Objective [WTBZ]To assess the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy using aspirin and clopidogrel on postoperative bleeding and blood transfusion early after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods [WTBZ]In this randomized controlled trial, 249 patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups after coronary artery bypass grafting from December 2007 to December 2008. Daily clopidogrel (75 mg) and aspirin (100 mg) were initiated in 124 patients (group AC) while aspirin (100 mg) alone was administered to 125 patients (group A). Antiplatelet therapy was initiated within 48h postoperatively. Demographic, operative, and postoperative data were compared between the two groups. Chest tube drainage and quantity of blood products used in both groups were recorded. The effects of the antiplatelet regimen on chest tube drainage were compared using a linear regression model. Results [WTBZ]No statistical difference of demographic, operative, and preoperative data was observed between the two groups （Pgt;0.05）. Chest tube drainage after patients received ntiplatelet agents was not significantly different between group A and group AC（495.00±270.89 ml vs. 489.25±316.68ml，t=0.146, P=0.884）. No statistical difference of cases of transfusion(81 cases vs. 91 cases，χ2=1.937, P=0.164) or quantity of red cells (2.51±2.88 U vs. 2.25±2.87 U, t=0.690, P=0.491) and plasma (195.45±300.88 ml vs. 223.01±238.68 ml,t=0.759, P=0.449) transfused was found between group A and group AC. No perioperative mortality, reexploration or extrathoracic bleeding occurred in either group. Early postoperative use of dual antiplatelet therapy was not associated with increased bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting on multivariable analysis（r=2.297，95%CI:-64.526,69.121，P=0.946）. Conclusionpresent study suggests that according to a predefined administration protocol, dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin and clopidogrel can safely be administered in the early postoperative period in CABG patients, without increasing the risk of bleeding complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with ultrasound (US) contrasting with MRI in evaluating the pathological complete response (pCR) of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).MethodsThe imaging data of patients with primary invasive breast cancer who completed the surgical resection after NAC and met the inclusion criteria in the Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from December 2016 to December 2019 were collected retrospectively. These patients were evaluated by MRI and MRI combined with US examination respectively. The results of MRI alone and MRI combined with US were designed into imaging of complete remission (rCR) and imaging of non-complete remission (non-rCR). With results of postoperative pathology as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) of MRI alone and MRI combined with US in predicting pCR of patients with rCR or non-rCR were calculated and which were further analyzed in the 4 subtypes of breast cancer (HR+/HER2+, HR+/HER2–, HR–/HER2+, and HR–/HER2– subtype).Results① According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 146 patients with primary invasive breast cancer were included, including 34 cases of HR+/HER2+subtype, 63 cases of HR+/HER2– subtype, 23 cases of HR–/HER2+ subtype, and 26 cases of HR–/HER2– subtype. ② After NAC, 36 cases had a pCR, among which 9 cases (26.5%) were in HR+/HER2+ subtype, 10 cases (15.9%) were in HR+/HER2– subtype, 8 cases (34.8%) were in HR–/HER2+ subtype, and 9 cases (34.6%) were in HR–/HER2– subtype. ③ After NAC, 22 (78.6%) of the 28 patients evaluated by MRI alone achieved pCR, 17 (81.0%) of the 21 patients evaluated by MRI combined with US achieved pCR, and the PPV value of pCR evaluated by MRI alone and MRI combined with US was 78.6% and 81.0%, respectively. ④ Both MRI alone and MRI combined with US predicted NAC showed the highest PPV values in patients with HR–/HER2– subtype breast cancer (85.7% and 100%, respectively), and the lowest values in HR+/ HER2– subtype breast cancer (71.4% and 60.0%, respectively).ConclusionFor the overall patients with primary invasive breast cancer, MRI combined with US is superior to MRI alone in the evaluation of efficacy after NAC, and among the patients with different subtypes of breast cancer, except HR+/HER2– subtype, MRI combined with US is still more effective in predicting efficacy after NAC than MRI alone.
