ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the pharmacoeconomic value of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus amiodarone in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), and to provide reference for treatment scheme selection, drug selection and the formulation of drug policy. MethodsWe searched databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CNKI and CBM from 2000 to 2014 to collect pharmacoeconomic studies on RFA versus Amiodarone for treating AF. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. The cost-effectiveness of RFA and Amiodarone for AF was compared according to the cost, effectiveness, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). ResultsA total of three studies were included. The results of pharmacoeconomic evaluation showed that the ICERs for each study were $7 976 to $29 068, ￡7 763 to ￡27 745, and $59 194, respectively. According to country-specific willingness to pay thresholds, the ICER of each included study was acceptable. ConclusionCompared to Amiodarone, RFA is a cost-effective therapy for AF.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of patch aortoplasty and extended side-to-end anastomosis for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and hypoplastic aortic arch, and provide a more reasonable surgical choice. MethodsClinical data of 45 patients who underwent surgical correction for CoA and hypoplastic aortic arch in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 2008 to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different surgical strategies for aortic arch hypoplasia, all the 45 patients were divided into 2 groups. In group I, there were 26 patients including 15 males and 11 females with their age of 0.5-6.8 (0.9±2.5) years and body weight of 5.0-20.3 (9.5±7.3) kg, who received patch aortoplasty and whose preoperative pressure gradient between right upper and lower limbs was 38.3±15.6 mm Hg. In groupⅡ, there were 19 patients including 14 males and 5 females with their age of 0.6-7.5 (1.0±2.7) years and body weight of 5.5-21.5 (10.2±6.6) kg, who received extended side-to-end anastomosis and whose preoperative pressure gradient between right upper and lower limbs was 40.7±16.1 mm Hg. Postoperative changes of pressure gradient between right upper and lower limbs of the 2 groups were examined and compared with preoperative values. ResultsTwo patients died postoperatively (4.4%) including 1 patient with low cardiac output syndrome and the other patient with severe lung infection. None of the patients in either group had renal failure or neurological complications. Postoperatively, there were 28 patients whose systolic blood pressure (SBP) of lower extremities was 10-20 mm Hg higher than that of upper extremities, 13 patients whose SBP gradient between upper and limbs was less than 10 mm Hg, and 4 patients whose upper limb SBP was 20 mm Hg higher than lower limb SBP. Postoperative average pressure gradient of right upper and lower extremities was 3.2±13.5 mm Hg and significantly lower than preoperative value (P < 0.05). Postoperative pressure gradient of upper and lower extremities was significantly lower than preoperative value in both groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in preoperative and postoperative changes of pressure gradient of upper and lower extremities between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Thirty-eighty patients (88.4%) were followed up from 3 months to 5 years. During follow-up, there was 1 patient whose blood flow velocity of the descending aorta was increasingly accelerated. Pressure gradient across the aortic arch was larger than 40 mm Hg. Computer tomography showed aortic arch restenosis. This patient received reoperation 8 months after the first discharge. Three patients whose aortic pressure gradient was larger than 20 mm Hg were still followed up. Aortic arch pressure gradient was less than 20 mm Hg in all the other patients. ConclusionBoth patch aortoplasty and extended sideto-end anastomosis are ideal surgical methods for the treatment of CoA and hypoplastic aortic arch. Appropriate surgical method should be chosen according to individual conditions of pediatric patients.
ObjectiveTo summarize clinical experience and results of surgical treatment of subaortic membrane (SM). MethodsClinical data of 32 SM patients who underwent surgical resection of SM between March 2009 and September 2013 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 22 male and 10 female patients with their age of 0.5-14.0 (3.6±3.2)years and body weight of 5.5-43.0 (17.2±9.5)kg. Among the 32 patients, 7 patients had isolated SM, and 25 patients had other intracardiac lesions including ventricular septal defect in 21 patients, mitral regurgi-tation in 1 patient, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)in 1 patient, SM occurrence after PDA occlusion in 1 patient and surgical correction for coarctation of the aorta in another patient. Eighteen patients had aortic insufficiency (AI)in different degree. ResultsSM diagnosis was missed by preoperative echocardiography in 1 patient. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 71.7±21.7 minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 48.7±15.1 minutes, ICU stay was 2.2±1.7 days, and postoperative hospital stay was 7.9±2.5 days. There was no in-hospital death in this group. Postoperatively, 1 patient had second-degree atrioventricular block which returned to sinus rhythm 6 days after the operation. All the patients were followed up for 2-54 months after discharge. During follow-up, AI of 6 patients with isolated SM was relieved, and AI of 5 SM patients with other intracardiac lesions was relieved (P=0.003). Among the 7 patients with isolated SM, preoperative moderate AI in 4 patients changed to mild AI in 3 patients and trivial AI in 1 patient, and preoperative mild AI in 3 patients changed to trivial AI in 2 patients. Among the 25 patients with other intracardiac lesions, preoperative mild AI in 8 patients changed to trivial AI in 3 patients, and preoperative moderate AI in 3 patients changed to mild AI in 1 patients and trivial AI in another patient. There was no SM recurrence during follow-up in this group. ConclusionSM diagnosis may be missed by preo-perative echocardiography, and early surgical correction is needed once the diagnosis is established. Meticulous surgical techniques are necessary during the operation. Postoperative SM recurrence may happen, so regular follow-up is required after discharge.