Abstract: Objective To determine the incidence, course, potential risk factors and outcomes of postoperative noninfectious fever in aortic surgical patients. Methods We reviewed 549 patients who received operation for aortic aneurysm or dissection in Beijing FuWai Cardiovascular Disease Hospital from January 2006 to January 2008. After excluding patients with a known source of infection during hospitalization, patients who had preoperative oral temperature greater than or equal to 38.0℃, patients who underwent emergency surgery, patients who died of other reasons other than feverrelated factors, and patients with incomplete data, we finally enrolled a total of 463 patients for final analysis. Depending on whether the patients developed a noninfectious fever after operation, we classified them into the febrile group (n=345, highest oral temperature ranging from 38.0-39.3℃) and the afebrile group (n=118, without postoperative fever). Univariate analysis was performed between these two groups of patients, with respect to demographics, operative data and postoperative conditions. Risk factors for postoperative fever were considered for the multivariate logistic regression model if they had a P value≤0.001 in the univariate analysis. Results After operation, 74.5%(345/463) of the patients had noninfectious fever. The minimum temperature of febrile patients on the operation day and the first postoperative day were both higher than afebrile patients（P=0.000，0.000）. The maximum temperature of febrile patients on the operation day, the first, second，third and fourth postoperative days were also higher than afebrile patients（P=0.000，0.000, 0.047, 0.018）. Univariate analysis demonstrated that weight (P=0.000), surgical type (P=0.000), minimum intraoperative bladder temperature (P=0.000), temperature upon ICU admission (P=0.000) and blood transfusion (P=0.000) were all risk factors for noninfectious postoperative fever. The multivariate logistic regression showed that surgical sites of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta (odds ratio: 4861; 95% confidence interval: 3.029，5.801; P=0.004), lower minimum intraoperative bladder temperature (odds ratio: 1.117; 95% confidence interval:1.013，1.244;P=0.040) and higher temperature on admission to the ICU (odds ratio: 2.570; 95% confidence interval:1.280，5.182;P=0.008) were significant predictors for postoperative noninfectious fever. Conclusion Noninfectious postoperative fever following aortic surgery is very common. Predictors of noninfectious postoperative fever following aortic surgery include surgical sites (thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta), low intraoperative core temperature and temperature elevation in the immediate postoperative period.
Objective To explore the role of thrombus precursor protein(TPP) in the monitoring of anticoagulation in the patients with atrial fibrillation (Af) after mechanical heart valve replacement, and suggest the reasonable anticoagulant range. Methods Ninety patients were divided into Af group (n=45), sinus rhythm group (SR group, n=45), and control group (20 patients with non-valvular heart diseases), according to whether Af exist after mitral valve replacement. TPP concentrations and International Normalized Ratio(INR) in the anticoagulant patients were analyzed. Results In patients after mechanical mitral valve replacement, plasma TPP concentrations in both SR group and Af group were lower than that in control group (Plt;0.05,0.01), their INR value were higher than that in control group (Plt;0.01), and Af group had higher plasma TPP concentrations than that in SR group((Plt;)0.05). It was found that there existed contradictions between INR and plasma TPP concentrations in Af group. There were 28 patients with plasma TPP concentrations below 6 μg/ml and without spontaneous bleeding complications in the group with Af, who might be at the optimal anticoagulant status. Their 95% confidence of INR value was 1.90-2.30 and their plasma TPP concentration was 4.29±0.75μg/ml. Conclusion Patients with Af after mechanical heart valve replacement might have higher risk of thromboembolism, INR between 1.90 - 2.30 and plasma TPP concentration between 2.84-6.00 μg/ml might be the optimal anticoagulant therapeutic range.