Objective To investigate the safety, efficacy of the surgery and the characteristics of the blood flow after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) to analyze the early operative results, CT results and the graft flow. Methods From December 2015 to July 2016, 52 patients (46 males, 6 females) with an average age of 56.6±6.8 years, underwent CABG using bilateral internal mammary artery. All the operations were carried out under extracorporeal circulation, both internal mammary arteries were obtained with pedicle and the bypass path was designed according to the target vessels. After the anastomosis was completed, the graft flow was measured using Veri Q system. The CT angiography of coronary artery was completed before discharge. Perioperative outcomes, early CT outcomes, and blood flow of grafts were analysed. Results There was no operative mortality. The average operation time was 4.7±0.6 hours, average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 114.8±20.6 minutes, average cross-clamping time was 82.8±17.6 minutes, average mechanical ventilation time was 17.6±10.5 hours and average ICU stay was 2.7±1.8 days. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 4.6±0.8. One patient suffered sternal complication and poor wound healing and then receieved debridement as well as suturing. Other patients discharged without surgical complications. The average flow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft was 28.1±11.4 ml/min with a mean pulsatility index (PI) of 2.2±0.6. The average flow of right internal mammary artery (RIMA) was 27.3±12.0 ml/min with a mean PI of 2.4± 0.8. The mean flow of great saphenous vein was 41.5±21.5 ml/min with a mean PI of 2.2±0.7. There was no significant difference in the mean flow between LIMA and RIMA (P=0.978). The mean flow of the great saphenous vein was significantly higher than that of RIMA and LIMA (P=0.000). CT angiography showed no stenosis. Distal anastomosis of 7 vein grafts and 5 artery grafts was demonstrated shallow in CT angiography and 2 vein grafts were undemonstrated, suggesting occlusion. Conclusion The use of BIMA for CABG is safe with less complications. RIMA flow is equivalent to LIMA flow. RIMA with no stenosis and occlusion of artery grafts in the early stage, therefore is the ideal and stable coronary bypass graft.
Objective To evaluate the influence of diabetes on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA). Methods From December 2015 to August 2017, 182 patients (153 males, 29 females, age of 56.5±6.8 years) underwent CABG using BIMA. The propensity score was used to create matched diabetes (n=66) and non-diabetes (n=66) cohorts. The operative data, post-operative outcomes and coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the diabetes group (53 males, 13 females, age of 57.8±7.2 years) and the non-diabetes group (56 males, 10 females, age of 56.3±6.0 years) were analyzed retrospectively. Results There was no peri-operative mortality. There was no difference in operative sternal wound complication (P=0.466), or graft patency (P=0.730 for internal mammary arteries and 0.684 for saphenous vein grafts) between the matched diabetes and the non-diabetes groups. However, patients with elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (n=54) had more sternal wound complications (P=0.006). The level of Hb1Ac of the patients with sternal wound complication was significantly higher than that of the patients without sternal wound complication. Conclusion BIMA grafting may be performed routinely even in diabetic patients, without increased complications. However, elevated HbA1c level should be avoided to reduce sternal wound complication.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of skeletonized and pedicled harvesting of bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods From December 2015 to May 2017, 152 patients (128 males, 24 females, age of 56.5±6.8 years) underwent CABG using either skeletonized BIMA (s-BIMA group, n=73) or pedicled BIMA(p-BIMA group, n=79). The operative data and post-operative outcomes were analyzed in the s-BIMA group (61 males, 12 females, age of 56.6±7.0 years) and the p-BIMA group (67 males, 12 females, age of 56.3±6.7 years). Results There was no peri-operative mortality. There was no statistical difference in operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time or internal mammary artery graft flow between the two groups. One patient(1.4%) in the s-BIMA group suffered from severe sternal wound complication, which was major sternal wound complication. Five patients (6.3%) in the p-BIMA group suffered from sternal wound complications, including 1(1.3%) with severe complication and 4(5.1%) with minor complication. One(1.4%) patient in the s-BIMA group and 7 (8.9%) patients in the p-BIMA group suffered from chylothorax. The chest tube drainage significantly reduced in the s-BIMA group, both in postoperative day 1(P=0.000) and postoperative day 1-3 (P=0.001). CT angiography showed no stenosis of BIMA in both groups. Conclusion The use of skeletonized BIMA for CABG is safe and efficacious, with less sternal wound complications, chylothorax and chest tube drainage. Skeletonization should be suggested if BIMA is harvested in CABG.
