ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness and safety of Mei mini maze procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF). MethodsWe analyzed the clinical data of 207 patients with 111 males, 96 females at 58.9±14.8 years in our hospital between October 2010 and February 2014. Among them, 98 patients were with paroxysmal AF and 109 patients were with persistent AF. The procedure was performed through three ports on left chest wall. Radiofrequency ablation procedures of AF included pulmonary veins isolation and ablations of the roof and posterior wall of left atrium, which were achieved by bipolar radiofrequency ablation. Ganglionic plexus ablation was made by the ablation pen. Left atrial appendage was excluded. ResultsTime of the procedures was 112.4±32.5 minutes. No conversion to sternotomy or pacemaker implantation occurred and no patients died. The hospital stay was 7.2±3.1days. The mean follow-up time was 24.2±8.9 months. A total of 187 (90.3%) patients were in sinus rhythm. And 20 patients could not maintain sinus rhythm. Stroke, thrombus in the left atrium and stenosis of pulmonary vein were not found after their procedures. ConclusionMei mini maze procedure is safe and presents optimistic outcomes for the atrial fibrillation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of the epicardial circumferential left atrial ablation (CLAA) with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in curing atrial fibrillation (AF). MethodsThirty experimental pigs, weight from 60-78 kg, were divided into 3 groups with the method of random sampling:a group of AF (AF group, n=10), a group of PVI (PVI group, n=10), and a group of CLAA and PVI (CLAA+PVI group, n=10). AF mode was induced by rapid atrial pacing. After AF was induced, no ablation was performed for pigs in the AF group, PVI was performed for pigs in the PVI group with bipolar radiofrequency ablation clamp, and the CLAA+PVI group underwent CLAA after accepted PVI with bipolar radiofrequency ablation clamp. After ablation, we applied electrovert on AF pigs to recover to sinus rhythm, then we tested the vulnerability and lasting time of AF in all 3 groups. ResultsAll pigs developed a stable and sustained AF by rapid left atrial pacing. The pigs of the PVI group and the CLAA+PVI group successfully underwent ablation with the beating heart. Isolated PVI terminated AF in 3 of 20 pigs, and CLAA with PVI terminated AF in 5 of 8 pigs (15% vs. 62.5%, P=0.022). After all pigs recovered to the sinus rhythm, compared with the AF group (10/10), the incidence of sustained AF by burst pacing was statistically decreased in the PVI group (3/10, P=0.003) and the CLAA+PVI group (0/10, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference between the PVI group and the CLAA+PVI group (P=0.211). There was a statistical decreasing of AF duration in the PVI group (P=0.003) and the CLAA+PVI group (P<0.001) compared with the AF group and there was a statistical decreasing of AF duration in the CLAA+PVI group compared to that of the PVI group (P=0.008). ConclusionCompared with isolated PVI, CLAA+PVI may effectually stop the lasting of AF, restrain the recurrance of AF, and improve the treatment effect of AF.
