Tae-Jin Yun

Visibility of the origin and proximal course of coronary arteries on non-ECG-gated heart CT in patients with congenital heart disease

Background: There is little information on the ability of non-ECG-gated cardiac CT to demonstrate the coronary arteries of children. Objective: To evaluate the visibility of the origin and proximal course of coronary arteries on non-ECG-gated cardiac CT, in which the coronary artery was not of primary diagnostic concern, in children with congenital heart disease. Materials and methods: From December 2002 to March 2004, 126 cardiac CT examinations from 104 children (median age 11xa0months; age range 1xa0day to 15xa0years) were evaluated. All patients had ventriculo-arterial concordance and no malformations of the great arteries; those with coronary artery anomalies were excluded. Contrast-enhanced 16-slice spiral CT was performed without ECG-gating and multiplanar images for coronary arteries were obtained. The visibility of coronary artery origins was graded on a three-point scale, while nine segments of the arteries were graded on a four-point scale. CT images in which it was possible to trace the coronary arteries were considered diagnostic. The visibility of each whole coronary artery and the origins and proximal four segments of coronary arteries were calculated. The visibility of coronary arteries was also correlated with patient age. Results: The percentage of CT images of diagnostic quality was 49.3% for the whole coronary artery and 81.7% for the origins and proximal four segments. There was a significant positive correlation between the visibility of coronary arteries and age. Conclusions: Non-ECG-gated cardiac CT, in which the coronary artery is not of primary diagnostic concern, is frequently able to visualize the origin and proximal course of coronary arteries and may be helpful in detecting coronary artery anomalies in children with congenital heart disease.

Hands-on surgical training of congenital heart surgery using 3-dimensional print models

Objective: Patient‐based congenital heart surgery (CHS) training is opportunity‐based and difficult. Three‐dimensional (3D) print models of the heart were used for hands‐on surgical training (HOST) at the 2015 AATS and subsequently in 2 local institutions. We aim to introduce the process of 3D printing for surgical simulation and to present the attendees responses. Methods: Using CT or MR angiograms, the models of congenital heart disease were created and printed with flexible rubberlike material. Altogether, 81 established surgeons or trainees performed simulated surgical procedures with the expert surgeons guidance and supervision. At the completion of the session, 50 of 81 attendees participated in the questionnaire assessment of the program. Results: All responders found the course helpful in improving their surgical skills. All would consider including HOST sessions in the training programs. All found that the models showed the necessary pathologic findings. Most found that the consistency and elasticity of the model material were different from those of the human myocardium. However, the responders thought that the quality of the models was acceptable (88%) or manageable (12%) for surgical practice. The major weaknesses listed were related to the print material and poor representation of the cardiac valves. Conclusions: HOST using 3D print heart models is achievable and allows surgical practice on pathological hearts without patients risk. HOST is a highly applicable surgical simulation format for CHS. Incorporation of HOST in training programs could change the traditional opportunity‐based education to the requirement‐based standardized education.

Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: transaortic repair may cause sinus of Valsalva distortion and aortic regurgitation.

OBJECTIVESnRecurrent or newly developing aortic regurgitation is a critical problem after the repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.nnnMETHODSnA retrospective review of 56 patients who underwent surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm between June 1990 and August 2006 was performed. Rupture of the right coronary sinus into the right ventricle was the most common anatomic type (39/56, 69.6%). Preoperative aortic regurgitation equal to or greater than grade II (n = 8, 17.9%) was managed by repair (aortic valvuloplasty, n = 5) or replacement (n = 3). Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was repaired primarily (n = 7) or by patching (n = 10) through an aortotomy in 17 patients (transaortic group). In the remaining patients (n = 39), ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was repaired primarily from the chamber into which the corresponding aortic sinus ruptured, and the aneurysmal sac was reinforced with a supporting patch (non-transaortic group).nnnRESULTSnMedian follow-up duration was 46 months (0.4-177 months). There were 2 late deaths. Excluding 3 patients with aortic valve replacement on aneurysm repair, 11 patients (11/53, 21%) had recurrent or new-onset significant aortic regurgitation (> or = II/IV) during the follow-up period. By multivariable analysis, aortic valvuloplasty at initial operation was the only significant risk factor for postoperative aortic regurgitation (P < .001). After adjustment, the non-transaortic approach appeared to be associated with a lower risk of postoperative aortic regurgitation, with marginal significance (hazard ratio 0.28; P = .058). Five-year freedom from significant aortic regurgitation in the transaortic and non-transaortic groups was 68% +/- 12% and 94% +/- 4%, respectively.nnnCONCLUSIONnTransaortic repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm may cause postoperative aortic regurgitation by progressive distortion of the aortic sinus geometry.

