Objective To discuss the safety and validity of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients with severe right heart failure (RHF). Methods PEA procedures were performed on 36 patients in Fu Wai Hospital from January 2015 to April 2016. There were 28 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 46.56±11.85 years. According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification, 36 patients were divided into preoperative severe RHF group (grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ,n=28) and preoperative without severe RHF group (grade Ⅱ,n=8). Hemodynamic parameters before and after PEA were recorded and 3-18 months' follow-up was done. Results All the patients having PEA surgeries had an obvious decrease of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (from 49.53±13.14 mm Hg to 23.58±10.79 mm Hg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (from 788.46±354.60 dyn·s/cm5 to 352.89±363.49 dyn·s/cm5, bothP<0.001). There was no in-hospital mortality among all the patients. Persistent pulmonary hypertension occurred in 2 patients, perfused lung in 2 patients, pericardial effusion in 2 patients. No mortality was found during the follow-up period. All patients improved to NYHA grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ (WHO grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ), and only 2 patients remained in the NYHA grade Ⅲ (P<0.01). Conclusion The CTEPH patients having PEA surgeries had an obvious improvement in both their hemodynamics results and postoperative heart function, which in return could improve their quality of life.
Objective To estimate the relationship of methods and drugs for management of constrictive pericarditis during pericardiectomy. Methods We reviewed the records of 45 patients (mean age, 40.24±15.34 years) with a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis who underwent pericardiectomy in our hospital from 2012 through 2014 year. During operation, inotropic agents, vasodilators and diuretics were used. According to the diuretics, patients were divided into two groups including a furosemide group(group F) with 38 patients and a lyophilized recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (lrhBNP) group with 7 patients(group B). Results Preoperatively, 30 patients were pulmonary congestion, which was diagnosed by chest radiographs. Pericardiectomy was finished by off pump in 43 patients. Another 2 patients required cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for pericardiectomy. In the group F 52.6% of the patients needed vasodilators to reduce cardiac preloading following pericardiectomy. None of other vasodilators were used in the group B. After pericardiectomy, the fluctuation of systolic and diastolic pressure decreased significantly in the group B (P=0.01, respectively). In the group F, the fluctuation of diastolic pressure decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Low cardiac output was the most common postoperative problem. One patient accepted postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Postoperative poor renal function was found in 42.2% of the patients. Three of them needed hemofiltration. Postoperative poor renal function accompanied by poor hepatic function was found in 15.6% of the patients. One of them used dialysis and artificial liver. Three patients were respiratory failure with longer mechanical ventilation and tracheotomy. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 6.7% (3 patients). All patients, who died or used with hemofiltration, artificial liver and ECMO were found in the group F. Conclusion More stable haemodynamics after pericardiectomy may occur with using lrhBNP. lrhBNP may reduce postoperative major morbidity and mortality. Because of the small group using lrhBNP in our study, more patients using lrhBNP for pericardiectomy need to be studied.
ObjectiveTo summarize the etiology and prevention measures of carotid artery pseudoaneurysms following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and discuss the complications and prognosis of it performed surgery and endovascular treatment. MethodsThe process and experience of diagnosis and treatment of two patients with carotid pseudoaneurysm following CEA admitted in this hospital from January 2000 to March 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The related English literatures concerning carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following CEA in PubMed, SpringerLink, ELSEVIER, and ScienceDirect database were searched and then made a conclusion. Results①The incidence of carotid artery pseudoaneurysms following CEA in this hospital was 0.31% (2/641). These two patients were treated with surgery and endovascular therapy respectively, and both recovered well after the treatment.②Thirty-nine related literatures totally were collected, including 187 patients with carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. One hundred and forty patients were treated with artificial patches during CEA, and 36 patients suffered secondary infection in the surgical sites. One hundred and fifty-two patients were treated with surgery, while 33 patients were treated with endovascular therapy, the residual two patients were accepted hybrid surgery. The overall incidence of cranial nerve injuries, the incidence of 30-day stroke, and the incidence of 30-day mortality were 6.4% (9/141), 7.4% (12/163), and 2.7% (5/182), respectively. ConclusionsSurgical site infection is one of the important reasons which lead to carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following CEA. Aneurysm resection and carotid artery reconstruction is still the main treatment of the carotid artery pseudoaneurysm; endovascular therapy could be used as a choice for a part of the patients. How to reduce the perioperative cranial nerve damage and the incidence of complications such as stroke still need further to be studied.
