Joon Ryang Rho

Seoul National University, Seoul, Seoul, South Korea

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Publications (10)14.33 Total impact

  • Source
    Article: Comparison of lateral tunnel and extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure.
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    ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of lateral tunnel (LT) and extracardiac conduit (ECC) Fontan procedures at a single institution. From April 1995 to December 2006, 165 Fontan procedures were performed (67 LT, 98 ECC). Pre-, intra- and postoperative variable values were compared between two different techniques. Operative mortality was 5 (3 LT, 2 ECC). Immediate postoperative transpulmonary gradient (LT 8.5+/-ECC 2.5 vs. 6.6+/-2.4 mmHg) and central venous pressure (LT 18.3+/-3.8 vs. ECC 15.6+/-2.4 mmHg) showed significant difference (P<0.001). The LT patients had a higher incidence of sinus node dysfunction in the postoperative period (22.4% vs. ECC 11.2%; P=0.05). Mean follow-up was 74.1+/-31.5 months in LT, and 31.7+/-28.1 months in ECC patients. There was one late death. Actuarial survival at 10 years is 92% for LT, and 89% for ECC patients (P=0.796). The LT and ECC, both, showed comparable early and mid-term outcomes in operative morbidity and mortality, postoperative hemodynamics, survival. Use of ECC for modified Fontan operation reduces the risk of sinus node dysfunction and shows better outcome of immediate postoperative hemodynamics.
    Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 06/2007; 6(3):328-30.
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    Article: Aprotinin attenuates the elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance after cardiopulmonary bypass.
    Tae-Jin Yun, Joon-Ryang Rho
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    ABSTRACT: Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is generally believed to be elevated after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) due to whole body inflammation. Aprotinin has an antiinflammatory action, and it was hypothesized that aprotinin would attenuate the PVR increase induced by CPB. Ten mongrel dogs were placed under moderately hypothermic CPB for 2 hr. The experimental animals were divided into a control group (n=5, group I) and an aprotinin group (n=5, group II). In group II, aprotinin was administered during pre-bypass (50,000 KIU/kg) and post-bypass (10,000 KIU/kg) periods. Additional aprotinin (50,000 KIU/kg) was mixed in CPB priming solution. PVRs at pre-bypass and post-bypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hr were calculated, and lung tissue was obtained after the experiment. Post-bypass PVRs were significantly higher than prebypass levels in all animals (n=10, p<0.001). PVR elevation in group II was less than in group I at 3 hr post-bypass (p=0.0047). Water content of the lung was lower in group II (74+/-9.4%) compared to that of group I (83+/-9.5%), but the difference did not reach significance (p=0.076). Pathological examination showed a near normal lung structure in group II, whereas various inflammatory reactions were observed in group I. We concluded that aprotinin may attenuate CPB-induced PVR elevation through its anti-inflammatory effect.
    Journal of Korean Medical Science 03/2006; 21(1):25-9. · 0.99 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mid-term follow-up of neoaortic regurgitation after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of the neoaortic valve after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries. A retrospective review of arterial switch operations that were performed during the period from 1991 to 2003 was conducted. We followed patients with echocardiography. When regurgitation of the neoaortic valve was observed we analyzed the risk factors. One hundred and three patients underwent a successful arterial switch operation. Eighty-one males and 22 females participated in the study. Follow-up period was 77+/-42 months. The age and body weight at the time of the arterial switch operation were 1.4+/-2.8 months and 3.8+/-1.0 kg, respectively. Preoperative pulmonary valve regurgitation was found in six patients (two patients had grade I and four patients had grade II). In the postoperative echocardiography, 52 patients demonstrated neoaortic valve regurgitation (26 patients had grade I, 25 patients had grade II, and 1 patient had grade III). At the last follow-up visit, 61 patients demonstrated neoaortic regurgitation (18 patients had grade I, 37 patients had grade II, 5 patients had grade III, and 1 patient had grade IV). Neoaortic valve regurgitation increased progressively with follow-up (p-value<0.01). The size discrepancy between the aorta and the pulmonary artery was correlated with neoaortic valve regurgitation (p-value=0.02). The age and body surface area, relationship of the great arteries, coronary arterial pattern, pulmonary artery banding, use of trap-door technique, myocardial ischemic time, use of total circulatory arrest, and existence of ventricular septal defect were not significant risk factors. Neoaortic valve regurgitation progressed after the arterial switch operation. The degree of regurgitation was more severe in patients with a size discrepancy between the aorta and the pulmonary artery preoperatively.
    European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 02/2006; 29(2):162-7. · 2.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: Fontan conversion with arrhythmia surgery.
