If one word is used to describe the development of congenital heart disease surgery in China, "hardship" would be the most appropriate. Generations of pioneers have used their ingenuity to overcome obstacles and promoted the development of the discipline. Seventy years of efforts have established the world's largest congenital heart disease treatment system. However, the huge number of potential patients, low early diagnosis rate and over-screening as well as the uneven developed diagnosis and treatment capabilities hinder the future development. The overall improvement of treatment of congenital heart disease in China lies on more efforts from our fellow experts. The publication of the "Chinese expert consensus on surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases" undoubtedly provides theoretical and practical guidance for the improvement of treatment.
Abstract: Objective To investigate changes of left ventricularregional systolic function after surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) by realtime threedimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). Methods From February 2009 to February 2010, 14 consecutive patients who were diagnosed to have coronary artery diseases with LVA underwent surgical repair and coronary artery bypass grafting (LVA group) in our hospital. All patients of the LVA group were followed up for a mean period of 4 months. Twodimensional echocardiography (2DE) and RT-3DE were performed before operation and during the follow-up. Left ventricular regional ejection fraction (EF) was acquired by Qlab software analysis. At the same time, 12 healthy persons were included as controls (control group). Statistical analyses were carried out to compare left ventricular regional EF between the LVA group (before operation and 4 months after operation) and the control group. Results Contrary to the control group, preoperative regional EF of the LVA group increased from apex to base. In addition to the inferior basal segment, lateralinferior basal segment and anteriorinferior basal segment, regional EF in the remaining 14 segments were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). At postoperative followup, regional EF recovered the increase from base to apex, and there was no significant difference between anteriorinferior segment and lateral segment regional EF of the LVA group and those of the control group (P>0.05), while regional EF of other segments in the LVA group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion RT-3DE is an effective method to assess left ventricular regional systolic function in patients with LVA. After LVA repair and coronary artery bypass grafting, regional systolic function will restore to the normal direction of progressive increase, and some nonaneurysm segments systolic function will go back to normal.
Objective To introduce a modified REV procedure of complicated transposition of the great arteries (TGA) or double outlet right ventricle (DORV) which was combined with ventrieular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary valve stenosis(PS). Methods From Sep. 2005 to Feb. 2006, 3 children with complicated transposition of the great arteries underwent a modified REV operation. This modified REV operation was designed on the basis of classical REV procedure to preserve the native pulmonary artery valve and its function. Results Two patients recovered uneventfully but one died after extraeorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) treatment. After 4 and 1 months follow-up respectively, the discharged 2 patients were asymptomatie and the eehoeardiography revealed that the pressure gradient between left ventrieular-main pulmonary were estimated to be 15 and 5mmHg. Conclusion This modified REV operation for preservation of pulmonary artery valve is an ideal procedure to complicated transposition of the great arteries. Advantages and disadvantages of this modified REV procedure were discussed.
Objective Engineer heart tissue (EHT) was constructed with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and poly lacticacidCOglycolic acid (PLGA), and grafted onto the surface of myocardial infarction rats. We hypothesized that great omentum wrapping would increase EHT blood supply and ameliorate EHT microenvironment which is in favor of cardiac collagen remodling and heart function. We hope that omentun wrapped EHT could provide a valuable strategy for surgically myocardial infarction therapy. Methods MSCs were isolated from SD rats.Eight weeks after SD rats were subjected to left anterior descending (LAD) ligation, 18 rats were enrolled and divided into three groups, group A(n=6): great omentum wrapped MSCsPLGA EHT implantation; group B (n=6):MSCsPLGA EHT implantation; control group (n=6): the myocardial infarction; the sham group (n=6): only opened and closed chest, underwent LAD ligation, but no EHT implantation. Four weeks after transplantation, the following variables were evaluated: specimen stained with picrosirius red, left ventricle function evaluated by echocardiography, infarction ventricular wall motion by color kinesis (CK). Results Hearts of group A showed significantly less fibrosis than group B and control group (Plt;0.05). Infarction ventricular wall motion assessed by CK indicated significantly improvement in group A compared with group B and control group (Plt;0.05). Four weeks after transplantation, cardiac echocardiography showed left ventricle ejection fraction was lower in control group and group B compared with group A (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Transplantation of MSCsPLGA EHT with great omentum wrapping ameliorated infarction ventricular collagen remodeling, ameliorated infarction ventricular wall motion and preserved left ventricular function.
