ObjectiveTo summarize clinical advantages and outcomes of minimally invasive mitral valve replacement (MVR) combined with atrial fibrillation (AF) radiofrequency ablation via right minithoracotomy. MethodsEight patients with mitral valve disease and AF who received surgical therapy in the First Hospital of China Medical University between October 2009 and October 2012 were included in the study. There were 4 males and 4 females with their age of 34-67 (52.4±17.5) years. All the patients underwent minimally invasive MVR combined with AF radiofrequency ablation via right minithoracotomy. Clinical outcomes were summarized. ResultsThere was no in-hospital death or conversion to conventional sternotomy in this group. Two patients received biological valve replacement and 6 patients received mechanical prosthesis. Operation time was 207.9±18.1 minutes, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 81.7±23.9 minutes, and chest drainage amount was 126.7±34.5 ml. AF recurred in 1 patient on the 3rd postoperative day. All the patients were in sinus rhythm at discharge. These patients were followed up for 18.3±7.4 months. During follow-up, 1 patient had AF recurrence. Seven patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ, and 1 patients was in NYHA class Ⅱ. ConclusionMinimally invasive MVR combined with AF radiofrequency ablation via right minithoracotomy can achieve satisfactory clinical results and esthetic appearance, and is a good choice for patients with mitral valve disease and AF.
ObjectiveTo conclude the outcomes of mitral valve repair for mitral bileaflet prolapse. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 patients with mitral bileaflet prolapse in our hospital between June 2010 and March 2013. There were 10 males and 4 females with at age of 46.9±12.0 years. We used one technique in 4 patients, two techniques in 9 patients, three techniques in 1 patient. ResultsMean follow-up time was 13.1±7.2 months. There was no perioperative death. No reoperation occurred. No or trace mitral regurgitation (MR) was found in 13 patients. Slight MR was found in one patient. ConclusionThe early metaphase results of mitral valve repair for mitral bileaflet prolapse are satisfactory if the appropriate surgery method is chosen.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on serum phosphate level in patients after cardiac surgery. MethodA single-center retrospective observational study was conducted on 30 patients received CRRT after cardiac surgery. There were 14 males and 16 females with mean age of 57.0±10.8 years (ranged 37-79 years). A total of 16 patients underwent CRRT with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH), and 14 patients with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). The serum phosphate level was measured before treatment, at 24 h, and 48 h during therapy and 24 h after phosphate salt supplementation. ResultsThe level of serum phosphate at 24 h and 48 h during CRRT was decreased (0.6±0.4 mmol/L vs. 0.4±0.2 mmol/L vs. 1.1±0.3 mmol/L, P<0.01). After intravenous phosphate salt supplementation, serum phosphate level got increased (0.6±0.3 mmol/L, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in serum phosphate level between CVVH and CVVHDF (P>0.05). ConclusionHypophosphatemia occurs frequently during CRRT, particularly with long treatment time. Phosphate salt supplementation is necessary. The dosage of the supplementation should be adjusted personally based on the regularly monitoring results of serum phosphate tests.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience of applying extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after cardiac surgery in adult patient. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 27 patients underwent ECMO from December 2011 to October 2013. There were 15 males and 12 females at the mean age of 51±11 years ranging from 41 to 73 years. Vein-artery perfusion was performed in all 27 patients. ResultsAll 27 patients underwent ECMO. The mean time of using ECMO was 81.2±36.4 hours ranging from 48.0-192.0 hours. The mean time of hospital stay was 307.8±97.0 hours ranging from 168.0-480.0 hours. The rate of weaning from ECMO was 77.8% (21/27). The rate of discharge was 51.9% (14/27). The rate of perioperative mortality was 44.4% (12/27). ConclusionEffective monitoring with other supportive equipments is helpful to promote the result of ECMO.
ObjectiveTo investigate effect of heart tissue-derived extracellular matrix(ECM) on the differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis of cardiosphere-derived cells(CDC) in vitro. MethodsCDCs were cultured by cardiac explant methods. ECM was prepared by decelluariztion procedure. CDCs were cultured on ECM coated dishes or conventional fibrin (FN) coated dishes. Then we compared the differentiation rate, proliferation, and apoptosis rate of CDC between the two groups in vitro. ResultsECM could significantly promote CDC differentiating into vascular endothelial cell, cardiac muscle cell or smooth muscle cell (0.060±0.002 vs. 0.043±0.002, P < 0.001; 0.082±0.003 vs. 0.051±0.002, P < 0.001; 0.055±0.002 vs. 0.034±0.001, P < 0.001). ECM also significantly promoted the proliferation of CDC and reduced the apoptosis and necrosis rate of CDC in vitro (0.052±0.002 vs. 0.025±0.001, P < 0.001). ConclusionWe obtained c-kit+ CDCs, effectively remove the cellular components of heart tissue-derived ECM and preserved the composition and structure of ECM. ECM can promote the differentiation of CDC to vascular endothelial cell, cardiac muscle cell or smooth muscle cell, promote the proliferation of CDCs and decrease CDC apoptosis and necrosis rate in vitro.