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    ABSTRACT: Hemodynamic abnormalities and refractory atrial arrhythmias in patients late after the Fontan operation result in significant morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our experience with Fontan conversion and concomitant arrhythmia surgery. Between January 1996 and February 2004, 16 patients underwent Fontan conversion and arrhythmia surgery. Mean age at the initial Fontan operation was 5.1+/-3.5 (range: 2-15) years and mean age at Fontan conversion was 17.0+/-5.8 (range: 6-30). The initial Fontan operations were atriopulmonary connections in 14 patients, extracardiac lateral tunnel in 1, and intracardiac lateral tunnel in 1. The types of arrhythmia included atrial flutter in 10 patients and atrial fibrillation in 3. Fontan conversion operation was performed with intracardiac lateral tunnel in 5 patients and extracardiac conduit in 11. Arrhythmia surgery included isthmus cryoablation in 10 patients and right-sided maze in 3. There has been no mortality. At Fontan conversion operation, 7 patients required permanent pacemaker. All patients have improved to New York Heart Association class I or II. With a mean follow-up of 26.9+/-30.6 (range:1-87) months, 16 patients had sinus rhythm, 2 patients had transient atrial flutter which was well controlled, and 2 patients required permanent pacemaker during follow-up. Fontan conversion with concomitant arrhythmia surgery and permanent pacemaker placement is safe, improves New York Heart Association functional class, and has a low incidence of recurrent arrhythmias. In most patients, concomitant permanent pacemakers are needed.
    European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 03/2005; 27(2):250-7. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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    Article: Heart-lung transplantation in Korea.
    Kook Yang Park, Doo-Yun Lee, Joon Ryang Rho
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    ABSTRACT: Heart-lung transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with various forms of congenital heart disease or pulmonary hypertension. Since the first heart-lung transplantation in 1997, five transplants have been performed in Korea. Three cases were performed in 1997, one in 1998, and the latest one in 2002. The preoperative diagnoses were complex congenital heart disease (CHD) in 2, and CHD with Eisenmenger's syndrome in 3. In this paper, we report five cases of heart-lung transplantation performed in Korea, and include a review of the relevant literature.
    Yonsei Medical Journal 01/2005; 45(6):1191-7. · 1.14 Impact Factor
  • Article: Complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot in infancy.
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    ABSTRACT: We reviewed our long-term results of complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in infant. One hundred and sixty infants diagnosed as TOF underwent complete repair between January 1990 and April 2002. Mean age at the operation was 8.1+/-2.6 months. Correction was accomplished through a short right ventriculotomy of less than 30% of the ventricular height in all patients. A transannular patch was used in 78 patients (49%). There were four early deaths and no late death. Follow-up was complete in all survivors. All patients are currently in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Actuarial freedom from reoperation at 1 and 10 years were 94.0 and 87.5%, respectively. Echocardiographic studies at follow-up showed excellent right ventricular function in most patients. Our results suggest that early complete repair of TOF yielded acceptable results with low mortality and morbidity. Transventricular repair of intracardiac pathology can be safely applied to yield good postoperative right ventricular function.
    Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 10/2004; 3(3):470-4.
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    Article: Repair of transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
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    ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of the Lecompte procedure and Rastelli repair in the transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and to determine the risk factors associated with unfavorable events. Over a 12-year period (April 1990-October 2002), 35 patients underwent complete repair for TGA, VSD, and LVOTO. Twenty-five patients (71%) underwent the Lecompte modification, and mean age and weight were 23.4+/-18.2 months and 10.2+/-3.0 kg. Ten patients (29%) underwent the Rastelli operation, and mean age and weight were 39.1+/-36.1 months and 13.8+/-6.8 kg. One early death (3%) occurred after the Lecompte procedure and no late death. The mean follow-up was 5.9+/-3.8 years. Eight patients in the Rastelli group (80%) underwent a late reoperation for obstruction of the extracardiac conduit, and in four of these patients, a reoperation for LVOTO was concomitantly required. Reoperation was also required in six patients of the Lecompte group (25%); five for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) including one for LVOTO and two for VSD leakage, and one for mitral regurgitation and left pulmonary artery stenosis. The interval prior to reoperation ranged from 1.6 to 11.1 years, with a mean of 5.7+/-3.1 years. The actuarial figures for freedom from reoperation at 5 and 10 years were 40.0+/-15.5 and 26.7+/-15.0% after the Rastelli operation and 95.7+/-4.3 and 63.5+/-12.6% after the Lecompte procedure (P = 0.02). Multivariate analysis by Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of RVOTO were a younger age at operation, the Rastelli operation, and ductus ligation during the operation. The Lecompte procedure and Rastelli repair provide satisfactory early and late results. However, substantial late morbidity is more associated with conduit obstruction, and LVOTO in Rastelli repair rather than Lecompte procedure.
    European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 06/2004; 25(5):735-41. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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    Article: Surgical results of patients with a functional single ventricle.
