Effects of deferred versus immediate stenting on left ventricular function in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Previous studies have shown conflicting results on the benefits of deferred stenting (DS) in infarct size and the incidence of microvascular obstruction in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, effect of DS on left ventricular (LV) function was not known. We aimed to evaluate whether DS improve LV function and relevant clinical outcomes after STEMI, using follow-up data from the INNOVATION study (NCT02324348).

Experimenting with reproducibility: a case study of robustness in bioinformatics.

Reproducibility has been shown to be limited in many scientific fields. This question is a fundamental tenet of scientific activity, but the related issues of reusability of scientific data are poorly documented. Here, we present a case study of our difficulties in reproducing a published bioinformatics method even though code and data were available.

Hepatic Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography and the Related Factors for a Fontan Circulation.

Hepatic problems related to a Fontan circulation have been highlighted and elastography using ultrasound is a non-invasive tool that can measure the severity of hepatic stiffness. We investigated the hepatic stiffness using shear wave elastography (SWE) and related factors in patients with a Fontan circulation. This study enrolled 64 patients with a Fontan circulation who underwent cardiac catheterization and abdominal ultrasound from 2011 to 2015.

INNOVATION Study (Impact of Immediate Stent Implantation Versus Deferred Stent Implantation on Infarct Size and Microvascular Perfusion in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction).

Background: The aim of this study was to assess whether deferred stenting (DS) reduces infarct size and microvascular obstruction (MVO) compared with immediate stenting (IS) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: From February 2013 to August 2015, 114 patients (mean age: 69 years) were randomized into the following 2 groups: DS with an intention to stent 3 to 7 days later or IS after primary reperfusion in 2 centers. The primary and secondary end points were infarct size and the incidence of MVO, respectively, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 30 days after primary reperfusion.

Three-Dimensional Endo-Cardiovascular Volume-Rendered Cine Computed Tomography of Isolated Left Ventricular Apical Hypoplasia: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We report multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings of a 34-year-old female with isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia. The MDCT and CMR scans displayed a spherical left ventricle (LV) with extensive fatty infiltration within the myocardium at the apex, interventricular septum and inferior wall, anteroapical origin of the papillary muscle, right ventricle wrapping around the deficient LV apex, and impaired systolic function. MDCT visualized morphologic and also functional findings of this unique cardiomyopathy.

3D MDCT angiography for the preoperative assessment of truncus arteriosus.

Truncus arteriosus is an uncommon conotruncal anomaly, which is amenable to surgical correction. The systemic, pulmonary, and coronary circulations originate from a single arterial vessel that arises from the ventricular part of the heart and overrides the ventricular septum. The value of multidetector computed tomography with three-dimensional postprocessing lies in the detailed assessment of the presence or absence of the pulmonary arteries, including the number, origin, and branching patterns of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries, and extracardiac abnormalities such as aortic arch interruption.

Factors associated with right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction in patients with chronic pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot: analysis of magnetic resonance imaging data from 218 patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the factors associated with right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction in patients with chronic pulmonary regurgitation (PR) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Methods: From April 2002 to June 2013, 218 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot underwent magnetic resonance imaging; 165 (76%) underwent transannular repair and 36 (17%) underwent nontransannular repair. Linear regression analyses were used to identify the predictors for RV end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), end-systolic volume index (ESVI), and ejection fraction.

The echocardiographic paradox index in patients with a repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) volume is very important for pulmonary valve replacement after the total correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and we attempted to identify a convenient echocardiographic index that is well correlated with the volumetric data obtained through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Design: All patients who underwent cardiac MRI and echocardiography at Sejong General Hospital for evaluating pulmonary regurgitation after TOF total correction were included. The paradox index is the amount of paradoxical motion of the interventricular septum on the short-axis echocardiographic view.

Does limited right ventriculotomy prevent right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction in patients who undergo transannular repair of tetralogy of Fallot? Matched comparison of magnetic resonance imaging parameters with conventional right ventriculotomy long-term after repair.

Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that limited (<1 cm) right ventriculotomy (RV-tomy) in the setting of transannular tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair might result in less right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction compared with conventional RV-tomy.

Methods: Between June 2002 and April 2012, 113 patients with transannular repair of TOF underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were divided into a limited RV-tomy group (n = 39) and a conventional RV-tomy group (n = 74).

Eleven years of experience with the neurologic complications in Korean patients with acute aortic dissection: a retrospective study.

Background: This study attempts to explore the clinical features, possible mechanisms and prognosis of the neurologic complications in patients with acute aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: Medical records of 278 consecutive patients with AD (165 with type A and 113 with type B dissection) over 11.5 years were retrospectively analyzed for clinical history, CT findings, neurologic complications and outcome.

An adolescent patient with coarctation of aorta treated with self-expandable nitinol stent.

Transcatheter treatment of aortic coarctation, with balloon angioplasty or stent implantation, is now an acceptable alternative to surgical repair. However these procedures may result in complications, such as vascular wall injury and re-stenosis of the lesion. A nitinol self-expandable stent, when deployed at the coarctation site, produces low constant radial force, which may result in a gradual widening of the stenotic lesion leaving less tissue injury ('stretching rather than tearing').

