Objective To observe the intermediate-term outcome and heart function in patients with small aortic root，and to investigate the feasi bility of small size prosthesis. Methods From July 1990 to Jun e 2003, 62 patients underwent 19mm aortic valve prosthesis(19mm group). The resu lts were compaired with other 62 patients receiving larger prosthesis(≥21 mm,21 mm group). Clinical symptoms, signs, electrocardiogram(ECG) and echocardiogr a phy (UCG) were followedup, KaplanMeier survival curve was used for analysis. Results In 19mm group, there were 38 patients with ≥Ⅱ/Ⅵ grade systolic murmur in aortic valve area,18 patients with ECG ST segm ent change and 11 patients with chest pain and/or chest distress. Postoperative cardiac function showed that 33 patients with heart function New York Heart Ass ociation(NYHA) class Ⅱ and 29 patients with NYHA class Ⅲ. Postoperative ECG sh owed in 21mm group,6 patients with ECG ST segment change,3 patients with chest distress and 6 patients with occasional chest pain and there were 48 patients with NYHA class Ⅱ and 14 patients with NYHA class Ⅲ,there was statis tically difference in heart function between two groups（P＝0.020). Th ere was a significant regression of left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular wall thickness, mass index,and pressure gradients in both groups（P＜0.05）, and left ventricular ejection f raction (LVEF)had a significant increase in patients 5 years after operation tha n that before operation（P＜0.05）, and there was no statistically differenc e in both groups（P＞0.05）. Actual survival at 1,5 years were 93.5%,74 .2% in 19mm group compared with 95.2%,790% in the 21mm valve group, there were no statistically difference in both groups （P=0.231,0.110）. Conc lus ion Patients with 19mm prosthetic aortic valves can experience a satisf actory improvement and get excellent intermediate-term survival.
Surgical Therapy for Valve Diseases Combined with Coronary Heart Diseases in Patients Over or Below 70 Years Old YU Lei, GU Tianxiang, SHI Enyi, XIU Zongyi, FANG Qin, ZHANG Yuhai. (Department of Cardiac Surgery, The No. 1 Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, P.R. China)Corresponding author: GU Tianxiang, Email: cmugtx@sina.comAbstract： Objective To summarize the experiences of valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in senile patients by comparing clinical outcomes of valve diseases combined with coronary heart diseases in patients over or below 70 years old. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 patients who received valve replacement combined with CABG in our department from May 1999 to December 2007. Based on the age, the patients were divided into ≥70 years group (17 cases) with its patients at or above 70 years old and lt;70 years group (32 cases) with its patients younger than 70. The percentage of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) before surgery in ≥70 years group was higher than that in lt;70 years group(Plt;0.05). No significant difference was found in the other relevant factors between the two groups. The clinical index of patients in the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in such factors as the percentage of biovalve use (82.4% vs. 12.5%, χ2=23.311, P=0.000), the time of mechanic ventilation (34.5±29.3 h vs. 18.0±16.1 h, t=-2.542,P=0.014), the time of ICU stay (4.4±1.5 d vs. 3.3±0.7 d, t=-3.522, P=0.001), the time of hospital stay (21.4±7.7 d vs. 18.1±1.8 d, t=-2.319, P=0.025), the percentage of IABP use (29.4% vs. 6.3%, χ2=4.862, P=0.037), the percentage of pulmonary function failure (35.3% vs. 6.3%, χ2=6.859, P=0.009), the percentage of acute renal failure (23.5% vs. 3.1%, χ2=5.051, P=0.025), and the percentage of cerebrovascular accident (11.8% vs. 0.0%, χ2=3.933, P=0.048). There was no significant difference between the two groups in factors like the anastomosis of distal graft (2.5±3.1 vs. 2.4±14, t=0.301, P=0.758), the time of aortic occlusion (89.3±25.4 min vs. 88.5±31.0 min, t=0.108,P=0.913), the time of cardiopulmonary bypass (144.6±44.8 min vs. 138.3±52.9 min, t=0.164, P=0.871) and the mortality (5.9% vs. 6.3%, χ2=0.002,P=0.959). The perioperative myocardial infarction rate was zero in both groups. ≥70 years group patients were followed up for 2 months to 9 years with only 1 case missing. One patient who had undergone mechanic valve replacement died of cerebral hemorrhage 1.5 years after operation. Two died of heart failure and lung cancer 3 months and 6 years after operation respectively. For all the others, the cardiac function was at class Ⅰ to Ⅱ and their life quality was significantly improved. The follow up time of lt;70 years group was 1 month to 6 years and 5 cases were missing. Four patients who had undergone mechanic valve replacement died of complications in relation to anticoagulation treatment. One died of severe low cardiac output. Another died of traffic accident. Conclusion Surgery operation and effective perioperative treatment are key elements in improving surgery successful rate and decreasing mortality in patients with valve and coronary artery diseases. Valve replacement combined with CABG is safe for patients older than 70 years old.