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    ABSTRACT: Overall mortality of the patients with a functional single ventricle is still high, though excellent mid- and long-term results of the modified Fontan procedure have been reported. This study assessed the factors that affect the surgical outcomes mainly in the pre-Fontan stage and performed long-term survival analysis. Between January 1988 and December 2000, 405 patients with a functional single ventricle underwent surgical interventions and were followed up until June 2001. The mean follow-up period was 74.5+/-69.4 months and 95% of the patients were followed up completely. Their median age was 2.5 months at the time of shunt or pulmonary artery banding (PAB), 8.6 months at BCPS, and 28.6 months at the Fontan operation. The variables of the anatomical lesions with single ventricle physiology, combined abnormalities, surgical pathways leading to the Fontan stage, age at operation, study periods, and type of the Fontan procedure were analyzed. The role of BCPS in the long-term results was evaluated. Overall survival after birth was 60.1+/-2.8% at 10 years. In multivariate analysis, complete atrioventricular septal defect-typed lesion, pulmonary venous obstruction, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and interruption of aortic arch were risk factors for long-term survival, while pulmonary stenosis was demonstrated as a favorable prognostic factor. In this study, there was no significant survival difference between the early and late study period. Actuarial mortality in the pre-Fontan stage was 41.3% in the non-BCPS group and 16.3% in the BCPS group (P<0.001). The 10-year survival rates of the populations in staged and primary Fontan groups were not significantly different (P=0.24). The long-term survival rate of the atriopulmonary Fontan group was significantly lower than that of lateral tunnel Fontan (60.3+/-6.3% vs. 86.8+/-3.1% at 10 years, P=0.0001). This study revealed that the overall survival was disappointing and there were still problems that need to be solved in the pre-Fontan stage to improve the overall survival. The role of BCPS was not to contribute to the longer survival after Fontan operation, but to lower mortality in the pre-Fontan stage, which can offer a higher probability to proceed to the Fontan procedure successfully.
    European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 11/2003; 24(5):716-22. · 2.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: Chronic heart failure model in rabbits based on the concept of the bifurcation/trifurcation coronary artery branching pattern.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to develop a reliable chronic heart failure model by coronary artery ligation in the rabbit on the basis of the new concept of the bifurcation/trifurcation classification system of the epicardial branching pattern of the left coronary artery (LCA). New Zealand White rabbits (n = 37) were divided into 3 experimental groups: a posterolateral division of the bifurcation pattern of the LCA was ligated at the 75% level from the apex along the course of the division (B75 group, n = 15); a lateral division of the trifurcation pattern at the 75% level (T75 group, n = 11); and a posterolateral division of the bifurcation pattern at the 50% level (B50 group, n = 11). The infarct size and the lung and liver water content were determined at 4 weeks following ligation. The Q or QS wave on electrocardiogram (ECG) and the left ventricular (LV) dimensions (LVIDs and LVIDd), fractional shortening (FS), and mitral E-point to septal separation on ultrasonography were assessed at 10 min and at preligation and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks following ligation. The B75 group showed higher mortality (46.7%) than the T75 and B50 groups. The mean infarct size in the B75 group was 22.55 +/- 5.34% which was significantly larger than in the B50 (13.84 +/- 5.46%) and T75 (12.90 +/- 2.67%) groups (p < 0.001). All 3 groups had significantly greater Q or QS wave amplitudes on ECG at 1, 2, and 4 weeks than at 10 min after ligation. At 1 and 2 weeks after ligation, LVIDd, LVIDs, and FS showed significant dfferences in the B75 group as compared with the other groups. The level of ligation of the LCA for the development of a reliable chronic heart failure model in the rabbit is recommended to be 50% from the apex along the course of the posterolateral division in the bifurcation pattern and 75% from the apex along the course of the lateral division in the trifurcation pattern.
    Artificial Organs 04/2002; 26(4):360-5. · 2.00 Impact Factor
  • Article: Modified Lecompte procedure for the anomalies of ventriculoarterial connection
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    ABSTRACT: Background. The Lecompte procedure for correcting transposition of the great arteries has an advantage because it obviates the need for an extracardiac conduit for the reconstruction of the pulmonary outflow tract. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness and the application of the Lecompte procedure based on our experiences.Methods. A retrospective review was conducted of the records of 45 patients who underwent the Lecompte procedure during the past 11 years to achieve direct right ventricle to pulmonary artery continuity. Mean age at operation was 2.4 ± 1.7 years (range 3.5 months to 6.9 years). The diagnoses involved anomalies of the ventriculoarterial connection with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction, such as transposition of the great arteries, double-outlet right ventricle, and double-outlet left ventricle.Results. Early mortality was 4.4% (2 of 45 patients) and late mortality was 4.7% (2 of 43). The mean follow-up was 4.9 ± 3.1 years. Fourteen patients (34.1% of survivors, n = 41) had pulmonary stenosis (pressure gradient above 30 mm Hg), the main reason for which was a calcified monocusp valve (n = 10, 71.4%). Eight of 45 patients (17.8%) underwent reoperation: 2 for residual ventricular septal defect, 1 for recurrent septic vegetation, and 5 for pulmonary stenosis. The cumulative survival rates were 91.1% ± 4.2% at 10 years. The actuarial probabilities of freedom from reoperation for pulmonary stenosis were 93.8% ± 4.3% and 71.4% ± 11.8% at 5 and 10 years, respectively.Conclusions. Our review suggests that the Lecompte procedure is an effective treatment modality for anomalies of the ventriculoarterial connection with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction. Repair in early age is possible with acceptable morbidity and mortality, but recurrent right ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by degeneration of the monocusp valve is a problem that needs resolution.
    The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.