Abstract： Replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root has been the standard surgical strategy for patients with aortic root aneurysm for many years. Along with the increasing knowledge about the aortic root anatomy and physiology, and complications after aortic valve replacement, the technique of valve-sparing aortic root replacement has developed greatly. We focus on the etiology and classification aortic valve insufficiency, the valve-sparing techniques and clinical outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement in this review.
Objective To assess clinical outcomes of valve-sparing aortic root replacement for patients with aortic root aneurysm.?Methods?From February 2001 to September 2010， sixty patients with aortic root aneurysm underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement in Fu Wai Hospital. There were 44 male patients and 16 female patients with an average age of 37.2±13.0 years （ranging from 9-64 years）. Fifteen patients had aortic dissection， 10 patients had ascendingaorta aneurysm， 25 patients had Marfan syndrome， and 2 patients had bicuspid aortic valve. Aortic root reconstruction was performed in 53 patients and aortic valve reimplantation was performed in 7 patients. Preoperative and postoperative heart function and degree of aortic insufficiency （AI） were compared.?Results?Valve-sparing aortic root replacement was performed in all patients. There was no in-hospital death or severe postoperative complications in this group. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 13 hours （ranging from 2 to 1 110 hours） ， while the mean intensive care unit stay was 2.7±2.5 days （ranging from 1 to 18 days） . Postoperative echocardiography showed AI degree was significantly reduced in all the patients. Only three patients had moderate to severe AI， and all the other patients had none or trivial AI. All the patients were followed up for 2-122 （61.5±35.9） months. During follow-up， 4 patients were lost， 9 patients died， and the overall survival rate was 83.9% （47/56）. Two patients underwent aortic valve replacement in the 13 th and 14 th postoperative month respectively because of severe AI. Heart function of 47 patients was significantly improved compared with their preoperative heart function. Thirty-five patients （74.4%）were in New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional classⅠ， and 8 patients （17.0%） were in class II. Forty patients （85.1%）were free from moderate or severe AI.?Conclusion Valve-sparing aortic root replacement has satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with aortic root aneurysm， and valve-related complication rate is low.
Abstract: Objective To summarize the immediate effects and the near and midterm followup results of transthoracic balloon valvuloplasty for newborns and infants with severe and critical pulmonary valve stenosis to find out an effective plan for onestop balloon valvuloplasty. Methods From March 2006 to March 2010, 32 patients including 23 males and 9 females with severe and critical pulmonary valve stenosis were treated in Fu Wai Hospital. Their age ranged from 5 days to 11 months (4.59±3.21 months). Weight of the patients ranged from 2.3 to 10.5 kg (6.48±2.05 kg). Dilatation was performed under general anesthesia with intubation and the guidance of echocardiography. During the follow-up period, all survivors had serial echocardiographic assessment to measure the transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) and the degree of pulmonary regurgitation. Results All operations were successful with no severe postoperative complications. Hemodynamic indexes were stable after operation with TPG lowered from from 82±27 mm Hg preoperatively to 23±12 mm Hg postoperatively (t=15.28, Plt;0.05). Only 4 patients had a TPG of more than 40 mm Hg on echocardiography before leaving the hospital. Tricuspid regurgitation was decreased significantly with 17 cases of nonregurgitation, 13 cases of light regurgitation and 2 cases of moderate regurgitation. Saturation of peripheral oxygen in all the patients increased to higher than 95%. Followup time ranged from 1 month to 4 years (16±11 months). The results of the follow-up were satisfying for all the patients. The average TPG was 17±10 mm Hg with only one above 40 mm Hg. Pulmonary valve regurgitation was found in 24 patients including 23 with light pulmonary regurgitation and 1 with moderate regurgitation. Conclusion Transthoracic balloon valvuloplasty for newborns and infants with severe and critical pulmonary valve stenosis is safe and effective.
