Objective To analyze and explore the risk factors of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after left-sided valve surgery (left cardiac valve replacement or valvuloplasty) using meta-analysis, so as to provide evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment of secondary TR. Methods We electronically searched databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, CBM, CNKI, VIP, for literature on the risk factors of secondary TR after left-sided valve surgery from 1995 to 2012. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we screened literature, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 6 case-control studies were included, involving 437 patients and 2 102 controls. The results of meta-analysis showed that, the risk factors of progressive exacerbation of secondary TR after left-sided valve surgery included preoperative atrial fibrillation (OR=3.90, 95%CI 3.00 to 5.07; adjusted OR=3.04, 95%CI 2.21 to 4.16), age (MD=5.36, 95%CI 3.49 to 7.23), huge left atrium (OR=5.17, 95%CI 3.12 to 8.57; adjusted OR=1.91, 95%CI 1.49 to 2.44) or left atrium diameter (MD=4.85, 95%CI 3.18 to 6.53), degradation of left heart function (OR=2.97, 95%CI 1.73 to 5.08), rheumatic pathological change (OR=3.06, 95%CI 1.66 to 4.68), preoperative TR no less than 2+ (OR=3.52, 95%CI 1.26 to 9.89), and mitral valve replacement (MVR) (OR=2.35, 95%CI 1.68 to 3.30). Sex (OR=1.54, 95%CI 0.94 to 2.52) and preoperative pulmonary arterial hypertension (OR=1.28, 95%CI 0.77 to 2.12) were not associated with secondary TR after left-sided valve surgery. Conclusion The risk factors of progressive exacerbation of secondary TR after left-sided valve surgery include preoperative atrial fibrillation, age, huge left atrium or left atrium diameter, degradation of left heart function, rheumatic pathological change, preoperative TR no less than 2+, and MVR. Understanding these risk factors helps us to improve the long-time effectiveness of preventing and treating TR after left-sided valve surgery.
Objective To assess different anticoagulant regimens in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves: taking oral warfarin throughout the pregnancy, or heparin in the 1st trimester and oral warfarin for the other trimesters. The main outcome measures were major maternal complications and perinatal outcomes. Methods The MEDLINE, EMbase, CBM and CNKI were searched. The quality of the included studies was evaluated and data were extracted by two reviewers independently. Meta-analyses were performed on the results of homogeneous studies. Result Seven studies involving 629 pregnancies in 469 patients met the inclusion criteria for this review, all of which were retrospective surveys. The comparison between the administration of heparin in the 1st trimester plus oral warfarin for the other trimesters and warfarin throughout the pregnancy showed that, there are not significant different in the incidence of major maternal complications and the incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes. Conclusion Compared with the administration of warfarin throughout the pregnancy, the administration of heparin in the 1st trimester and oral warfarin for the other trimesters might increase the incidence of major maternal complications, but with a similar incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes.
