Fontan operation is still a main procedure for treatment of complex congenital heart disease, such as univentricular heart. Fontan procedure has undergone many revisions since its introduction in 1968. The earlyapplied atriumpulmonary connection has been replaced by total cavopulmonary connection. The midterm and late results of both the intraatrial lateral tunnel and extracardiac total cavopulmonary connections were compared and analyzed in this article. Extracardiac conduit is better. The Fontan circulation failure would appear at last because of nopump function of the right ventricle. Once Fontan circulation failure occurred and could not recover by medicine, heart transplantation is mandatory, but the source of donor heart is lacking. The study of mechanical cavopulmonary assist device, to “biventricularize” the univentricular Fontan circulation, has been developed, which is quite promising. Following the development of diagnostic and treatment techniques for fetal heart disease, the treatment procedure of complex congenital heart disease has been broadened in recent years, such as to prevent the severe aortic stenosis from developing into hypoplastic left heart syndrome with fetal cardiac intervention so as to increase the chance of biventricular repair, and to terminate gestation to decrease its birth rate of complex heart abnormalities, which could not be completely repaired to date.
Objective To investigate the way and process of degradation behavior of acellular porcine aortic valve in vitro. Methods Acellular porcine aortic valve（n=90）were randomly divided into 3 groups （collagenase group, elastase group, control group）, 30 piece in each group . Behavior of acellular porcine aortic valve was degradated with 0.05mg/ml collagenase Ⅰ, 0. 05mg/ml elastase, phosphate buffered solution in collagenase group, elastase group and control group. The histomorphology, weight loss, value of protein and hydroxyproline were observed at 3,6,9, 12, 15 and 30d after degradation. Results The behavior of acellular porcine aortic valve of collagenase group and elastase group became poorer, looser and broken gradually in degradation. The weight loss of valve, the value of protein and hydroxyproline in vehiculum became greater gradually in collagenase group and elastase group（P〈0. 01）. Furthermore the effect of collagenase Ⅰ was b than elastase in degradation. Conclusion The effect of collagenase Ⅰ and elastase can degradate the acellular porcine aortic valve in vitro. Collagenase Ⅰ is b than elastase in degradation.
Objective To compare the biological and biomechanical characteristics of decellularized bovine jugular venous tissue-engineered valved conduit scaffolds with that of fresh bovine jugular veins. Methods Fortyeight fresh bovine jugular veins were divided into control group and experimental group with random number table method, 24 veins in each group. There were fresh bovine jugular veins in control group, decellularized bovine jugular veins in experimental group. The veins of experimental group were treated with sodium deoxyeholate plus Triton-X-100 to decellularize the cells in valves and vessel walls. The thickness, water absorption rate, water maintenance rate, destroying strength, stretch rate of valves and vessel walls in two groups were detected. Results The endothelial cell and fibroblast of valves and vessel walls in experimental group were completely decellularized, no cell fragments were retained within the matrix scaffold; collagen fiber and elastin fiber had been preserved with intact structure and wavily arrayed; deoxyribonucleic acid content of valves and vessel walls in experimental group were decreased by 97.58%, 97.25% compared with that of control group. The thickness, water absorption rate and water maintenance rate of valves and vessel walls in experimental group were lightly increased than those of control group, but there were no significant differences between them （P 〉 0. 05）. There were no significant differences in destroying strength and stretch rate of valves and vessel walls between two groups （P〉0. 05）. Conclusion Decellularized bovine jugular vein scaffold has stable biological and biomechanical characteristics and it may be ideal natural fibrous matrix for developing the tissue-engineered valved conduit by host recellularization.
Abstract： Objective To summarize our experience of surgical treatment for anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery in infants and children. Methods From March 2005 to May 2010，11 patients with anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery and other concomitant congenital cardiovascular malformations underwent surgical repair in Xijing Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University．The mean age of the patients was 11.5 months with a range from 2 months to 36 months．Their mean body weight was 7.1 kg with a range from 4 to 13 kg. Seven patients had anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta, and four patients had anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta. All the eleven patients had other concomitant intracardiac anomalies or vascular malformations as well as pulmonary hypertension, and underwent one stage surgical repair via median sternotomy under hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass. Results Their operation time was 169 - 293 （231±55） min, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 87-210 （138±47） min, and aortic-clamping time was 45-133 （86±28） min. There was one postoperative death who had low cardiac output syndrome after repair for tetralogy of Fallot and anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery. The overall postoperative mortality was 9.1％. Postoperative echocardiography of all the surviving patients showed their left and right pulmonary artery origined from the right ventricle and pulmonary artery with satisfactory malformation correction but no residual shunt and pulmonary stenosis . All the surviving ten patients were followed up with a follow-up rate of 100% and mean follow-up time of 13.5 months with a range from 3 to 32 months. Their echocardiography during follow-up showed that there was no pulmonary stenosis in all the patients, and pulmonary blood pressure significantly decreased in 9 patients. Conclusion Patients with anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery should undergo surgical repair as early as possible with satisfactory short-term outcomes in infants and children. For elder patients with irreversible pulmonary hypertension, the choice of surgical treatment should be more cautious. During the surgery, the anomalous pulmonary artery and ascending aorta should be dissociated fully, and transection of the ascending aorta is helpful to get a satisfactory operating field view for the surgeon. Repairing aortic defect with autologous pulmonary arterial patch can effectively avoid the occurrence of postoperative aortic aneurysm.
Corresponding author: Y I Ding -hua, E -mail: yidh@fmmu. edu. cnAbstract: Objective To investigate the optimal surgical approaches for coarctation of aorta (CoA ) associated with heart anomalies (CoA -HA ) in infants through analyzing the immediate and long-term outcome post-operation. Methods From May 1998 to November 2006, 29 patients with CoA -HA were admitted to this institute. Subclavian flap angioplasty was performed in three patients, excision of coarctation and end-to-side anastomoses in six pat ients,and end-to-end anastomoses in the remaining 20 pat ients. Their clinical data were retrospect ively reviewed and the long-term follow -up results obtained through telephone o r letters. Results Three patients died of operations, of whom one died of low cardiac output syndrome, one died of sepsis and one died of multiple organs failure. In two months’to eight years’follow -up , no later death and severe neurological complications were found. Two patients suffered from recurrent coarctation, but had no sense of symptoms and free from re-operation. In all pat ients neither systemic hypertension, nor arterial aneurysm and aortic valve regurgitation were found. Conclusions Mortality of surgical corrections is accepted fo r CoA -HA in infants. Preoperative heart dysfunction and prolonged mechanical ventilation are the high risks of operative death. Recurrent coarctation is the major later comp lication.