Objective To investigate the related factors affecting the metastases to left gastric artery lymph nodes in patients of esophageal cancer, and evaluate the clinical significance of resection of left gastric artery. Methods One hundred and eighty-six patients with esophageal cancer undergone esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy were involved in these case-control study. The left gastric artery, lymph nodes and fat tissue around it were removed in these patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the occurrence of metastases to para left gastric artery lymph nodes. Chi-square test, rank sum test, t-test and the logistic regression were adopted to analyze the correlations between these related factors and the metastases to para left gastric artery lymph nodes. Results Thirty-three patients had para left gastric artery lymph nodes metastases （17. 74%）. Related factors that affect the metastases to para left gastric artery lymph nodes were showed by monovariate analysis as follows： TNM staging of tumor, the metastases to paraesophageal nodes, paracardial nodes and subcarinal nodes （P〈0.001, P=0.025, 0.047,0.038）. Multivariate analysis showed that location of tumor was the only independent factor that influences the metastases of para left gastric artery lymph nodes（P= 0. 002）. Skip metastasis was a distinct feature of esophageal cancer, with a frequency of 78.79%（26/33）. Conclusions This study suggests that the major correlative factor of para left gastric artery lymph node metastasis is location of tumor. Resection of left gastric artery as a routine procedure in radical operation of esophageal cancer should be considered.
Objective To compare the biological and biomechanical characteristics of decellularized bovine jugular venous tissue-engineered valved conduit scaffolds with that of fresh bovine jugular veins. Methods Fortyeight fresh bovine jugular veins were divided into control group and experimental group with random number table method, 24 veins in each group. There were fresh bovine jugular veins in control group, decellularized bovine jugular veins in experimental group. The veins of experimental group were treated with sodium deoxyeholate plus Triton-X-100 to decellularize the cells in valves and vessel walls. The thickness, water absorption rate, water maintenance rate, destroying strength, stretch rate of valves and vessel walls in two groups were detected. Results The endothelial cell and fibroblast of valves and vessel walls in experimental group were completely decellularized, no cell fragments were retained within the matrix scaffold; collagen fiber and elastin fiber had been preserved with intact structure and wavily arrayed; deoxyribonucleic acid content of valves and vessel walls in experimental group were decreased by 97.58%, 97.25% compared with that of control group. The thickness, water absorption rate and water maintenance rate of valves and vessel walls in experimental group were lightly increased than those of control group, but there were no significant differences between them （P 〉 0. 05）. There were no significant differences in destroying strength and stretch rate of valves and vessel walls between two groups （P〉0. 05）. Conclusion Decellularized bovine jugular vein scaffold has stable biological and biomechanical characteristics and it may be ideal natural fibrous matrix for developing the tissue-engineered valved conduit by host recellularization.
Objective To analyse the characteristic of hemodynamic changes during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （OPCAB）. Methods One hundred consecutive patients received OPCAB and the hemodynamic changes were monitored during the grafts was anastomosed. They were anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery （LIMA） to left anterior descending （LAD） in 97 patients, the anastomosis of saphenous vein （SV） or radial artery（RA） to right coronary artery （RCA） including posterior descending artery （PDA） and posterior left branch （PLB） in 84 patients, to left circumflex coronary artery （LCX） in 50 patients, to optuse marginal artery（OM） in 27 patients, to diagonal artery （DG） in 25 patients. The grafts number in each patient was 3. 1±0. 7. Results Hemodynamics changed when LAD and DG were anastomosed with significantly increase of heart rate （HR）, significantly decrease of mean arterial pressure （MAP） and left ventricular stroke work index （LVSWI, P〈0.05）. Hemodynamics changed when LCX,PDA,PLB,OM were anastomosed with significantly increase of HR and center veinous pressure （CVP, P 〈 0. 05）, significantly decrease of MAP, cardiac index （CI）, stroke index （SI）, right ventricular ejection fraction （RVEF）, right ventricular end-diastolic volume （RVEDV）, LVSWI and right ventricular stroke work index （RVSWI,P〈0.05）. Hemodynamics tended to be stable and CI improved at the end of operation. Conclusion There are no or little hemodynamic changes during the LAD and DG were anastomosed in OPCAB, while hemodynamics changed significantly during LCX, PDA, PLB and OM were anastomosed. Hemodynamics become stable and CI improves after operation.
