• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.164-167
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• 2005

Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare congenital abnormality but it is well recognized as the cause of significant aortic regurgitation. We describe 5 patients who underwent surgery for severe aortic regurgitation associated with quadricuspid valve. In all patients, this abnormality had been incidentally detected during surgery. Two of the patients had infective endocarditis. In accordance with the Hurwitz and Roberts classification, two valves were type d, two were type a, and one was type c.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 1989

In candidates for aortic valve replacement [AVR]it is our primary intention to implant the largest possible vale prosthesis of at least 23 mm in diameter in patients with severe valvular aortic stenosis. However, in many patients there is an additional subvalvular asymmetric septal hypertrophy which in some cases may cause an postextrasystolic increase of the LV-aortic gradient. Another component of the aortic stenosis syndrome is a narrow valvular ring, or a combination of both. After complete removal of the diseased valve and decalcification the narrow aortic ring [< 23 mm] can be widened firstly by transaortic subvalvular septal myectomy- [TSM] thus unfolding the left ventricular outflow tract[LVOT]and secondly by extending the oblique aortic incision into the aortic valve ring or further down into the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The sub-and supra-valvular defect will be closed by patch enlargement of the aortic root [PEAR] using autologous pericardium. These techniques allow a considerable enlargement of the valvular ring of about 4 to 10 mm in circumference. In a retrospective study using a computerized program, 847 patients with AVR [1980-1984]were reviewed to evaluate the intraoperative hemodynamic results mainly concerning relief of the transvalvular gradient. In 626 patients AVR was performed, 151 patients had double valve replacement [AVR+MVR], and 70 patients had AVR plus additional surgical procedures. Concentrating on the AVR-group [n=626] there were 103 patients with TSM, 24 patients with PEAR and 20 patients with TSM+PEAR which demonstrated that in a total, of 147 patients of this groups [23.5%] an additional procedure was necessary. The Statistical evaluation of the intraoperative pressure measurements before and after AVR in relation to the size of the implanted prostheses indicated the lowest preoperative mean gradient in patients with AVR alone, the highest in patients who afforded TSM plus PEAR. However, after AVR the mean gradients in all three groups were very low [mean 5 to 10 mmHg]. These data indicate that in patients with a narrow aortic ring and additional considerable ASH, TSM and PEAR are suitable techniques to enlarge the aortic root to enable the implantation of an adequate aortic valve prosthesis. Long-term controls have shown that autologous pericardium is a qualified graft material for the ascending aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.456-460
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• 1985

A case of Annuloaortic Ectasia associated with Marfan syndrome was treated by replacement of aorta and aortic valve with a valved conduit. A 26 years old man had suffered from palpitation and precordial pain. He had stigmata of Marfan`s syndrome. Aortogram and 2-D echocardiogram confirmed aneurysm of the ascending aorta with aortic insufficiency. Surgery was performed under the moderate hypothermia to 28oC. There was marked dilatation of the aortic annulus as well as sinus of Valsalva, with displacement of the coronary ostia. Aortic valve and aneurysm was replacement with 25mm, woven Dacron tubular graft, to which a 25mm, S.T. Jude Medical valve had been previously sutured. Right & left coronary ostia were anastomosed to the graft with the use of 3O Nylon pledget suture. The patient had a satisfactory post operation period with out specific complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.557-564
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• 1984

Of the valve replacement patients operated between 1983 and June, 1984, 75 patients need more than 60 minutes of aortic cross-clamping time. 42 patients performed single valve replacement [35 MVR, 7 AVR with or without TAP] and remainder needs double valve replacement with or without TAP. The average aortic clamping time was 95.1 minutes. They need 30 minutes more extra-corporeal circulation time than aortic clamping time. The patients were divided into two groups by usage of cardioplegic solution. Group I [n=31] with Bretschneider solution and group II with potassium cardioplegic solution [M.G.H. modification] were analyzed by extra-corporeal circulation data,/CG and Echocardiography findings, and clinical data. There was no difference between two groups in Bivon addition amounts [cc/kg] and E.F. and S.F. by echocardiography, group I need 1 more electrocardioversion to convert sinus rhythm postoperatively. Also no difference could be found in patients whose preoperative C.I. was above 2.0 between two group. But significant postoperative decrease in E.F. was found in group I whose preoperative C.I. was below 2.0. Relatively longer ECC time was also needed in same group. Ischemic changes in ECG and low cardiac output syndrome was, however more prevalent in groupII. As a whole, the clinical data was satisfactory with both cardioplegic solution in clinical practice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.667-675
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• 1990