Objective [WTBZ]To assess the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy using aspirin and clopidogrel on postoperative bleeding and blood transfusion early after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods [WTBZ]In this randomized controlled trial, 249 patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups after coronary artery bypass grafting from December 2007 to December 2008. Daily clopidogrel (75 mg) and aspirin (100 mg) were initiated in 124 patients (group AC) while aspirin (100 mg) alone was administered to 125 patients (group A). Antiplatelet therapy was initiated within 48h postoperatively. Demographic, operative, and postoperative data were compared between the two groups. Chest tube drainage and quantity of blood products used in both groups were recorded. The effects of the antiplatelet regimen on chest tube drainage were compared using a linear regression model. Results [WTBZ]No statistical difference of demographic, operative, and preoperative data was observed between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). Chest tube drainage after patients received ntiplatelet agents was not significantly different between group A and group AC(495.00±270.89 ml vs. 489.25±316.68ml,t=0.146, P=0.884). No statistical difference of cases of transfusion(81 cases vs. 91 cases,χ2=1.937, P=0.164) or quantity of red cells (2.51±2.88 U vs. 2.25±2.87 U, t=0.690, P=0.491) and plasma (195.45±300.88 ml vs. 223.01±238.68 ml,t=0.759, P=0.449) transfused was found between group A and group AC. No perioperative mortality, reexploration or extrathoracic bleeding occurred in either group. Early postoperative use of dual antiplatelet therapy was not associated with increased bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting on multivariable analysis(r=2.297,95%CI:-64.526,69.121,P=0.946). Conclusionpresent study suggests that according to a predefined administration protocol, dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin and clopidogrel can safely be administered in the early postoperative period in CABG patients, without increasing the risk of bleeding complications.
Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical outcomes and experiences of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) in patients with acute renal insufficiency after heart transplantation. Methods There were 39 patients received orthotopic heart transplantation from September 2007 to September 2008 in Fu Wai hospital. Seven cases required the use of PRISMA CRRT machine (Gambro Healthcare,Inc.) because of acute renal insufficiency after heart transplantation, and received continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration(CVVHDF) treatment via M100 blood filter (hemofilters). Activated coagulation time (ACT) was maintained in 160200 s. Results Six survivals with New York Heart Association (NYHA)Ⅰdischarged ,1 case died of multiple system organ failure (MSOF) and severe infection. The time of CRRT was 48658 h, with an average of 252 h. Seven patients were oliguric or anuric during CRRT, but hemodynamics and internal environment were stable. After stopping CRRT, the creatinine level rose to 267.1±68.5 μmol/L, then the creatinine level decreased to normal range with urine increasing gradually. Postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 56.5±19.0 ml/min, and there was no statistical significance compared with preoperative GFR(Pgt;0.05). Six survivals were followed up for 513(9.7±3.8)months,and their creatinine level was in normal range(90.6±26.7 μmol/L). There was no statistical significance compared with the creatinine level at discharge (83.2±26.5 μmol/L, Pgt;0.05). Conclusion The prognostic outcomes of patients with acute renal insufficiency after heart ransplantation are excellent after using CRRT. No significant renal dysfunction is found.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and associated with incremental morbidity and mortality. It is implicated that multiple reentry circuits have been the dominant mechanism of AF. The classical surgical treatment for medically refractory AF is the maze procedure composed of aultiple cuts and sutures within the atrial walls to disrupt the abnormal reentry circuits. Although the maze procedure is recognized as the most effective treatment of AF, it is complicated, time consuming and much invasive. New surgical ablation therapy, applying alternate energy sources (cryothermy, radiofrequency, microwave) have evolved to simplify the maze procedure without cut and suture and demonstrated promising success rates. The optimal lesion set has not yet been defined, Modification of lesion sets and techniques that ensure continuous and transmural lesions may improve the outcomes of ablation therapy and recover rate of sinus rhythm.
