Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common type of valvular heart disease. Mitral valve repair/replacement can improve the prognosis of patients with severe MR, but a large proportion of patients cannot tolerate surgical procedures due to comorbidities and surgical risks. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a kind of treatment for mitral valve disease in which an artificial valve is delivered to the mitral valve annulus through a catheter and released into place, with the advantages of no thorax opening, less trauma and high safety. Early clinical studies of TMVR have shown good results, but still face many challenges. Strict indications are effective measures to reduce surgical risks and postoperative complications. This article explores the relevant indications of TMVR by analyzing several studies at home and abroad.
Objective To investigate and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Chimney technique in mitral valve reoperation. Methods The clinical data of mitral valve reoperation patients who underwent Chimney surgery in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 26 patients were collected, including 7 males and 19 females, aged 27-67 (53.46±11.18) years. All patients had previous mitral valve surgery, including 23 mitral valve replacements and 3 mitral valve repairs. All patients received Chimney technique using the ideal artificial sized mitral valve, and 1 patient died of neurological complications in hospital. The cardiopulmonary bypass time and the aortic cross-clamping time were 231.11±77.05 min and 148.50±52.70 min, respectively. The mean diameter of the implanted mitral valve prosthesis was 29.08±0.68 mm, which was statistically different from pre-replacement valve prosthesis size of 26.69±0.77 mm (P<0.001). The mean transvalvular pressure gradient of the prosthetic mitral valve measured on postoperative echocardiography was 14.77±5.34 mm Hg, which was statistically different from preoperative value of 20.92±9.83 mm Hg (P=0.005). Conclusion The Chimney technique is safe and effective for reoperation in patients with small mitral annuli, which can not only reduce the risk of reoperation, but also obtain larger prosthetic valve implants with good hemodynamic characteristics and clinical outcomes.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical outcomes of mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) for infective endocarditis, and to investigate the effect of MVP under different surgical risks. MethodsA retrospective study was done on the patients with mitral infective endocarditis, who underwent surgical treatment in our department from January 2018 to March 2022. Among them, the patients receiving mitral valve repair were divided into a MVP group, and the patients receiving mitral valve replacement were divided into a MVR group. Propensity score matching method was applied with a ratio of 1∶1 to eliminate the biases. The early and midterm outcomes were compared between the two groups after matching. According to the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation Ⅱ(EuroSCORE-Ⅱ), the effect of MVP was compared between high and low risk patients. ResultsA total of 195 patients were collected. There were 141 patients in the MVP group (102 males, 85.1%) and 54 patients in the MVR group (41 males, 75.9%). Patients in the MVP group were younger (43.0±14.6 years vs. 57.0±13.0, P<0.001) and had better preoperative conditions. The mean follow-up time was 30.4±16.1 months. The patients in the MVP group had a shorter ICU stay (5.0±5.4 d vs. 7.0±7.0 d, P=0.037), and lower incidences of low cardiac output syndrome (0.7% vs. 9.3%, P=0.007), in-hospital mortality (0.0% vs. 3.7%, P=0.023), and follow-up mortality (4.3% vs. 15.4%, P=0.007). However, after 1∶1 propensity score matching, there were no statistical differences in the postoperative and follow-up adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). Also, there was no statistical difference in the mortality of high-risk patients between MVP and MVR group (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in the reoperation and recurrent severe mitral regurgitation between high and low-risk patients in the MVP group (P>0.05). Conclusion MVP is feasible for treating mitral lesions caused by infective endocarditis with good early and midterm outcomes. For patients who have severe preoperative conditions without serious valvular lesions, surgeons could try MVP.
Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of mitral valve replacement combined with cryoablation Maze surgery in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR). Methods From January 2014 to June 2020, patients with AFMR who underwent mitral valve replacement in our department were enrolled. They were divided into two groups, a cryoablation Maze group who received cryoablation Maze surgery during mitral valve replacement, and a non-cryoablation Maze group who did not receive cryoablation Maze surgery. The baseline data, surgical data, efficacy, and prognosis between the two groups were compared. Results Finally 85 patients were enrolled. There were 16 males and 24 females with an average age of 58.65±6.86 years in the cryoablation Maze group, and 24 males and 21 females with an average age of 61.29±8.30 years in the non-cryoablation Maze group. There was no statistical difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). The aortic occlusion time and extracorporeal circulation time of the cryoablation Maze group were longer than those of the non-cryoablation Maze group with statistical differences (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in postoperative ICU retention time, ventilator assistance time, length of hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume on the first day or occurrence rate of complications (temporary pacemaker application, electrical cardioversion, thoracic puncture drainage, hospitalization death) between the two groups (P>0.05). At the time of discharge, postoperative 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm in the non-cryoablation Maze group were statistically different from those of the cryoablation Maze group (P<0.001). Compared with the non-cryoablation Maze group, the decrease values of left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were statistically different (P<0.05). Postoperative cardiac function grading of both groups was grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, which was significantly improved compared with preoperative level, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse events during follow-up (P>0.05). ConclusionCryoablation Maze surgery combined with mitral valve replacement is safe and effective in the treatment of AFMR patients, which is conducive to the recovery and maintenance of sinus rhythm, and is beneficial to the remodeling of the left atrium and left ventricle, the reduction of pulmonary systolic blood pressure, and the improvement of life quality of the patients.
Objective To compare the mid- and long-term clinical results of mitral valve plasty (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) in the treatment of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). MethodsPatients with FMR who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from 2012 to 2021 were collected. The patients who underwent MVP were divided into a MVP group, and those who underwent MVR into a MVR group. The clinical data and mid-term follow-up efficacy of two groups were compared. Results Finally 236 patients were included. There were 100 patients in the MVP group, including 53 males and 47 females, with an average age of (61.80±8.03) years. There were 136 patients in the MVR group, including 72 males and 64 females, with an average age of (61.29±8.97) years. There was no statistical difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the extracorporeal circulation time, aortic occlusion time, postoperative hospital and ICU stay, intraoperative blood loss, or hospitalization death (P>0.05), but the time of mechanical ventilation in the MVP group was significantly shorter than that in the MVR group (P=0.022). The total follow-up rate was 100.0%, the longest follow-up was 10 years, and the average follow-up time was (3.60±2.55) years. There were statistical differences in the left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and cardiac function between the two groups compared with those before surgery (P<0.05). The postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction in the MVP group was statistically higher than that before surgery (P=0.002), but there was no statistical difference in the MVR group before and after surgery (P=0.658). The left atrial diameter in the MVP group was reduced compared with the MVR group (P=0.026). The recurrence rate of mitral regurgitation in the MVP group was higher than that in the MVR group, and the difference was statistically significant (10.0% vs. 1.5%, P=0.003). There were 14 deaths in the MVP group and 19 in the MVR group. The cumulative survival rate (P=0.605) and cardiovascular events-free survival rate (P=0.875) were not statistically significant between the two groups by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Conclusion The safety, and mid- and long-term clinical efficacy of MVP in the treatment of FMR patients are better than MVR, and the left atrial and left ventricular diameters are statistically reduced, and cardiac function is statistically improved. However, the surgeon needs to be well aware of the indications for the MVP procedure to reduce the rate of mitral regurgitation recurrence.
Mitral valve regurgitation is one of the most common heart valve diseases, of which secondary mitral valve regurgitation (sMR) has large proportion and poor prognosis. For patients who still have symptoms after the guideline-directed management and therapy, the effects of surgery are controversial, and transcatheter therapy provides a new option. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair has become one of the recommended therapies by the guidelines, meanwhile transcatheter mitral valve annuloplasty and transcatheter mitral valve replacement are developing. However, the etiological mechanism of sMR is complex and diverse. There is an interaction between cardiac function and structure and sMR in dynamic change. It brings challenges to the selection of indicators and evaluation timing. The complex anatomical structure also makes it more difficult to design instruments and select surgical methods. This paper reviews the challenges and progress of transcatheter therapy for sMR.
