ObjectiveTo explore surgical methods and risk factors of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). MethodsClinical data of 28 ALCAPA patients who underwent surgical repair from October 1993 to September 2013 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. There were 8 male and 20 female patients with their age of 0.6-l6.8 (4.3±0.7)years including 10 patients less than 1 years old. Surgical procedures included simple ligation of left coronary artery, intrapulmonary tunnel procedure (Takeuchi)and direct coronary reimplantation of the anomalous artery. Postoperative death, complication and cardiac function were observed. ResultsAmong the 28 patients, 1 patient received simple ligation of left coronary artery, and 7 patients received intrapulmonary tunnel procedure (Takeuchi), among whom 2 patients died postoperatively. Twenty patients received direct implantation of the anomalous artery into the ascending aorta, and 3 patients died postoperatively. Five patients who died postoperatively were 10.20±3.27 months old, including 3 patients with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR)and 2 patients with mild MR preoperatively. Preoperative heart function of the patients who died postoperatively was significantly reduced. Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of the patients who died postoperatively was significantly lower than that of the patients who survived (36.6%±8.5% vs. 60.9%±10.7%, P=0.000). Low cardiac output syndrome was the reason for all postoperative death. All survival patients were followed up from 1 month to 18 years. One patient who underwent intra-pulmonary tunnel procedure (Takeuchi)received pulmonary artery balloon dilatation for pulmonary supravalvular stenosis 15 years after discharge. None of the other patients received a secondary operation. During follow-up, left ventricular function was improved. Growth and development of all the patients was normal. MR did not significantly aggravate in all the patients. ConclusionPatients with younger age and worse left ventricular function have greater surgical risks of ALCAPA.
Objective To summarize the method and outcomes of surgical treatment for 21 patients with congenital anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 patients with ALCAPA underwent surgical treatment in our center from January 2010 to January 2015. There were 11 males and 10 females with a mean age of 4.3 years (ranging from 0.5 to 16.0 years) and a mean weight of 19.3 kg (ranging from 5.0 to 97.0 kg). All of 21 patients underwent surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass and corrected malformations. Results There were 2 perioperative deaths and the mortality rate was 9.5%. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116.6 minutes ranging from 109.0 to 388.0 minutes and the mean aortic cross clamping time was 82.9 minutes ranging from 62.0 to 129.0 minutes. The mean time of hospital stay was 11.1 days ranging from 1.0 to 25.0 days. After surgery, cardiac function improved significantly in all patients. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) have significantly improved after surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusions Once patients with ALPACA are diagnosed, they should be treated with surgery and most of them will achieve a satisfactory long term clinical result.
ObjectiveTo summarize and explore the individualized surgical treatment strategy and prognosis of anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery (AAOCA). MethodsThe clinical data of children with AAOCA admitted to Shanghai Children's Medical Center from March 2018 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsA total of 17 children were enrolled, including 13 males and 4 females, with a median age of 88 (44, 138) months and a median weight of 25 (18, 29) kg. All patients received operations. The methods of coronary artery management included coronary artery decapitation in 9 patients, coronary artery transplantation in 5 patients and coronary artery perforation in 3 patients. One patient with severe cardiac insufficiency (left ventricular ejection fraction 15%) received mechanical circulatory assistance after the operation for 12 days. No death occurred in the early postoperative period, the average ICU stay time was 4.3±3.0 d, and the total hospital stay was 14.4±6.1 d. All the children received regular anticoagulation therapy for 3 months after discharge. The median follow-up time was 15 (13, 24) months. All patients received regular anticoagulation therapy for 3 months after discharge. No clinical symptoms such as chest pain and syncope occurred again. The cardiac function grade was significantly improved compared with that before operation. Imaging examination showed that the coronary artery blood flow on the operation side was unobstructed, and no restenosis occurred. ConclusionAAOCA is easy to induce myocardial ischemia and even sudden cardiac death. Once diagnosed, operation should be carried out as soon as possible. According to the anatomic characteristics of coronary artery, the early effect of individualized surgery is satisfactory, and the symptoms of the children are significantly improved and the cardiac function recovers well in the mid-term follow-up.
