ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of bicuspid aortic valve combined with thoracic aortic dilation. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 68 patients of bicuspid aortic valve combined with thoracic aortic dilation underwent surgical treatment in our hospital between January 2010 and June 2014. There were 47 males and 21 females at age of 26-77(44.5±16.3) years. Different surgical treatments including Wheat procedure(n=22), aortic valve replacement+ascending aortoplasty(n=10), Bentall procedure(n=13), aortic valve replacement+ascending aortic replacement+right hemi aortic arch replacement(n=13), Bentall procedure+ascending aortic replacement+right hemi aortic arch replacement(n=8), Bentall procedure+ascending aortic replacement+total arch replacement+stented elephant trunk(n=2) were carried out according to the type. ResultsAll 68 patients underwent surgical treatment. The mortality in hospital is at 4.4%(3/68). The postoperative complications were neurological and mental complications(n=3), pneumonia(n=2), and exploratory thoracotomy(n=2). We followed up 63 patients for 6 months to 4 years. A total of 62 patients were well without reoperation except one death at the end of following-up 2 years. ConclusionBicuspid aortic valve combined with thoracic aortic dilation has diversiform clinical characteristics. The surgical treatment should be chosen according to the aortic valve and thoracic aortic lesion characteristics.
A 78-year-old female patient was admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University because of “amaurosis and polypnea for 4+ years”. The examination results before admission showed that severe stenosis of aortic valve, bicuspid aortic valve malformation, severe horizontal heart with 61.54° aortic angle. The preoperative evaluation of the patient indicated that the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 17.9%, which was high risk for surgery. After discussion by the heart team, the aortic stenosis was finally relieved by transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The operation was successfully completed by using the method of pulling and releasing the device with the same side basket. One month follow-up showed that the patient’s condition was stable and no complications occurred. This case aims to provide a reference for the treatment of horizontal heart with aortic stenosis. In the future, it is hoped that through continuous clinical practice, such patients will be provided with a safer and more efficient treatment plan.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical result of a combined technical system for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair. MethodsPatients who diagnosed as BAV and sever aortic regurgitation (AR) underwent a strategy of combined repair technics including annuloplasty, sinus plasty, leaflet plasty, sinus-tubular junction (STJ) plasty depending on anatomy pathological characteristics between October 2019 and January 2021 were enrolled. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed.ResultsA total of 17 patients were enrolled. There were 11 males and 6 females with an average age of 18-49 (32.4±13.6) years. Fifteen patients had typeⅠand 2 patients had typeⅡBAV according to Sievers classification. Annuloplasty was applicated in 13 patients, sinus plasty in 8 patients, leaflet plasty in 17 patients, and STJ plasty in 11 patients, respectively. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 95 (84, 135) min, aortic cross-clamping time was 68 (57, 112) min, and the ICU stay time was 17 (12, 25) h. After the operation, mild AR was presented in 14 patients, moderate AR in 1 patient and severe AR in 2 patients. The latter 3 patients underwent second operation under CPB, after then, 1 patient had mild AR and 2 patients had moderate AR. The follow-up time was 13.1±4.6 months. At the latest follow-up, 12 patients had mild AR and 5 patients had moderate AR, and no patient had reoperation. ConclusionA combined technical system for BAV repair can be used effectively and safely with an acceptable short and middle-term result.
ObjectiveTo summarize the characteristics of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy and analyze the association between aortopathy and BAV phenotype and patterns of valvular dysfunction.MethodsClinical data of 191 patients who underwent the first aortic valve replacement in Fuwai Hospital from June 2017 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 143 males and 48 females with an average age of 53.91±12.52 years. All patients underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and echocardiography before the operation, excluding patients with aortic coarctation. The BAV aortopathy phenotype was classified during operation. The characteristics of BAV aortopathy were analyzed by cluster and artificial analysis. BAV anatomic phenotype was divided into two types according to the direction of valve opening: BAV-AP and BAV-LR.ResultsFour distinct BAV aortopathy phenotypes were identified: a common type (n=70, 36.6%), with no dilation or mild dilation of aorta; a root type (n=24, 12.6%), with predominant dilatation of aortic sinus; an ascending aorta type (n=72, 37.7%), with predominant dilatation of ascending aorta; an arch type (n=25, 13.1%), with predominant dilatation of aortic arch dilatation. The root type was mainly in young patients, while the arch type was mainly in elderly patients (P<0.05). BAV-AP and aortic insufficiency were most prevalent in root type, while BAV-LR and aortic stenosis were most prevalent in arch type (P<0.05). There were 111 (58.1%) patients undergoing aortic surgery, and the coincidence rate of BAV aortopathy phenotype and aortic surgery was 80.6%.ConclusionAccording to the location of aortic dilation, BAV aortopathy can be divided into four types. There is an association between BAV aortopathy and valvular phenotype and dysfunction.
