Abstract： Replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root has been the standard surgical strategy for patients with aortic root aneurysm for many years. Along with the increasing knowledge about the aortic root anatomy and physiology, and complications after aortic valve replacement, the technique of valve-sparing aortic root replacement has developed greatly. We focus on the etiology and classification aortic valve insufficiency, the valve-sparing techniques and clinical outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement in this review.
Objective To analyze the incidence of valve prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) and ventricular remodeling of elderly patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 134 patient aged over 65 years who underwent AVR for the aortic stenosis or regurgitation at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2016. There were 73 males and 61 females aged 69.7±3.6 years ranging from 65-79 years. The clinical and ultrasound cardiography data were evaluated. PPM was defined as an effective orifice area index (EOAI) of ≤0.85 cm2/m2. The incidence of PPM and the left ventricular remodeling after surgical AVR in the patients with aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation was analyzed, and the outcomes of aortic valve mechanical prosthesis and aortic valve bioprosthesis were compared. Results The incidence of PPM was 32.5% in aortic stenosis and 13.0% in aortic regurgitation (P<0.05). One patient died in the early post-operation, and the incidence of severe PPM was 6.0%. Conclusion The incidence of PPM after AVR in the patients with aortic regurgitation is less than that in the patients with aortic stenosis.
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.
Abstract： Objective To summarize the experiences and analyze the efficacy of mitral valvuloplasty in treating anterior leaflet prolapse. Methods A total of 152 consecutive nonrheumatic heart disease patients including 96 males and 56 females with anterior leaflet prolapse who underwent mitral valvuloplasty from February 1997 to March 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The age of these patients ranged from 10 to 73 years old (38.54±17.22 years). There were 119 cases of mitral degenerative prolapse or chordae rupture, 24 of ongenital heart disease, 3 of ischemic mitral insufficiency, and 6 of native valve endocarditis. Echocardiography before operation showed the degree of mitral regurgitation was severe in 19, moderate to severe in 63, and moderate in 70 patients. Among the patients, 87 had anterior prolapse and 65 had bilateral prolapse. All patients underwent mitral valve repair under standard cardiopulmonary bypass. Results During the operation, transesophageal echocardiography and saline injection test showed satisfying results in all the patients. No early death occurred after operation. Followup was done to 135 patients for 3 months to 8.5 years with a followup rate of 88.82%. During the follow up, 93 patients were in New Yoke Heart Association（NYHA）class Ⅰ, 35 in Class Ⅱ, 3 in class Ⅲ and 4 in class Ⅳ. The Echocardiography showed that postoperative left atrium diameter (41.09±10.40 mm vs. 45.32±10.07 mm, t=4.186, P=0.000) and left ventricular enddiastolic dimension (52.04±7.74 mm vs. 60.70±7.72 mm,t=9.676, P=0.000) were significantly smaller than that before operation. No or trace mitral regurgitation (MR) was found in 36 patients, mild MR in 45 patients, mild to moderate MR in 38 patients, moderate MR in 9 patients, and moderate to severe MR in 7 patients. Mitral valve replacement was performed in 5 patients after valvuloplasty. Three died during the follow-up. Two of them died of heart failure and one of unknown cause. Conclusion In spite of the complexity, the longterm results of mitral valve repair for anterior leaflet prolapse are satisfactory if the best surgery method is chosen.
ObjectiveTo explore the changes of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the fibrotic atrium of patients with valvular atrial fibrillation and explore its downstream signaling pathways.MethodsA total of 45 patients with mitral valve disease were included in this study and were divided into a valvular atrial fibrillation group (VAF, ≥6 months, 25 patients) and a sinus rhythm group (SR, 20 patients) based on having atrial fibrillation or not. The atrial appendage tissue was obtained during the operation , histopathological examination and Western blotting were performed. The degree of atrial fibrosis and changes in FAK and its downstream pathways in fibrotic myocardium were observed.ResultsThis study revealed a higher degree of atrial fibrosis in valvular atrial fibrillation and disordered cell arrangement. Expression of fibroblast differentiation marker alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was significantly increased in atrial fibrillation, and the expression of FAK and downstream AKT/S6K pathway proteins was up-regulated, while the other signal was observed, there was no significant change in ERK1/2 signaling pathway.ConclusionAtrial fibrosis in valvular atrial fibrillation is an important feature of atrial structural remodeling. We found overproduction of collagen fibers disrupted the continuity of atrial myocytes, leading to abnormal conduction and providing a matrix environment for the development of atrial fibrillation. The expression of focal adhesion kinase and downstream AKT/S6K signaling pathway in fibrotic myocardium may be involved in the process of atrial fibrosis, providing a basis for the study of its mechanism.