ObjectiveTo compare clinical outcomes between biatrial ablation and right atrial ablation in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF)for adult patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). MethodsClinical data of 47 patients with ASD and AF who underwent surgical ASD repair and radiofrequency ablation from January 2007 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 male and 27 female patients with their age of 35-76 years. AF duration ranged from 3 months to 15 years. There were 18 patients with persistent AF and 29 patients with long-standing persistent AF. There were 10 patients with mild-to-moderate or more severe mitral regurgitation (MR), and 28 patients with mild-to-moderate or more severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). According to different surgical strategies, all the 47 patients were divided into 2 groups. In right atrial ablation group, there were 19 patients who received ASD repair and right atrial ablation. In biatrial ablation group, there were 28 patients who received ASD repair and biatrial ablation. For patients with mild-to-moderate or more severe MR or TR, concomitant mitral or tricuspid valvuloplasty was performed. All the patients received 24-hour Holter monitoring at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge, and were intermittently followed up thereafter. ResultsCardio-pulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time and postoperative hospital stay of biatrial ablation group were significantly longer than those of right atrial ablation group. But there was no statistical difference in postoperative morbidity or recovery between the 2 groups. After heart rebeating, there were 25 patients (89.3%)with sinus rhythm (SR)and 3 patients with junc-tional rhythm (JR), and none of the patients had AF in biatrial ablation group. There were 14 patients (73.7%)with SR, 2 patients with JR and 3 patients with AF in right atrial ablation group. At discharge, 28 patients (100%)in biatrial ablation group had SR, and in right atrial ablation group there were 15 patients (78.9%)with SR and 4 patients with AF relapse (P=0.045). All the patients were followed up for 3-75 months, and there was no death or residual ASD shunt during follow-up. Two patients had mild-to-moderate or more severe MR, and 4 patients had mild-to-moderate or more severe TR. Cumulative SR maintenance rate of biatrial ablation group (87.7%±6.7%)was significantly higher than that of right atrial ablation group (47.4%±11.5%, P=0.003)at 2 years after discharge. ConclusionFor adult patients with ASD and AF, biatrial ablation can produce better clinical outcomes than right atrial ablation without increasing surgical risks.
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of modified tricuspid valvuloplasty using anterior leaflet in patients with partial antrioventricular septal defect and tricuspid septal leaflet dysplasia. MethodsNinety-five patients with partial antrioventricular septal defect and tricuspid septal leaflet dysplasia underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from June 2002 to March 2014. There were 39 males and 56 females with an average age of 3.2±6.6 years (range 3 months to 46 years). Preoperative echocardiography prompted all patients had varying degrees of tricuspid valve dysplasia and tricuspid regurgitation (mild in 14 cases, moderate in 49 cases, and severe in 32 cases). According to the different development of anterior and septal leaflet, we used different techniques to repair the tricuspid problems. If the residual septal leaflet was larger than one third of the normal septal leaflet, we continuously stitched the half of the septal side of anterior leaflet to the two third of the left side of residual septal leaflet. If the residual septal leaflet was less than one third of the normal septal leaflet, we reserved part of pericardial patch at right side of septal crest at repairing the atrial septal defect, and continuously stitched the left two third of the patch edge to the half of septal side of anterior leaflet. All patients received transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to evaluate the intraoperative effect of valvuloplasty. The patients were followed up with echocardiography after 3 to 6 months to evaluate the condition of tricuspid. ResultsThere was no perioperative death or Ⅲ degree atrioventricular block. Intraoperative TEE showed that the effect of tricuspid valvuloplasty was good with 3 cases of mild regurgitation and 2 cases of moderate regurgitation. Other 90 cases had no significant regurgitation. The aortic cross-clamping time was 35.2±11.2 min and cardiopulmonary bypass time was 64.9±16.6 min. In the followed-up between 3 to 6 months, tricuspid regurgitation situation improved significantly than that in preoperative period with mild regurgitation or no reflux in 89 cases and moderate regurgitation in 6 cases. There was no severe regurgitation occurred. ConclusionThe therapeutic effect is satisfactory by using anterior leaflet to repair the regurgitation of tricuspid in patients with partial antrioventricular septal defect and tricuspid septal leaflet dysplasia.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety and clinical outcomes of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR)through right anterior minithoracotomy (RAMT)and conventional median sternotomy. MethodsFrom March 2006 to March 2013, 169 patients underwent isolated AVR in Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. Among them, 42 patients received AVR via RAMT (RAMT group)including 30 males and 12 females with their age of 59.31±8.30 years. And 127 patients received AVR via conventional median sternotomy (conventional surgery group)including 89 males and 38 females with their age of 60.02±5.93 years. There were 75 patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS), 42 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR)and 52 patients with AS+AR. Postoperative outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsThere was no statistical difference in preoperative clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. All the patients successfully received isolated AVR. 153 patients received mechanical prosthesis and 16 patients received bioprosthetic valves. Fifty-two patients received 21 mm valves, and 117 patients received 23 mm valves. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time of RAMT group were significantly longer than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). But mechanical ventilation time, length of postoperative ICU stay and hospital stay of RAMT group were significantly shorter than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). Postoperative thoracic drainage, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion of RAMT group were significantly less than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). In conventional surgery group, 2 patients underwent reexploration for bleeding and 2 patients had wound infection postoperatively. Two patients died postoperatively, both in conventional surgery group, including 1 patient with low cardiac output syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and another patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis secondary to sternal wound infection. ConclusionCompared with conventional median sternotomy, RAMT is safe and efficacious for patients undergoing isolated AVR with minimal surgical injury, better postoperative recovery and cosmetic outcomes.
