ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and prognosis of fibrinous mediastinum and evaluate the value of different examinations in diagnosis and evaluation. MethodsTwenty-eight patients with mediastinal fibrosis diagnosed between January 2015 and September 2020 in China-Japan Friendship Hospital were studied retrospectively. The Clinical manifestations, radiological characteristics, endoscopic features, echocardiography, V/Q SPECT, cardiac catheterization, treatment and prognosis were analyzed.ResultsThe main clinical symptoms were cough (77.6%), expectoration (57.1%), wheezing or suffocating (42.9%), dyspnea (39.3%). There were 67.9% of the cases who were considered previous or present tuberculosis. Imaging findings showed that the fat density in the mediastinum disappeared, the irregular soft tissue of the mediastinum surrounded the airway and pulmonary vessels, and many lymph nodes enlarged and calcified, and multiple bronchus and pulmonary vessels were compressed and narrowed. Pulmonary function was mainly manifested as obstructive ventilate dysfunction and decreased diffusion volume. Under bronchoscopy, the bronchial mucosa showed pigmentation, bronchial distortion or multiple stenosis, even occlusion, and bronchial mucosa edema or congestion. Echocardiography and catheterization of the right heart showed that pulmonary hypertension and diastolic cardiac dysfunction were common complications of fibrillary mediastinum. Pulmonary ventilation perfusion imaging showed impaired blood perfusion in 87.5% of patients and impaired ventilation perfusion in 37.5% of patients. The symptoms of some patients alleviated after anti-infective and symptomatic treatment, but the mediastinal fibrosis was irreversible, and the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis and glucocorticoid therapy was limited. ConclusionsFor patients with clinical consideration of fibrous mediastinum, chest enhanced CT should be performed for clear diagnosis. Relevant examinations, such as pulmonary function, endoscopic, echocardiography, should be conducted to evaluate whether the disease involves airway, pulmonary vessels, pericardium, superior vena cava and esophagus, as well as the degree of functional involvement. Attention should be paid to the evaluation of patients with pulmonary hypertension and diastolic cardiac insufficiency.
Objective To analyze the clinical features of patients with acute pulmonary embolism ( APE) with normal blood pressure and right ventricular dysfunction. Methods 130 hospitalized patients with normotensive APE between January 2009 and January 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography to determine if they were complicated with RVD. The clinical features, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment were analyzed and compared between the normotensive APE patients with or without RVD. Results 41 normotensive APE patients with RVD were as RVD group, and other 89 patients without RVD were as non-RVD group. The incidences of syncope ( 34.1% vs. 7.8% ) , tachycardia( 41.4% vs. 21.3% ) , P2 hyperthyroidism( 46.3% vs. 25.8% ) , jugular vein filling ( 12.1% vs. 1.1% ) , and cyanosis ( 26.8% vs. 8.9% ) were all significantly higher in the RVD group than those in the non-RVD group ( P lt; 0.05) . Computed tomography pulmonary angiography ( CTPA) revealed that the incidences of thromboembolism involving proximal pulmonary artery ( 58. 3% vs. 8. 3% ) and thromboembolism involving lobar pulmonary ( 77.8% vs.51.2% ) were also higher in the RVD group ( P lt; 0.001, P = 0.025 ) . In the RVD group, the patients were assigned to received thrombolysis plus anticoagulation therapy, or anticoagulation therapy alone. The clinical indicators ( heart rate, PaCO2 , AaDO2 , SPAP, TRPG) were all statistically improved after thrombolysis or anticoagulation treatment ( P lt;0.001) . But compared with the patients who underwent anticoagulation therapy alone, the cost of treatment and the incidence of minor bleeding were significantly higher, and the levels of AaDO2 , SPAP and TRPG were statistically lower in the patients with thrombolysis plus anticoagulation therapy. Conclusions For APE patients with central pulmonary embolism demonstrated by CTPA, syncope, and tachycardia, transthoracic echocardiograph should be performed as early as possible to confirm RVD diagnosis. For normotensive APE patients with RVD, anticoagulant treatment can achieve higher efficacy of costeffectiveness ratio.
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.
