Recent clinical trials showed that dabigatran was superior to warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, however whether it is suitable for the lifelong anticoagulation in patients after heart valve replacement, remains controversial. Many animal experiments showed that dabigatran group was better than heparin and warfarin in the prevention of thrombosis and bleeding complications after valve replacement. Randomized, phaseⅡstudy to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of oral dabigatran etexilate in patients after heart valve replacement (RE-ALIGN) clinical trial showed that dabigatran wasn't as effective as warfarin in preventing thrombosis, but increases the risk of bleeding. And there are some case reports about thrombosis and bleeding complications after taking dabigatran. At present, the efficacy and safety of dabigatran applying in patients after heart valve replacement still needs further study.
ObjectivesTo investigate the correlation of warfarin dose genetic and polymorphism of Han-patients after heart valve replacement, to forecast the anticoagulation therapy with warfarin reasonable dosage, and to realize individualized management of anticoagulation monitoring. MethodsWe selected 103 patients between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University who were treated by oral warfarin after heart valve replacement with monitoring anticoagulation by international normalized ratio (INR) in Anticoagulation Therapy Database of Chinese Patients after Heart Valve Replacement. There were 32 males and 71 female at age of 21-85 (48.64± 11.66) years. All the patients' CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic polymorphisms were detected by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RELP) method and gene sequencing technology. Warfarin concentration in plasma was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The activity of coagulation factorⅡ, Ⅶ, Ⅸ, Ⅹwas determined by Sysmex CA7000 analyzer. ResultsThe multivariate linear regression analysis showed that age, body surface area, and coagulation factor activity had no significant effect on warfarin dosage. While the gene polymor-phisms of CYP2C9 and VKORC1, warfarin concentration, and age had significant contributions to the overall variability in warfarin dose with decisive coefficients at 1.2%, 26.5%, 43.4%, and 5.0% respectively. The final equation was:Y=1.963-0.986× (CYP2C9* 3) +0.893× (VKORC1-1639) +0.002× (warfarin concentration)-0.019× (age). ConclusionMultiple regression equation including gene polymorphisms of CYP2C9 and VKORC1, non-genetic factors of coagulation factor activity, warfarin concentration, age, and body surface area can predict reasonable dosage of warfarin for anticoagulation to achieve individualized management of anticoagulation monitoring and reduce the anticoagulation complications.
ObjectiveTo summarize the monitoring experiences of blood glucose for patients with rheumatic heart disease combined with diabetes, in order to prevent postoperative complications caused by abnormal blood sugar, relieve pain and promote rehabilitation. MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of the patients with diabetes after heart valve replacement who were admitted to our department from April 2011 to March 2012. Eighty patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group with 40 in each group. Patients in the control group received conventional treatment with subcutaneous insulin injection, while the observation group patients were treated with intravenous insulin pump, and the dose of insulin was adjusted depending on blood glucose levels. Then we compared the postoperative changes in blood glucose level and complications between the two groups. ResultsThe insulin dose, the time of reaching target blood glucose levels, hospital stays and postoperative complication rates were significantly lower in the observation group than the control group (P<0.05). During the one-year follow-up after operations, 2 and 4 patients died respectively in the observation group and the control group, and the difference was not significant (χ2=0.180, P=0.670). ConclusionFor patients with diabetes after heart valve replacements, intravenous insulin pump is better than subcutaneous insulin injection. It can prevent complications, shorten hospital stays, reduce financial burden, and promote prognosis and harmonious doctor-patient relationship.
Objective To investigate the risk factors and the prevention and cure methods of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods From March 2004 to July 2008，twentythree patients with ischemic stroke after mechanical heart valve replacement had been researched(ischemic stroke group). One hundred and twenty patients who had undergone mechanical heart valve replacement were randomly chosen in the same period as control group. Gender, age, the dose of warfarin , anticoagulation intensity(INR), INR review interval, left atrial diameter and heart rhythm were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors of ischemic stroke were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results (1) Patients in ischemic stroke group all discharged from hospital after treatment, and they were followed up for 1 month-3 years after discharged. All the patients’ neurological complications improved obviously, and no recurrent embolism and severe hemorrhage was found. (2) There was no statistical significance between two groups in gender, age and the dose of warfarin（Pgt;0.05）. (3) Nonconditional logistic regression analysis on influence factors showed that atrial fibrillation（P=0.000）, left atrial enlargement（P=0.002）, low anticoagulation intensity（P=0.012） and longtime INR review interval（P=0.047）were the risk factors of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Conclusions (1)The prognosis of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement is better than that of intracranial hemorrhage, and the occurrence of ischemic stroke is related to many risk factors. (2)The influences of risk factors should be minimized in order to avoid ischemic stroke. (3) Early low intensity anticoagulation therapy is safe and effective for patients with ischemic stroke after heart valve replacement.