Objective To summarize the result and experience of modified Fontan procedure for patients with heterotaxy syndrome. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 17 patients with heterotaxy syndrome underwent cardiac operations in our hospital from September 2008 to November 2014. There were 11 males and 6 females at mean age of 4.7±2.5 years ranging from 3 to 10 years and at mean weight of 16.6±4.9 kilogram ranging from 10.6 to 27.0 kilogram. Two patients accepted modified Fontan surgery of stage one. The rest 15 patients accepted staging operation. They accepted modified Fontan surgery after they accepted a series of surgery like bidirectional Glenn procedure. Results There was no mortality in hospital. The peripheral blood oxygen saturation raised from 73%±12% to 91%±5%. There was no complications existing like thrombosis or severe arrhythmia. The follow-up duration was from 4 months to 6.5 years. There was 1 death during the time. The early and middle term mortality was 5.9% (1/17). Conclusions Single ventricle treatment remains the preferred procedure for patients with heterotaxy syndrome and its early and middle term results are satisfied.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the early- and mid-term outcomes of surgical repair of persistent truncus arteriosus in children in a single institution of China.MethodsThe clinical data of 27 consecutive patients with persistent truncus arteriosus undergoing surgical repair in Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center from November 2009 to May 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 14 males and 13 females. Median age was 3.0 months (range: 13 days -11 years), of whom 10 (37.0%) were older than 6 months. ResultsThere were three early deaths with a mortality of 11.1%. The main complications included VSD partial repair in 2 patients, complete atrioventricular block in one patient. The mean follow-up time was 24.5±19.3 months (range: 1–76 months). There were three late deaths, and two patients lost follow. Echocardiology showed seven patients of right heart outflow tract obstruction, including three in pulmonary artery trunk, and four of pulmonary artery branches. One patient showed moderate aortic valve regurgitation. None required re-intervention during the follow-up. Survival estimates for the entire cohort following surgery were both 76.1% (95%CI 59.2% to 92.9%) at 1 year and 5 years.ConclusionThe surgical repair of persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) remains challenges. The early- and mid-term outcomes of surgical repair of persistent truncus arteriosus are acceptable. For older children with severe pulmonary artery hypertension and/or trunk valve regurgitation, the risk of death is still higher. Some children have the higher risk of late right heart obstructive lesions.
ObjectiveTo summarize the results of surgical treatment for 79 patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) combined with complex anomalies (CA) in recent years.MethodsThe data from 79 patients with CoA combined with CA admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center between January 19, 2010 and September 7, 2017 were collected and analyzed. There were 52 males and 27 females. The median age was 71 days, and the median weight was 4.3 kg. There were 26 patients combined with tracheostenosis and 7 patients with preoperative tracheal intubation. Extended end-to-side anastomosis was used to correct the CoA, and the associated cardiac abnormalities were treated simultaneously by an incision through median sternotomy. All operations were performed by the same group of surgeons.ResultsThe median deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was 18 (13-28) minutes, the median aorta cross-clamp time was 62 (15-199) minutes, the median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 145 (71-674) minutes, the median ventilation time was 72 (9-960) hours, the median length of ICU stay was 144 (12-1 944) hours, and the median length of hospital stay was 24 (2-93) days. Early death occurred in 9 patients and late death occurred in 5 patients. Reoperation occurred in 28 patients and recoarctation developed in 10 patients. After operation, transcoarctation gradient was reduced, and the transcutaneous oxygen saturation, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate and creatinine were increased. Compared to the survival group, both preoperative and postoperative transcutaneous oxygen saturation were worse and the postoperative levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and CRP were higher in the death group.ConclusionCorrecting the CoA and the associated CA simultaneously with extended end-to-side anastomosis by an incision through median sternotomy is effective and safe, and the outcomes of immediate and medial-term are satisfactory. Improving oxygenation and limiting elevation of BNP and CRP levels may reduce the death rate.
