Abstract： Arginine vasopressin （AVP） is closely related to the pathogenesis of a variety of cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases. Currently it is often used for the treatment of severe peripheral vasodilatory shock， and particularly beneficial for patients with refractory catecholamine-resistant vasodilatory shock. For some patients who do not have adequate AVP level in plasma after cardiovascular surgery， external low-dose AVP infusion is helpful to decrease the heart rate, and the dosage and duration of catecholamine use. Early initiation of low-dose AVP infusion may be beneficial for postoperative patients’ hemodynamic recovery without adverse complications. More randomized control trials are needed to provide evidence for rational usage， dosage and duration of AVP administration.
Objective To compare the graft patency rates of conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （CCABG） and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （OPCAB） at 2 weeks，3 months and 1 year after surgery. Methods Clinical data of 200 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） in the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from May 2010 to November 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. All the 200 patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical procedures they received：CCABG group，61 patients including 32 male patients and 29 female patients with their age of 59.8±4.7 years；and OPCAB group，139 patients including 72 male patients and 67 female patients with their age of 59.6±8.9 years. Graft patency of all the patients was evaluated by 256-slice multislice computed tomography angiography （256-MSCTA） at 2 weeks，3 months and 1 year after CABG and compared between two groups. Results At 2 weeks，3 months and 1 year after CABG，the graft patency rates of left internal mammary artery （LIMA） grafting were not statistically different between CCABG group and OPCAB group，as well as those of great saphenous vein （GSV） grafting （P＞0.05）. The 1 year graft patency rates of LIMA grafting of CCABG group and OPCAB group were 92.31% and 91.94% respectively，and 1 year graft patency rates of GSV grafting of CCABG group and OPCAB group were 91.35% and 90.00% respectively. To compare the graft patency rates of different distal anastomotic locations，grafting to the left anterior descending （LAD） coronary artery had significantly higher patency rate than grafting to the right coronary artery （RCA，P＜0.05）. The 1 year graft patency rates of LAD grafting and RCA grafting were 97.78% and 85.90% respectively. But there was no statistical difference in graft patency rates at different respective distal anastomotic locations between OPCAB group and CCABG group （P＞0.05）. To compare early clinical outcomes of two groups，postoperative mechanical ventilation time，length of ICU stay，24-hour mediastinal drainage，24-hour blood transfusion，length of hospital stay，and hospitalization cost of OPCAB group were significantly shorter or lower than those of CCABG group （P＜0.05）. Conclusion Short-term graft patency rates of CCABG and OPCAB are quite similar. Patency rate of grafting to LAD is higher than that of grafting to RCA. OPCAB can produce better perioperative clinical outcomes than CCABG.
Objective To introduce a novel approach using parallel placement of another oxygenator in the recirculation line as oxygen supply for oxygenator failure without circulatory arrest in cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB），and confirm its outcomes in an animal experiment. Methods A traditional piglet CPB model was established. Oxygenator failure model was established by reducing fraction of inspired oxygen （FiO2） from 80% to 21% after aortic cross-clamp and cardiac arrest in CPB. Another oxygenator was then parallel placed in the recirculation line to supply 100% oxygen.Dynamic changes in partial pressure of oxygen （PaO2），mixed venous oxygen saturation （SvO2），arterial oxygen saturation（SaO2） and blood pH of blood samples from the arterial perfusion duct were monitored with different blood flow of400 ml/min，800 ml/min and 1 100 ml/min. Results When FiO2 was reduced to 21%，PaO2 decreased to 64-67 mm Hg（P＜0.001），SaO2 decreased significantly to 88%-90% （P＜0.001），SvO2 decreased to 69%-72% （P＜0.001），and blood pH decreased too，all indicating oxygenator failure. After parallel placement of another oxygenator in the recirculation line was performed，PaO2，SaO2 and SvO2 all significantly increased，as well as blood pH. When the blood flow in the recirculation line achieved 33% or above of overall arterial perfusion flow，clinical oxygen demand was generally satisfied. Conclusion Parallel placement of another oxygenator in the recirculation line may be utilized as a treatment strategy for oxygenator failure without circulatory arrest and changeover of failed oxygenator.
Objective To investigate the impact of different modes of cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） and cerebral perfusion on cerebral protection in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection （AD）. Methods Clinical data of 117 patients with Stanford type A AD who underwent surgical therapy from April 2007 to March 2012 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into 3 groups according to different modes of CPB and cerebral perfusion they received. In group 1，45 patients received CPB perfusion through the femoral artery and unilateral or bilateral antegrade selective cerebral perfusion （ASCP） after circulatory arrest. In group 2，38 patients received CPB perfusion through the subclavian artery or innominate artery and unilateral or bilateral ASCP after circulatory arrest. In group 3，34 patients received antegrade and retrograde CPB perfusion through both subclavian artery or innominate artery and femoral artery，and unilateral or bilateral ASCP after circulatory arrest. Postoperative occurrence of transient neurological dysfunction （TND），permanent neurological dysfunction （PND） and influential factors were compared between the 3 groups. Results Incidence of postoperative cerebral complications of group 1 was significantly higher than those of group 2 and 3 （37.77% vs. 13.16% vs. 14.71%，P ＜0.05）. During CPB，cooling time of group 3 was significantly shorter than those of group 1 and 2 （35.56±4.35 vs. 40.00±5.63 and 39.58±6.03，P ＜0.05）. There was no statisticaldifference in other influential factors among the 3 groups （P ＞0.05）. Conclusion Antegrade and retrograde CPB perfusionin combination with ASCP has a smooth and quicker cooling rate，may provide better protection for the spinal cord，kidney and intraperitoneal organs and especially decrease the incidence of postoperative cerebral complications，therefore is proved current best method for organ protection.
