Abstract： Objective To analyze the influence of preoperative left atrial dimension （LAD） on the effectiveness of surgical radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation （AF） through a 5-year postoperative follow-up of AF patients after surgical radiofrequency ablation. Methods Clinical data of 433 patients with persistent or permanent AF who received bipolar radiofrequency ablation procedures during concomitant cardiac surgery in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from 2006 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into 4 groups according to their preoperative LAD：Group A， 75 patients with their LAD＜50 mm， including 22 males and 53 females with their average age of 56.50±10.05 years；Group B， 89 patients with their LAD ranging from 50 to 60 mm， including 32 males and 57 females with their average age of 55.63±10.28 years；Group C， 117 patients with their LAD ranging from 60 to 70 mm， including 41 males and 76 females with their average age of 55.13±10.96 years；and Group D， 152 patients with their LAD＞70 mm， including 68 males and 84 females with their average age of 53.22±11.49 years. Postoperative ECG records right after surgery， before discharge， at 6 months and 1，2，3，4 and 5 years during follow-up were collected. The relationship between preoperative LAD and postoperative sinus rhythm restoration rate was analyzed. Results There was statistical difference in sinus rhythm restoration rate right after surgery（P=0. 011）， before discharge（P=0. 002）， at 6 months（P＜ 0. 001） and 1 year （P＜0. 001）， 2 years（P＜0. 001）， 3 years（P＜0. 001）， 4 years（P＜0. 001） and 5 years（P= 0. 006） during follow-up among the 4 groups. Postoperative sinus rhythm restoration rates right at 6 months and 1，2，3， 4 and 5 years during follow-up was 90.4%， 89.9%， 90.3%， 91.3%， 89.1%， and 90.9% in Group A， 80.2%，79.0%，78.1%， 76.1%，72.5%，70.0% in Group B，74.7%，74.0%，71.2%，72.4%，70.0%， and 64.7% in Group C， and 61.8%，57.6%，56.8%，53.9%，50.7%，and 48.6% in Group D， respectively. Conclusion Patients with a larger preoperative LAD have a lower postoperative sinus rhythm restoration rate after surgical radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of AF.
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of primary malignant tumors of the left atrium and the late results of surgical treatment. Methods The clinical experience with surgical treatment of 13 primary malignant tumors of left atrium was analyzed retrospectively. Complete resection of malignant tumor was achieved in 7 cases(53.8％ )，and subtotal resection was achieved in 3 cases(23.0％), only biopsy was performed in 2 patients(15.4％ )because of extensive metastasis of tumor. Heart transplantation was performed in 1 case(7.7％). Results There was no hospital death. The pathological diagnosis was undifferentiated sarcoma in 5 cases, leiomyosarcoma in 2 cases, malignant transformation of myxoma in 2 cases, angiosarcoma in 1 case, fibrosarcoma in 1 case, malignant fibrous histocytoma in 1 case and malignant hemangiopericytoma in 1 case. There were 11 patients followedup for 3 months to 65 months and showed 9 late death due to recurrence or metastasis. There was 2 patients lost of follow-up. Conclusion Primary malignant tumors of the left atrium should be resected to relieve symptoms caused by local tumor growth. Surgery provides control of primary tumor and allows the potential for cure or longterm survival with effective adjuvant therapy. The prognosis of these patients is still poor.
ObjectiveTo compare clinical results of different anticoagulation methods for patients with large left atrium in the early period after mitral valve replacement (MVR) in order to optimize anticoagulation therapy for them. MethodsA total of 144 patients with large left atrium who underwent MVR in Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College from January 2012 to September 2013 were included in this study. There were 76 male and 68 female patients with their age of 36-60 (47.4±7.0) years. All the patients were divided into 2 groups according to different anticoagulation methods after MVR. Group A patients received warfarin anticoagulation since the 2nd postoperative day. Group B patients received warfarin and aspirin (0.1 g daily) since the 2nd postoperative day. Morbidity and mortality during follow-up were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsInternational normalized ratio (INR) was 2.03±0.11 in group A and 2.01±0.11 in group B,and there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups (t=0.804,P>0.05). Twenty patients (13.9%) had hemorrhagic complications. There was no statistical difference in INR between patients with hemorrhagic complications in group A and B (t=0.496,P>0. 05) and there was no statistical difference in hemorrhagic rate between group A and B(P>0. 05). There was no thromboembolic complication in group B,and 9 patients (6.3%) in group A had thromboembolic complications. Three patients (2%) died of intracranial hemorrhage in group A during follow-up. Two patients died in group B,including 1 patient with recurrent pericardial effusion and pericardial tamponade who died 60 days after surgery,and another patient who died of unknown reason during follow-up. ConclusionFor MVR patients with large left atrium,anticoagulation with warfarin and aspirin can significantly decrease the incidence of thromboembolic complications but does not increase the incidence of hemorrhagic complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility, safety and accuracy of inserting a left atrial piezometer tube and pulmonary artery flotation catheter (PAFC)via the internal jugular vein (IJV)for postoperative monitoring of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)after open cardiac surgery. MethodsA prospective study was conducted in 100 patients aged over 18 years who underwent open cardiac surgery in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from 2010 to 2012. There were 43 male and 57 female patients with their age of 46-65 (47±16)years. All the