Objective To explore the impact of ischemic postconditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolatedelderly rat hearts and their relation with P-Akt. Methods A total of 30 healthy elderly SD rats (21-23 months old， male or female) with their body weight of 450-500 g were divided into 3 groups: control group， ischemia-reperfusion group， and postconditioning group， with 10 rats in each group. Coronary artery blood flow，myocardial infarction size， phosphorylatedAkt （p-Akt） expression， and changes in myocardium and mitochondria were detected. Results Coronary artery blood flow of the postconditioning group was significantly higher than that of the ischemia-reperfusion group （6.4±1.2 ml/min vs.3.1±1.2 ml/min， P＜0. 01）， and myocardial infarction size of the postconditioning group was significantly smaller thanthat of the ischemia-reperfusion group （35.0%±2.0% vs. 55.7%±3.6%， Plt;0. 05）. The expression of P-Akt was significantlyhigher， and myocardial fibers and mitochondria were preserved better in the postconditioning group than the ischemia-reperfusion group. Conclusion Ischemic postconditioning can protect isolated elderly rat hearts against ischemia-reperfusion injury， which may be related to P-Akt activation.
Objective To summarize the experience of the surgical treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in 31 cases，so as to elevate the operative effect. Methods The total corrected operation under moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass were performed in 31 cases with TAPVC. Site of drainage was supracardiac (n=16),cardiac(n=13)and mixed(n=2). Other accompanying congenital cardiac malformations were diagnosed such as atrial septal defect(n=31), patent ductus arteriosus(n=4), pulmonic stenosis(n=1), mitral regurgitation(n=1), tricuspid regurgitation (n=15)，etc. Results No hospital death was observed in the early period of operation (30 d). Complication occurred in 8 cases (25.8%), such as paroxysm of nodal rhythm(n=1), Ⅰ° atrial ventricular block(n=1), frequently atrial premature beats and paroxysm of auricular tachycardia(n=1),pulmonary infection(n=2),atelectasis(n=1), pneumatothorax (n=1), left diaphragmatic paralysis and pulmonary infection with tracheal reintubation (n=1),etc. All of them discharged after active therapy. All of 31 cases was followed up, followup time was 2.8±1.5 years. 30 cases were living (96.7%) and 1 case died of heart failure 8 months after operation. 2 cases had auricular arrhythmia with a bad medical effect. 28 cases(93.3%) had normal heart function and they could work and live normally after discharged. Conclusion Surgical procedure should be based on individual abnormality for TAPVC.Surgeons should take care not only of the stenosis of anastomotic stoma,but also of the arrhythmia after operation.Satisfied correction of the abnormality is important and the curative effect of those cases is approving.
Objective To study the clinical results and operative methods of mitral valvoplasty in patients of congenital heart disease with mitral insufficiency. Methods One hundred and twelve patients of congenital heart disease with mitral insufficiency had been treated with valve repair procedure. The surgery was performed under extracorporeal circulation and moderate hypothermia. Most of the patients were diagnosed atrioventricular septal defects (29 cases), ventricular septal defect (25 cases), patent ductus arteriosus (14 cases), and atrial septal defect (14 cases) before operation. The main pathologic characters of mitral valve were mitral valve annular dilatation (58 cases), leaflet lesions (37cases), anterior and posterior leaflet prolapse (36 cases). The surgery consisted of complex methods to repair mitral valves, including rings annuloplasty (22 cases), closure of the commissure (18 cases), double-orifice method (14 cases), chords reimplantation and so on. Results Seventy two patientshad 0 to I class mitral valve regurgitation and 26 patients had Ⅱ class mitral valve regurgitation during the retrial period by echocardiography, only one case needed re-operation. The patients with left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) more than 45mm had a reduction of left atrial diameter (from 45.8±10.7mm to 34.4±8.9mm, t=6.53, 7.89,(Plt;)0.001) and left ventricular diameter (from 58.6±10.9 mm to 44.3±8.5 mm, t=7.89, Plt;0.001) after operation. Conclusions Surgical operation on mitral valve regurgitation of congenital heart defect is a benefit and a compound method and transesophageal echocardiography may help the surgeon in estimating the surgical efficacy during operation.