Abstract： Objective To explore the feasibility of using protamine-agarose gel to achieve heparin-free cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB）. Methods A total of 12 healthy adult dogs were chosen, the dogs were between 2-3 years old,either male or female, with their mean body weight of 23.3±3.7 kg （ranging from 20 to 28 kg）. All the dogs were randomly divided into two groups with 6 dogs in each group. In the heparinized group, conventional CPB technique was used; in the non-heparinized group, protamine-agarose gel column was used to absorb plasma clotting factors in CPB without use of heparin. At the beginning of CPB and 1 h, 2 h, 3 h after CPB, arterial blood samples were collected from dogs in both groups. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-8 （IL-8） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）and compared. Results There was no thrombus formation in the membrane oxygenators during CPB by naked eye observation in both groups. Activated coagulation time （ACT） was always greater than 480 s during CPB. The vital signs of the dogs were all stable during CPB. At the beginning of CPB, there was no statistical difference in plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 between the two groups. At 1 h, 2 h and 3 h after CPB, the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-8 of the non-heparinized group were significantly higher than those of the heparinized group （CPB 3 h TNF-α：156.48±16.65 ng/L vs. 115.87±15.63 ng/L, t=4.356, P=0.001；CPB 3 h IL-8：365.38±46.18 ng/L vs. 299.29±34.50 ng/L, t=2.808, P=0.019）. There was no statistical difference in the expression level of IL-6 between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Conclusion Using protamine-agarose gel to absorb plasma clotting factors is an effective technique to establish heparin-free CPB. But this method can induce significant systemic inflammatory response.
Objective To summarize our experience of cardiovascular surgery for patients dependent on dialysis, and evaluate its safety and efficacy.?Methods?Clinical data of 10 consecutive patients dependent on maintenance dialysis underwent cardiovascular operations between Dec. 2004 and April 2011 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 6 male and 4 female patients, aged between 23 to 71 （57.6±13.2） years. They were put on dialysis 3-98 （25.2±30.6） months prior to operation due to diabetic nephropathy in 6 patients, chronic glomerulitis in 3 patients and systemic lupus erythemus in 1 patient, and 8 were dependent on hemodialysis and 2 on peritoneal dialysis. Five patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, one underwent Bentall procedure，two underwent aortic valve replacement, one underwent mitral valve replacement, and one underwent superior vena cava thrombectomy and patch repair. Patients underwent dialysis on the day before elective operation, followed by continuous ultra-filtration during cardiopulmonary bypass, and then bedside heparin-free continuous veno-venous hyperfiltration-dialysis started 5-32 hours after the operation. Conventional peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis was resumed 4-7 days after operation.?Results?All operations were successfully completed. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was （125.8±33.5）minutes, aortic clamp time was（77.2±25.5） minutes. One in-hospital death occurred due to septic shock after deep chest wound infection. One patient underwent re-exploration due to pericardial temponade to achieve hemostasis. Three patients experienced atrial fibrillation and were all converted to sinus rhythm by amiodarone. Nine patients recovered to discharge and were followed-up for 8-76 months. Two late deaths occurred due to intracranial hemorrhage and liver carcinoma respectively. Seven survived patients were all in New York Heart Association grade II functional class, and none of them experience major advertent cardiac events related to grafts or prosthetic valve. One patient switched to hemodialysis 14 months after discharge due to peritonitis.Conclusion?Cardiovascular surgery can be practiced in patients dependent on maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis with appropriate peri-operative management, so that symptoms can be relieved and quality of life improved.
Patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia have a poor prognosis and high mortality, thus surgical risk under extracorporeal circulation increased. Early diagnosis, safe and effective alternative anticoagulation strategy are crucial for these patients to receive extracorporeal circulation surgery. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, laboratory examination, diagnosis and alternative anticoagulation strategy of extracorporeal circulation for patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Abstract: There is a 1% - 4% incidence of cardiac disease in pregnancy, and rheumatic heart disease is the most common diagnosis. On the condition that medical treatment is inefficacious, an open heart surgery should be performed. Because of the changes in physiological functions, there is a major difference between pregnant patients and the general population in perioperative management of valve replacement. Now , the pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication for cardiopulmonary bypass, though the incidence of mortality and birth defects remains high. It is helpful in decreasing complications and increasing survival rate by improving themethods of cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative monitoring, anticoagulation etc. In this article, the progress in t reatments of perioperative period of cardiac valve replacement during pregnancy is reviewed.