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 investigate the surgical indications and the mid and long term results of morphologic tricuspid valve replacement for corrected transposition of the great arteries(cTGA). Methods From September 1997 to September 2007, 18 cases with cTGA were treated in Fu Wai Hospital. There were 15 male and 3 female, aged from 16 to 51 years(33.3±12.8 years), and weighed from 47 to 90 kg(60.9±14.7 kg). There were 10 cases with isolated morphologic tricuspid valve insufficiency, 3 complicated with ventricular septal defect, 2 complicated with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary valve stenosis, 2 with morphologic tricuspid valve insufficiency after septal defect repair, and 1 with mechanical valve dysfunction after morphologic tricuspid valve replacement. The preoperative mean morphologic right ventricle ejection fraction was 562%±11.6%. Of the 18 cases, 12 were in grade Ⅱ and 6 were in grade Ⅲ according to New York Heart classification(NYHA).All the cases had undergone morphologic tricuspid valve replacement. Postoperative indices such as cardiac function and morphological right ventricle ejection fraction were followed up. Results One patient died of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. Two had pervavlvular leak, which were cured by pervavlvular leak repair at 7th and 30th day after operation, respectively. Sixteen were followed up with a followup time of 57.0±407 months. There was no statistical significance between preoperative and postoperative mean morphologic right ventricle ejection fraction(52.8%±9.2% vs.56.2%±11.6%; t=2.062, Pgt;0.05). The followup showed that 12 were in NYHA grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, and 4 were in NYHA grade Ⅲ. There was no statistical significance between preoperative and postoperative percentage of cases in NYHA grade Ⅲ(χ2=1.532,Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Morphologic tricuspid valve replacement can prevent the further damage to morphologic right ventricular function caused by morphologic tricuspid valve insufficiency. The mid and long term results were satisfying. During the followup, the morphologic right ventricle can function appropriately.
Objective To evaluate the longterm results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in treating cardiac diseases with heart insufficiency by analyzing the longterm survival rate and heart failure exemption rate of the patients. Methods A total of 239 patients who had coronary heart disease with left heart dysfunction (LVEFlt;40%) were enrolled in our study. Among the patients, there were 215 males and 24 females aged from 32 to 78 years old with an average age of 59.1. Before operation, 193 patients had a past history of myocardial infarction and 31 had angina. According to the New York heart function assessment (NYHA), 26 patients were categorized as class Ⅰ, 106 as class Ⅱ, 73 as class Ⅲ and 34 as class Ⅳ. Coronary angiography showed 10 cases (4.2%) of single vessel disease, 35 cases (14.6%) of double vessel disease and 194 cases (81.2%) of triple vessel disease. The result of preoperative ultrasound cardiogram showed that LVEF was 35.7%±4.6%. All patients received CABG, including 153 (64.0%) onpump surgeries and 86 (35.9%) offpump surgeries. Selective operation was done on 237 patients and there were 2 emergency cases. Valve repair or replacement, ventricular aneurysmectomy or aneurysm plication were not carried out during the operation. Results There were 1 to 6 (3.4±1.1) bypass grafting vessels in each case. Five (2.09%) patients died during the hospital stay, among which 2 died of low cardiac output and circulation failure, 1 died of malignant arrhythmia, 1 died of renal failure, and 1 died of coma with multiorgan failure. The followup period was 512±1.79 years. During the followup, 18 patients (7.7%) were lost and 29 patients died. Among them, there were 24 cardiac deaths and the cardiac death rate at the first year and the fifth year was 2.8% and 9.4% respectively. There were 40 cases of heart failure during the followup period. The exemption rate of heart failure was 93.7% and 81.8% at the first year and the fifth year respectively. The survival rate was 97.2% at the first year and 89.3% at the fifth year. Conclusion The longterm result of CABG in treating patients with ischemic heart insufficiency is satisfying.