Treatment of Primary Cardiac Tumors in Children: A Single Center 18-Year Experience.

This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and courses of pediatric patients with cardiac tumors in nonoperative and operative groups to help guide treatment decisions. We reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with primary pediatric cardiac tumors at our institution between 2003 and 2020. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and follow-up data between the operation and nonoperation groups were compared.

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.

Surgical Correction of Left Ventricular Assist Device Outflow Graft Obstruction Caused by a Wrapped Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft: A Case Report.

A 70-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, using a HeartWare ventricular assist device, as a bridge to candidacy. After 26 months, computed tomography (CT) angiography indicated stenosis in the LVAD outflow graft; however, the patient was asymptomatic, prompting a decision to manage his condition with close monitoring. Ten months later, the patient presented with dizziness and low-flow alerts.

Early stroke after left ventricular assist device implantation: role of right heart failure.

Background: Both stroke and right heart failure (RHF) are common and serious complications after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The objective of this study was to evaluate relation between stroke and RHF early after LVAD implantation.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study.

Long-Term Outcomes of Modified Cone Reconstruction for Ebstein's Anomaly in Pediatric Patients in a Single Center.

Background And Objective: We aimed to investigate long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes, including tricuspid valve durability, annular growth, and left ventricular reverse remodeling, after modified cone reconstruction in patients with Ebstein's anomaly.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients who underwent modified cone reconstruction for Ebstein's anomaly at a single tertiary center between January 2005 and June 2021.

Results: A total of 14 pediatric patients underwent modified cone reconstruction for Ebstein's anomaly; the median age was 5.

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.

Management of Cannula Wound Problems with Vacuum-Assisted Therapy for a Child Who Received Berlin Heart EXCOR Implantation.

A child being supported with an extracorporeal ventricular assist device, such as the Berlin Heart EXCOR (Berlin Heart GmbH, Berlin, Germany), must have at least 2 large cannulae for a long period. Management of cannula wounds is crucial since a cannula forms a track of prosthetic material passing the mediastinum to the heart. Deep wound complications, if they occur, can be troublesome and difficult to control with conventional methods.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on long-term clinical and graft outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with pure bilateral skeletonized internal thoracic artery grafts.

Background: The effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) remained debatable and various strategies exist for CABG; hence, clarifying the effects of DM on CABG outcomes is difficult. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of DM on clinical and graft-related outcomes after CABG with bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafts.

Methods: From January 2001 to December 2017, 3395 patients who underwent off-pump CABG (OPCAB) with BITA grafts were enrolled.

Association of longitudinal left atrial strain with mortality after tricuspid valve surgery.

Aims: Tricuspid valve (TV) surgery for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is becoming more common, but the associated mortality remains high. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with all-cause mortality in patients with severe functional TR who underwent TV surgery.

Methods And Results: A total of 286 patients with severe functional TR who underwent TV replacement or repair was analysed between January 2006 and December 2017.

Favorable Impact of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach on Heart Transplantation Outcomes in a Mid-Volume Center.

Although a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is recommended for advanced heart failure and heart transplantation (HTx), no studies have investigated the impact of the team approach on post-HTx survival. Thus, we implemented an MDT approach in our HTx program in 2014, with the active involvement of critical care and extracorporeal life support (ECLS) teams and the use of a real-time online information sharing system. We hypothesized that this MDT approach would result in improved survival of patients who had undergone HTx.

Predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients who underwent a tricuspid valve operation with modified Cox maze procedure.

Background: Recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia after surgical ablation is known as a negative predictor of cardiovascular events and total mortality. However, there have been no focused studies for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence prediction in patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and the risk-benefit estimation of surgical ablation in tricuspid valve (TV) surgery is not fully established.

Method: We screened 385 patients who underwent a TV operation between 2001 and 2017.

Five-Year Outcomes of Concomitant Maze Procedure Using Nitrous Oxide vs Argon-Based Cryoablation.

Background: Cryoablation is effective for not only ablating the myocardium, but also maintaining the structure of the ablated tissue. However, data comparing nitrous oxide (NO)-based and argon gas-based cryoprobes are limited.

Methods: This study was a follow-up study of a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial in which 60 patients were randomly allocated to either the NO group or the argon group.

Impact of maze procedure in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation and persistent atrial fibrillation may not be good candidates for maze procedure due to preoperative atrial remodeling and various comorbidities. We attempted to evaluate the rhythm and clinical outcomes of maze procedure in these patients.

Methods: Patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation and persistent atrial fibrillation who underwent tricuspid valve surgery between January 1994 and December 2017 at a single tertiary center were analyzed.

Use of durable left ventricular assist devices for high-risk patients: Korean experience before insurance coverage.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) were not covered by the Korean national insurance until September 2018, and they were implanted at the patient's own or a third party's expense. However, there have been no reports on using an LVAD without insurance coverage or manufacturer support.

Methods: We reviewed 23 patients who underwent durable LVAD implantation at our institution from August 2012 to September 2018.

Long-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical N1 non-small cell lung cancer: A propensity score-weighted comparison with open thoracotomy.

Objectives: Although the video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approach has been accepted as a safe and effective alternative to lobectomy, its advantage remains unclear in advanced-stage lung cancer. This study is aimed to evaluate the feasibility and long-term outcomes of VATS in lung cancer with clinical N1 (cN1) disease.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1149 consecutive patients who underwent lobectomy for cN1 disease from 2006 to 2016.

Primary Chest Wall Sarcoma: Surgical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors.

Background: Primary chest wall sarcoma is a rare disease with limited reports of surgical resection.

Methods: This retrospective review included 41 patients with primary chest wall sarcoma who underwent chest wall resection and reconstruction from 2001 to 2015. The clinical, histologic, and surgical variables were collected and analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Temporary Right Ventricular Assist Device Insertion via Left Thoracotomy after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Right heart failure is a relatively common complication after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Severe right heart failure can be managed by temporary right ventricular assist device (RVAD) implantation. However, trans-sternal RVAD insertion requires a subsequent third sternotomy for cannula removal.