ObjectiveTo summarize the monitoring experiences of blood glucose for patients with rheumatic heart disease combined with diabetes, in order to prevent postoperative complications caused by abnormal blood sugar, relieve pain and promote rehabilitation. MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of the patients with diabetes after heart valve replacement who were admitted to our department from April 2011 to March 2012. Eighty patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group with 40 in each group. Patients in the control group received conventional treatment with subcutaneous insulin injection, while the observation group patients were treated with intravenous insulin pump, and the dose of insulin was adjusted depending on blood glucose levels. Then we compared the postoperative changes in blood glucose level and complications between the two groups. ResultsThe insulin dose, the time of reaching target blood glucose levels, hospital stays and postoperative complication rates were significantly lower in the observation group than the control group (P<0.05). During the one-year follow-up after operations, 2 and 4 patients died respectively in the observation group and the control group, and the difference was not significant (χ2=0.180, P=0.670). ConclusionFor patients with diabetes after heart valve replacements, intravenous insulin pump is better than subcutaneous insulin injection. It can prevent complications, shorten hospital stays, reduce financial burden, and promote prognosis and harmonious doctor-patient relationship.
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a relatively common hereditary cardiomyopathy, which is featured by asymmetric myocardial hypertrophy and dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Other than septal hypertrophy, mitral valve abnormalities are also quite common in HOCM patients, and they also contribute to systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets and LVOT obstruction. Septal myectomy is believed as the standard surgical treatment for HOCM, but whether to perform mitral valve procedures at the same time of myectomy is still debatable. In this article, we thoroughly explained the mitral valve abnormalities in HOCM patients and their surgical corrections. Besides, we also explained the controversies over mitral valve procedures based on the current clinical studies.