Mitral regurgitation is the most common heart valvular disease at present. In the past, mitral regurgitation was mainly treated by surgical mitral valve repair or replacement. However, with the progress of transcatheter interventional techniques and instruments in recent years, transcatheter mitral valve interventional therapy has gradually shown its advantages and benefited patients. The purpose of this article is to review the progress of transcatheter mitral valve intervention in this year, and to provide prospects for the future of transcatheter mitral valve treatment.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries are the trend in the future. Among them, robotic cardiac surgery is the latest iteration with several key-hole incision, 3-dimentional visualization, and articulated instrumentation of 7 degree of ergonomic freedom for those complex procedures in the heart. In particular, robotic mitral valve surgery, as well as coronary artery bypass grafting, has evolved over the last decade and become the preferred method at certain specialized centers worldwide because of excellent results. Other cardiac procedures are in various stages of evolution. Stepwise innovation of robotic technology will continue to make robotic operations simpler, more efficient, and less invasive, which will encourage more surgeons to take up this technology and extend the benefits of robotic surgery to a larger patient population.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement for the management of degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valves. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent transcatheter mitral valve replacement due to degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valves at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2020 to 2023. The analysis included baseline characteristics, surgical details, perioperative complications, and hemodynamic changes during the early postoperative period and subsequent follow-up. Results A total of 31 patients were included in the study, comprising 7 males and 24 females, with an average age of (66.57±9.32) years. The average duration since the initial surgical placement of the bioprosthetic valves was (9.92±3.71) years. The procedures included 7 patients utilizing the transfemoral venous-atrial septal approach and 24 patients employing the transapical approach. All patients exhibited significant improvement in cardiac function postoperatively, with a reduction in the number of patients classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ and those with moderate to severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. Echocardiographic assessments revealed a decrease in peak flow velocity across the mitral valve and a reduction in the average transvalvular pressure gradient, while left ventricular ejection fraction remained unchanged. One patient experienced a recurrent stroke and died on the fifth postoperative day; however, the remaining patients were discharged without complications, including cardiac death, all-cause mortality, or outflow tract obstruction. During a median follow-up period of 12 months, no adverse events were reported, and hemodynamic stability was maintained. Conclusion Valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement is a safe and effective option for patients with degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valves, demonstrating favorable hemodynamic outcomes and satisfactory short-term clinical results.
ObjectiveTo monitor surgical quality and analyze learning curve of minimally invasive mitral valve replacement (MVR)through right minithoracotomy with cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM analysis). MethodsClinical data of 60 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive MVR through right minithoracotomy in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from June 2011 to April 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 32 male and 28 female patients with their age of 28-53 (34.67±7.11)years and their heart function ranging from NYHA class Ⅱ to Ⅳ. There were 31 patients with mitral stenosis (MS), 19 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), and 10 patients with MS and MR. According to the surgical sequence, all the patients were divided into 3 groups (group A, B and C)with 20 patients in each group. Surgical outcomes were compared among the 3 groups, and surgical quality was analyzed with descriptive statistics and CUSUM curves. ResultsAortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time and operation time of group C were significantly shorter than those of group A and group B (aortic cross-clamp time of group C vs. group A:50.35±2.30 minutes vs. 66.15±8.38 minutes; operation time of group C vs. group B:167.50±4.63 minutes vs. 178.60±4.49 minutes, P < 0.05). In-hospital mortality was 3.3% (2/60). CUSUM analysis showed a significant learning curve effect, although surgical quality remained in control during the study period. Surgical failure rate was lower than 80% after about 45 operations, indicating that failure rate was 10% lower than expectation. ConclusionMinimally invasive MVR is safe and reliable, and CUSUM analysis is a simple statistical method to monitor surgical quality.