From June, 15th, 1987 to June, 14th, 1989, 105 Duromedics bileaflet cardiac valve prostheses were implanted in 81 patients. Mitral valve replacement was done in 42 patients, 7 underwent aortic valve replacement, 28 underwent double valve replacement, & 4 patients underwent triple valve replacement. Concomitantly used valves were 13 cases; 11 cases were St. Jude Medical valves[M: SJM #29 X4, #27 X5, #25 X 1, T: SJM #33] & two cases were Carpentier Edwards bioprostheses[T: C - E #31X2]. The early mortality rate[within 30 days] was 3.7%[2 patients] & the late mortality rate was 7.4%[3 patients]. Follow-up was done on 72 surviving patients; mean follow-up period was 21.17$\pm$5.36 months. Anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was observed in two patients, possible prosthetic valvular endocarditis was observed in one patient and other specific valve-related complications were none. We concluded, therefore, that good clinical results & a low complication rate could be achieved with Duromedics bileaflet valve in short-term follow-up, & long-term follow-up was also necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2008

Background: It is currently thought that tissue valve degeneration is related to an animal's immune response, which is mainly due to cell surface ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes. Cell surface ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes are known to be degraded by the enzyme called green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase. It is also well known that ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes are immunologically stained by Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin type B4. We know that many commercially available tissue valves are made of aortic valves and pericardial tissue of pig. So, we investigated whether ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes of the aortic valve and pericardial tissue of a pig can be removed by green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase, and we did so by comparing immunologic staining of the tissues before and after the enzyme treatment. Material and method: After treating fresh porcine aortic valve and pericardial tissue with green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at concentrations of 0.5 unit/mL, 1.0 unit/mL, 2.0 unit/mL, respectively, under the condition of pH 6.5, temperature. $4^{\circ}C$ and 24 hours of incubation, each sample was stained with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin type B4 immunpfluorescent labeling. We then examined whether the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes were reduced or abolished in each consecutive. concentration of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase by comparing the degree of the Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining in each sample. Result: In the pig aortic valve tissue, a 1.0 unit/mL concentration of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at pH 6.5, $4^{\circ}C$ and reaction for 24 hours was enough for complete removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes from the cell sur face on the immunostaining with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4. On the other hand, more ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes were present in the pig pericardial tissue on Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining before the enzyme treatment, and 1.0 unit/mL of galactosidase was not sufficient for complete removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal from the tissue. 2.0 units/mL of green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase was needed to completely remove the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes from the pericardial tissue on immunostaining. Conclusion: The ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes of the pig's aortic valve and pericardial tissue were successfully stained with Griffonia Simplicifolia isolectin B4. We could remove nearly all the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes using green coffee bean ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase at the concentration of 1.0 unit/mL in the aortic valve. Of pig, and 2.0 unit/mL was need to nearly completely remove all the ${\alpha}$-Gal epitopes in the pericardial tissue of pig under the condition of pH 6.5, $4^{\circ}C$ and 24 hours of reaction time. In the near future, removal of ${\alpha}$-Gal epitapes in the pig's aortic valve and pericardial tissue will become a powerful tool for the improvement of the tissue valve durability. It needs to be determined if ${\alpha}$-galactosidase treated pig tissue is immune to human anti-Gal antibody or anit-Gal mooclonal antibodies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.885-891
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• 1995

In order to test the hypothesis that the pulmonic valve, when used to replace the aortic root as a pulmonary autograft, will remain a viable anatomical structure and will grow and develop normally along with the host, we performed aortic valve replacement with the pulmonary autograft in 15 neonatal piglets. The weight of the donor was 9.3 $\pm$ 0.2 kg, the recipient 9.6 $\pm$ 0.3 kg. Measured diameters of pulmonic annulus were 14 $\pm$ 0.2 mm for autograft and 14.2 $\pm$ 0.2 mm for pulmonary artery homograft. Operation was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermia [20oC at low flow perfusion [70 ml/kg/min . The mean operation time was 227 $\pm$ 10 min., bypass time 152$\pm$ 7.6 min. and aortic cross clamp time 73$\pm$ 4.6 min.. 9 piglets survived more than 12 hours. One survived 12 days and died of pneumonia and the latest one survived in good condition and sacrificed at postoperative 6th week for cardiac catheterization and pathologic examination that revealed the viability and growing of the pulmonary autograft. Currently we are able to complete the operation with good preservation of cardiac function, and our postoperative care has evolved to the extent that we are now confident enough of having an acceptable percentage of long term survivors to undertake a definite study in this regard.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.492-498
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• 2004