ObjectiveTo describe the effect of sequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, who was accompanied with progressed pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy surgeries.MethodsFrom 2014 to December 2017, 7 patients were treated with a combination therapy of pulmonary endarterectomy and sequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty. There were 1 male and 6 females at age of 58 (43–59) years. A follow-up period of more than 1 year was accomplished. The result of right sided heart catheterization and ultrasonic cardiogram between and after the pulmonary endarterectomy or balloon angioplasty was collected.ResultsSeven patients were treated with a combination of pulmonary endarterectomy and sequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty, which included 1 patient of single pulmonary balloon angioplasty and 6 patients of multiple pulmonary balloon angioplasties. The balloon dilation times was 2 (2–6), and the number of segments during each single balloon dilatation was 3–5, compared with the first clinical results before the first balloon dilation, systolic pulmonary artery pressure [53 (47–75) mm Hg vs. 45 (40–54) mm Hg, P=0.042), mean pulmonaryartery pressure [38 (29–47) mm Hg vs. 29 (25–39) mm Hg, P=0.043], N terminal-B type natriuretic peptide [1 872 (1 598–2 898) pg/ml vs. 164 (72–334) pg/ml, P=0.018] improved significantly after the last balloon angioplasty. Heart function classification (NYHA) of all the 7 patients were recovered to Ⅰ-Ⅱclasses (P<0.05).ConclusionSequential pulmonary balloon angioplasty after pulmonary endarterectomy can further reduce the patient's right heart after load, improve the heart function for patients with progressed pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy surgeries.
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of endovascular radiation (ER) on the proliferation and apoptosis of medial smooth muscle cells (SMC) and to discuss the possible mechanisms of radiation in the prevention of vascular restenosis (RS) in rabbits after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).MethodsForty rabbits undergoing CEA were randomly divided into four groups (each group=10) and given a radiation dose of 0, 10, 20 and 40 Gy 32P respectively. Rabbits were killed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th and 56th day after operation. The specimens were collected and histopathologic examinations were done.ResultsProliferation apparently occurred in the intima and media of carotid the lumen became narrow in the control group on the 14 th, 28 th and 56 th day after operation. While in the radiation groups, proliferation was apparently suppressed and the lumen was much less narrowed (P＜0.05). The apoptosis rate of SMCs and PCNA positive cells increased on the 3rd day after operation and reached the peak on the 7th day. There was statistical difference between the ER groups and control group (P＜0.01). The effects were much more evident in 20 Gy and 40 Gy groups compared with 10 Gy group (P＜0.01).ConclusionER may prevent RS by suppressing SMC proliferation and migration as well as inducing SMC apoptosis. The effects are positively correlated with radiation doses. SMC proliferation and apoptosis occur in the early period after balloon injury, while hyperplasia of intima and medial happens later.
ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy of one-stop carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) combined with carotid artery stenosis. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with CAD and severe carotid artery stenosis who underwent one-stop CEA and OPCABG in our department from March 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Before the surgery, all patients routinely underwent coronary and carotid angiography to diagnose CAD and carotid artery stenosis. All patients underwent CEA first and then OPCABG in the simultaneous procedure. ResultsA total of 12 patients were enrolled, including 9 males and 3 females, aged 58-69 (63.7±3.4) years. All patients had unilateral severe carotid artery stenosis, and the degree of stenosis was 70%-90%. The lesions of carotid artery stenosis were located in the bifurcation of carotid artery or the beginning of internal carotid artery. All patients successfully underwent one-stop CEA combined with OPCABG. The number of bridging vessels was 2-4 (2.8±0.6). The operation time of CEA was 16-35 (25.7±5.6) min. There was no death during the perioperative or follow-up periods. No serious complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction occurred during the perioperative period. During the follow-up of 6-40 months, the patency rate of arterial bridge was 100.0% (12/12), and that of venous bridge was 95.5% (21/22). Cervical vascular ultrasound showed that the blood flow of carotid artery was satisfactory. ConclusionOne-stop CEA and OPCABG can be safely and effectively used to treat CAD and carotid artery stenosis. The early and middle-term curative effect is satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopy and thoracotomy for the treatment of encapsulated tuberculous pleurisy. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 99 patients who had underwent surgery for encapsulated tuberculous pleurisy within 3 months of disease onset in our hospital from January through December 2013. Based on the surgical mode, patients were assigned to a video-assisted thoracoscopy group, including 49 patients (35 males and 14 females, a mean age of 26.78±9.36 years), to receive video-assisted thoracoscopic pleurectomy; or a thoracotomy group, including 50 patients (31 males and 19 females, a mean age of 31.84±11.08 years), to receive conventional thoracotomic pleurectomy. The first 43 patients in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group received thoracic catheter drainage, with the drainage volume of 659.08±969.29 ml; the first 48 patients in the thoracotomy group received thoracic catheter drainage, with the drainage volume of 919.03±129.97 ml. The clinical effects were compared between the two groups. ResultsAll the patients in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group completed thoracoscopy without conversion to thoracotomy. The surgery duration and postoperative intubation time were shorter in the video-assisted thoracoscopy group than those in the thoracotomy group (surgery duration:103.00±53.04 min vs. 127.06±51.60 min, P<0.01; postoperative intubation time 3.02±0.83 d vs. 3.94±1.25 d, P<0.01). At the end of 6 months of follow-up, the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1>) was 2.83±0.64 L in the thoracos-copy group and 2.25±0.64 L in the thoracotomy group (P<0.01); forced vital capacity (FVC) was 3.02±0.72 L in the thora-coscopy group and 2.57±0.79 L in the thoracotomy group (P<0.05); and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) was 93.90± 15.86 L in the thoracoscopy group and 80.34±17.06 L in the thoracotomy group (P<0.01). ConclusionThoracoscopic surgery is feasible for patients with encapsulated pleurisy within 3 months of onset. Furthermore video-assisted thoraco-scopy will be superior to thoracotomy.
Objective To identify the preoperative risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent PTE from December 2016 to August 2021 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the postoperative mechanical ventilation time, including a postoperative mechanical ventilation time≤48 h group (≤48 h group) and a postoperative mechanical ventilation time>48 h (PMV) group (>48 h group). Univariable and logistic regression analysis were used to identify the preoperative risk factors for postoperative PMV. ResultsTotally, 90 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 40 patients in the ≤48 h group, including 30 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 45.48±12.72 years, and there were 50 patients in the >48 h group, including 29 males and 21 females, with a mean age of 55.50±10.42 years. The results showed that in the ≤48 h group, the median postoperative ICU stay was 3.0 days, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 15.0 days; in the >48 h group, the median postoperative ICU stay was 7.0 days, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 20.0 days. The postoperative PMV was significantly correlated with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) [OR=0.839, 95%CI (0.716, 0.983), P=0.030], age [OR=1.082, 95%CI (1.034, 1.132), P=0.001] and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.003), P=0.028]. ConclusionAge and PVR are the preoperative risk factors for PMV after PTE, and TAPSE is the preoperative protective factor for PMV after PTE.
Objective To investigate the influencing factors for restenosis after femoral endarterectomy in treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans at femoral artery . Methods A total of 103 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans at femoral artery who underwent femoral endarterectomy from Jan. 2012 to Jan. 2017 in our hospital were retrospectively selected as subjects of this study, to compare the clinical feathers between restenosis group and patent group, and then exploring the influencing factors for restenosis after femoral endarterectomy. Results Thirty-six patients (35.0%) suffered from restenosis after femoral endarterectomy. Patients in the restenosis group had a high proportion of high smoking and diabetes mellitus, and high level of low density lipoprotein than those corresponding indexes of the patent group (P<0.05). Results of Cox proportional hazard model showed that, diabetes mellitus 〔RR=3.338, 95% CI was (1.003, 11.113), P=0.049〕 and high level of low density lipoprotein 〔RR=3.311, 95% CI was (1.166, 9.397), P=0.024〕 were independent risk factors for restenosis after femoral endarterectomy. Conclusions Monitoring of high-risk factors like controlling blood glucose strictly and strengthening statin treatment should be done to reduce the risk of restenosis after femoral endarterectomy for patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans at femoral artery.