Objective To summarize the outcomes and clinical features for surgical treatment of nonischemic heart valve disease(HVD) combined with coronary artery disease(CAD), so that to get better surgical result. Methods From January 2000 to June 2007, 105 patients with the mean age of 61.96±7.61 years (range 36-79 years), underwent the combined procedures.The etiology of HVD included: 59 rheumatic valve disease, 24 degenerative mitral lesion, 13 calcified aortic valve lesion, and 9 other aortic valve disease. CAD was preoperatively diagnosed by coronary arteriongraphy in 98 patients, and intraoperatively identified in 7 patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 50% or less in 45 patients. The total number of bypass grafts was 216 with the mean of 2.06 grafts per patient. Valve procedures included: 36 mitral valve valve replacement, 15 mitral repair,43 aortic valve replacement, 11 mitral valve and aortic valve replacement. Results There were 6 postoperative deaths with the mortality of 5.7%. The causes of death were 3 low cardiac output syndrome, 2 renal failure, and 1 heart arrest resulting in multiple organs failure. Ninety-three survivals were followed up from 1 month to 7 years, 6 patients were missed on follow-up. There were no late death. New York Heart Association class Ⅰ was observed in 25 patients, class Ⅱ53, class Ⅲ 10 and class Ⅳ 5. One patient still had existential chest pain. Conclusion There were no typical angina in majority of patients with nonischemic HVD combined with CAD, coronary arteriongraphy must be taken in patients with the age of 50 years and more, or with the risk factors for CAD.Intraoperative myocardial protection is very important because CAD further deteriorates myocardial dysfunction caused by HVD.The decreased left ventricular function is the important factor affecting the surgical results and it is hard to evaluate the underlying cause before the operation.
Abstract: Objective To summarize the clinical experience of 13 patients of tricuspid valve replacement and to investigate the indication and method. Methods From January 1994 to December 2005, the clinical datum of the thirteen patients suffering from tricuspid valve disease were reviewed, including rheumatic heart disease 6 cases, congenital heart disease 3 cases, infective endocarditis 3 cases and right ventricular tumor 1 case. All the cases underwent tricuspid valve replacement. Results Two reoperative rheumatic heart disease patients died early after operation and their cardiac function was New York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅳ before operation. The followup interval was 3 months to 12 years in 11 cases. There were 2 late death, one died of recurrence of infective endocarditis, and another died of the recurrence of the tumor. One Ebstein anomaly case’s NYHA functional recovered to class Ⅲ, eight cases’s recovered to NYHA classⅠ-Ⅱ. Conclusion The tricuspid valve disease may be a secondary lesion from many causes. Indication of tricuspid valve replacement must be strictly commanded. The late results of tricuspid valve mechanical prostheses replacement is satisfactory.
