The first aortic valve repair was performed in 1958, but the clinical outcome was limited. Since the invention of prosthetic valves, aortic valve replacement has become and still maintained the dominated surgical treatment option. As the impact of the prosthetic valve-related event to quality of life of the patients and the studies of the mechanism of aortic regurgitation and the functional anatomy of aortic root grow, the application of aortic valve repair gets more popular, and the short- and mid-term outcomes are good.
Objective To measure the rate of changes of the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and serum urea nitrogen (N), serum creatinine (Cr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) patients before and after surgery, and to explore the prognostic significance of the rate of changes. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 77 AAAD patients' clinical data between August 2015 and March 2016 from the department of the cardiothoracic surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. There were 57 males and 20 females with an average age of 51.1±13.1 years. The test results of cTnT, N, Cr, eGFR were recorded. Patients were divided into three groups based on the duration of ventilation: less than 48 hours, 48 hours to 7 days, longer than 7 days, and divided into two groups based on whether postoperative dialysis was performed: dialysis group and non-dialysis group. Results In the groups with different duration of ventilation, the rate of cTnT change differed significantly. The rate of Cr and eGFR change in the group with the duration of ventilation longer than 7 days showed significantly different compared to other two groups. We found that the rate of Cr and eGFR change were statistically significant between the dialysis group and the non-dialysis group. In the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the optimal cut-off value of the Cr growth rate for predicting postoperative dialysis therapy was 58.1%, and the optimal cut-off value of the eGFR decline rate was 45.5%. Conclusion The rate of changes in cTnT, N, Cr and eGFR can be used as a reliable mean to evaluate respiratory and renal function for AAAD patients in the early stage, which will facilitate an early assessment of the prognosis of AAAD patients.
Object ive To summar ize recent advance in the appl icat ion and research of ar t i f icial chordae tendineae. Methods The cl inical and experimental research l iterature was extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results The follow-up results showed that artificial chordae tendineae replacement was superior to other operation methods in valve repair. But, it was compl icated and difficult-to-learn. In recent years with the development of many surgical skills and new techniques, good cl inical results were achieved. Conclusion With the development of surgical equi pment, chordae material, and implanting skills, artificial chordae tendineae implanting will be easier and the scope of appl ication will be larger.
Objective To determine risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery underdeep hypothermic circulatory arrest （DHCA） and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion （ASCP）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 113 patients who underwent aortic arch surgery under DHCA＋ASCP in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital， Medical School of Nanjing University from October 2004 to April 2012. According to whether they regained consciousness within 24 hours after surgery， all the 113 patients were divided into normal group （73 patients including 55 males and 18 females with their average age of 48.1±10.9 years） and delayed recovery group （40 patients including 29 males and 11 females with their average age of 52.2±11.4 years）. Risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after surgery were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Nine patients （8.0%） died postoperatively， including 5 patients with multi-organ failure， 2 patients with heart failure， 1 patient with mediastinal infection， and 1 patient with pulmonary hemorrhage. There were 7 deaths （17.5%） in the delayed recovery group and 2 deaths （2.7%） in the normal group， and the in-hospital mortality of the delayed recovery group was significantly higher than that of the normal group （P=0.016）. A total of 94 patients （including 65 patients in the normal group and 29 patients in the delayed recovery group） were followed up for 4-95 months. Eight patients （including 5 patients in the normal group and 3 patients in the delayed recovery group） died during follow-up， including 2 patients with stroke， 3 patients with heart failure， 2 patients with pulmonary hemorrhage and 1 patient with unknown cause. Ten patients were lost during follow-up. Univariate analysis showed that age （P=0.042）， hypertension （P=0.017）， emergency surgery （P=0.001）， cardiopu- lmonary bypass （CPB） time （P=0.007）， aortic cross-clamp time （P=0.021）， and blood transfusion（P=0.012）were risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery. Multivariate logistic regression showed that emergency surgery （P=0.005） and CPB time＞240 minutes （P=0.000） were independent risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery. Conclusion Delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery is attributed to a combination of many risk factors. Correct patient diagnosis， lesion site and involved scope should be made clear preoperatively in order to choose appropriate surgical strategies. During the surgery， strengthened brain protection， shortened operation time， improved surgical techniques， and perioperative stable circulation maintenance are all important measures to prevent delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery.
ObjectiveTo analyze long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 44 patients with severe AR and LVD who received AVR in Drum Tower Hospital from January 2002 to December 2012. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of all the patients was lower than 35%. There were 29 male and 15 female patients with their age of 23-78 (44±6) years and LVEF of 22%-34% (29%±3%). ResultsTwo patients died because of heart failure postoperatively. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 57-92 (73±8) minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 33-61 (48±6)minutes, and length of ICU stay was 2-15 (8±3) days. All the patients were followed up for 1-11 (4.3±2.9) years. Two patients died during follow-up because of heart failure and stroke respectively. One-year survival rate was 93% and five-year survival rate was 91%. ConclusionAVR can significantly increase long-time survival of patients with severe AR and LVD.