Objective To conduct a systematic review to evaluate preoperative and postoperative changes of echocardiography indexes which reflect left ventricular morphology and contractile function after heart valve replacement of patients with valvular heart disease with giant left ventricle. Methods We electronically searched CBMdisc， VIP database，Wanfang database， CNKI database， PubMed and ScienceDirect from time of establishment of each database to June 2012 to identify literatures addressing heart valve replacement for patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle. Quality of included literatures was evaluated， and relevant data were extracted to conduct meta-analysis. Preoperative and postoperative changes of echocardiography indexes of patients undergoing heart valve replacement were compared. R2.15.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Twelve retrospective cohort studies were included in this study involving 833 patients. The quality of included literature was relatively high. Meta-analysis showed that left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD） at 2 weeks， 6 months， 1 year， 2 to 3 years postoperatively were reduced by 11.72 mm［95% CI （9.52，13.92）， P＜0.001］， 20.02 mm ［95% CI （18.28， 21.76）， P＜0.001］， 22.48 mm ［95% CI （19.55， 25.40）， P＜0.001］ and 24.69 mm ［95% CI （22.21， 27.18）， P＜0.001］ respectively compared with preoperative value. Left ventricularend-systolic diameter （LVESD） at 2 weeks， 6 months， 1 year， 2 to 3 years postoperatively were reduced by 7.74 mm ［95% CI （3.76， 11.72）， P＜0.001］， 15.54 mm ［95% CI （12.55， 18.54）， P＜0.001］， 18.84 mm ［95% CI （15.54， 21.14），P＜0.001］ and 21.02 mm［95% CI （17.67， 24.37）， P＜0.001］ respectively compared with preoperative value. Compared with preoperative value， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） decreased by 7% at 2 weeks postoperatively ［95% CI （1%， 12%）， P=0.013］， increased by 9% at 6 months postoperatively ［95% CI （-14%， -3%）， P=0.002］， increased by 11% at 1 year postoperatively ［95% CI （-22%， 0%）， P=0.041］， and increased by 13% at 2-3 years postoperatively ［95% CI （4%， 21%）， P=0.004］. Compared with preoperative value， left ventricular fraction shortening （LVFS） decreased by 0.05 at 2 weeks postoperatively ［95% CI （0.03， 0.07）， P＜0.001］， increased by 0.02 at 6 months postoperatively ［95% CI （0.00， 0.04）， P=0.055］， increased by 0.03 at 1 year postoperatively ［95% CI （0.00， 0.06）， P=0.035］， and increased by 6% at 2-3 years postoperatively ［95% CI （0.02， 0.11）， P=0.008］. Conclusions LVEED and LVESD of patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle continuously decrease after heart valve replacement， especially in the first 6 months postoperatively， and return to normal in 2 to 3 years. LVEF and LVFS decrease in the first 2 weeks postoperatively， then start to increase， are higher than preoperative values at 6 months， and return to normal in 2 to 3 years. Heart valve replacement is conducive for the recovery of left ventricular morphology and systolic function of patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle.
Clinical application history of prosthetic heart valves has been over five decades, and mechanical heart valves have satisfactory clinical outcomes for surgical treatment of valvular heart disease. The development history of mechanical heart valves experienced from the first generation of ball valves and caged disc valves to the second generation of single tilting disc valve, and to the third generation of bileaflet valves. In 1960， ball valve was first used for heart valve replacement in abroad. In 1963， China-made ball valve was also produced and used in clinical practice. In 1969， the second generation of single tilting disc valve was developed in abroad. In 1978， China-made single tilting disc valve was produced and widely used in clinical practice with satisfactory clinical outcomes. Since 1980 when it was first produced， bileaflet valve has taken the place of above 2 types of valves for its excellent performance, and become the mainstream product all over the world. Currently, the development of China-made bileaflet valves has lagged behind， and domestic mechanical heart valve market has almost been monopolized by foreign bileaflet valve products. Therefore, the development of ideal China-made mechanical heart valve deserves further research.
Abstract： Objective To construct an Anticoagulation Therapy Database of Chinese Patients after Heart Valve Replacement in accordance with blood coagulation characteristics of Chinese patients， fill the gap of Chinese clinical research in valvular heart diseases， and provide a scientific and objective basic data and information exchange platform. Methods A national multicentre，prospective and cohort clinical research method was applied to establish an anticoagulation therapy database of Chinese patients after heart valve replacement， using the Internet as a platform. A case report form （CRF）， which was in line with the actual situation of Chinese anticoagulation patients after heart valve surgery， was formulated through the discussion of experts from 36 cardiovascular surgery centers in China in the starting meeting of National Science amp; Technology Support Program during the Twelfth Five-year Plan Period.We planned to prospectively include patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation therapy and formal anticoagulation monitoring after heart valve replacement from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014. Database was constructed using warehousing technology， which allowed not only data monitoring， query and statistics， but also regular data backup and system updates. Results A network database entitled Anticoagulant Therapy Database of Chinese Patients after Heart Valve Replacement was constructed and linked with the homepage of Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery （http：//www. zgxxwkzz. com）， which constituted a national Internet information platform. From 1 January 2011 to 1 December 2012， 8 452 anticoagulation patients after heart valve replacement from 34 level-3A hospitals in China had been registered in the database. Further follow-up of these patients was being carried out in respective hospitals. Conclusion A large multi-center and open database and network information platform has been constructed. The database variables are in line with clinical characteristics of Chinese anticoagulation patients after heart valve replacement， which provide scientific and objective basic data and support for future clinical research and systemic analysis.