Abstract： Objective To investigate the effects of βreceptor blocker on intraventricular pressure gradient and left ventricle remodeling after valve replacement for critical aortic stenosis. Methods Fifty-six patients with critical aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement surgery from January 2008 to January 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Thirtytwo of them who were followed up were selected to be enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups under the same basis of clinical features. Twelve patients in the experimental group received oral βreceptor blocker (Metoprolol, 6.2525.00 mg once, twice daily). The rest 20 patients in the control group had no βreceptor blocker. The various indicators of ultrasound cardiogram (UCG) shortly after operation (within a week) and long after operation (6-24 months) were compared between the two groups. Results No death occurred in both groups, and chest distress, shortness of breath and other symptoms were obviously alleviated. Although left ventricular endsystolic dimension (LVESD) and left ventricular outflow tract dimension (LVOTD) of both groups increased 6-24 months after operation, compared with the early postoperative period, only the increase of LVOTD in the experimental group showed statistical difference (t=-47.937, P=0.001). In both groups, interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), filament band velocity of left ventricular outflow tract (V), intraventricular pressure gradient (G) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of the later period after operation were significantly lower than those of the early postoperative period. All these indicators in the experimental group showed significant differences (t=7.781, P=0.001；t=5.749, P=0.001; t=2.637, P=0.023; t=7.167, P=0.001; t=100.061, P0.001), while only V, G， and LVMI showed statistical differences in the control group (t=4.051, P=0.001; t= 4.759, P= 0.001; t=-0.166,P=0.001). EF in the experimental group also indicated significant difference compared with early period after aortic valve replacement (t=-6.621, P=0.001). EF between two groups indicated no significant difference (t=-0.354,P=0.726). But differences between the two groups in LVEDD, IVS, G， and LVMI were all statistically significant in the later period after surgery (t=-2.494, P=0.018; t=-3.434, P=0.002;t=-2.171,P=0.038; t=-2.316, P=0.028). Conclusion β-receptor blocker is a safe and reliable drug for those patients who have undergone aortic valve replacement surgery for critical aortic stenosis, and can decrease significantly the residual intraventricular pressure gradient and accelerate left ventricular cardiac remodeling.
Abstract: Objective To study the pathophysiological mechanism of the morphological change of immature pulmonary vessels in the piglet model of congenital heart defect with decreased pulmonary blood flow established with balloon atrial septostomy and pulmonary artery banding. Methods Twenty piglets at an age of one to two months were divided into three groups with random number table. For the control group (group C,n=6), small incisions were carried out on the right chest to produce a transient reduction in the pulmonary blood; for the lowmedium pulmonary artery stenosis group (group T1, n=7), the balloon dilator was delivered through the surface of the right atrium and septostomy and pulmonary artery banding were performed, and the systolic transpulmonary artery banding pressure (Trans-PABP) was controlled to be 20.30 mm Hg; For the severe pulmonary artery stenosis group (group T2, n=7), the same surgical procedures with group T1 were performed while TransPABP was controlled to be more [CM(159mm]than 3050 mm Hg.At 2 months after surgery respectively,a lung tissue of 1.0 cm×0.8 cm×0.8 cm from the lateral segment of the right middle lobe was taken out to be observed under optic microscope. The morphological change of the distal arterioles was detected. Furthermore, the content of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase2( MMP2) were also examined by the method of enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The model was successfully established in all the survival piglets of the group T1 and group T2. Two months after operation, the inner diameter of the pulmonary arterioles in group T1 was significantly higher than that in group C (82.89±10.72 μm vs.74.12±9.28 μm;t=－5.892, Plt;0.05), so as group T2 (85.47±5.25 μm vs.74.12±9.28 μm;t=-6.325, Plt;0.05); the number of arterioles per square centimeter (NAPSC) of group T1 was significantly lower than that of the group C (229.70±88.00 entries/cm 2 vs. 431.50±40.60 entries/cm2; t=39.526, Plt;0.05), so as group T2 (210.00±40.30 entries/cm2 vs. 431.50±40.60 entries/cm2; t=67.858, Plt;0.05). Two months after operation, the lung expression of MMP -2 and VEGF in group T1 was significantly lower than that in group C (58.30±19.60 ng/ml vs. 81.20±16.70 ng/ml, t=14.261, Plt;0.05; 17.80±3.00 pg/ml vs. 21.40±3.80 pg/ml, t=8.482, P＜0.05), so does group T2 (42.10±15.20 ng/ml vs. 81.20±16.70 ng/ml, t=27.318, P＜0.05; 12.30±3.20 pg/ml vs. 21.40±3.80 pg/ml, t=15.139, P＜0.05). Conclusion Structural remodeling of pulmonary extracellular matrix is an important feature of the piglet model of congenital heart defect with decreased pulmonary blood flow. The arterioles show significant hypoplasia or degradation. Change in the structural proteins and cytokines during the reduction of blood in the lung is the key to structural remodeling.