Long-term mortality in adult orthotopic heart transplant recipients.

Heart transplantation is now regarded as the treatment of choice for end-stage heart failure. To improve long-term results of the heart transplantation, we analyzed causes of death relative to time after transplantation. A total of 201 consecutive patients, 154 (76.6%) males, aged ≥ 17 yr underwent heart transplantation between November 1992 and December 2008. Mean ages of recipients and donors were 42.8 ± 12.4 and 29.8 ± 9.6 yr, respectively. The bicaval anastomosis technique was used since 1999. Mean follow up duration was 6.5 ± 4.4 yr. Two patients (1%) died in-hospital due to sepsis caused by infection. Late death occurred in 39 patients (19.4%) with the most common cause being sepsis due to infection. The 1-, 5-, and 10-yr survival rates in these patients were 95.5% ± 1.5%, 86.9% ± 2.6%, and 73.5% ± 4.1%, respectively. The surgical results of heart transplantation in adults were excellent, with late mortality due primarily to infection, malignancy, and rejection. Cardiac deaths related to cardiac allograft vasculopathy were very rare.

Pulmonary vascular compliance and pleural effusion duration after the Fontan procedure

BACKGROUNDnPreoperative risk analysis for Fontan candidates is still less than optimal in that patients with apparently low risks may have a poor outcome, such as prolonged pleural drainage, protein-losing enteropathy, pulmonary thromboembolism and death. We hypothesized that low pulmonary vascular compliance (PVC) is a risk factor for persistent pleural effusion after the Fontan operation.nnnMETHODSnA retrospective review of 85 patients who underwent the extracardiac Fontan procedures (median age: 3.87 years) was performed. Fontan risk score (FRS) was calculated from 12 categorized preoperative anatomical and physiological variables. PVC (mm(2)/m(2) x mmHg) was defined as pulmonary artery index (mm(2)/m(2)) divided by total pulmonary resistance (Wood Unit x m(2)) and pulmonary blood flow (L/min/m(2)), based on the electrical circuit analogy of the pulmonary circulation. Chest tube indwelling time was log-transformed (log indwelling time, LIT) to fit normal distribution, and the relationship between perioperative predictors and LIT was analyzed by multiple linear regression.nnnRESULTSnPreoperative PVC, chest tube indwelling time and LIT ranged from 6 to 94.8 mm(2)/mmHg/m(2) (median: 24.8), 3 to 268 days (median: 20 days), and 1.1 to 5.6 (mean: 2.9, standard deviation: 0.8), respectively. FRS, PVC, cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB) and central venous pressure at postoperative 12 h were correlated with LIT by univariable analyses. By multiple linear regression, PVC (p=0.002) and CPB (p=0.003) independently predicted LIT, explaining 22% of the variation. The regression equation was LIT=2.744-0.016 PVC+0.007 CPB.nnnCONCLUSIONnLow pulmonary vascular compliance is an important risk factor for prolonged pleural effusion drainage after the extracardiac Fontan procedure.

