Abstract： Objective To summarize our experience and clinical outcomes of preservation of posterior leaflet and subvalvular structures in mitral valve replacement（MVR）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1 035 patients who underwent MVR in Beijing An Zhen Hospital from January 2006 to March 2011. There were 562 male patients and 473 female patients with their age of 37-78（53.84±13.13）years old. There were 712 patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and 323 patients with degenerative valve disease, 389 patients with mitral stenosis and 646 patients with mitral regurgitation. No patient had coronary artery disease in this group. For 457 patients in non-preservation group, bothleaflets and corresponding chordal excision was performed, while for 578 patients in preservation group, posterior leafletand subvalvular structures were preserved. There was no statistical difference in demographic and preoperative clinical characteristics between the two groups. Postoperative mortality and morbidity, and left ventricular size and function were compared between the two groups. Results There was no statistical difference in postoperative mortality（2.63% vs. 1.21%, P =0.091）and morbidity （8.53% vs. 7.44%, P=0.519）between the non-preservation group and preservation group, except that the rate of left ventricular rupture of non-preservation group was significantly higher than that of preservation group（1.09% vs. 0.00%, P=0.012）. The average left ventricular end-diastolic dimension （LVEDD）measured by echocardiography 6 months after surgery decreased in both groups, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The average left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 6 months after surgery was significantly improved compared with preoperative average LVEF in both groups. The average LVEF 6 months after surgery in patients with mitral regurgitation in the preservation group was significantly higher than that in non-preservation group （56.00%±3.47% vs. 53.00%±3.13%，P =0.000）, and there was no statistical difference in the average LVEF 6 months after surgery in patients with mitral stenosis between the two groups（57.00%±5.58% vs. 56.00%±4.79%，P =0.066）. Conclusion Preservation of posterior leaflet and subvalvular structures in MVR is a safe and effective surgical technique to reduce the risk of left ventricle rupture and improve postoperative left ventricular function．
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of small molecule compound XAV939 to induce mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) to differentiate into cardiac myocytes. MethodsWe revived and cultured undifferentiated mESC growing confluently on trophoderm made of mouse embryonic inoblast cell. The mESCs were digested by trypsin to form embryoid bodies (EBs) by handing drop method. After plated, EBs were induced by XAV939 to differentiate into cardiac myocytes. We observed the cardiac myocytes with lightmicroscopy and identified it with immunofluorescence method. Result The XAV939 can effectively induce mESC into cardiac myocytes with the mean efficiency rate of 71.85%±1.05%. The differentiated cardiac myocytes shrinked spanteously and rhythmicly. The cardiac troponin T as the special marker of cardiac myocyte was positive. ConclusionThe small molecule compound XAV939 could effectively induce mES cells into cardiac myocytes.
ObjectiveTo assess the suitability of P (3HB-co-4HB) combined with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) for myocardial patch formation and whether adding vitamin C would improve inductivity or not. Method We extracted mouse embryonic fibrous cell from three clean female white Kunming mouses at a mean body weight of 37.5 grams. We recovered and cultured mouse ESCs. Those mouse embryonic stem cells were obtained from Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences. We took pendant-drop method to form embryonic bodies (EBs) and co-cultured them with myocardial patch. The experimental group were cultured in the substate with vitamin C while the control group were cultured in the substate without vitamin C. We immunostained the myocardial patch and observed them by scanning electron microscope. We calculated the differentiation efficiency and mapped the distribution curve of induction time. ResultsThe scattergram showed that the differentiation efficiency increased gradually. The differentiation efficiency of the group with vitamin C was 71.1% and the group without vitamin C was 17.8%. There was a statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). ConclusionOn the biological patch of P (3HB-co-4HB), ESCs could grow, proliferate, and differentiate into myocardial cell and adding vitamin C into it could improve the differentiation efficiency.