Abstract： Objectives To determine the atrial expression of the collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and the transforming growth factorbeta 1 (TGF-β1) in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and permanent atrial fibrillation(PAF) and to investigate the relationship between the extent of atrial fibrosis and the effectiveness of radiofrequency maze procedure in patients with RHD and PAF. Methods A total of 40 patients with RHD and PAF (≥6 months) who underwent a radiofrequency maze procedure with concomitant valvular surgery were collected for the experimental group. We acquired 100 mg of the left auricle tissue in each patient and followed up these patients after 3, 6 months of [CM(158mm]surgery. Then we assigned these patients to nonAF group and persistent AF group according to the results of the 6month followup. Another 10 patients with RHD and sinus rhythm(SR) who underwent valvular surgery alone were assigned to SR group and their left auricle tissue was also obtained. In order to determine the extent of atrial fibrosis, we observed the amount of collagen volume fraction Ⅰ，Ⅲ(CVF-Ⅰ,CVF-Ⅲ) by semiquantitative analysis with picrosirius red staining method. Using the β actin protein as the endogenous reference gene, we detected the expressions of TGF-β1 mRNA by semiquantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) technique. Results Each group has the same clinical baseline. At 6month follow-up, 28 among the 40 patients were categorized into the nonAF group and 12 into the AF group. (1) Patients in the nonAF group and the AF group had higher mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, CVF-Ⅰ and CVF-Ⅰ/CVF-Ⅲ compared with the SR group (F=6.487, P=0.003; F=3.711, P=0.032; F=3.697, P=0.032). The AF group had higher mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, CVF-Ⅰ and CVF-Ⅰ/CVF-Ⅲ than the nonAF group (t=4.372, P=0.043; t=4.603, P=0.038; t=4.776, P=0.035). But the CVFⅢ had no significant differences among the three groups (P＞0.05). (2) The patients whose left atrial function recovered after Maze procedure had lower mRNA expression than those patients whose left atrial function did not recover in the nonAF group (t=5.570, P=0.027). (3) The TGF-β1 mRNA expression has a positive correlation with both the contents of CVF-Ⅰ and left atrial diameter (r=0.786, Plt;0.05; r=0.858, Plt;0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1, CVF-Ⅰ and left atrial diameter were independently associated with the postoperative persistence of atrial fibrillation. Conclusion The extent of atrial fibrosis in patients with RHD and PAF may be related to the sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance after AF surgical radiofrequency ablation and the resumption of atrial function.
Objective To analyze the relation between preoperative pulmonary artery pressure(PAP) and postoperative complications in heart transplant patients, and summarize the experience of perioperative management of pulmonary hypertension (PH), to facilitate the early period heart function recovery of postoperative heart transplant patients. Methods A total of 125 orthotopic heart transplant patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative pulmonary arterial systolic pressure(PASP) and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), pulmonary [CM(1583mm]hypertension group (n=56): preoperativePASPgt;50 mm Hg or PVRgt;5 Wood·U; control group (n=69): preoperative PASP≤50 mmHg and PVR≤5 Wood·U. Hemodynamics index including preoperative cardiac index (CI)，preoperative and postoperative PVR and PAP were collected by SwanGanz catheter and compared. The extent of postoperative tricuspid regurgitation was evaluated by echocardiography. Postoperative pulmonary hypertension was treated by diuresis，nitrogen oxide inhaling，nitroglycerin and prostacyclin infusion, continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO). Results All patients survived except one patient in pulmonary hypertension group died of multiorgan failure and severe infection postoperatively in hospital. Acute right ventricular failure occurred postoperatively in 23 patients, 10 patients used ECMO support, 10 patients with acute renal insufficiency were treated with CRRT. 124 patients were followed up for 2.59 months，7 patients died of multiple organ failure, infection and acute rejection in follow-up period, the survivals in both groups have normal PAP, no significant tricuspid regurgitation. No significant difference in cold ischemia time of donor heart, cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) and circulation support time between both groups; but the patients of pulmonary hypertension group had longer tracheal intubation time in comparison with the patients of control group (65±119 h vs. 32±38 h, t=2.17，P=0.028). Preoperative PASP，mean pulmonary artery pressure(MPAP) and PVR in pulmonary hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group, CI was lower in pulmonary hypertension group ［PASP 64.30±11.50 mm Hg vs. 35.60±10.20 mm Hg; MPAP 43.20±8.50 mm Hg vs. 24.20±7.20 mm Hg; PVR 4.72±2.26 Wood·U vs. 2.27±1.24 Wood·U; CI 1.93±0.62 L/（min·m2） vs. 2.33±0.56 L/（min·m2）; Plt;0.05］. Postoperative early PASP, MPAP and PVR in pulmonary hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group (PASP 35.40±5.60 mm Hg vs. 31.10±5.70 mm Hg, MPAP 23.10±3.60 mm Hg vs. 21.00±4.00 mm Hg, PVR 2.46±0.78 Wood·U vs. 1.79±0.62 Wood·U; Plt;0.05). Conclusion Postoperative right heart insuficiency is related to preoperative pulmonary hypertension in heart transplant patients. Donor heart can quickly rehabilitate postoperatively by effectively controlling perioperative pulmonary hypertension with good follow-up results.