ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) through apical approach for aortic regurgitation of large annulus.MethodsFrom November 2019 to May 2020, 10 male patients aged 64.50±4.20 years with aortic valve insufficiency (AI) underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital. The surgical instruments were 29# J-valveTM modified and the patients underwent TAVR under angiography. The preoperative and postoperative cardiac function, valve regurgitation, complications and left ventricular remodeling were summarized by ultrasound and CT before and after TAVR.ResultsA total of 10 valves were implanted in 10 patients. Among them, 1 patient was transferred to the aortic arch during the operation and was transferred to surgical aortic valve replacement; the other 9 patients were successfully implanted with J-valve, with 6 patients of cardiac function (NYHA) class Ⅱ, 4 patients of grade Ⅲ. And there was a significant difference between preoperation and postoperation in left ventricular ejection fraction (44.70%±8.78% vs. 39.80%±8.48%, P<0.05) or aortic regurgitation (1.75±0.72 mL vs. 16.51±8.71 mL, P<0.05). After 3 months, the patients' cardiac function was good.ConclusionTAVR is safe and effective in the treatment of severe valvular disease with AI using J-valve.
A 12-year-old girl with double outlet of right ventricle, complete atrioventricular septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, single atrium, inferior vena cava-hemiazygos vein drainage and left isomerism, who had undergone surgical left superior vena cava-pulmonary artery connection was referred to our hospital. Echocardiography revealed thickening, crimping and malalignment of common atrioventricular valve, moderate-to-severe regurgitation mainly from the left side and the main pulmonary artery was poorly developed. We preserved the autologous valve and used the 31# mechanical mitral valve which was sutured to mitral annulus. After the main pulmonary artery was transected, proximal end was sutured and a 20# Gore-tex artificial vessel was anastomosed to the distal end of the main pulmonary artery. We excised hepatic vein from the right atrium which was then anastomosed to another artificial vessel. Postoperative oxygen saturation was 95%-100%. Echocardiography and CT showed that the function of mechanical valve and heart was good before discharge. Common atrioventricular valvuloplasty is the preferred choice of the management of impaired valve. However, when dysfunction of valve is too severe and valvuloplasty is more likely to fail, the risk of barely performing a valvuloplasty will increase dramatically. On this condition, the mechanical valve replacement should be performed.
Objective To observe whether the adoptation of tricuspid annulus diameter as surgical indication for tricuspid annuloplasty will reduce the occurrence of moderate-severe tricuspid regurgitation(TR) in patients after mitral valve replacement (MVR). Methods Between April 2005 and June 2006, MVR was performed in 56 patients with no or mild TR in our Department. The patients were divided into two groups according to tricuspid annulus diameter(TAD)/body surface area (BSA)≥21mm/m2. Tricuspid annuloplasty group(TA group): 22 cases, male 8, female 14, age 45.0±7.7 years, TAD 36.8±3.8mm, BSA 1.57±0.15m2, New York Heart Association(NYHA) functional class Ⅲ/Ⅲ-Ⅳ 18/4, sinus rhythm(SR)/atrial fibrillation (AF) 2/20. Notricuspid annuloplasty group (NTA group): 34 cases, male 9, female 25, age 42.9±11.0 years, TAD 28.5±4.4mm, BSA 1.58±0.13m2, NYHA Ⅲ/Ⅲ-Ⅳ 28/6, SR/AF 9/25. Kay annuloplasty was performed for TA group patients. The patients were followed in outpatient clinical regularly and evaluated by echocardiography at 6 months after operation. Results All patients recovered and were discharged from hospital. The duration of follow-up was 11.0±2.4 months. Except 2 cases, all patients received echocardiography evaluation at 6 months after operation. There were no significantly differences between two groups patients in general clinical characteristics (Pgt;0.05). Compared with NTA group before operation, right atrial diameter (RAD, 49.3±7.0mm) and TAD(36.8±3.8mm) were bigger and more mild TR in TA group (Plt;0.05). RAD(44.1±8.9mm) and TAD(28.9±6.1mm) reduced and the proportion of TR degree improved (Plt;0.05) in TA group but did not occur in NTA group after surgery (Pgt;0.05). There were three cases of moderate TR in NTA group. Conclusion Tricuspid annuloplasty adopting TAD as surgical indication may reduce the occurrences of postoperative moderate-severe TR for patients of MVR with no or mild preoperative TR.