Patients with bicuspid aortic valve are often complicated with aortic dilatation. If the aortic valve is of good quality, aortic root replacement with aortic valve preservation is feasible. A 35-year-old male patient with bicuspid aortic regurgitation complicated with ascending aortic aneurysm underwent Remodeling+Ring (modified Yacoub) operation. Echocardiography showed that there was no aortic regurgitation on the 3rd day after operation, and the patient was discharged satisfactorily on the 6th day after operation. Remodeling+Ring surgery ensures the physiological movement of the aortic valve, solves the enlarged annulus, avoids the problems caused by valve replacement, and significantly improves the quality of life of patients, which is worth popularizing.
ObjectiveTo discuss the feasibility of establishment of animal model of "functional" bicuspid aortic valve with swine and observe its effect on the wall shear stress inside the aorta. MethodsFour common Shanghai White Swine with body weight between 50 kg to 55 kg were selected. Under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass, the aortic transverse incision approach was used, continuous suture with 6-0 polypropylene to align the left and right coronary valve leaflets to create a bicuspid valve morphology. After the operation, echocardiography was used to observe the aortic valve morphology and the hemodynamic changes of the aortic valve orifice. The effect on the wall shear stress inside the aorta was studied with 4D-Flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ResultsA total of 4 swine "functional" bicuspid aortic valve models were established, with a success rate of 100.0%. Echocardiography showed that the blood flow velocity of the aortic valve orifice was faster than that before the operation (0.96 m/s vs. 1.80 m/s). 4D-Flow MRI showed abnormally increased wall shear stress and blood flow velocity in the aorta of the animal models. After the surgery, in model animals, the maximal wall shear stress inside the ascending aorta was greater than 1.36 Pa, and the maximum blood flow velocity was greater than 1.4 m/s. ConclusionEstablishment of the animal model of "functional" bicuspid aortic valve in swine is feasible, scientific and reliable. It can be used in researches on evaluating the pathophysiological changes.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the predictive factors of new-onset conduction abnormalities(NOCAs) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients. MethodsThe CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMbase databases were electronically searched to collect the relevant studies on NOCAs after TAVR in patients with BAV from inception to December 5, 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.4 software. ResultsSix studies involving 758 patients with BAV were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that age (MD=−1.48, 95%CI −2.73 to −0.23, P=0.02), chronic kidney disease (OR=0.14, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.34, P<0.01), preoperative left bundle branch block (LBBB) (OR=2.84, 95%CI 1.11 to 7.23, P=0.03), membranous septum length (MSL) (MD=0.93, 95%CI 0.05 to 1.80, P=0.04), implantation depth (ID) (MD=−2.06, 95%CI −2.96 to −1.16, P<0.01), the difference between MSL and ID (MD=3.05, 95%CI 1.92 to 4.18, P<0.01), and ID>MSL (OR=0.27, 95%CI 0.15 to 0.49, P<0.01) could be used as predictors of NOCAs. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that age, chronic kidney disease, LBBB, MS, ID, the difference between MSL and ID, and ID>MSL could be used as predictors of NOCAs. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To evaluate the early clinical effect of reimplantation in the treatment of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with aortic root aneurysm. Methods The clinical data of 25 patients with BAV and aortic root aneurysm[mean diameter: 45-63 (52.68±5.55) mm] undergoing reimplantation in West China Hospital from November 2019 to May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 22 males and 3 females. The mean age was 15-65 (50.00±13.10) years and body surface area was 1.79±0.23 m2. ResultsThe pathological classification of BAV malformation was confirmed during the operation: Type 0 in 3 patients and Type 1 in 22 patients. There were 12 patients undergoing cusp central plication, and 2 patients were sutured with a closed fusion crest. Postoperative valve leaflet coaptation height was 0.78±0.15 cm, and effective height was 1.27±0.19 cm. In operation, maximum aortic valve flow velocity was 1.65±0.42 m/s, pressure difference was 5.46±3.05 mm Hg, and aortic valve annulus diameter was 21.32±0.95 mm. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 225.84±35.34 min, and aortic block time was 189.60±26.51 min. In-hospital time was 11.64±3.07 d, ICU stay time was 2.64±0.99 d, and mechanical ventilation time was 1.48±0.87 d. The follow-up time was 17.20±4.70 months, and no death or major complications occurred during the follow-up in all patients. The cardiac function of the patients significantly improved postoperatively (P≤0.05). Echocardiography suggested that 12 patients had no aortic regurgitation, 10 minor aortic regurgitation, 3 mild aortic regurgitation, and no patients with moderate or more severe regurgitation. The diameter of the aortic sinus, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and volume decreased during the follow-up, compared to preoperative ones (P≤0.05). The maximum flow velocity of the aortic valve was 1.54±0.36 m/s, and the pressure difference was 5.17±2.38 mm Hg during the follow-up. ConclusionReimplantation technology has a good clinical effect for highly selective BAV patients. It can effectively avoid long-term postoperative anticoagulation, but the maximum flow rate after surgery is slightly increased, which may be related to the configuration of BAV itself. While compared with valve replacement, the effect is still worthy of recognition.
ObjectiveTo assess clinical results of aortic cusps replacement with bovine pericardium for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and severe aortic regurgitation (AR). MethodsClinical data of 79 patients with BAV and severe AR who underwent aortic cusps replacement with bovine pericardium in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from June 2008 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 60 male and 19 female patients with their age of 38±14 years (ranged 12-78 years). All the patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ. There were 26 patients with ascending aorta and sinotubular expanding. ResultsNo early death or major complication was recorded. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed successful repair with normal coaptation of the aortic leaflets in all the patients. AR grade was less than mild in all the patients with peak aortic valve pressure gradients of 14.2±2.8 mm Hg. All the patients were discharged from the hospital within 15 postoperative days without any adverse symptom, and were followed up for 50±16 months (ranged 9-64 months). During follow-up, all the patients were in NYHA classⅠ. There were 57 patients without AR, 16 patients with mild AR, 5 patients with moderate AR and 1 patients with severe AR. The peak of aortic valve pressure gradient was 12.4±3.2 mm Hg. The average diameter of ascending aorta was 2.7 cm in the patients with ascending aorta and sinotubular expanding. The shape of sinotubular kept normal. The height of coaptation of aortic valve was 0.58 cm by echocadiography. None of the patients died or required reoperation. The structural valve degeneration was not observed during the follow-up. ConclusionThree aortic cusps replacement with bovine pericardium can produce good hemodynamics and midterm results for patients with BAV and severe AR. The ascending aorta and sinotubular should be reduced and fixed in the patients with ascending aorta and sinotubular expanding.
ObjectiveTo explore the preoperative evaluation result of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in aortic stenosis (AS) patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in order to summarize relevant experience.MethodsA total of 33 consecutive AS patients who underwent TAVR in Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2016 to June 2020 were enrolled, and the preoperative evaluation characteristics of MDCT were compared between tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) and BAV.ResultsIn the 33 patients, whose mean age was (74±6) years, 22 were male and 11 were female, 17 were with BAV and 16 were with TAV. The medium (lower quartile, upper quartile) of calcification score was 360 (192, 1 034) mm3. There were 12 cases of artificial valve model to be speculated Downsize, including 9 calcific BAV cases (75%).ConclusionThe calcific BAV has a higher ratio of Downsize in the TAVR procedure.