Surgical outcome of mitral valve surgery in atrial functional mitral regurgitation compared with degenerative etiology.

Objective: To analyze and compare the outcomes of mitral valve surgery for atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) and for degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).

Methods: Patients with AFMR or DMR who underwent mitral valve repair/replacement at 2 institutions between January 2012 and December 2022 were included. Patients <18 years of age and patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery (except for the maze procedure or tricuspid annuloplasty) were excluded.

Outcomes of Concomitant Maze Procedure in Tricuspid Repair for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: We aimed to analyze the impact of concomitant Maze procedure on the clinical and rhythm outcomes, and echocardiographic parameters in tricuspid repair for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Patients who had severe TR and persistent AF and underwent tricuspid valve (TV) repair were included in the study. Both primary TR and secondary TR were included in the current study.

Totally Thoracoscopic Ablation in Patients With Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation After Catheter Ablation.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of totally thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods: From February 2012 to May 2020, 460 patients who underwent TTA were classified into two groups: CA (presence of RFCA history, n = 74) and nCA groups (absence of RFCA history, n = 386). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses were used to adjust for confounders.

Total arch replacement versus hybrid operation for aortic arch aneurysm in elderly patients: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: There is not sufficient evidence of the superiority of hybrid procedures over total arch replacement (TAR) for the aortic arch aneurysm of an elderly patients. This retrospective study aimed to compare total arch replacement and hybrid procedures for treatment of aortic arch aneurysms in patients aged ≥75.

Methods: This study was a multicenter retrospective investigation of peri-operative outcomes of patients undergoing aortic arch aneurysm repair using either TAR or hybrid procedures between January 2012 and May 2021.

Optimal Position of a Femorojugular Cannulation for Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: This study aimed to determine the optimal position of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) draining cannulas for refractory respiratory failure based on short-term clinical results.

Methods: In total, 278 patients underwent V-V ECMO at our hospital between 2012 and 2020. Those who underwent V-V ECMO with a femorojugular configuration were included.

Aortic Valve Replacement and Concomitant Multi-Vessel Coronary Artery Bypass: The Impact of Using the Bilateral Internal Thoracic Arteries on Early and Late Clinical Outcomes.

Background: The survival benefit of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using the bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA) is well known; however, the role of BITA in concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR) and CABG has not been studied.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent concomitant AVR and CABG. Cases not using an internal thoracic artery and less than 2 bypass grafts were excluded.

Comparison of Early Complications of Oral Anticoagulants after Totally Thoracoscopic Ablation: Warfarin versus Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. Totally thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) is a surgical treatment showing a high success rate as a hybrid procedure with radiofrequency catheter ablation to control AF. This study compared the early complications of warfarin and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients who underwent TTA.

Thoracoscopic Implantation of Epicardial Left Ventricular Lead for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

(1) Background: Limited data exist on the safety and efficacy of epicardial left ventricular (LV) lead placement using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). (2) Methods: Acute and post-discharge outcomes of CRT were compared between patients with epicardial LV leads (Epicardial-LV group, = 13) and those with endocardial LV leads (Endocardial-LV group, = 243). (3) Results: Epicardial LV leads were implanted via VATS alone ( = 8) or along with mini-thoracotomy ( = 5), for failed endocardial implantation ( = 11) or recurrent lead dislodgement ( = 2).

Severe dysplasminogenemia due to homozygous PLG Ala620Thr variant in a Korean woman without a history of venous thromboembolism: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Plasminogen plays an important role in fibrinolysis and is encoded by the PLG gene. The missense variant PLG Ala620Thr is the major cause of dysplasminogenemia in East Asian countries, including Korea. Although dysplasminogenemia was first reported in a Japanese patient with recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), subsequent studies have not demonstrated any clear association between the PLG Ala620Thr variant and the risk of VTE.

Impact of age on the outcomes of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Objectives: Patient selection is crucial to improving the outcomes of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). However, ECPR's efficacy with older patients remains unknown.

Methods: We reviewed patients who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for refractory cardiac arrest from January 2006 to December 2018.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Fulminant Myocarditis: Increase of Cardiac Enzyme and SOFA Score Is Associated with High Mortality.