ObjectiveTo analyze clinical experience and outcomes of bileaflet preservation in mitral valve replace-ment (MVR) for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 17 patients with severe MR who underwent MVR with bileaflet preservation in the Department of Cardiovascular surgery of Guangdong General Hospital from June 2011 to January 2013. There were 14 males and 3 females with mean age of 63.41±11.82 years (range, 38 to 82 years). There were 13 patients with atrial fibrillation. Preoperatively, 5 patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class Ⅲ, and 12 patients were in NYHA class Ⅳ. There were 7 patients with ischemic MR, 9 patients with degenerative MR, and 1 patient with rheumatic MR. ResultsMVR with bileaflet preservation was performed for all the patients. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting was performed for 4 patients. Eleven patients received bioprosthetic MVR, and 6 patients received mechanical MVR. There was no in-hospital death, postoperative low cardiac output syndrome or left ventricular rupture. All the 17 patients were followed up for a mean duration of 16.44±5.02 months (range, 2 to 25 months). During follow-up, 1 patient died of severe paravalvular leak 2 months after surgery. All the other patients had good mitral valve function. None of the patients had anticoagulation or prosthetic valve related complication. Patient's heart function was significantly improved. Eleven patients were in NYHA functional class Ⅰ, 4 patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ, and 1 patient was in NYHA class Ⅲ. Cardiothoracic ratio, left atrial dimension, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and left ventricular end-systole dimension postoperatively and during follow-up were significantly smaller than preoperative values. Postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly lower than preoperative LVEF(50.94%±8.78% vs. 55.31%±10.44%, P=0.04), but LVEF during follow-up was not statistically different from preoperative LVEF(55.31%±10.44% vs. 56.13%±9.67%, P=0.73), and LVEF during follow-up was significantly higher than postoperative LVEF(56.13%±9.67% vs. 50.94%±8.78%, P=0.02). There was no statistical difference between postoperative mitral pressure half-time (PHT)and PHT during follow-up (95.06±19.00 ms vs. 94.56±19.19 ms, P=0.91). ConclusionMVR with bileaflet preservation is a safe and effective surgical technique for patients with severe MR, and can significantly improve postoperative left ventricular remodeling and function.
As technology advances, current evidence supports the use of devices for valvular heart disease interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation, transcatheter mitral or tricuspid valve repair, and transcatheter mitral valve implantation. These procedures require antithrombotic therapy to prevent thromboembolic events during the perioperative period, and these therapies are associated with an increased risk of bleeding complications. To date, there are challenges and controversies regarding how to balance the risk of thrombosis and bleeding in these patients, and therefore the optimal antithrombotic regimen remains unclear. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for antithrombotic therapy after transcatheter intervention in patients with valvular heart disease and highlight the importance of an individualized approach in targeting these patients.
Objective To investigate the changing tendency of mitral valve coaptation area and coaptation index of moderate mitral regurgitation （MR） in a dog experiment，and provide evidence for predicting long-term surgical results. Methods Real-time three-dimensional transesophogeal echocardiography （RT-3D-TEE） images were obtained in 15 dogs via Philips IE33 echocardiography system，and animal experiment model was established. RT-3D-TEE images were taken by gradually narrowing the ascending aorta and increasing left ventricular pressure till moderate MR. Original data were analyzed using Philips Qlab 7.0 three-dimensional quantification software，and mitral valve coaptation area and coaptation index were calculated. Specimen coaptation index of the mitral leaflets was calculated after the animal experiment. Cutoff values of coaptation index and left ventricular pressure were calculated by receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve. Results There was statistical difference in coaptation area （198±50）mm2 vs. （123±36）mm2，P＜0.05） and coaptationindex （0.25±0.06 vs. 0.13±0.03，P＜0.05） between non-MR state and MR status of the 15 dogs. The area under the ROC curve of coaptation index and moderate MR was 0.879±0.019 with 95% CI 0.843 to 0.916，and the cutoff value was 0.213（P＜0.05）. The area under the ROC curve of left ventricular pressure and moderate MR was 0.882±0.021 swith 95% CI 0.840 to 0.923，and the cutoff value was 225 （P＜0.05）. There was no statistical difference between specimen mitral valve area and early-diastolic mitral leaflet area，specimen coaptation area and coaptation area，specimen coaptation index and coaptation index （P＞0.05）. Early-diastolic mitral leaflet area was significantly correlated with specimen mitral valve area （r=0.937，P＜0.05）. Coaptation area was significantly correlated with specimen coaptation area （r=0.917，P＜0.05）. Coaptation index was significantly correlated with specimen coaptation index （r=0.946，P＜0.05）. The correlation of coaptation index and specimen coaptation index was higher than those of coaptation area and specimen coaptation area，and earlydiastolic mitral leaflet area and specimen mitral valve area. Conclusions Both coaptation area and coaptation index significantly decrease in MR status. Coaptation index can more precisely reflect MR degree，and provide reference for prognosis of mitral valve repair. RT-3D TEE can accurately measure mitral valve coaptation area and coaptation index.