Hybrid palliation for right atrial isomerism associated with obstructive total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage

A twenty-four-day-old girl, who was prematurely born at 36 weeks of gestation, and weighed 2.2 kg, and diagnosed with right atrial isomerism, functionally single ventricle, bilateral superior vena cava (SVC) and obstructive supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) draining to the junction between the right SVC and the right atrium, underwent a hybrid procedure in the operating room, which consisted of pulmonary artery banding, ductus ligation and stenting of the draining vein of TAPVD. Obstruction at the drainage site of TAPVD was initially relieved after stenting, but, one month after the procedure, the distal end of the stent became stenotic and she received bilateral sutureless repair of TAPVD. At postoperative seven months, she underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt uneventfully, and she has been followed-up for two months in a stable state without any problem in the pulmonary venous pathway.

Deterioration of Mitral Valve Competence After the Repair of Atrial Septal Defect in Adults

BACKGROUNDnAlthough mild mitral regurgitation (MR) associated with atrial septal defect (ASD) is believed to improve by ASD closure alone, new-onset MR or aggravation of preexisting mild MR may also develop after ASD closure. We sought to determine the preoperative risk factors for the postoperative deterioration of mitral valve competence in adults with ASD.nnnMETHODSnRetrospective review of 286 adults with ASD who had undergone surgical closure of ASD between January 2004 and December 2009 was performed. Patients with significant preoperative MR (≥III/IV) that necessitated mitral valve intervention were excluded. Preoperative MR grades were 0 in 204 patients, I in 67 patients, and II in 15 patients.nnnRESULTSnAfter ASD repair, MR degree did not change or improved in most of the patients (204 of 286, 71%), whereas 82 patients (82 of 286, 29%) showed aggravated or new-onset MR, including 18 patients whose MR degree increased by grade 2 or more. Univariable analysis revealed older age, preoperative atrial fibrillation, large left atrial size, large indexed ASD size, high peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and associated tricuspid valve surgery or Maze procedure as risk factors for new-onset or aggravated MR, but only older age (odds ratio, 1.058; 95% confidence interval, 1.025 to 1.092; p = 0.0005) and indexed ASD size (odds ratio, 1.120; 95% confidence interval, 1.042 to 1.205; p = 0.0022) remained significant on multivariable analysis. The ratio of postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic volume to preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic volume was greater in patients with new-onset or aggravated MR (p = 0.016).nnnCONCLUSIONSnMitral valve competence may deteriorate after ASD closure in older patients with large ASD.

Tetralogy of Fallot without the infundibular septum–restricted growth of the pulmonary valve annulus after annulus preservation may render the right ventricular outflow tract obstructive

OBJECTIVEnTetralogy of Fallot (ToF) with infundibular septal deficiency (ISD) is commonly associated with postoperative right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO), presumably caused by subpulmonary extension of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and restricted growth of the pulmonary valve annulus (PVA). We sought to determine the postoperative growth of the PVA after annulus preservation according to the presence or absence of the infundibular septum.nnnMETHODSnA retrospective review of 90 patients who underwent surgical repair of ToF between June 1997 and August 2008 was performed. Median age at operation was 9.5 months. Infundibular septum was absent in 15 (15/90, 17%). PVA was preserved in 71 patients (71/90, 79%), including 13 patients with ISD (13/15, 87%).nnnRESULTSnMedian follow-up duration was 39 months (2 months to 13 years). There was no early mortality and one late noncardiac death. Among the patients with PVA preservation, reoperation for RVOTO was performed in 4 patients (4/71, 6%), including 3 patients without the infundibular septum. ISD was identified as the only risk factor in reoperation for RVOTO after PVA preservation (RR: 21.85, P = .007). Among the patients who underwent repair with PVA preservation during infancy (n = 43), PVA (Z-score) increased postoperatively in patients with the infundibular septum (+ 0.021/month, P = .009), whereas the changes in PVA (Z-score) were nonsignificant in patients with ISD (-0.021/month, P = .306), with a marginal intergroup difference (P = .056).nnnCONCLUSIONSnPVA preservation in ToF with ISD may be associated with a higher risk for postoperative RVOTO, which can be attributed to the restricted growth of the PVA.