Background: In this study, we investigated the risk factors for the development or progression of aortic regurgitation(AR) in patients with type I ventricular septal defect (VSD) to determine the optimal surgical timing and strategy. Material and Method: Three-hundred and ten patients with type I VSD with or without AR were included. The mean of age was 73.7$\pm$114.7 (1-737) months. One hundred and eighty six patients (60%) had no AR, 83 (27%) had mild AR, 25 (8%) had moderate AR and 16 (5%) had severe AR. Aortic valve was repaired in 5 patients and replaced in 11 patients with closure of VSD in the first operation. Four patients required redo aortic valve repair and 11 patients required redo aortic valve replacement. Age at operation, association with aortic valve prolapse, Qp/Qs, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, VSD size and systolic pulmonary artery to aortic pressure ratio(s[PAP/AP］) were included as risk factors analysis for the development of AR. The long-term result of aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement were compared. Result: Older age at operation, association with aortic valve prolapse, high Qp/Qs, and s[PAP/AP] were identified as risk factors for the development of AR (p<0.05, Table 2). The older the patient at the time of operation, the higher the severity of preoperative AR and the incidence of postoperative AR (p<0.05, Table 1, Fig. 1). For the older patients at operation, aortic valve repair had higher occurrence of AR compared to those who had aortic valve replacement (p<0.05, Fig. 2). Conclusion: From the result of this study, we can concluded that early primary repair is recommended to decrease the progression of AR. Aortic valve repair is not always a satisfactory option to correct the aortic valve pathology, which may suggest that aortic valve replacement should be considered when indicated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.710-714
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• 1987

Over the past 6 years, from July, 1981. through June, 1987., 14 consecutive patient with congenital aortic stenosis underwent corrective surgery in our department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. The patient ranged in age from 1 to 20 years. There were 8 male and 6 female patients. According to the operative findings, stenotic site was valvular stenosis [5 cases], subvalvular stenosis [5 cases], supravalvular stenosis [2 cases], valvular and supra valvular stenosis [1 case]. We have performed valvotomy and commissurotomy [5 cases]. Resection of subvalvular membrane [3 cases], patch enlargement of Ascending aorta [2 cases], LV myotomy [2 cases], valvotomy and excision of membrane [1 case], patch enlargement of ascending aorta and valve ring [1 case]. There was one hospital mortality [7.1%]. He died of C-I bleeding and sepsis on the 25th postoperative day. All survivors showed improvement in NYHA functional class in the 160 patient/month follow up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.609-619
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• 1989

During aortic valve surgery, cardioplegic solution is delivered through direct cannulation of both coronary ostia. Since this approach may cause an intimal injury leading to acute dissection or late ostial stenosis, this study was undertaken to evaluate myocardial protective effect of retrograde perfusion of cardioplegia [RCSP <% RRAP] in 18 clinical cases, which were compared with antegrade perfusion of cardioplegia in 27 clinical cases. This study were investigated 1] cease and return of electromechanical activity after cardioplegia infusion 2] the myocardial temperature during operation 3] the aortic cross clamping time and total bypass time 4] frequency of DC shock for defibrillation 5] need for inotropic drugs after operation 6] electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial infarction or ventricular arrhythmia after operation 7] the enzymes activity during preoperative and postoperative period as an evaluation of myocardial ischemic injury and 8] operative mortality rate The combination of retrograde cardioplegia and topical cooling with ice slush yielded promptly hypothermia of myocardium and shorter aortic cross-clamping time compared with antegrade cardioplegia [P < 0.05]. The temperature of the interventricular septum was maintained below 20oC by continuous perfusion or intermittent perfusion of cold blood cardioplegia and other results were no statistically significant difference between the two methods [P >0.05]. This technique provides clear operative field and avoids some serious complications which are caused by coronary ostial cannulation. These results suggested that the retrograde perfusion of cardioplegia is a simple, safe, and effective means of myocardial protection during open heart surgery.