We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with fulminant myocarditis and investigate the factors associated with mortality. This is a retrospective single-center cohort study that included adult and pediatric patients with fulminant myocarditis treated at Samsung Medical Center between September 2004 and December 2019. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.

Impact of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach on Extracorporeal Circulatory Life Support-Bridged Heart Transplantation.

Background: The number of heart transplantations (HTx) is increasing annually. Due to advances in medical and surgical support, the outcomes of HTx are also improving. Extracorporeal circulatory life support (ECLS) provides patients with decompensated heart failure a chance to undergo HTx.

Successful Lung Transplantation After 213 Days of Extracorporeal Life Support: Role of Oxygenator-Right Ventricular Assist Device.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) can successfully support patients with refractory respiratory failure and is widely accepted as a bridge to recovery or bridge to transplantation. However, some problems hinder success. Recirculation, an innate complication of VV ECMO, hamper efficient oxygenation.

Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation via Dual Left Thoracotomy in an Adult Patient with Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries.

A 59-year-old man presented for possible durable ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. He had previously been diagnosed with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, a ventricular septal defect, an atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, and aortic valve regurgitation. In the previous 22 years, he had undergone palliative cardiac surgery 3 times.

Diameter and growth rate of the thoracic aorta-analysis based on serial computed tomography scans.

Background: Although there are studies on the growth of thoracic aorta in the general population, research based on serial computed tomography scan is rare. We investigated the influence of patient age and anthropometric variables on the size and growth rate of the thoracic aorta in the general hospital population.

Methods: Data on 2,353 adults [2003-2014] who underwent ≥2 serial computed tomography examinations with at least a 6-year interval were analyzed.

Outcomes and Patency of Complex Configurations of Composite Grafts Using Bilateral Internal Thoracic Arteries.

Background: It is generally agreed that using a bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) composite graft improves long-term survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Although the left internal thoracic artery (LITA)-based Y-composite graft is widely adopted, technical or anatomical difficulties necessitate complex configurations. We aimed to investigate whether BITA configuration impacts survival or patency in patients undergoing coronary revascularization.

Clinical Outcome of Extraanatomic Bypass for Midaortic Syndrome Caused by Takayasu Arteritis.

Background: We investigated long-term outcomes and cardiac function after extraanatomic bypass surgery for Takayasu arteritis and midaortic syndrome.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2016, 14 patients underwent extraanatomic bypass for Takayasu arteritis. Median age was 56.

Long-term results of radical pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis in Korean population.

Background: The extent of pericardiectomy is an important issue in constrictive pericarditis but its impact on long-term outcomes has been rarely reported. We compared long-term results of radical pericardiectomy with conventional phrenic to phrenic pericardiectomy.

Methods: Ninety patients who underwent pericardiectomies between February 1995 and April 2015 were reviewed retrospectively.

Comparison of Radiofrequency Ablation and Cryoablation for the Recovery of Atrial Contractility and Survival.

Background: Limited comparative data are available on the efficacy of cryoablation versus radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to compare radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation with regard to clinical outcomes and the restoration of sinus rhythm or atrial contractility.

Methods: A total of 239 patients who underwent surgical ablation between August 2003 and December 2016 at our institution were included.

Patency of branch vessels reimplanted during thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement: implications for the surgical technique.

Objectives: Reimplantation of branch vessels is an important component of thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The goal of this study was to assess the anatomical results of branch vessel reimplantation, which have rarely been investigated.

Methods: Among 168 patients who underwent computed tomography after thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, the technique of branch vessel reimplantation and determination of their patency were investigated.

Natural history of moderately dilated tubular ascending aorta: implications for determining the optimal imaging interval.

Objectives: For a moderately dilated ascending aorta (diameter 35-54 mm), current guidelines recommend continuous annual or semi-annual examinations with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. However, few data have shown the yield and benefit of such a protocol. This study aimed to investigate the fate of a moderately dilated ascending aorta and thereby determine the adequate imaging interval.

Outcomes of off-pump coronary bypass grafting with the bilateral internal thoracic artery for left ventricular dysfunction.

This study evaluated the outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) with severe left ventricular dysfunction using composite bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting. From January 2001 to December 2008, 1,842 patients underwent primary isolated OPCAB with composite bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting. A total of 131 of these patients were diagnosed with a severely depressed preoperative left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) (≤ 0.