Objective To analysis the original articles published in Chinese Journal of Urology and to evaluate the present situation of the clinical and scientific research in the field of urology, providing clue to raise the clinical and scientific research level. Methods Chinese Journal of Urology and Journal of Urology in American were hand-searched and all original articles were divided into eight types and were identified and analyzed. The classes include descriptive studies, therapeutic studies, studies on diagnosis, etiology, prognosis etc. Results The decreased trend year by year were observed for the descriptive studies (χ2=286.179, Plt;0.005), number of such publications accounting for 71.90% in 1980-1984 down to 26.48% in 1999-2001. Number of randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials present distinct increasing trend, especially number of RCT increased from none in 1980-1984 to thirteen articles in 1995-1998. The proportion of laboratory research in all original articles have increased greatly and have exceeded that of Journal of Urology. Conclusions The clinical and scientific research level of urology have been elevating in our country, the constituent ratio of descriptive studies is decreasing and that of RCT and CCT is increasing. The constituent ratio of laboratory research has increased greatly and has exceeded that of similar foreign Journal in some years. Attention needs to be paid to this trend and mechanism of it should be further explored.
ObjectiveTo analyze the early outcomes of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction after surgical repair, and to explore the predictors for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for these patients.MethodsThe clinical data of ALCAPA patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction<40%) who underwent coronary artery reimplantation in the pediatric center of our hospital from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an ECMO group and a non-ECMO group. Clinical data of the two groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsA total of 64 ALCAPA patients were included. There were 7 patients in the ECMO group, including 4 males and 3 females aged 6.58±1.84 months. There were 57 pateints in the non-ECMO group, including 30 males and 27 females aged 4.34±2.56 months. The mortality of the patients was 6.25% (4/64), including 2 patients in the ECMO group, and 2 in the non-ECMO group. The postoperative complications rate was significantly higher in the ECMO group than that in the non-ECMO group (P=0.041). There were statistical differences in the cardiopulmonary bypass time [254 (153, 417) min vs. 106 (51, 192) min, P=0.013], aortic cross-clamping (ACC) time (89.57±13.66 min vs. 61.58±19.57 min, P=0.039), and preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter/body surface area (132.32±14.71 mm/m2 vs. 108.00±29.64 mm/m2, P=0.040) between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ACC time was an independent risk factor for postoperative ECMO support (P=0.005). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve was 0.757, the sensitivity was 85.70%, specificity was 66.70%, with the cut-off value of 66 min.ConclusionACC time is an independent risk factor for postoperative ECMO support. Patients with an ACC time>66 min have a significantly higher risk for ECMO support after the surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application value of virtual reality (VR) technology in the surgical treatment of coronary artery fistula (CAF) and abnormal origin of coronary artery (AOOCA).MethodsFrom January 2014 to June 2018, with the assistance of virtual reality technology, 4 patients with CAF and 4 patients with AOOCA in the Department of Cardiac Surgery of our hospital underwent treatment method deciding and operation details planning. In the CAF patients, there was 1 male and 3 females and they were 8 years, 16 years, 62 years, and 65 years, respectively. In the AOOCA patients, there was 1 male and 3 females at age of 4-month, 2 years, 14 years, and 29 years, respectively.ResultsThe virtual heart models in all 8 patients were well matched with the real heart. The spatial structure information of CAF/AOOCA and surroundings can be intuitively and fully shown by virtual reality technology in all patients. All of the 4 CAF patients repaired coronary artery incision, including 2 patients with autologous pericardium patch and 2 patients with direct suture. Of the 4 AOOCA patients, 3 underwent coronary directly transplantation but 1 underwent Takeuchi surgery. And 2 had mitral valve plasty at the same time. All the operations were completed successfully, with good recovery and no serious complications. Among the 4 CAF patients, 3 had no residual fistula, and 1 had minor residual fistula. Coronary arteries were all unobstructed in 4 patients of AOOCA; moderate and severe mitral regurgitation in 2 patients were significantly reduced after surgery.ConclusionVR allows doctors to understand the spatial structure information of CAF/AOOCA and surroundings before the operation, and assists them to make accurate treatment decisions and develop detailed surgical plans before the operation, ensuring its safety. Its clinical application value is significant.