Objective To explore clinical application and significance of coronary angiography （CAG） prior to heart valve replacement for patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease （RVHD）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 313 RVHD patients who underwent heart valve replacement in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2002 to June 2012. All the patients received screening CAG before surgery. According to CAG results，313 patients were divided into two groups. In the coronary artery lesion （CAL） group，there were 29 patients including 17 male and 12 female patients with their age of 60.0±5.2 years. In the non-coronary artery lesion （non-CAL）group，there were 284 patients including 98 male and 186 female patients with their age of 57.0±5.4 years. Surgicaloutcomes were compared between the two groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to analyze risk factors of CAL for RVHD patients. Results CAG showed 29 patients with CAL，and the overall prevalence of CAL was 9.27%. In CAL group，11 patients underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting with 2.2 grafts for each patient on the average. Postoperatively 1 patient （3.45%） died of low cardiac output syndrome （LCOS）. In non-CAL group，5 patients （1.76%） postoperatively died mainly because of LCOS，ventricular fibrillation，sudden cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time of CAL group were significantly longer than those of non-CAL group （P＜0.05）. There was no statistical difference in postoperative mortality，incidence of LCOS，acute renal failure，respiratory failure，reexploration for bleeding，intraoperative blood loss，mechanical ventilation time or hospital stay between the two groups（P＞0.05）. There was no significant correlation between the types of valvular lesions and CAL. Age≥ 55 years （OR=5.534，P=0.005），male gender （OR=2.335，P=0.038） and diabetes mellitus （OR=4.265，P=0.006） were independent risk factors of CAL for RVHD patients undergoing heart valve replacement. Conclusion For RVHD patients with independent risk factors of CAL （age≥55 years，male gender and diabetes mellitus），CAG must beseriously considered before heart valve replacement. RVHD patients with CAL can obtain similarly satisfactory surgicaloutcomes of heart valve replacement as RVHD patients without CAL by appropriate surgical strategy and strengthened perio-perative management.
Objective To explore the safety and efficacy of mobile APP in telemanagement for patients who received oral warfarin anticoagulant therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods A prospective cohort study was performed. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 80 patients who underwent mechanical heart valve replacement for more than half a year and received oral warfarin anticoagulant therapy in outpatient department were included in our hospital from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. These patients were divided into a telemanagement group (40 paitents, telemanagement using mobile APP) and a control group (40 patients, anticoagulant management in outpatient clinics) according to patients' wishes and local hospital international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring conditions. After 12-month follow-up, clinical effect of the two groups was compared. The INR, time in therapeutic range (TTR), fraction in therapeutic range (FTTR), anticoagulation-related complications and patient satisfaction were analyzed. Results During the follow-up period of anticoagulation, there was no significant difference in INR between the two groups (P=0.732). The average interval of INR monitoring in the telemanagement group was 3-65 (21.4 ± 12.5) days, while that in the control group was 7-93 (39.6 ± 14.7) days (P=0.012). TTR was 42.7% (6 027.6 d/14 116.0 d) in the control group and 67.9% (10 168.6 d/14 972.0 d) in the telemanagement group (P=0.018). And FTTR in the two groups was 45.6% (144/316) and 67.1% (432/644), respectively (P=0.015). No serious thromboembolism or hemorrhage events occurred in the 80 patients during the 12-month follow-up period. There was no significant difference in the incidence of anticoagulation-related complications, general bleeding and embolism between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion For patients with stable anticoagulation after cardiac mechanical valve replacement, it is safe and effective to telemanagement by mobile APP. Telemanagement can increase the frequency of anticoagulation monitoring without increasing anticoagulation risk, meanwhile, it also could obtain more convenient and rapid consultation, save time and economic costs,and improve the quality of life and patient satisfaction.
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.
