ObjectiveTo analyze long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 44 patients with severe AR and LVD who received AVR in Drum Tower Hospital from January 2002 to December 2012. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of all the patients was lower than 35%. There were 29 male and 15 female patients with their age of 23-78 (44±6) years and LVEF of 22%-34% (29%±3%). ResultsTwo patients died because of heart failure postoperatively. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 57-92 (73±8) minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 33-61 (48±6)minutes, and length of ICU stay was 2-15 (8±3) days. All the patients were followed up for 1-11 (4.3±2.9) years. Two patients died during follow-up because of heart failure and stroke respectively. One-year survival rate was 93% and five-year survival rate was 91%. ConclusionAVR can significantly increase long-time survival of patients with severe AR and LVD.
ObjectiveTo retrospectively compare and analyze the effect of myocardial protection between histidinetryptophane-ketoglutarate (HTK) and 4:1 blood cardioplegia in patients with complex coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. MethodsFrom January 2003 to July 2013, 2132 patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in our institution. Among them, 227 patients with complex coronary artery disease (left main or triple vessel disease) and left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤ 50%) were included in this study. According to the category of cardioplegia utilized in the operations, the patients were divided into two groups: a HTK group (85 males and 4 females, n=89) and a blood cardioplegia group (113 males and 25 females, n=138). The average age was 62.78±9.30 years in the HTK group and 62.74±9.07 years in the blood cardioplegia group. The effect of myocardial protection between two groups was compared. ResultsAccording to the pre-operational data of these two groups, there was no significant difference identified in terms of basic characteristics and risk factors, even though more female patients were found in the blood cardiophegia group and more patients with renal dysfunction were found in the HTK group. In addition, the patients in the HTK group had more distal anastomosis, longer cardiopulmonary time and cross clamping time than those in the blood cardiophegia group. Based on the results measured by those primary assessment criteria,there was no significant difference being found between these two groups. However, on those secondary assessment criteria the pulmonary pressure and inotropic support after reperfusion were significantly higher in the HTK group than its counterpart. ConclusionFor patients with complex coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction, HTK solution and blood cardioplegia provide similar effective myocardial protection. HTK doesn't significantly increase postoperative adverse cardiovascular events under the circumstance of longer ischemic time.