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.
Surgical Therapy for Valve Diseases Combined with Coronary Heart Diseases in Patients Over or Below 70 Years Old YU Lei, GU Tianxiang, SHI Enyi, XIU Zongyi, FANG Qin, ZHANG Yuhai. (Department of Cardiac Surgery, The No. 1 Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, P.R. China)Corresponding author: GU Tianxiang, Email: cmugtx@sina.comAbstract： Objective To summarize the experiences of valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in senile patients by comparing clinical outcomes of valve diseases combined with coronary heart diseases in patients over or below 70 years old. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 patients who received valve replacement combined with CABG in our department from May 1999 to December 2007. Based on the age, the patients were divided into ≥70 years group (17 cases) with its patients at or above 70 years old and lt;70 years group (32 cases) with its patients younger than 70. The percentage of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) before surgery in ≥70 years group was higher than that in lt;70 years group(Plt;0.05). No significant difference was found in the other relevant factors between the two groups. The clinical index of patients in the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in such factors as the percentage of biovalve use (82.4% vs. 12.5%, χ2=23.311, P=0.000), the time of mechanic ventilation (34.5±29.3 h vs. 18.0±16.1 h, t=-2.542,P=0.014), the time of ICU stay (4.4±1.5 d vs. 3.3±0.7 d, t=-3.522, P=0.001), the time of hospital stay (21.4±7.7 d vs. 18.1±1.8 d, t=-2.319, P=0.025), the percentage of IABP use (29.4% vs. 6.3%, χ2=4.862, P=0.037), the percentage of pulmonary function failure (35.3% vs. 6.3%, χ2=6.859, P=0.009), the percentage of acute renal failure (23.5% vs. 3.1%, χ2=5.051, P=0.025), and the percentage of cerebrovascular accident (11.8% vs. 0.0%, χ2=3.933, P=0.048). There was no significant difference between the two groups in factors like the anastomosis of distal graft (2.5±3.1 vs. 2.4±14, t=0.301, P=0.758), the time of aortic occlusion (89.3±25.4 min vs. 88.5±31.0 min, t=0.108,P=0.913), the time of cardiopulmonary bypass (144.6±44.8 min vs. 138.3±52.9 min, t=0.164, P=0.871) and the mortality (5.9% vs. 6.3%, χ2=0.002,P=0.959). The perioperative myocardial infarction rate was zero in both groups. ≥70 years group patients were followed up for 2 months to 9 years with only 1 case missing. One patient who had undergone mechanic valve replacement died of cerebral hemorrhage 1.5 years after operation. Two died of heart failure and lung cancer 3 months and 6 years after operation respectively. For all the others, the cardiac function was at class Ⅰ to Ⅱ and their life quality was significantly improved. The follow up time of lt;70 years group was 1 month to 6 years and 5 cases were missing. Four patients who had undergone mechanic valve replacement died of complications in relation to anticoagulation treatment. One died of severe low cardiac output. Another died of traffic accident. Conclusion Surgery operation and effective perioperative treatment are key elements in improving surgery successful rate and decreasing mortality in patients with valve and coronary artery diseases. Valve replacement combined with CABG is safe for patients older than 70 years old.
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. It is characterized by an interventricular communication with an overriding aorta, subpulmonary obstruction, and consequent right ventricular hypertrophy. The potential for late complications is an important concern for growing number of survivors after surgical repair, although long-term survival rates are excellent. Progressive pulmonary valve regurgitation leading to right heart failure and arrhythmias are common late complications and major reasons of mortality. In this review, we focus on research progress of pathogenesis and treatment of late complications after TOF repair, and the importance of long-term follow-up is emphasized.