Abstract： Objective To use tissue Doppler strain rate imaging to evaluate the impact of low dose dopamine and milrinone on systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle of patients undergoing heart valve replacement. Methods Forty patients undergoing selective heart valve replacement in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March and May 2011 were included in this study. All the patients were randomized into 2 groups with 20 patients in each group： milrione group and dopamine group. After anesthesia induction and before cardiopulmonary bypass setup， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） was measured by echocardiography. Tissue Doppler strain rate imaging was used to measure the left ventricular lateral wall and midventricular segment from the four-chamber view， which was compared with Doppler parameters. Results LVEF， ratio of early-diastolic to end-diastolic velocity （E/A） of transmitral flow， ratio of mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic velocity in the annulus （E/Et） of both 2 groups were significantly different between before and after dopamine and milrinone administration （P＜0. 05）. In the milrinone group， 4 segments systolic peak velocity （Vs）， 1 segment early diastolic peak velocity （Ve）， 4 segments late diastolic peak velocity （Va）， 3 segments Ve/Va ratio， 2 segments systolic peak strain rate （SRs）， 2 segments late diastolic peak strain rate （SRa）， and 3 segments early diastolic peak strain rate SRe/SRa ratio after dopamine and milrinone administration were significantly higher than those before dopamine and milrinone administration （P＜0. 05）. In the dopamine group， 4 segments systolic peak velocity （Vs）， 1 segment Ve， 4 segments Va， 1 segment Ve/Va ratio， 2 segments SRs， 1 segment SRe， 1 segment SRa， and 1 segment SRe/SRa ratio after dopamine and milrinone administration were significantly higher than those before dopamine and milrinone administration （P＜0.05）. To compare the milrione group and dopamine group after medication administration， 2 segments Vs， 4 segments Va， 1 segment SRe， 1 segment SRa， 2 segments Ve/Va ratio， and 2 segments SRe/SRa ratio of the milrione group were significantly higher than those of the dopamine group （P＜0.05）， and 1 segment Vs， two segments SRs of the milrione group were significantly lower than those of the dopamine group （P＜0.05）. Conclusion Both milrinone and dopamine can improve left ventricular systolic function of perioperative patients undergoing heart valve replacement assessed by tissue Doppler strain rate imaging， while milrinone can improve the diastolic function of the left ventricle on the long axis more significantly.
Objective To develop and validate a nomogram prediction model for pulmonary infection in patients following cardiac valve replacement surgery, providing a reference for early screening of high-risk populations and implementing targeted preventive measures. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent cardiac valve replacement surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2020 to October 2023 were collected. Patients were randomly assigned to a modeling group and a validation group in a 7 : 3 ratio. Based on the occurrence of pulmonary infection post-surgery, patients were divided into a pulmonary infection group and a non-pulmonary infection group. Risk factors for pulmonary infection after cardiac valve replacement were analyzed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and logistic regression to establish a risk prediction model, which was subsequently validated. Model evaluation was conducted using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Results A total of 689 patients were included, comprising 354 males and 335 females, with a median age of 58.0 (50.0, 68.0) years. The incidence of pulmonary infection was 16.0% (110/689). Independent risk factors for pulmonary infection following cardiac valve replacement included emergency admission, smoking history, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, duration of tracheal intubation, and postoperative renal injury. The AUC for the modeling group was 0.911 [95%CI (0.877, 0.946) ], with a Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2-value of 6.577 (P=0.583) in the modeling group. The AUC value was 0.891 [95%CI (0.840, 0.941) ], with a Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2-value of 5.486 (P=0.705) in the validation group. The model demonstrated good discrimination, calibration, and net benefit. Conclusion The established nomogram prediction model has significant predictive value and can be applied to risk assessment and individualized treatment for pulmonary infection in patients following cardiac valve replacement surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the mid-to-long term quality of life (QOL) and influencing factors in the patients after heart valve replacement.MethodsConvenient sampling method was used to recruit 224 patients who had heart valve replacement surgery in our hospital from June 2008 to June 2017. There were 63 males and 161 females, aged 18-83 (51.49±10.60) years. General information questionnaire and MOS SF-36 scale were used to collect data. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze and determine the influencing factors for the QOL.ResultsThe total score of QOL of 224 patients was 71.78±17.60 points. All these scores of the patients were significantly lower than those of the general population of Chengdu (P<0.05) except the dimension of vitality. The QOL scores differences between sex, marital status, family income, working condition, the occurrence of anticoagulant complications and other complications were significant (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that family income, working condition, the occurrence of anticoagulant complications and other complications could be included in the regression model, explaining 26.8% of total variance. ConclusionThe mid-to-long term QOL is lower in the patients after heart valve replacement. Family income, working condition, anticoagulant complications and other complications are the main influencing factors for mid-to-long term QOL for patients after heart valve replacement.