ObjectiveTo explore the mid-term outcomes achieved by using the left internal mammary artery to saphenous vein composite grafts in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) for elderly patients. MethodsA total of 59 elderly patients (≥70 years old) underwent OPCAB by using left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to radial artery (RA) or saphenous vein (SV) composite grafts in Xinhua Hospital between March 2006 and October 2012. There was 37 males and 22 females at age of 72.71±1.95 years. Twenty one patients used LIMA-SV composite grafts (LIMA-SV group), and 38 patients used LIMA-RA composite grafts (LIMA-RA group). ResultsAll patients successfully underwent OPCAB with LIMA-SV or LIMA-RA composite grafts. There was one early death in the LIMA-RA group. No statistical differences in early postoperative outcomes were found between the two groups (P > 0.05). During a follow-up of 12 to 91 months, no patient occurred revascularization. There were no statistical differences in overall survival or graft patency rate, and 1 year, 3 years or 5 years survival rates between the two groups (P > 0.05). The patency rate of LIMA in each group was 100% respectively. There was also no statistical difference in overall patency rate of SV and RA between the two groups at the end of 1 year, 3 years or 5 years (P > 0.05). ConclusionAlthough artery grafts are the best choice for OPCAB, LIMA-SV composite grafts can be used as an alternative graft for elderly patients whose RA or right internal mammary artery is not possible or advisable.
Objective To summarize the surgical treatment strategies and the clinical outcomes of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with severe mitral regurgitation. Method We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 23 patients of HOCM with severe mitral regurgitation in our hospital from January 2004 through January 2014 year. There were 14 males and 9 females, aged from 15-71(50.2±15.4) years. The preoperative left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTPG) of these patients was 75-161(98.1±19.3) mm Hg. And the septal thickness was 25.8±2.8 mm. All 23 patients had at least moderate mitral regurgitation and systolic anterior motion (SAM). All of them had extend septal myectomy (extend Marrow procedure) and mitral valve repair(MVP),while 4 patients with atrial fibrillation had left atrial ablation and left atrial appendage operation. Results All patients were successfully operated. The left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient was 16-39(26.9±4.9) mm Hg when the cardiopulmonary bypass stopped and SAM phenomenon was completely eliminated. Except for 2 mitral valve patients with trace amounts of regurgitation, 1 patient with mild regurgitation, the other 20 patients of mitral regurgitation were completely corrected. All patients survived after operation and only 1 patient suffered from transient complete atrioventricular block and then back to normal sinus rhythm. A long-term follow-up from 6 months to 126 months with an average of 53.1±34.9 months showed no late postoperative death. No mitral regurgitation need reoperation. Two patients had mild reflux. Four patients were of trace reflux. The left ventricular outflow tract the maximum pressure gradient was less than 42 mm Hg. The thickness of interventricular septum dropped from preoperative 25.8±2.8 mm to postoperative 14.1±1.3 mm (P<0.001) . No recurrence was noted in the 3 patients with atrial fibrillation. And one patient still had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Long term follow-up of the patients' symptoms disappeared or with only mild symptoms. And quality of their life improved significantly. And there was no long-term complication, reoperation, or death. Conclusions The extensive septal myectomy can completely dredge left ventricular outflow tract stenosis and eliminate SAM phenomenon. The mitral valve repair can correct mitral regurgitation. The comprehensive surgical treatment strategy can achieve a good long-term therapeutic effect.
ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of repeated tricuspid valve surgery for patients with late severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after cardiac surgery through right anterior minithoracotomy and conventional median sternotomy approaches. MethodsBetween June 2002 and June 2013, 89 patients with late severe tricuspid regurgitation after cardiac surgery underwent repeated tricuspid valve surgery through right anterior minithoracotomy in our hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. Fifty one patients were in a minimally invasive group with 28 males and 23 females at age of 46.59±11.53 years. Thirty eight patients were in a conventional median sternotomy (conventional group) with 15 males and 23 females at age of 50.42±9.30 years. The outcomes of the two groups were compared. ResultsThere was no statisitcal difference in preoperative clinical data between two groups. All patients successfully underwent repeated tricuspid valve surgery. Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) was performed in 68 patients (38 patients vs. 30 patients), and tricuspid valvuloplasty (TVP) was performed in 21 patients (13 patients vs. 8 patients). Compared with the conventional group, operation time, time of establishing cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative in-hospital time were significantly shorter in the minimally invasive group (P<0.001). The postoperative drainage was significantly reduced in the minimally invasive group compared with the value of the conventional group (P<0.001). Three patients died in the early postoperative period (1 patient vs. 2 patients). In the conventional group, one patient needed re-exploration for bleeding and 2 patients had wound infection. At discharge, transthoracic echocardiography showed that all patients had no or mild TR and no paravalvular leakage occurred. During the follow-up (12-144 months), 4 patients died (2 patients vs. 2 patients). In the minimally invasive group, one patient underwent repeated TVR due to severe TR associated with infective endocarditis, and another patient had moderate TR. In the conventional group, one patient underwent repeated TVR due to mechanical valve thrombosis. ConclusionRight anterior minithoracotomy is safe, effective and reliable for patients with late severe TR after cardiac surgery. It has the similar effect of the correction of valvular lesions with conventional median sternotomy, but right anterior minithoracotomy has more benefits, including more, minimally invasive, less blood loss, shorter operation time and faster recover.
ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of concomitant mitral valve surgery and tricuspid valve surgery through right minithoracotomy and conventional median sternotomy approaches. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 475 patients underwent mitral valve surgery combined with tricuspid valve surgery through right minithoracotomy or conventional median sternotomy in Xinhua Hospital between June 2006 and June 2013. The patients were divided into two groups including a minimally invasive group(116 patients) and a conventional group (359 patients). ResultsAll the patients successfully underwent mitral valve and tricuspid valve surgery. During operation, there were 426 patients with no trivial mitral regurgitation (MR) and 49 patients with trivial MR. There were 282 patients with no tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and 193 patients with trivil TR. At discharge, transesophageal echocardiography showed that trivial MR in 38 patients, mild MR in 5 patients, trivial tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in 150 patients and mild TR in 7 patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in complications. ConclusionRight minithoracotomy can achieve the similar therapeutic effect to conventional median sternotomy for patients with mitral valve disease and concomitant tricuspid valve disease. In addition, patients through right minithoracotomy had better cosmetic outcomes.
ObjectiveTo assess the effect of a novel modified epicardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation for preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) combined with aortic valve disease. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 28 patients with AF and aortic valve disease underwent the novel modified epicardial RF ablation combined with aortic valve replacement (AVR) in our hospital between December 2009 and December 2014. There were 18 males and 10 females at age of 53-73 (64.9±4.8) years. The patients were performed epicardial atrial fibrillation RF ablation plus aortic valve replacement. ResultsThe modified epicardial RF ablation and AVR were performed successfully in all the patients. The maintenance of sinus rhythm was 96.4% (27/28) at discharge. There were no early death and permanent pacemaker implantation in perioperation. At a mean following-up of 29.2±17.7 months, 26 of 28 (92.9%) patients were in sinus rhythm. Following-up transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) at 6 months postoperatively showed that left atrial diameter was significantly reduced and left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased. ConclusionThe novel modified epicardial RF ablation procedure is safe, feasible, and effective. It may be useful in selecting the best ablation approaches for patients with AF and aortic valve disease.