ObjectiveTo investigate the perioperative change of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and its effect on cardiac function in patients with rheumatic heart disease.MethodsFrom January 2018 to June 2019, 76 patients were randomly divided into calcium supplement group (n=39) and control group (n=37). Mitral valve replacement was performed in both groups with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Blood gas was measured immediately and every 6 h within 24 h after CPB. The patients in the calcium supplement group were given 1 g of calcium gluconate when hypocalcemia occurred, while the control group received no calcium supplementation. Values of radial arterial blood PTH and calcium ion (Ca2+) were measured in the two groups before operation (T1), at 30 min after starting CPB (T2), immediately after stopping CPB (T3), at 24 h after operation (T4), and at 48 h after operation (T5), respectively.ResultsThere were 71 patients enrolled in this study finally, including 38 in the calcium supplement group and 33 in the control group. The PTH values of patients in the two groups gradually increased, reached the peak at T3 time-point, then began to recover gradually. There was no significant difference between the two groups at T1, T2 or T3 time-point (P>0.05), while there were significant differences at T4 and T5 time-points (P<0.05). The Ca2+ values of the two groups gradually decreased after CPB, and gradually increased after blood ultrafiltration. There was no significant difference between the two groups at T1 or T3 time-point (P>0.05), while there were significant differences at T2, T4 and T5 time-points (P<0.05). The postoperative 24-hour values of ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and the 72-hour total amount of epinephrine used in the calcium supplement group were (42.66±4.18)%, (1 881.17±745.71) ng/L, and (3.04±0.86) mg, respectively, and those in the control group were (40.76±3.39)%, (2 725.30±1 062.50) ng/L, and (4.69±1.37) mg, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in EF, cTnT and the 72-hour total amount of epinephrine used between the two groups (P<0.05). Values of PTH at T4 and T5 time-points were respectively negatively correlated with postoperative 24-hour value of EF (r=-0.324, P=0.006; r=-0.359, P=0.002), positively correlated with postoperative 24-hour value of cTnT (r=0.238, P=0.046; r=0.248, P=0.037) and the 72-hour total amount of epinephrine used (r=0.324, P=0.006; r=0.383, P=0.001).ConclusionsHyperparathyroidism occures after CPB, and calcium supplementation could relieve the hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroidism may be related to postoperative cardiac insufficiency.
Objective To access the efficacy and safety of different doses of metoprolol for patients with chronic heart failure. Methods We searched databases such as MEDLINE, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM and CMCC. The search was conducted in March 2006. Randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and current guidelines of chronic heart failure were reviewed. The efficacy and safety of the high-dose (≥100 mg/d) and low-dose metoprolol (lt;100 mg/d) were compared. Results Only one small-scale, short-term randomised trial met our inclusion criteria. This found that metoprolol 100 mg/d was more effective than 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d. A sub-group analysis of MERIT-HF recommended individualized titration for drug administration. Most guidelines suggested that the administration of metoprolol CR/XL for chronic left ventricular systolic dysfunction should be performed by titrating up to 200 mg/d or the maximum tolerance dose. Patients receiving 100 mg/d might have more adverse events than those receiving a lower dose than this. However, in the long-term, it’s the benefits of high-dose treatment outweighed its risks. Race-related differences in tolerance or dose-related adverse effects were not found. Conclusion We couldn’t determine an optimal dose based on the existing evidence, but a target dose of metoprolol CR/XL 200 mg/d is safe and effective. We are unable to draw any conclusions about the relationship between dose and adverse effects.
ObjectiveTo analyze long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 44 patients with severe AR and LVD who received AVR in Drum Tower Hospital from January 2002 to December 2012. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of all the patients was lower than 35%. There were 29 male and 15 female patients with their age of 23-78 (44±6) years and LVEF of 22%-34% (29%±3%). ResultsTwo patients died because of heart failure postoperatively. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 57-92 (73±8) minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 33-61 (48±6)minutes, and length of ICU stay was 2-15 (8±3) days. All the patients were followed up for 1-11 (4.3±2.9) years. Two patients died during follow-up because of heart failure and stroke respectively. One-year survival rate was 93% and five-year survival rate was 91%. ConclusionAVR can significantly increase long-time survival of patients with severe AR and LVD.
Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a clinically prevalent valvular heart disease with an age-dependent increase in incidence. Patients with symptomatic severe TR are confronted with limited efficacy of medical treatment and high risks of surgical intervention. In recent years, transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement has rapidly evolved as a novel therapeutic strategy to address the challenge. This article systematically reviews the design features and clinical studies of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement devices globally, providing valuable insights and evidence for expanding clinical approaches in the treatment of the patients with TR.
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of thrombolysis with anticoagulation therapy for patients with acute sub-massive pulmonary thromboembolism. Methods The clinical data of 84 patients with acute sub-massive pulmonary thromboembolism were analyzed retrospectively, mainly focusing on the in-hospital efficacy and safety of thrombolysis and/ or anticoagulation. The efficacy was evaluated based on 6 grades: cured, markedly improved, improved, not changed, deteriorated and died. Results Among the 84 patients,49 patients received thrombolysis and sequential anticoagulation therapy( thrombolysis group) , 35 patients received anticoagulation therapy alone( anticoagulation group) . As compared with the anticoagulation group, the thrombolysis group had higher effective rate( defined as patients who were cured, markedly improved or improved, 81. 6% versus 54. 3%, P = 0. 007) , lower critical event occurrence ( defined as clinical condition deteriorated or died, 2. 0% versus 14. 3% , P = 0. 032) . There was no significant difference in bleeding rates between the two groups ( thrombolysis group 20. 4% versus anticoagulation group 14. 3% , P gt; 0. 05) . No major bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage occurred in any of the patients. Conclusions Thrombolysis therapy may be more effective than anticoagulation therapy alone in patients with acute sub-massive pulmonary thromboembolism, and thus warrants further prospective randomized control study in large population.