Objective To compare short-term clinical outcomes of bipolar/unipolar radiofrequency （RF） ablation for the treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation（AF） of patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease. Methods Clinicaldata of 124 patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and permanent AF who underwent heart valve replacement and concomitant bipolar/unipolar RF ablation in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from February 2011 to December 2011 were retros- pectively analyzed. According to different RF ablation methods，all the 124 patients were divided into bipolar group and unipolar group. There were 62 patients in the bipolar group including 29 males and 33 females with their age of 44.20±8.61 years，and 62 patients in the unipolar group including 33 males and 29 females with their age of 46.40±9.48 years. Electrocardiogram examinations were performed at the time of intraoperative heart re-beating，the very postoperative day，7 days，1 month，3 months and 6 months postoperatively to detect restoration of sinus rhythm. Results There was no in-hospital death or ablation-related complication in either group. Aortic cross-clamp time（70.05±22.02 min vs. 54.47±20.65 min，P=0.025） and RF ablation time（25.12±3.00 min vs. 15.70±3.02 min，P=0.000）of the bipolar group were significantly longer than those of the unipolar group. At the time of intraoperative heart re-beating，the lst and 7th day after operation， sinus rhythm restoration rates were 88.71%，87.10%，80.65% respectively in the bipolar group，85.48%，77.42%，72.58% respectively in the unipolar group，and there was no statistical difference between the two groups （P＞0.05）. In the 1st，3rd and 6th postoperative month，sinus rhythm restoration rates of the bipolar group （79.03%，75.81%，72.58% respectively） were significantly higher than those of the unipolar group （59.68%，50.00%，48.38% respectively，P＜0.05）. Conclusion Clinical outcomes of RF ablation for the treatment of permanent AF of patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease are satisfactory. Unipolar RF ablation has the advantage of being time-saving and easier technique，while short-term sinus rhythm restoration rate of bipolar RF ablation is higher than that of unipolar RF ablation for the treatment of permanent AF.
Objective To compare clinical outcomes and safety between minimally invasive mitral valve replacement via right minithoracotomy （mini-MVR） and traditional mitral valve replacement （MVR）. Methods Clinical data of 68 patients with valvular heart diseases who underwent mini-MVR from February 2009 to December 2011 in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 36 males and 32 females in this mini-MVR group with their mean age of 34.2±11.2 years. Preoperatively， there were 21 patients with mitral stenosis （MS）， 17 patients with mitral insufficiency （MI）， 30 patients with MS and MI， and 19 patients with tricuspid insufficiency （TI）. Another 200 patients with valvular heart diseases who underwent traditional MVR during the same period were included as the control group. There were 86 males and 114 females in the control group with their mean age of 49.4±13.2 years. Preoperatively， there were 85 patients with MS， 66 patients with MI， 49 patients with MS and MI， and 76 patients with TI. Hospital mortality， aortic crossclamp time， length of intensive care unit （ICU） stay， postoperative chest tube drainage， reexploration for bleeding and postoperative morbidities were compared between the two groups. Results There was no in-hospital death in the mini-MVR group. There was no statistical difference in hospital mortality， cardiopulmonary bypass time， incidence of reexploration for bleeding， postoperative arrhythmias， dialysis-requiring acute renal failure and wound infection between the two group （P＞0.05）. Aortic crossclamp time of the mini-MVR group was significantly longer than that of the control group. But postoperative mechanical ventilation time （10.2±3.1 h vs. 15.2±7.1 h， P=0.008）， chest tube drainage（92.0±28.0 ml vs. 205.0±78.0 ml， P=0.000）， blood transfusion （0.8±1.6 U vs. 1.9±2.1 U， P=0.006）， length of ICU stay （14.0±8.0 h vs. 26.0±12.0 h， P=0.003） and length of hospital stay （14.8±4.6 d vs. 19.7±3.2 d， P=0.006）of the mini-MVR group were significantly shorter or less than those of the control group. Conclusion The safety of mini-MVR is comparable to that of traditional MVR without causing higher postoperative morbidities， while the postoperative recovery after mini-MVR is better than traditional MVR.