Objective To investigate the clinical effects and the management of combined using of zerobalanced ultrafiltration(ZBUF) and modified ultrafiltration(MUF) in severe infant open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) , in order to evaluate the feasibility and clinical significance of combination of ZBUF and MUF. Methods 20 pediatric patients diagnosed as complicated congenital heart disease had been involved, which included 12 males and 8 females with 12.6±7.5months of age and 8.5±3.3 kg of weight. Gambro FH22 hemofilter was selected in all patients. The typical MUF method was chosen. ZBUF was done during CPB and MUF was performed after CPB. The variety of hemodynamics, blood gas, concentration of electrolytes, inflammatory media and change of the plasma colloid osmotic pressure(COP) were measured at several time points. Filtrate was salvaged to detect the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukine-8 (IL-8). Results Mean arterial pressure(MAP) was significantly higher(P=0.001) after MUF finished in all patients. Lactate acid (LAC), TNF-α and IL-8 had no significant difference before and after ZBUF. COP was significantly higher after MUF than that after ZBUF(P=0.002). Concentration of TNF-α in MUF filtrate was significantly higher than that in ZBUF(p=0.036). Conclusion Combined using of ZBUF and MUF has the effective ability of removing the inflammatory mediators and ameliorating system immunoreaction in pediatric CPB. MUF can improve the respiratory and heart function through decreasing the body water and increasing COP and hematocrit.
Objective To study the development of a physiologic fixation method and investigate the effect of physiologic fixation method on porcine aortic root and aortic valve leaflets. Methods Physiological fixer of aortic root was manufactured in a factory. The fixers with different diameter were made of organic glass. Porcine aortic root with ascending aorta and anterior leaflet of mitral valve and partial ventricular septum were dissected out from the fresh heart. The roots were attached to appropriately sized inflow and outflow spigots. Physiologic fixation was utilized to maintain aortic root and leaflets natural anatomical shape, the aortic root was pressurized to the inflow and outflow portions simultaneously, and the leaflets floated freely at zero-pressure differential with in the pressurized root. Results The process of physiologic fixation retained the properties of a native valve. The leaflets were much softer and extensible than those from valves fixed under low pressure. The results of pulsatile flow testing indicated that the effective orifice areas of predilation at 80mmHg were significantly greater than those of predilation at 40 mmHg（P〈0.05）, while mean pressure differences were found to be lower comparatively（P〈0.05）. This difference translates into a mode of valve function that more closely approximates that of the native aortic valve. Conclusion Physiologic fixation process retains the valve＇s natural anatomical shape as well as the underlying structure of the leaflets, providing improved flow characteristics.
Objective To observe the influences of depolarized arrest and hyperpolarized arrest on alternation of fluidity of myocardial cell membrane during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and evaluate the protective effects on myocardium of hyperpolarized arrest. Methods Seventy-two felines were randomized into three groups, each group 24. Control group: 180 minutes of CPB was conducted without aortic and vena caval cross-clamping. Depolarized arrest group: hearts underwent 60 minutes of global ischemia after aortic cross-clamping (ACC) followed by 90 minutes of reperfusion. The cardioplegic solution consisted of St. Thomas solution (K+16mmol/L). Hyperpolarized arrest group: the protocol was the same as that in depolarized arrest group except that the cardioplegic solution consisted of St.Thomas solution with pinacidil (50 mmol/L,K+5mmol/L). Microviscosity, the reciprocal of fluidity of myocardial membrane was measured in all groups by using fluorescence polarization technique. (Results )Microvis cosity of myocardial cell in depolarized arrest group during ACC period was significantly higher than that before ACC and kept on rising during reperfusion period. Microviscosity of myocardial cell in hyperpolarized arrest group during ACC was trending up and reperfusion periods as well, but markedly lower compared to that in depolarized arrest group at corresponding time points(Plt;0.01). Conclusion Hyperpolarized arrest is more effective in protecting myocardial cells from ischemia-reperfusion injury than depolarized arrest during CPB by maintaining better fluidity of myocardial membrane.