Abstract： Objective To summarize surgical experiences and explore risk factors of patients undergoing repeated heart valve surgery. Methods Clinical records of 325 consecutive patients who underwent repeated heart valve surgery from January 1998 to December 2008 in Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 149 male patients and 176 female patients with their average age of （47.1±11.8） years. Following variables were collected: preoperative morbidity， heart function， indications and surgical strategies of repeated heart valve surgery， postoperative mortality and morbidity， which were compared with those clinical data of patients who underwent their first heart valve surgery during the same period. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine risk factors of perioperative death of patients undergoing repeated heart valve surgery. Results The main reasons for repeated heart valve surgery were mitral valve restenosis after closed mitral commissurotomy and new other valvular diseases. Postoperatively， 28 patients died in the early-stage with the overall mortality of 8.6% （28/325）. The main reasons of in-hospital death included low cardiac output syndrome （LCOS）and acute renal failure. Compared with patients undergoing their first heart valve surgery， patients who underwent repeated heart valve surgery were more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD)， New York Heart Association (NYHA） classⅢ-Ⅳ， and atrial fibrillation， preoperatively. Their cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamp time were comparatively longer. They also had more postoperative morbidities such as LCOS， acute renal failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS）. Multivariate logistic regression showed that preoperative critical state （OR=2.82， P=0.002）， cardiopulmonary bypass time longer than 120 minutes （OR=1.13， P=0.008）， concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting （OR=1.64， P=0.005）， postoperative LCOS（OR=4.52， P＜0.001）， ARDS （OR=3.11， P＜0.001） and acute renal failure （OR=4.13， P＜0.001）were independent risk factors of perioperative death of patients undergoing repeated heart valve surgery. Conclusion Repeated heart valve surgery is a difficult surgical procedure with comparatively higher risks. Full preoperative assessment of the valvular lesions， proper timing for surgery and perioperative management are helpful to reduce postoperative mortality and morbidity.
Abstract： Objective To analyze risk factors associated with postoperative respiratory failure in patients with valvular surgery. Methods Between January 2001 and November 2010, clinical data of 618 patients with 339 males and 279 fameles at age of 10-74（44.01±13.95）years,undergoing valvular operations were investigated retrospectively. We divided the patients into two groups according to the presence （74 patients）or absence（544 patients）of postoperative respiratory failure. Its risk factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results The hospital mortality rate of valvular surgery was 6.1%（38/618）.The morbidity rate of respiratory failure was 12.0%（74/618） with hospital mortality rate at 17.6%（13/74） which was significantly higher than those patients without postoperative respiratory failure at 4.6%（25/544, χ2=18.994, P=0.000）. Univariate analysis showed age＞ 65 years（P=0.005）, New York Heart Association（NYHA）classⅣ（P=0.014）, election fraction＜ 50.0%（P=0.003）, cardiopulmonary bypass time＞ 3 h（P=0.001）, aortic cross clamping time＞ 2 h（P=0.008）, concomitant operation（ valvular operation with coronary artery bypass grafting, Bentall or radiofrequency ablation maze operation（P=0.000）, reoperation（P=0.012）, postoperative complications （P=0.000）, and blood transfusion＞ 2 000 ml（P=0.000） were important risk factors for postoperative respiratory failure. Multivariate logistic regression showed that concomitant operation（P=0.003）, reoperation（P=0.010）, postoperative complications（P=0.000）, and blood transfusion＞2 000 ml（P=0.012）were significant independent predictive risk factors. Conclusion This study suggest that patients with predictive risk factors of postoperative respiratory failure need more carefully treated. The morbidity of these patients would be reduced through improving perioperative management, shortening cardiopulmonary bypass time and reducing postoperative complications.