Objective To summarize the experiences of surgical treatment for periprosthetic leakage(PPL). Methods A total of 63 patients with PPL (mitral PPL in 34, aortic PPL in 29), age 41±12 years, underwent reoperation with prosthetic valve replacement from Dec. 1980 to Dec. 2005 in this department. Patient characteristics, operative profiles and follow-up data were described and analyzed in detail. Results The perioperative complications occurred in 11 patients (17.5%), five of whom died (the overall hospital mortality: 7.9%). Fifty-five patients were in close follow-up and three of them lost in that period, five patients died in late. Fifty patients long-term survivals were in New York Heart Association class Ⅰ-Ⅱ and follow-up evaluation by echocardiography showed no evidence of recurrence or residual PPL and PPL-related complications. Conclusion More attention should be paid to the study on etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, and clinical classification of PPL. For patients with PPL, reoperation with prosthetic valve replacement is considerably effective and can obtain an acceptable longterm results.
Objective To discuss the application value in increasing the frequency of monitoring and ensuring the safety of anticoagulation therapy in patient self-monitoring (PST) and self-management (PSM) of portable coagulometer. Method This non-randomized prospective controlled study was conducted in 100 patients receiving oral warfarin anticoagulation therapy after heart valve replacement and met the inclusion criteria in our hospital between March 2013 and April 2014 year. All the patients were divided into three groups including an outpatient follow-up group(outpatient group), a self-monitoring group and a self-management group. Meanwhile, the patients in the outpatient group visited professional institutions, performed international normalized ratio (INR) testing with central lab and adjusted the dosage of orally administered warfarin by the doctors. And the other two groups performed INR testing with CoaguChek XS portable coagulometer by themselves, and the patients in the self-management group performed management by themselves. The follow-up time was 6 months. The dates of time in therapeutic range (TTR), fraction of time in therapeutic range (FTTR) and anticoagulation complications in the three groups were analyzed and compared. Results There was no significant difference in the INR results obtained from the follow-up time among the three groups (P=0.845) . TTR value of INR of the outpatient group, the self-monitoring group, and the self-management group was 45.9% (4368.0 days/9517.0 days), 61.2% (6057.0 days/9897.0 days), and 65.4% (2833.8 days/4333.0 days), respectively with a statistical difference among the three groups (P<0.001) . FTTR value of INR obtained from the outpatient group, the self-monitoring group, and the self-management group was 48.3% (99 times/205 times), 60.7% (164 times/270 times), and 64.9% (100 times/154 times) respectively. There was a statistical difference in the FTTR between the outpatient group and the self-monitoring group (P=0.007) , and also between the outpatient group and the self-monitoring group (P=0.002) . But there was no statistical difference between the self-monitoring group and the self-management group (P=0.392) . There were not any major bleeding and thrombosis complications in all study. And there was no statistical difference in the total complications, thrombosis, and bleeding complications rates between the outpatient group and the self-monitoring group, and also between the outpatient group and the self-management group (P>0.05) . Conclusions The patients receiving oral anticoagulation after heart valve replacement or their care providers were able to perform PST and PSM. The use of portable coagulometer for self-monitoring and self-management can increase the frequency of anticoagulation monitoring and achieve better INR target value control. PST and PSM could achieve higher quality of anticoagulation management and life and without increasing the risk of oral anticoagulation than the traditional monitoring method. The monitoring frequency of once a month is reasonable for the patients receiving oral anticoagulation more than half a year after heart valve replacement.
Abstract: Objective To observe the physical characteristics of decellularized porcine pulmonary valved conduits crosslinked by carbodiimide (EDC). Methods [WTBZ]Twenty porcine pulmonary valved arteries were mobilized on relative asepsis condition. They were cut longitudinally into three samples at the junction position of pulmonary valve (every sample was comprised of a part of the pulmonary conduit wall and the corresponding valve). The samples were randomly divided into three groups by lotdrawing method. Group A was the control group which was made up of the fresh porcine arterial valved conduit samples without any other treatments. Group B was comprised of porcine pulmonary samples decellularized by trypsindetergent digestion. Group Cincluded the decellularized porcine pulmonary samples crosslinked by EDC. We observed the water content, thickness, tensile strength, and shrinkage temperature of all the samples, based on which the physical characeteristics of these samples were analyzed. Results [WTBZ]Complete cellfree-pulmonary conduit matrix was achieved by trypsindetergent digestion. Compared with group A, in group B, the water content of pulmonary wall was significantly higher (P=0.000), while the water content of pulmonary valve was not significantly different; the thickness of pulmonary wall and valve (P=0.000，0.000) and tensile strength of pulmonary wall and valve (Plt;0.01） was significantly lower, while shrinkage temperature was not significantly different. Compared with group B, in group C, the water content of pulmonary wall was significantly lower (P=0.000), while the water content of pulmonary valve, and the thickness of pulmonary wall and valve were not significantly different; the tensile strength of pulmonary wall (Plt;0.01) and valve (P=0.000), and the shrinkage temperature of them (P=0.000, 0.000) were significantly higher. Compared with group A, in group C, the water content of pulmonary wall and valve, and the tensile strength of them were not statistically different, while the thickness of pulmonary wall and valve was significantly lower (P=0.000, 0.000), and the shrinkage temperature of them was significantly higher (P=0.000, 0.000). Conclusion [WTBZ]EDC crosslinking method is available for treating decellularized porcine pulmonary valved conduits in order to enhance its tensile strength, and decrease water content of pulmonary wall.
