ObjectiveTo observes the postoperative transformation of subjective and objective sleep quality and related influencing factors in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease (RVHD) who were found with central sleep apnea (CSA) after cardiac valve replacement.MethodsA total of 262 patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement were screened for CSA by overnight polysomnography and 21 patients with CSA were enrolled and followed up successfully in the 3th, 6th and 12th month of postoperation from April 2010 to January 2013. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness, polysomnography and cardiac function were evaluated in preoperation and postoperation (in the 3th, 6th and 12th month).ResultsNew York Heart Association class ［preoperation and postoperation: (3.7±0.5), (2.3±0.6), (1.7±0.6), (1.6±0.7), F=81.124, P<0.05］ continuously decreased, left ventricular ejection fraction ［preoperation and postoperation: (58.5±6.8)%, (60.0±7.4)%, (60.9±5.6)%, (64.4±4.0)%, F=7.182, P<0.05］ steadily increased, six-minute walk distance ［preoperation and postoperation: (271.5±76.6), (422.1±71.9), (445.1±56.2), (454.5± 63.5) m, F=67.134, P<0.05］ constantly increased. During postoperative follow-up, sleep apnea-hypopnea index ［preoperation and postoperation: (26.2±13.4), (12.0±11.5), (8.6±7.5), (7.4±5.5)/h, F=20.548, P<0.05, central sleep apnea index ［preoperation and postoperation: (19.6±10.3), (0.5±1.5), (0.3±1.3), (0.2±0.7)/h, F=72.926, P<0.05］ and oxygen desaturation index ［preoperation and postoperation: (20.1±16.6), (10.8±9.5), (8.5±7.2), (6.1±5.1)/h, F=9.646, P<0.05］ sustained improved. Aroual index ［preoperation and postoperation: (23.1±12.1), (2.7±3.8), (3.5±4.8), (2.2±2.1)/h, F=58.370, P<0.05］ presented overall downward trend. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale ［preoperation and postoperation: (11.1±3.2), (8.2±3.3), (6.0±3.8), (4.4±2.5), F=27.670, P<0.05］ were constantly improved. Epworth Sleepiness scale ［preoperation and postoperation: (13.3±5.7), (6.9±4.5), (8.2±4.8), (6.1±3.7), F=15.994, P<0.05］ showed overall reduction.ConclusionThe sleep quality of patients with RVHD and CSA is improved after cardiac valve replacement, of which the trend is in keep with postoperative recovery of cardiac function.
Objective To investigate the perioperative changes of serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement. Methods There were 20 patients admitted to the study, the serum BNP concentrations were measured before cardiac surgery, 24 hours, 7days, 14 days, and 30 days after operation. The preoperative NYHA cardiac function and the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were measured by echocardiogram. Results The preoperative BNP level was the baseline, it elevated markedly and acutely to a peak value 24 hours after operation ( P =0.003), then the BNP decreased 7 days later, but was still higher than the concentration before operation ( P =0.015), 14 days later it reached to the concentration before operation, 30 days later it was mild lower than preoperative BNP level, but there was no significant difference. There was a positive correlation between NYHA and BNP ( r =0.69, P lt;0.05), but no correlation between LVEF and BNP( r =0.29, P gt;0 05). Conclusion The preoperative serum BNP concentration can reflect the preoperative cardiac function in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement, the high BNP level indicates the poor cardiac function. The BNP sharply elevated in the early time after operation, then gradually decreased in the late phase postoperation.