Abstract: Replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root has been the standard surgical strategy for patients with aortic root aneurysm for many years. Along with the increasing knowledge about the aortic root anatomy and physiology, and complications after aortic valve replacement, the technique of valve-sparing aortic root replacement has developed greatly. We focus on the etiology and classification aortic valve insufficiency, the valve-sparing techniques and clinical outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement in this review.
Objective To analyze the incidence of valve prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) and ventricular remodeling of elderly patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 134 patient aged over 65 years who underwent AVR for the aortic stenosis or regurgitation at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2016. There were 73 males and 61 females aged 69.7±3.6 years ranging from 65-79 years. The clinical and ultrasound cardiography data were evaluated. PPM was defined as an effective orifice area index (EOAI) of ≤0.85 cm2/m2. The incidence of PPM and the left ventricular remodeling after surgical AVR in the patients with aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation was analyzed, and the outcomes of aortic valve mechanical prosthesis and aortic valve bioprosthesis were compared. Results The incidence of PPM was 32.5% in aortic stenosis and 13.0% in aortic regurgitation (P<0.05). One patient died in the early post-operation, and the incidence of severe PPM was 6.0%. Conclusion The incidence of PPM after AVR in the patients with aortic regurgitation is less than that in the patients with aortic stenosis.
ObjectiveTo summarize surgical treatment experience on unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva (SVA). MethodsClinical data of 33 patients with unruptured SVA underwent surgical repair at Fu wai Hospital between February 2007 and January 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 males and 6 females with their mean age of 28.5±13.5 years (ranged from 4.5 to 58.0 years). The unruptured SVA originated in the right coronary sinus in 29 cases (87.8%), in non-coronary in 2 cases (6.1%) and in left coronary sinus in 2 cases (6.1%). There were 29 cases with ventricular septal defect and 20 cases with aortic valve insufficiency (AI). ResultsOnly 52.8% of unruptured SVA were correctly diagnosed by echocardiography preoperatively. All unruptured SVA received active surgical management, with no early death after operation. Thirty patients (90.9%) were followed up for 22 to 81 months (mean 42.9±18.8 months) and in NYHA classⅠorⅡ. None SVA recurrence occurred. Postoperative AI could be improved better by using the repair route only through the chamber of right ventricle for patients with unruptured SVA originated in right coronary sinus. ConclusionFor unruptured SVA patients who associated with other kinds of cardiovascular lesions, active surgical repair for unruptured SVA can achieve satisfactory results.
Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which provides temporary cardiopulmonary assist for critical patients, and preliminary analysis of the cause of failure. Methods From February 2005 to October 2008, 58 adult patients (male 42, female 16) undergoing cardiogenic shock required temporary ECMO support. Age was 44.8±17.6 years, and support duration of ECMO was 131.9±104.7 hours. There were 24 patients (41.4%) with coronary heart disease, 11 patients (19.0%) with cardiomyopathy, 10 patients (17.2%) with cardiac valve disease,and 9 patients (15.5%) with congenital heart disease. Results 22 patients died in hospital. 11 patients (50%) died of multisystem organ failure, 5 patients (22.7%) died of refractory heart failure despite the ECMO support. Another patients died of bleeding and severe pulmonary hypertension etc. The percentage for patients need cardiac resuscitation before ECMO support and patients with acute renal failure treated by continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) under ECMO support were obviously higher in dead patients than those in survivor patients (45.5% vs.19.4%, 40.9% vs. 5.6%; P=0.043,0.001). All of the discharged patients were reassessed, mean followup time were 15.6 months. Three patients died of refractory heart failure, 1 patient died of neurologic complications. The other 32 survivors were in good condition with cardiac symptom of New York Heart Association class Ⅰ or Ⅱ. Conclusion ECMO offers effective cardiopulmonary support in adults. Early intervention and control of complications could improve our results with increasing experience. Combining using CRRT during the ECMO support is associated with significantly higher mortality rate. Suffered cardiac arrest prior to ECMO also influences the survival.