Outcomes of neonatal Ebstein's anomaly without right ventricular forward flow

OBJECTIVEnIn neonates with Ebsteins anomaly and absent right ventricular forward flow, pulmonary valve morphology is normal or abnormal. Although initial postnatal presentations of these 2 conditions are similar, clinical courses and therapeutic strategies for each category differ greatly.nnnMETHODSnAmong 29 neonates with Ebsteins anomaly without right ventricular forward flow on initial postnatal echocardiography, 16 had a normal pulmonary valve and 13 had an abnormal pulmonary valve.nnnRESULTSnDuring the postnatal follow-up of the normal pulmonary valve group, right ventricular forward flow commenced approximately 10xa0days after birth (1-15xa0days). The ductus arteriosus was surgically ligated in 3 neonates to facilitate right ventricular forward flow. Biventricular or 1 1/2 ventricular physiology was eventually achieved in 14 patients in the normal pulmonary valve group (14/16, 88%) and 2 patients in the abnormal pulmonary valve group (2/13, 15.3%). With respect to the preoperative echocardiographic findings, the normal pulmonary valve group had a significantly larger pulmonary valve annulus (8.2xa0±xa01.4xa0mm in the normal pulmonary valve group and 6.4xa0±xa01.8xa0mm in the abnormal pulmonary valve group, Pxa0=xa0.002) and smaller cardiothoracic ratio (0.79xa0±xa00.05 in the normal pulmonary valve group and 0.85xa0±xa00.07 in the abnormal pulmonary valve group, Pxa0=xa0.03). Mild to moderate pulmonary regurgitation was present in all patients (16/16, 100%) in the normal pulmonary valve group, but 3 patients (3/13, 23%) in the abnormal pulmonary valve group also had pulmonary regurgitation. On logistic regression analysis, only pulmonary valve annulus size remained as an indicator of a normal pulmonary valve (Pxa0=xa0.03).nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn patients with Ebsteins anomaly and absent right ventricular forward flow, large pulmonary valve annulus size indicated a normal pulmonary valve. Patients with a normal pulmonary valve showed better survival and had a higher probability of achieving biventricular hemodynamics.

Effectiveness and safety of percutaneous transcatheter implantation of pulmonary arterial stent in congenital heart disease.

Background and Objectives Pulmonary arterial stenosis is a relatively common complication after corrective operation of congenital heart disease. Unilateral stenosis of pulmonary arteries could result in decrease perfusion of affected lung, pulmonary regurgitation, or elevation of right ventricular pressure. Eventually there are increasing risks of right ventricular failure, arrhythmia, or sudden death. However we have limited data of pulmonary arterial stent in paediatric population as the treatment of branch pulmonary stenosis. This study aimed at validating the effectiveness and investigating complications of pulmonary arterial stent implantation in a single institution during mid-term follow up period. Subjects and Methods A total of 42 patients (50 stents) were implanted for treating branch pulmonary arterial stenosis. We used cardiac catheterization for comparing diameter after stent implantation directly and lung perfusion scan indirectly. We also investigated any adverse effect relating the procedure. Results Percent stenosis of stenotic lesions were decreased from 54.1±10.7% to 22.8±12.5% (p<0.001) and degree of decrement in affected lung perfusion was declined from 22.7±8.0% to 10.3±9.0% (p<0.001) immediately and lasts during mid-term follow up period. Complication rate relating the procedure was 12% (6 out of 12) and there was no mortality case. Conclusion This series showed immediate and short term effectiveness of pulmonary arterial stent in congenital heart defects. We concluded that percutaneous transcatheter implantation of pulmonary arterial stent was safe and effective during short and mid-term follow up period.