ObjectiveTo establish a novel animal model of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCT) in rabbits without thoracotomy, and investigate acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by DHCT and early novel biomarkers of AKI. MethodsForty-two New Zealand big ear rabbits (3.5-4.0 kg, male or female) were randomly divided into 2 groups with 21 rabbits in each group. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was established via the right carotid artery and jugular vein in both groups. In Group A, CPB continued when the rectal temperature was maintained at 28℃. In group B, DHCT started when the rectal temperature reached 16℃ to 18℃ and lasted for 60 minutes before CPB was resumed and rewarming was started. The rectal temperature was restored to 35℃ within 30 minutes, then CPB was maintained for 30 minutes. CPB time was same in both groups. Preoperatively and 6 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after the operation, venous blood samples were taken to examine serum creatinine (Cr) and β-trace protein (β-TP), and urine samples were taken to examine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Four rabbits were sacrificed at respective above time points to measure renal malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining, TUNEL assay and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine morphological changes of renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs). ResultsFour rabbits died in group A and five rabbits died in Group B during the experiment.(1)Blood Cr:There was no statistical difference between different time points in Group A (P > 0.05). In Group B, serum Cr at 24 hours after the operation was significantly higher than other time points, and also significantly higher than that of group A (P < 0.05).(2)Blood β-TP and urinary NGAL:There was no statistical difference between different time points in Group A (P > 0.05). In Group B, blood β-TP and urinary NGAL at the time of 6 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively were significantly higher than preoperative levels (P < 0.05). Blood β-TP and urinary NGAL at the time of 24 hours postoperatively were significantly higher than other time points (P < 0.05). Blood β-TP and urinary NGAL at the time of 6 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively were significantly higher than those of group A (P < 0.05).(3)Renal MDA content of Group B at the time of 24 hours postoperatively was significantly higher than other time points as well as that of Group A (P < 0.05).(4) HE staining showed serious pathological injuries of renal TECs at the time of 24 hours postoperatively in Group B. There was no significant pathological injury of renal TECs at the time of 24 hours postoperatively in Group A. (5)TUNEL-positive rate of group B at the time of 24 hours postoperatively was significantly higher than other time points as well as that of group A (P < 0.05).(6)Transmission electron microscope showed serious pathological injuries of renal TECs organelles at the time of 24 hours postoperatively in Group B. There was no significant pathological injury of renal TECs organelles in Group A. ConclusionsThis DHCT rabbit model without thoracotomy is a simple, convenient, and economical animal model with long-term animal survival for the study of DHCT-induced organ injury. AKI is most serious at the time of 24 hours after DHCA. Blood β-TP and urinary NGAL can be used as early biomarkers of DHCT-induced AKI.
ObjectiveTo investigate surgical treatment strategies for diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD). MethodsFrom January 2003 to June 2013, 92 patients with diffuse CAD received complete coronary revascularization including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)and coronary endarterectomy (CE)in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. There were 63 male and 29 female patients with their age of 52-81 (68.7±10.5)years. After CE and during follow-up, coronary CT angiography (CTA)was used to assess graft patency, and improvement of patients' cardiac function and angina symptoms were observed. ResultsTarget vessel diameter of the 92 patients was all larger than 1.5 mm after CE. Sixty-three patients (with 69 CE grafts)received intraoperative graft blood flow measurement, showing 59 grafts (85.5%)with satisfactory blood flow[blood flow 13-42 (23.4±12.7)ml/min, pulsatility index (PI)1.6-4.2 (2.1±1.1)]. Six patients (6.5%)had perioperative myocardial infarction (MI), and 4 patients (4.3%)died within 30 days after surgery including 2 patients with acute MI and cardiogenic shock, 1 patient with low cardiac output syndrome and multiple organ failure, and 1 patient with massive cerebral infarction. Seventy-three patients (83%)were followed up for 6-108 (49.3±26.7)months after discharge, and 15 patients were lost during follow-up. During follow-up, coronary CTA showed graft patency of 83.9% after CE. Four patients (5.5%)died including 1 patient with heart failure and pulmonary infection, 1 patient of unexplained sudden death, 1 patient with cerebral hemorrhage, and 1 patient with lung cancer. Five-year survival rate was 87% after CE. Six months after CE, ejection fraction (EF)was significantly higher than preo-perative EF (55.6%±9.7% vs. 50.2%±10.5%, P < 0.05), patients' cardiac function significantly improved, and their angina symptoms were significantly relieved. ConclusionCABG with CE can improve coronary revascularization for patients with diffuse CAD, and