Objective To explore the efficacy of humidified high flow nasal cannula ( HHFNC) for respiratory failure after ventilator weaning in post-operative newborns and infants with congenital heart disease. Methods FromJanuary 2010 to August 2010, 33 newborns and infants [ ( 7. 8 ±8. 4) months, range 3 days to 36 months; weight ( 6. 6 ±3. 6) kg, range 2. 2 to 19. 6 kg] were treated with HHFNC ( 22 cases) and routine oxygen therapy ( 11 cases) for respiratory failure following ventilator weaning after operation of congenital heart disease. Symptoms, blood oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) , partial pressure of oxygen( PaO2 ) , partial pressure of carbondioxide ( PaCO2 ) , incidence rate of re-intubation, duration of ICU, and hospital stay were assessed and compared between the HHFNC group and the routine oxygen therapy group.Results There were no statistical significance in the duration of ICU, hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or infection rate between the HHFNC group and the routine oxygen therapy group ( P gt; 0. 05) . But the incidence rate of re-intubation was lower in the HHFNC group than that in the routine oxygen therapy group. Meanwhile SpO2 and PaO2 increased and PaCO2 decreased significantly in the HHFNC group ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion HHFNC shows a clinical improvement rapidly and efficiently in preventing respiratory failure after ventilator weaning in post-operative newborns and infants with congenital heart disease.
ObjectiveTo review our clinical experience of modified Fontan procedure for complex congenital heart disease (CHD) in children. MethodsClinical data of 62 children with complex CHD who underwent modified Fontan procedure in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from May 2008 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 male and 21 female patients with their median age of 4 years(range, 16 months to 14 years) and body weight of 12.5 (8.9-49.5) kg. Diagnosis included functional single ventricle in 45 patients, transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) in 6 patients, corrected TGA with VSD and LVOTO in 6 patients, double outlet right ventricle with severe pulmonary stenosis in 4 patients, and right ventricular dysplasia in 1 patient. Previous procedure included pulmonary artery banding in 10 patients, unilateral bidirectional Glenn shunt in 37 patients, and bilateral bidirectional Glenn shunt in 8 patients. Seventeen patients received single-stage modified Fontan procedure, and 45 patients received two-stage modified Fontan procedure. Extracardiac conduit was used in 56 patients, and lateral tunnel was used in 6 patients. Concomitant procedures included fenestration in 41 patients, atrioventricular valvuloplasty in 6 patients, and pulmonary artery angioplasty in 3 patients. ResultsTwo patients in both single-stage and two-stage groups died postoperatively with mortality of 11.8% and 4.4% respectively (P=0.299). Postoperative mechanical ventilation time, length of ICU stay, chestdrainage duration, postoperative hospital stay and morbidity were not statistically different between single-stage and two-stage group. Mean follow-up was 2.0 ±0.5 years (range, 3 months to 5 years). There were 2 late death in the singlestage group but no late death in the two-stage group. Growth of all survival children was good, and their exercise capacity significantly improved. Percutaneous oxygen saturation was higher than 90%. Echocardiography showed patent superior and inferior vena cava anastomosis without thrombosis, stenosis, atrioventricular valve regurgitation aggravation or pulmonary venous return obstruction. All survival patients were in New York Heart Association class Ⅰ or Ⅱ. None of the patients had arrhythmia, chronic effusion or protein losing enteropathy. ConclusionEarly and mid-term results of modified Fontan procedure were satisfactory for children with complex CHD. For children with high risk factors, staged Fontan procedure can reduce surgical mortality.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for delayed sternal closure (DSC) in the operation for the neonates with congenital heart defects. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the case notes of the 203 neonates with congenital heart defect in our hospital between January 2010 and June 2014. There were 152 males and 51 females at age of 0-28 (17.68±8.62) days. The relative factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. ResultsThese factors significantly correlated with DSC in univariate analysis:age at operation, premature, low weight (weight≤2.5 kg) at operation/weight at operation, RACHS-1, mechanical ventilation before operation, continuous use of intravenous cardiovascular drugs before operation, CPB time, aortic clamping time, total circulatory arrest with profound hypothermia. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that weight at operation/low weight, pre-operative mechanical ventilation, total circulatory arrest with profound hypothermia were independent risk factors for DSC. ConclusionWeight at operation/low weight, pre-operative mechanical ventilation, and total circulatory arrest with profound hypothermia are the independent risk factors for DSC in the operation for the neonates with congenital heart defects.