Objective To verify whether hybrid surgical and interventional ablation(HA) for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is superior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical radiofrequency ablation (VATS-RA). Methods From September 2010 to December 2017, 79 consecutive patients with persistent AF underwent VATS-RA or HA in Fuwai Hospital. VATS-RA was performed in sixty patients (a stand-alone surgical group, 48 males and 12 females, at average age of 56.0±7.6 years, and HA was performed in nineteen patients (a hybrid group, 14 males and 5 females, at average age of 58.0±7.3 years). Follow-up was completed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and annually thereafter. Postoperative sinus rhythm was defined as sinus rhythm recorded in 24-hour or 7-day Holter during follow-up, without exhibited rapid atrial tachyarrhythmia≥30 s including AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia. Results Seventy-eight patients (98.7%) completed the follow-up. Although the preoperative left atrial diameter (49.1±5.3 mm) in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (41.7±6.2 mm, P<0.001). Overall sinus rhythm maintenance rate in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (94.7% versus 64.4%,P=0.011). And sinus rhythm maintenance rate free from anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) and catheter ablation in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (84.2% versus 50.8%, P=0.010). Conclusion HA is superior to VATS-RA in the treatment of persistent AF, but a larger sample size is needed for further validation in prospective randomized studies.
ObjectiveTo evaluate short-term clinical outcomes of skeletonized bilateral internal mammary artery (sBIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsThe clinical data of 62 patients (54 males and 8 females with an average age of 56.8±6.0 years) undergoing isolated CABG using sBIMA in our hospital from October 2016 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The coronary graft flow, perioperative clinical outcomes and CT results were reviewed.ResultsAll the operations were carried out under extracorporeal circulation. Anastomosis of 124 internal mammary arteries was performed and 116 great saphenous veins were used simultaneously with an average anastomosis site of 4.5±0.8 for each patient. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116.4±22.9 min, aortic clamping time was 83.0±18.3 min, mechanical ventilation time was 20.8±21.3 h and ICU stay was 2.7±1.7 d. The graft flow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA), right internal mammary artery (RIMA) and great saphenous vein were 28.8±12.4 mL/min, 32.8±13.8 mL/min and 41.5±21.5 mL/min, respectively. There was no significant difference in the graft flow between LIMA and RIMA (P=0.112). There was no perioperative mortality, myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. Only one male patient suffered sternal complication and poor wound healing and then received debridement as well as suturing. Coronary CT angiography showed that distal anastomosis of 7 vein grafts and 5 artery grafts was demonstrated shallow and 1 vein graft was undemonstrated, suggesting occlusion.ConclusionCABG with sBIMA is a safe and reliable technique with excellent early results.
This paper introduces the main contents of ROB-ME (Risk Of Bias due to Missing Evidence), including backgrounds, scope of the tool, signal questions and the operation process. The ROB-ME tool has the advantages of clear logic, complete details, simple operation and good applicability. The ROB-ME tool offers considerable advantages for assessing the risk of non-reporting biases and will be useful to researchers, thus being worth popularizing and applying.
This paper summarizes the methodological quality assessment tools of artificial intelligence-based diagnostic test accuracy studies, and introduces QUADAS-AI and modified QUADAS-2. Moreover, this paper summarizes reporting guidelines of these studies as well, and then introduces specific reporting standards in AI-centred research, and checklist for AI in dental research.
This paper summarizes the methodological quality assessment tools of artificial intelligence-based diagnostic test accuracy studies, and introduces QUADAS-AI and modified QUADAS-2. Moreover, this paper summarizes reporting guidelines of these studies as well, and then introduces specific reporting standards in AI-centred research, and checklist for AI in dental research.