patients were divided into 2 groups, including 50 patients with severe PAH who underwent heart valve replacement (HVR)in group A, and 50 patients with mild to moderate PAH who underwent HVR in group B. All the patients received insertion of ARROW 5 Fr three-cavity catheter by piercing the atrial septum via IJV for continuous monitoring of left atrial pressure (LAP), and insertion of ARROW 8 Fr high-flow sheath for PAFC implantation via IJV in the same side. LAP and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP)were continuously monitored after the patients entering the intensive care unit (ICU). The corelation and accuracy of LAP and PAWP were observed in the 2 groups. ResultsAll the patients successfully received continuous LAP and PAWP monitoring without serious catheter-related complications. There was no statistical difference in operation time or extracorporeal circulation time between group A and B (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in postoperative mechanical ventilation time and length of ICU stay between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPmean), mean LAP (LAPmean), mean PAWP (PAWPmean), and mean difference between PAWP and LAP (PAWP-LAPmean)of group A were significantly higher than those of group B (P < 0.01). PAWP was well correlated with LAP in both groups, and the correlation in group A was significantly milder than that in group B (P < 0.01). ConclusionIt is safe and feasible for LAP and PAFC monitoring via IJV after cardiac surgery. PAWP can not accurately reflect left ventricular preload, and LAP is more accurate to monitor left ventricular preload for patients with severe PAH.
ObjectiveTo investigate influence of left atrial contraction on lone atrial fibrillation recurrence after minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation. MethodsClinical data of 57 patients with lone atrial fibrillation underwent minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation in Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University from September 2010 to December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the absence of mitral A velocity, patients were divided into Group A (absence of mitral A velocity, 20 patients with their age of 56.32±17.18 years, including 5 females) and Group B (mitral A velocity exists, 37 patients with their age of 60.33±11.22 years, including 17 females). Minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation via thoracoscope were performed in all patients. Preoperative and postoperative left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and mitral A velocity, as well as clinical and follow-up data were recorded and compared. ResultsPreoperative clinical characters were not statistically different between two groups (P > 0.05). All the patients were followed up for 24.3±8.8 months (range, 12-26 months). Rate of postoperative atrial fibrillation recurrence in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (20.0% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.05). LAD and LVEF of 57 patients at 6 months after surgery were significantly higher than preoperative LAD and LVEF (P < 0.05), but there was no statistic difference between two groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionDamage of left atrial contraction was related to lone atrial fibrillation recurrence after minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation. Absence of mitral A velocity could be a crucial predictor of postoperative lone atrial fibrillation recurrence.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of left atrial geometry before and after mitral valve replacement in patients with different types of mitral valve disease and different heart rhythm, and to identify factors determining left atrial remodeling after mitral valve replacement. MethodsA total of 215 consecutive patients of mitral valve replacement in Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2003 to March 2008 were selected and followed up for this study. There were 52 male and 163 female patients with their age of 40.58±10.54 years (ranged, 18-67 years). St. Jude Medical mechanical valves were used. According to the type of mitral valve diseases (mitral stenosis (MS) or mitral regurgitation (MR)) and heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR)), patients were divided into 4 groups. There were 54 patients with MS and SR (including 13 male and 41 female patients with their age of 39.31±9.46 years), 56 patients with MS and AF (including 14 male and 42 female patients with their age of 41.12±10.72 years), 52 patients with MR and SR (including 12 male and 40 female patients with their age of 39.71±10.09 years), 53 patients with MR and AF (including 13 male and 40 female patients with their age of 40.19±11.87 years). All patients had routine examinations and echocardiogram preoperatively and two years after surgery. Left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD), left atrial area (LAA), left atrial volume (LAV) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) were used to analyze the changes of left atrial geometry. ResultsThere was no in-hospital death. Major postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome in 5 patients, pneumonia in 6 patients. LAVi were lower in mitral stenosis patients than that in mitral regurgitation patients (P<0.05), LAVi were lower in patients with sinus rhythm than that in patients with atrial fibrillation (P<0.05). Two years after mitral valve replacement, the extent of left atrial reverse remodeling were significantly greater in mitral regurgitation patients than in mitral stenosis patients (P<0.05), and the extent of left atrial reverse remodeling were significantly greater in patients with sinus rhythm than that in patients with atrial fibrillation (P<0.05). ConclusionsAge, atrial fibrillation, preoperative left atrial volume, mitral regurgitation, left ventricle end-diastolic diameter are important influencing factors of left atrial reverse remodeling after mitral valve replacement.