Abstract: Objectives To determine the atrial expression of the collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and the transforming growth factorbeta 1 (TGF-β1) in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and permanent atrial fibrillation(PAF) and to investigate the relationship between the extent of atrial fibrosis and the effectiveness of radiofrequency maze procedure in patients with RHD and PAF. Methods A total of 40 patients with RHD and PAF (≥6 months) who underwent a radiofrequency maze procedure with concomitant valvular surgery were collected for the experimental group. We acquired 100 mg of the left auricle tissue in each patient and followed up these patients after 3, 6 months of [CM(158mm]surgery. Then we assigned these patients to nonAF group and persistent AF group according to the results of the 6month followup. Another 10 patients with RHD and sinus rhythm(SR) who underwent valvular surgery alone were assigned to SR group and their left auricle tissue was also obtained. In order to determine the extent of atrial fibrosis, we observed the amount of collagen volume fraction Ⅰ,Ⅲ(CVF-Ⅰ,CVF-Ⅲ) by semiquantitative analysis with picrosirius red staining method. Using the β actin protein as the endogenous reference gene, we detected the expressions of TGF-β1 mRNA by semiquantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) technique. Results Each group has the same clinical baseline. At 6month follow-up, 28 among the 40 patients were categorized into the nonAF group and 12 into the AF group. (1) Patients in the nonAF group and the AF group had higher mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, CVF-Ⅰ and CVF-Ⅰ/CVF-Ⅲ compared with the SR group (F=6.487, P=0.003; F=3.711, P=0.032; F=3.697, P=0.032). The AF group had higher mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, CVF-Ⅰ and CVF-Ⅰ/CVF-Ⅲ than the nonAF group (t=4.372, P=0.043; t=4.603, P=0.038; t=4.776, P=0.035). But the CVFⅢ had no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). (2) The patients whose left atrial function recovered after Maze procedure had lower mRNA expression than those patients whose left atrial function did not recover in the nonAF group (t=5.570, P=0.027). (3) The TGF-β1 mRNA expression has a positive correlation with both the contents of CVF-Ⅰ and left atrial diameter (r=0.786, Plt;0.05; r=0.858, Plt;0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1, CVF-Ⅰ and left atrial diameter were independently associated with the postoperative persistence of atrial fibrillation. Conclusion The extent of atrial fibrosis in patients with RHD and PAF may be related to the sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance after AF surgical radiofrequency ablation and the resumption of atrial function.
Objective To summary the clinical experiences of ventricular septal myotomymyectomy on hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM) and investigate the treatment strategies during perioperative period for better clinical results. Methods From October 1996 to June 2009, 62 patients with HOCM underwent surgical treatment. There were 41 male and 21 female, aged 668 years with mean 34.05 years. The ventricular septal myotomymyectomy operation (Morrow operation or modified Morrow operation) was performed through the aortic incision under general anesthesia and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The concomitant operations included coronary artery bypass grafting (5 cases), mitral valve replacement (12 cases), mitral valve plasty(9 cases), aortic valve replacement (4 cases), tricuspid valve plasty(2 cases) and ductus arteriosus closure (2 cases). During the perioperative period, the patients were examined by echocardiography or transesophageal echocardiograph(TEE), electrocardiogram or dynamic echocardiogram and chest radiography. Left atrial diameter,left ventricular enddiastolic [CM(159mm]diameter,left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pressuregradient,interventricular septal thickness, ejection fraction[CM)](EF), the changes of mitral valve construction and function were evaluated. Results The time of CPB and aortic occlusion were 104.23±47.14 min and 66.76±36.32 min, respectively. The endotracheal intubation time was 13.23±11.76 h and the postoperative intensive care unit(ICU) stay was 42.53±37.41 h. Four patients died and the mortality was 6.45%(4/62). The main causes of death included septic shock complicated with acute renal failure(1 case), refractory arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial flutter complicated with severe low cardiac output syndrome (1 case), severe acute renal failure(1 case) and Ⅲ°atrioventricular(AV) block complicated with low cardiac output syndrome(1 case). Postoperative left atrial diameter (34.56±6.45 mm vs.43.46±7.21 mm,t=6.948,P=0.000), left ventricular enddiastolic diameter (37.14±6.31 mm vs.42.03±6.23 mm,t=3.145,P=0.020), LVOT pressure gradient (23.54±17.78 mm Hg vs. 103.84±44.04 mm Hg,t=13.618,P=0.000) and interventricular septal thickness (17.12±5.67 mm vs.26.93±5.23 mm, t=10.694,P=0.000) decreased significantly compared with those before operation. There was no mitral valve regurgitation, or only mild mitral valve regurgitation. No systolic anterior motion(SAM) was found. The main postoperative arrhythmias included complete left bundle branch block, intraventricular block, complete atrioventricular block and atrial fibrillation. All the 58 cases were cured and discharged. Fiftythree cases were followed up for 3 months12 years, and 5 cases were lost. No death, complication and reoperation were found. Symptoms relieved significantly. The cardiac function was in New York Heart Association grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ. The quality of life improved significantly. Conclusion Most patients with HOCM can achieve satisfactory relief of LVOT obstruction and SAM via ventricular septal myotomymyectomy. The main arrhythmias after operation are bundle branch block and atrial fibrillation. Satisfactory effects can be achieved by accurate surgical technique and effective drug treatments.