Heart valve disease (HVD) is one of the common cardiovascular diseases. Heart sound is an important physiological signal for diagnosing HVDs. This paper proposed a model based on combination of basic component features and envelope autocorrelation features to detect early HVDs. Initially, heart sound signals lasting 5 minutes were denoised by empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm and segmented. Then the basic component features and envelope autocorrelation features of heart sound segments were extracted to construct heart sound feature set. Then the max-relevance and min-redundancy (MRMR) algorithm was utilized to select the optimal mixed feature subset. Finally, decision tree, support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers were trained to detect the early HVDs from the normal heart sounds and obtained the best accuracy of 99.9% in clinical database. Normal valve, abnormal semilunar valve and abnormal atrioventricular valve heart sounds were classified and the best accuracy was 99.8%. Moreover, normal valve, single-valve abnormal and multi-valve abnormal heart sounds were classified and the best accuracy was 98.2%. In public database, this method also obtained the good overall accuracy. The result demonstrated this proposed method had important value for the clinical diagnosis of early HVDs.
As the aging proceeds worldwide, aging lung transplantation recipients have been increased dramatically. Aging population with end-stage lung diseases also have comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, which may impact the prognosis of lung transplantation. Recent researches on lung transplantation have explored the characteristics of aging recipients, strategy selection on transplantation and cardiovascular disease management, as well as risk factors for post-transplantation complications and death. However, researches on lung transplantation recipients with cardiac valve disease are just in the initial stage. With the advancement of transcatheter technique, more patients will be benefited. We summarized the advancement in this field and took an outlook for future clinical researches.
ObjectiveTo summarize the individualized selection of surgical treatment strategies and the key points of perioperative management for patients with heart valve disease complicated with severe chronic heart failure.MethodsThe clinical characteristics of 5 male patients with valvular heart disease complicated with severe chronic heart failure (CHF) were analyzed retrospectively from June 2017 to October 2018 in Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, with an average age of 60.21 years.ResultsFive patients were given angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI)-based anti-heart failure treatment after admission. The operation mode of these patients was decided to be valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass after individualized evaluation of patients’ improving symptoms. Three patients were treated with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) early after operation to assist patients in improving cardiac function. Five patients recovered oral anti-heart failure after awakening. All patients were discharged smoothly 2 weeks after operation.ConclusionIndividualized evaluation is needed for the choice of operation timing and mode, standardized preoperative treatment for heart failure, shortening the aortic blocking time during cardiopulmonary bypass, and early application of left ventricular adjuvant drugs or instruments are all important measures to help patients recover smoothly.
ObjectiveTo investigate clinical outcomes and risk factors of patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) and giant left ventricle undergoing heart valve replacement (HVR). MethodsClinical data of 144 VHD patients with giant left ventricle who underwent HVR in Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 116 male and 28 female patients with their age of 15-69 (44.9±11.9) years and disease duration of 57.8±98.3 months (range, 1 month to 40 years). There were 92 patients with rheumatic VHD, 28 patients with degenerative VHD, 15 patients with congenital VHD, and 9 patients with infective endocarditis. A total of 137 patients who were discharged alive were followed up. Risk factors of postoperative mortality, morbidity and late death of VHD patients with giant left ventricle undergoing HVR were analyzed with t-test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis. The life-table method was used to calculate long-term survival rate and draw the survival curve. ResultsMajor postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in 19 patients (13.2%), ventricular arrhythmias in 56 patients (38.9%), prosthetic paravalvular leaks in 7 patients (4.9%), pleural effusion in 33 patients (22.9%), pericardial effusion in 8 patients (5.6%), liver failure in 23 patients (16.0%), and renal failure in 5 patients (3.5%). Seven patients (4.9%) died postoperatively. Logistic univariate analysis showed that advanced-age ( > 50 years), rheumatic VHD, higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅲ or Ⅳ), long disease duration, poor preoperative left ventricular function[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%], double valve replace-ment (DVR), other concomitant intracardiac procedures, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and aortic cross-clamping time, postoperative LCOS and ventricular arrhythmias were risk factors of early mortality of VHD patients with giant left ventricle undergoing HVR (P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that advanced age ( > 50 years), long disease duration, higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅳ), poor preoperative left ventricular function (LVEF < 40%), DVR, prolonged CPB time were independent predictors of early mortality (P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅲ or Ⅳ), other concomitant intracardiac procedures, poor preoperative left ventricular function (LVEF < 50%) were independent predictors of postoperative LCOS (P < 0.05). Higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅲ or Ⅳ) and preoperative non-sinus rhythm were independent predictors of postoperative ventricular arrhy-thmias (P < 0.05). Within 2 weeks after the operation, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left atrial diameter (LAD), LVEF and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were all significantly reduced compared with preoperative parameters (P < 0.05). Five patients died during follow-up. One-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year survival rates were 97.1%, 95.0%, 92.7% and 92.7% respectively. Preoperative LVEF, LVEDD and NYHA were significantly different between patients who died or survived during follow-up. ConclusionsHVR can produce low postoperative mortality, high long-term survival rates and satisfactory clinical outcomes for VHD patients with giant left ventricle. Advanced age ( > 50 years), long disease duration, higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅳ), preoperative non-sinus rhythm, poor preoperative left ventricular function (LVEF < 40%), DVR and prolonged operation time may be risk factors of postoperative mortality and morbidity. Poor preoperative left ventricular function and significantly enlarged left ventricle may be risk factors of late death after HVR.