Objective To introduce a new type of bileaflet mechanical prosthetic heart valve （GK bileaflet valve）and evaluate clinically the early hemodynamic effect and short term follow-up after its replacement. Methods Sixty-one patients with heart valve diseases were operated upon. The mitral valve replacement was performed in 34 patients, aortic valve replacement in 16 patients and double valve replacement in 11 patients. A total of 72 GK bileaflet mechanical valves were implanted, 45 in mitral position, and 27 in aortic position. Blood consistency and hemodynamics were monitored. Follow-up was carried out routinely to check whether there were some valve-related complications. Results There was no early mortality （〈30 d）. Only one patient died of trauma 2 months after the operation. Follow-up was 100% and extended 1 to 2. 5 years. Without valve-related complications all patients had lived for more than 1 to 2.5 years. In 98% （60/61） of survivors heart functional performance had improved to New York Heart Association class Ⅰ or Ⅱ . Conclusion Early clinical results and short term follow up demonstrate that GK bileaflet prosthetic heart valve exhibits excellent hemodynamic properties, satisfied blood consistency and a low incidence of valve-related complications. Midterm and long-term results should be observed further.
At present, interventional therapy for structural heart disease is in a period of vigorous development. Among them, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, as a representative of the interventional treatment of heart valve disease, has made rapid progress, which is a bright spot in the field of cardiovascular disease. The future development of transcatheter tricuspid valve repair/replacement is also promising. With the availability of important clinical evidence, the indications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement have been extended to the full risk range of severe aortic stenosis. More and more data showed that transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve interventions could effectively alleviate patients’ symptoms and improve their prognosis. Transcatheter valve interventions have developed rapidly and have made tremendous progress in China. This article will review and interpret the important progress in the field of transcatheter valve interventions.
ObjectiveTo summarize the indication and surgical experiences of valve replacement, high-risk factors and long-term results for aortic regurgitation and large left ventricle. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 42 patients with aortic regurgitation and left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) ≥70 mm and left ventricle end-systolic diameter (LVESD) ≥ 50 mm in our hospital from March 2004 through December 2012. There were 38 males and 4 females,aged 16-73 (45.86±14.99) years. The patients underwent aortic valve replacement, who were evaluated by echocardiography at pre-operation, pre-discharge and early follow-up. The follow up period was 12-132 months. ResultsEarly death occurred in one patient. And five patients died during the follow-up. One week after surgery in 41 patients, LVEDD (62.00±13.21 mm), LVESD (50.71±14.02 mm), indexed LVEDD (35.23±8.58 mm/m2), indexed LVESD (28.92±9.08 mm/m2), LVEF (46.41%±12.49%), were significantly smaller than those before the operation (P<0.01). Heart function grades, preoperative EF, LVEDD and indexed LVEDD were the predictors for left ventricular function recovery. One-year, 5-year, 10-year survival rate was 92.9%, 90.2%, 83.8%, respectively. ConclusionMost of patients with aortic regurgitation and large left ventricle still have indications for surgical treatment, but severe left ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmia are high risk factors for long-term survival.