Objective To summarize surgical techniques，advantages and clinical outcomes of mitral valvuloplasty for anterior mitral leaflet prolapse with looped artificial chordae. Methods Clinical data of 13 patients with anteriormitral leaflet prolapse and severe mitral regurgitation （MR） who underwent mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordaefrom January 2009 to December 2011 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 male and 5 female patients with their age of 21-61 （39.5±12.9） years. There were 10 patients with anterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture and 3 patients with anterior mitral leaflet elongation. Preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD） was 52-65 （58.3±1.7） mm，and left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） was 53%-65% （58.8%±2.8%）. All the patients underwent mitral valvuloplasty. We measured the neighboring normal chordae with a caliper for reference and constructed the artificial chordal loops on the caliper with expended polytetrafluoroethylene（ePTFE） CV4 Gore-Tex suture lines. Three to five loops were made and fixed to the papillary muscle with a Gore-Tex suture line and the free edge of the prolapsedanterior mitral leaflet with another Gore-Tex suture line，with the intervals between the loops of 5 mm. Left ventricular watertesting was performed to evaluate MR status，annuloplasty ring implantation or “edge to edge” technique was used if nece-ssary，and left ventricular water testing was performed again to confirm satisfactory closure of the mitral valve. Patientsreceived re-warming on cardiopulmonary bypass and the heart incision was closed. The effect of mitral annuloplasty was alsoassessed by transesophageal echocardiography （TEE） after heart rebeating. Warfarin anticoagulation was routinely used for 3 months after discharge. Results There was no perioperative death in this group. Twelve patients received satisfactory outcomes after 1-stage mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordae and annuloplasty ring implantation. One patient didn’t receive satisfactory outcomes in the left ventricular water testing after mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordae，but satisfactory outcome was achieve after “edge to edge” technique was used，and annuloplasty ring was not used for this patient. Postoperative echocardiography showed trivial to mild MR in all the patients，their LVEDD was significantly reducedthan preoperative LVEDD （47.5±2.1 mm vs. 58.3±1.7 mm，P＜0.05），and there was no statistical difference between postoperative and preoperative LVEF（58.5%±2.6% vs. 58.8%±2.8%，P＞0.05）. All the patients were followed up for 3-36 （19.5±3.7） months. Echocardiography showed mild MR in 4 patients and none or trivial MR in 9 patients during follow-up.Conclusion Mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordae is an effective surgical technique for the treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse with satisfactory clinical outcomes，and this technique is also easy to perform.
Objective To compare chordal transposition and chordal shortening in repairing anterior leaflet prolapse (ALP)， and explore the surgical indications as well as merits and demerits of these two techniques. 〖WTHZ〗Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 90 ALP patients recruited into Anzhen Hospital between March 1986 and March 2008, and classified them into chordal shortening group (n=23) and chordal transposition group (n=67). KaplanMeier survival curve and freedom from reoperation curve were established to compare the two groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic analysis regression were used to identify independent risk factors for early death and late cardiac events. 〖WTHZ〗Results There were three perioperative deaths in chordal shortening group（13.0%）, and three deaths in chordal transposition group (4.4%), and the difference was not significant (χ2=2.019，P=0.155). The follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 18 yrs（7.70±5.41 yrs）. There were 5 late deaths, of which 3 were in chordal shortening group and 2 in chordal transposition group. The KaplanMeier survival curve showed that 5-year survival rate of chordal shortening group was significantly lower than chordal transposition group (70.00%±18.24% vs.98.00%±1.98%,χ2=12.50, P=0.000); And the KaplanMeier freedom from reoperation curve showed [CM(159mm]that 5-year reoperation rate of chordal shortening group was also significantly lower than chordal transposition group (83.30%±15.20% vs.96.10%±2.71%,χ2=10.27，P≤0.001). By the univariate analysis, we found that age＞55 yrs old, concomitant CABG procedure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class Ⅲ-Ⅳ, preoperative heart failure history, aortic clamping time＞90 min, and preoperative lefe ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)＜45% were the risk factors for perioperative death and risk factors for late cardiac events included postoperative mitral regurgitation＞2+, chordal shortening technique, preoperative heart failure history, and aortic clamping time＞90 min. The multivariate logistic analysis regression showed that aortic clamping time＞90 min, concomitant CABG procedure, preoperative LVEF＜45% were the independent predictors for perioperative death, and NYHA class ⅢⅣ, chordalshortening technique and residual mitral regurgitation＞2+ were the independent predictors for the late cardiac events. Conclusion （1） There is no statistically difference between chordal transposition and chordal shortening in the perioperative survival rate. (2) Chordal transposition has a relative superiority to chordal shortening in terms of 5-year survival rate. (3) Chordal transposition has a higher mid and longterm rate of freedom from reoperation than chordal shortening. （4） Although chordal transposition has a lower incidence of reoperation and ahigher mid and longterm survival rate, the indication for it is restricted to less extensive ALP and patients with transferrable chord in the posterior leaflet. Chordal shortening is an independent risk factor for late events.
