with mediastinitis. During the operation, sternal resection and autologous flap interposition were combined in 11 patients. One patient died due to sepsis. Two patients required additional soft tissue wound revisions. Another patient presented with a tuberculous wound infection which was resolved using anti-tuberculosis medications. The postoperative course was uncomplicated in the other 13 patients. CONCLUSION: Titanium plate fixation that combines appropriate debridement and flap interposition is very effective for the treatment of sternal dehiscence following major cardiac surgery.

Surgical Outcomes of Congenital Atrial Septal Defect Using da VinciTM Surgical Robot System

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+/-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+/-32.2 and 157.6+/-49.7 minutes, respectively. The postoperative hospital stay was 5.5+/-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.

Epicardial Cyst Originating from Right Ventricle

Pericardial cysts are reported by some authors, but epicardial cysts are extremely rare. We report one case of epicardial cyst that was detected incidentally and was removed successfully. Furthermore, unusually, pathological examinations confirmed that the cyst wall was looked like a vessel wall.

Surgical Management of Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Embolic Stroke: Early versus Delayed Surgery

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of surgery for infective endocarditis complicated by embolic stroke is unclear. We compared early versus delayed surgery in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2007, 56 consecutive patients underwent open cardiac surgery for the treatment of infective endocarditis complicated by acute septic embolic stroke, 34 within 2 weeks (early group) and 22 more than 2 weeks (delayed group) after the onset of stroke. RESULTS: The mean age at time of surgery was 45.7+/-14.8 years. Stroke was ischemic in 42 patients and hemorrhagic in 14. Patients in the early group were more likely to have highly mobile, large (>1 cm in diameter) vegetation and less likely to have hemorrhagic infarction than those in the delayed group. There were two (3.7%) intraoperative deaths, both in the early group and attributed to neurologic aggravation. Among the 54 survivors, 4 (7.1%), that is, 2 in each group, showed neurologic aggravation. During a median follow-up of 61.7 months (range, 0.4~170.4 months), there were 5 late deaths. Overall 5-year neurologic aggravation-free survival rates were 79.1+/-7.0% in the early group and 90.9+/-6.1% in the delayed group (p=0.113). CONCLUSION: Outcomes of early operation for infective endocarditis in stroke patients were similar to those of the conventional approach. Early surgical intervention may be preferable for patients at high risk of life-threatening septic embolism.

Orthotopic Cardiac Transplantation after Inter-caval Anastomosis in a Patient with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava / 대한흉부외과학회지

Cardiac transplantation in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava (SVC) necessitates unifocalization of the caval veins. Here we report a successful case of orthotopic heart transplantation in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and persistent left SVC. Cardiac transplantation was done after the left SVC was anastomosed to the right SVC in an end to side fashion. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is currently in an excellent clinical condition.

Completely Port-Accessed Atrial Septal Defect Patch Closure Using the da Vinci System: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

We have experienced five cases of atrial septal defect closure under complete port access using the da Vinci system. We used only six 8~12 mm ports without thoracotomy or sternotomy for operation.

Treating a Ruptured Ascending Aorta with an Endovascular Stent Graft / 대한흉부외과학회지

Endovascular stent grafting is regarded as a promising alternative approach to open surgical repair for treating various aortic diseases in high risk patients. We report here on a case of a 79-year-old female who underwent endovascular stent-graft insertion in the ascending aorta for treating a complicated ascending aortic rupture that occurred secondary to radiation necrosis during the treatment of recurrent breast cancer.