short-and long-term results are satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of skeletonized left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). MethodsA total of 122 patients who underwent pure CABG were recruited in the study in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between January and April 2013. There were 77 males and 45 females with age of 41-76(62.8±10.5) years. They were randomly assigned to received CABG with skeletonized LIMAs (group A, 60 patients) or pedicle LIMAs (the group B, 62 patients) by random digital table. LIMAs were all anastomosised to the left anterior descending artery. ResultsThere was one patient failure in harvesting LIMA process in the group A and B respectively, and they were changed to saphenous vein grafts and excluded from the criteria. There were 2 and 3 patients of postoperative myocardial infarction in the group A and in the group B respectively, with incidence rate of 3.4% and 4.9% respectively (P > 0.05). One patient died in each group during hospitalization with hospital mortality rates of 1.7% and 1.6% respectively (P > 0.05). Complications such as mediastinal infection occurred zero and one patient in the group A and in the group B respectively (P > 0.05). LIMA harvesting time of the group A was statistically longer than that of the group B (30.7±7.2 min vs. 17.2±5.6 min, P < 0.05). In six months of follow-up after surgery, coronary CT showed patency rate of LIMA in the group A and in the group B was 96.8% and 100.0% respectively (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe recent effect of skeletonized LIMA as graft material in CABG is satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo explore the inhibition action of valproic acid to inflammatory cells and smooth muscle cells then to find out that valproic acid (VPA) can repress rat thoracic aortic aneurysm or not. MethodsThe model of rat thoracic aortic aneurysm was built through the method of soaking the adventitia of artery using porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). The rats were divided into three groups:a normal saline blank control group (a C group), an adventitia soaked PPE group (a P group), and adventitia soaked PPE plus intraperitoneal injection by injecting intraperitioneal VPA 200 mg/kg for seven days (a PV group).The animals of the three groups were all using vascular ultrasound to detect blood vessel diameter. Animals were killed after operation to observe the general morphology of vascular aneuysm and do the immunohistochemial, morphological, protein analysis of interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), smooth muscle 22 alpha (SM22α), matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and Western blot by drawing animals on the 14th day. ResultsThe vessels diameter in the PV group was narrower than that in the P group (P value<0.05). HE staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot displayed that the cells in the P group were in disorder arrangement and interstitial disorder while the cells in the PV group maintained better albumin layer. The protein expressions of IL-1, IL-6, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the PV group decreased except that SM22α increased. ConclusionVPA can inhibit phenothpic transforming of aneurysm inflammatory cells and smooth muscle cells, reduce the levels of cell proliferation, decrease the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases, and depress tumor growth of rat thoracic aorta.
ObjectivesTo investigate simple assess method of the degree of low transvalvular gradient aortic stenosis patients with impaired left ventricular function and to investigate aortic valve replacement indications, short and mid-term outcome of this kind of patients. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 low-gradient patients with impaired left ventricular function in our hospital from January 2011 through May 2014. There were 15 males and 6 females aged 41-66 (54.6± 10.7) years with mean aortic transvalvular gradient less than 40 mm Hg and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 50%. ResultsIn response to dobutamine echocardiography stress test, 20 patients underwent aortic valve replacement. The result of intraoperative pathology showed 11 patients were with bicuspid aortic valve malformation, 4 patients with degenerative changes, 4 patients with rheumatic disease. During the same period, 3 patients underwent atrial fibrillation ablation, 1 patient with ascending aorta replacement, 2 patients with coronary artery bypass grafting, 1 patient with mitral valvuloplasty. One patient died of multiple organ failure on the fourth day after operation. The remaining patients recovered. The patients were followed up for 3 to 37 months after operation. Heart function of majority improved to gradeⅠorⅡin 3 months after surgery. The result of echocardiogram showed prosthetic valve function was good and LVEF increased (preoperative 35.7%± 8.2% vs. postoperative 49.4%± 7.2%). One patient suffered sudden death of unknown cause in the 11th months after operation. ConclusionsFor patients whose dobutamine echocardiography stress test displayed with true severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular contractile reserve capacity, after aortic valve replacement and relief of the obstruction, the left ventricular afterload decreases significantly, the left ventricular function also improves, LVEF and the quality of life improve significantly after operation.