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect of Maze Ⅳ in the treatment of elderly patients with valvular heart disease and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 78 elderly patients with cardiac valve disease combined with persistent AF in our hospital from 2017 to 2018. The patients were allocated to two groups including a trial group (n=37) and a control group (n=41). There were 21 males and 16 females aged 61 to 74 (65.2±2.5) years in the trial group. There were 23 males and 18 females aged 62 to 76 (64.8±3.3) years in the control group. The clinical effects of the two groups were compared.ResultsThere was no statistical difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). The aortic occlusion time, extracorporeal circulation time, and operation time of the trial group were longer than those of the control group with statistical differences (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in postoperative ventilator assistance time, complication rate, mortality, ICU retention time, perioperative drainage, red blood cell transfusion volume, or length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). At the time of discharge, postoperaive 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm in the control group were statistically different from those of the trial group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, left atrial diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter and the decrease of pulmonary artery systolic blood pressure were statistically different (P<0.05).ConclusionMaze Ⅳ is safe and effective in the treatment of elderly patients with valvular heart disease and persistent AF, which is conducive to the recovery and maintenance of sinus rhythm, and is beneficial to the remodeling of the left atrium and left ventricle and the reduction of pulmonary systolic blood pressure with improvement of life quality of the patients.
Abstract： Quality of life （QOL） refers to an individual’s perception and subjective evaluation of their health and well-being, and has become an important index to evaluate the outcomes of clinical treatment in the last past decades. There are a large number of different instruments to evaluate QOL, and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey （SF-36） is currently one of the most widely used instruments. In recent years, SF-36 has been used to evaluate QOL of valvular heart disease patients to investigate the risk factors those influence their postoperative QOL, provide more preoperative evaluation tools for clinical physicians, and improve postoperative outcomes of patients with valvular heart disease. However, it is now just the beginning to use SF-36 to examine QOL of valvular heart disease patients. Because of significant differences in sample size, follow-up period, country and culture, current research has some controversial results. This review focuses on the progress in evaluating QOL in postoperative patients with valvular heart disease using SF-36.
Objective To propose a whole-life cycle management model for valvular heart disease (VHD), systematically elucidate its underlying logic and implementation pathways, and concurrently review and analyze its preliminary application outcomes. Methods Since 2020, West China Hospital of Sichuan University has established a management system encompassing "assessment-decision-intervention-follow-up", including: (1) a risk-stratified, tiered management pathway; (2) six core functions ("promotion, screening, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation") coordinated by disease-specific managers; (3) an intelligent decision support information platform; and (4) a collaborative network of multidisciplinary teams and regional academic alliances. To evaluate the effectiveness of this management model, we retrospectively included three cohorts: (1) the population screened by echocardiography from 2020 to 2024, analyzing the detection rate of aortic valve disease and risk stratification; (2) patients enrolled in the whole-life cycle management from April 2021 to December 2024, assessing follow-up outcomes, hospital satisfaction, and changes in quality of life; (3) patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) from January 2022 to January 2024, evaluating the one-year all-cause mortality rate, perioperative complications, and improvements in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Results Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 583 874 individuals underwent echocardiographic screening. A total of 48 089 patients with aortic valve disease were identified, including 3 401 (7.1%) high-risk patients, 18 657 (38.8%) moderate-risk patients, and 26 031 (54.1%) low-risk patients. Among them, 2 417 patients were enrolled in whole-life cycle management. Patient satisfaction scores showed a yearly increase, rising from 73.89 points before 2020 to 93.74 points in 2024. The 1-year mortality rate in the TAVR cohort decreased to 5.3%, significantly lower than the 8.2% observed under early standard management between 2014 and 2019 (P<0.01). Conclusion Through process optimization and resource integration, the VHD whole-life cycle management model has demonstrated significant effectiveness in standardizing diagnostic and follow-up procedures, enhancing patient satisfaction and quality of life, and reducing mortality. These outcomes highlight its practical value for broader implementation in China.
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.