Outcomes of aortopexy for patients with congenital heart disease.

Aortopexy is a surgical procedure in which the aortic arch is fixed at other structures, thus widening the interaortic space. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of aortopexy by means of chest computed tomography for patients with congenital heart disease. The study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 patients with congenital heart disease who had undergone aortopexy by compressed airway.

Outcomes of pulmonary valve replacement in 170 patients with chronic pulmonary regurgitation after relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction: implications for optimal timing of pulmonary valve replacement.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate outcomes of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients with chronic pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and to better define the optimal timing of PVR.

Background: Although PVR is effective in reducing right ventricular (RV) volume overload in patients with chronic PR, the optimal timing of PVR is not well defined.

Methods: A total of 170 patients who underwent PVR between January 1998 and March 2011 for chronic PR were retrospectively analyzed.

Bicuspid pulmonary valve implantation using polytetrafluoroethylene membrane: early results and assessment of the valve function by magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: The durability of bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary position is suboptimal. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the early results of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bicuspid pulmonary valve (PV) implantation and to better define the function of this valve by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Fifty-six patients who underwent PTFE bicuspid PV implantation between June 2009 and August 2011 were retrospectively analysed.

The detection of pulmonary embolisms after a coronary artery bypass graft surgery by the use of 64-slice multidetector CT.

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) using 64-slice multidetector CT (MDCT), and to determine the correlations between the occurrence of a PE and the clinical or surgical parameters. Three hundred and twenty-six consecutive patients, who underwent coronary CT angiography using 64-slice MDCT to assess the graft patency after CABG, were enrolled in this study. Additional axial CT images, which were reconstructed by adopting a large field of view and thinner image slices, were reviewed for the presence of PE.

Late aortic dilatation and regurgitation after Ross operation.

The Ross operation, a procedure of replacement of the diseased aortic valve with an autologous pulmonary valve, has many advantages such as no need for anticoagulation therapy and similar valve function and growth potential as native valves. However secondary aortic disease has emerged as a significant complication and indication for reoperation. We report a 48-year-old woman who had Ross operation in 1997 for a damaged bicuspid aortic valve and severe aortic regurgitation due to subacute bacterial endocarditis complicated by aortic root abscess.

Cardiac fibroma in an infant: complete resection after a Blalock-Taussig shunt as initial palliation.

A fetal echocardiogram revealed a large right ventricular mass. After birth, the infant had pulmonary blood flow obstruction with cyanosis. The size and characteristics of the tumor prevented resection.

Extraanatomic ascending-to-descending aortic bypass graft for recurrent, diffuse aortic coarctation.

Surgical correction of recurrent coarctation of the aorta presents a formidable technical challenge. If the lesion is diffuse or has long-segment aortic hypoplasia, it can be more difficult to manage. We present a successful case of repair using an extraanatomic bypass graft from the innominate artery to descending aorta.

Commissural malalignment of aortic-pulmonary sinus in complete transposition of great arteries.

Background: Translocation of the coronary artery to the neoaorta is essential in the arterial switch operation. The goal of this study is to investigate (1) the frequency of commissural malalignment in complete transposition of the great arteries, (2) the usefulness of echocardiography in diagnosis of commissural malalignment, and (3) the impact of commissural malalignment on surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 28 patients with complete transposition of the great arteries who underwent an arterial switch operation from February 2000 to August 2001.

Truncus arteriosus with coarctation of persistent fifth aortic arch.

Truncus arteriosus is a rare form of congenital heart defect. Among cases, 10% to 20% are associated with arch anomalies, such as interruption, coarctation, or patent ductus arteriosus. We treated a rare case of combined truncus with complex arch anomaly.

Fetal pericallosal lipoma: US and MR findings.

We report a case of fetal pericallosal lipoma occurring at the anterior interhemispheric fissure and associated with agenesis of the corpus callosum. During targeted prenatal ultrasonography at 26 weeks' gestation, the lesion was seen as a highly echogenic mass. MR imaging performed at 35 weeks' gestation and during the postnatal period revealed a pericallosal fatty mass and agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Three-dimensional computed tomography in children with compression of the central airways complicating congenital heart disease.

Purpose: We investigated the quality and usefulness of spiral computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction in children with obstruction of the central airways as a complication of congenital heart disease.

Materials And Methods: Spiral computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction was performed in 49 children with obstruction of the central airways seen as a complication of congenital heart disease. Spiral scanning was performed during breathing in 40, and after sedation with chloral hydrate in 38.

Bronchial compression by posteriorly displaced ascending aorta in patients with congenital heart disease.

Background: We encountered several patients with posteriorly displaced ascending aorta and bronchial compression associated with congenital heart disease. We describe the helical computed tomography (CT) findings and explore the mechanism of airway compression.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and CT findings of 8 patients with posterior displacement of the ascending aorta.