Objective To explore the feasibility of identifying clonal origin of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by analyzing the mitochondrial DNA D-Loop region variations. Methods Forty-two patients with a total of 112 HCC nodules consequentially hospitalized for radical resection of HCC in the department of hepatobiliary surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from April 2004 to August 2007 were included for study group (multinodular HCCs). Control group included 20 cases of HCC (40 samples) hospitalized in the same period that consisted of two sub-groups: control groupⅠconsisted of 16 cases of single nodular HCC that each had two pieces of inconsecutive tumor tissues and control groupⅡconsisted of 4 cases of HCC with portal vein tumor embolus whose tumor tissues and portal vein tumor embolus were collected simultaneously. Normal control included 5 patients who were donors for liver transplantation or underwent liver trauma without any liver disease. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were applied to study the mtDNA D-Loop region. The sequences of multinodular lesions were compared among different groups. Results For all the 42 cases of the study group, basic group variations appeared in 131 sites (131/1 122, 11.7%, the number 1 122 was the length of mtDNA D-Loop) with point mutation in 15 sites, insert in 9 sites, and deletion in 16 sites. And of all the variations in the study group, 98 were polymorphism. In study group, 20 cases were categorized as multicentric occurrence (MO) based on their variant mtDNA D-Loop sequences in each nodule from the same patient. And 22 cases were characterized as intrahepatic metastasis (IM) based on the identical mtDNA D-Loop sequences found in each nodule from the same patient. In all 20 cases in the control group, the inconsecutive tumor tissues or the portal vein tumor embolus and original tumors shared identical mtDNA D-Loop sequences. For the normal control group, basic group variations appeared in 14 sites, and they were all polymorphism including a new polymorphism (NT 479 Agt;G). Conclusions There is a high rate of changes in mtDNA D-Loop region. And our study speculates a novel discrimination of MO and IM origins among multinodular HCCs using PCR and direct sequencing of the mtDNA D-Loop sequences.
In the absence of large trials, it is important for us to discuss whether a well-conducted meta-analysis of smaller randomized controlled trial (RCT) can replace large trials or not. We have evaluated the quality of original literature and methodological quality. The difference between meta-analysis of smaller RCT and the largest randomized trials have also discussed.
Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy and mid-term outcomes of reimplantation of anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), and to evaluate whether concomitant management of mitral regurgitation (MR) during ALCAPA repair is needed. Methods Between March 2005 and March 2015, 52 consecutive patients (20 males and 32 females with a median age of 10 months ranging 2-193 months) underwent reimplantation of ALCAPA at Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. There were 14 males and 21 females with a mean age of 35.4±42.8 months not receiving mitral valvuloplasty (a Non-MVP group), and 6 males and 11 females with a mean age of 13.5±11.0 months receiving mitral valvuloplasty (a MVP group). In order to facilitate the analysis, degree of MR was graded by number: 0.0=none, 1.0=trivial, 2.0=mild, 2.5=mild-moderate, 3.0=moderate, 3.5=moderate-severe and 4.0=severe. Results The left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) demonstrated significant improvement between preoperation and discharge (28.6%±9.6% vs. 32.1%±10.1%, P=0.023; 38.4±5.6 mm vs. 30.5±5.7 mm, P<0.001), and there was also significant improvement in the mean MR grade between preoperation and discharge (2.9±1.2,vs. 2.4±1.2, P=0.001). There were 4 in-hospital deaths (7.7%). The median follow-up was 21.0 months (ranging 1.5-111.0 months). Three patients (5.8%) were lost to follow-up, 1 patient required reoperation for mitral valve replacement and there was no death during follow-up. Significant improvement was seen in LVFS between discharge and final follow-up (32.1%±10.1% vs. 38.0%±6.0%, P=0.001); however, there was no significant difference in the degree of MR between discharge and final follow-up (2.4±1.2 vs. 2.3±1.2, P=0.541). There was no significant difference in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, mechanical ventilation time or hospital stay between the two groups. Conclusion Creation of a dual coronary system with reimplantation of the left coronary artery results in complete recovery of left ventricular function. However, concomitant management of MR during ALCAPA repair remains controversial. Concomitant mitral valve repair for ALCAPA patients with moderate-severe and severe MR is helpful to early function recovery of mitral valve.
ObjectiveTo re-understand the nerve sheath tumors of the breast, to improve its diagnosis and cure rate.MethodSearched the relevant literatures of nerve sheath tumors of the breast, to analyze and summarize the origin, etiology, clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics, pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of this disease.ResultsNerve sheath tumors of the breast was a very rare disease, which originated in the neuromembrane Snowwang cells. its specific cause was unknown and clinical manifestations were not specific, and other breast diseases were difficult to identify, such as leaf ybrilloma, mammary vascular epidermal cytoma, breast fibroids, and so on. Imaging data could provide some reference value, but the gold standard relied on pathology and immunohistochemical examination. Surgery could cure benign nerve sheath tumors of the breast, but there was a possibility of malignant changes that required follow-up after surgery. Malignant neuroblastoma was mainly surgically removed, supplemented by chemotherapy, which could effectively prevent the recurrence of tumor and distant metastasis. The prevention of nerve sheath tumors of the breast could be referred to breast cancer screening.ConclusionsDuring clinical practice, we need to understand the diagnosis and treatment of nerve sheath tumors of the breast to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment, as well as improve the diagnosis rate and cure rate of the disease, in order to protect women’s physical and mental health.