Abstract: Objective To retrospectively compare the difference of the effects of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) between distal and proximal types of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Methods The data of 70 patients (including 44 male patients and 26 female patients, the average age was 46.2 years old, ranging from 17 to 72) with CTEPH having undergone PTE from March 2002 to March 2009 in Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. We classified them into two different groups which were the proximal CTEPH group (n=51) and the distal CTEPH group (n=19) according to the pathological classification of the CTEPH. Clinical data, hemodynamics blood gas analysis and so on of both groups were compared. Results There was no perioperative deaths in both groups. Compared with the proximal group, cardiopulmonary bypass time [CM(159mm](189.5±41.5 min vs.155.5±39.5 min,P=0.003), aorta cross clamp time (91.3±27.8 min vs.67.2±27.8 min,P=0.002) and DHCA time (41.7±14.6 min vs.25.7±11.6 min,P=0.000) were significantly longer in the distal group. The incidence of residual pulmonary hypertension in the distal group was significantly higher than that in the proximal group (42.1% vs.13.7%,P=0.013), while the incidence of pulmonary reperfusion injury postoperatively in the proximal group was significantly higher than that in the distal group (41.2% vs.10.5%, P=0.021). SwanGanz catheterization and blood gas index were obviously improved in both groups. However, the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP, 67.8±21.3 mm Hg vs.45.5±17.4 mm Hg,P=0.000) and the pulmonary vascular resistance ［PVR, 52.8±32.1 kPa/(L·s) vs.37.9±20.7 kPa/(L·s),P=0.024］ in the distal group were significantly higher than those in the proximal group and the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood of the distal group was significantly lower than that of the proximal group (76.7±8.7 mm Hg vs.88.8±9.3 mm Hg,P=0.000). After operation, 70 patients were followed up with no deaths during the followup period. The time of the followup ranged from 2 to 81 months (32.7±19.6 months) with a cumulative followup of 191.8 patientyears. Three months after operation, 47 patients were examined by pulmonary artery computer tomography angiogram (PACTA) and isotope perfusion/ventilation scan, which showed that the residual occlusive pulmonary artery segment in the proximal group was significantly fewer than that in the distal group (isotope perfusion/ventilation scan: 2.2±11 segments vs. 4.7±2.1 segments, P=0.000; PACTA: 3.5±1.4 segments vs. 4.9±2.0 segments,P=0.009). The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) in the proximal group were significantly better than those in the distal group (1.7±0.5 class vs 2.3±0.4 class; 479.2±51.2 m vs. 438.6±39.5 m, P=0.003). Venous thrombosis in double lower limbs reoccurred in two patients. According to KaplanMeier actuarial curve, the freedom from reembolism at 3 years was 96.7%±2.8%. Bleeding complications occurred in three patients. The linear Bleeding rate related to anticoagulation was 2.47% patientyears. Conclusion Although the early and midlong term survival rate of PTE procedure to treat both proximal and distal types of CTEPH is agreeable, the recovery of the PASP, PVR and 6MWD, and blood gases in patients with proximal type of CTEPH are significantly better than those in patients with distal type of CTEPH. On one hand, anticoagulation can singularly provide enough protection to patients with proximal type of CTEPH, but on the other hand, diuretics and pulmonary hypertension alleviation drug should be added to the treatment regimen for patients with distal type of CTEPH after the procedure of PTE.