Objective To conduct a systematic review to evaluate preoperative and postoperative changes of echocardiography indexes which reflect left ventricular morphology and contractile function after heart valve replacement of patients with valvular heart disease with giant left ventricle. Methods We electronically searched CBMdisc， VIP database，Wanfang database， CNKI database， PubMed and ScienceDirect from time of establishment of each database to June 2012 to identify literatures addressing heart valve replacement for patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle. Quality of included literatures was evaluated， and relevant data were extracted to conduct meta-analysis. Preoperative and postoperative changes of echocardiography indexes of patients undergoing heart valve replacement were compared. R2.15.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Twelve retrospective cohort studies were included in this study involving 833 patients. The quality of included literature was relatively high. Meta-analysis showed that left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD） at 2 weeks， 6 months， 1 year， 2 to 3 years postoperatively were reduced by 11.72 mm［95% CI （9.52，13.92）， P＜0.001］， 20.02 mm ［95% CI （18.28， 21.76）， P＜0.001］， 22.48 mm ［95% CI （19.55， 25.40）， P＜0.001］ and 24.69 mm ［95% CI （22.21， 27.18）， P＜0.001］ respectively compared with preoperative value. Left ventricularend-systolic diameter （LVESD） at 2 weeks， 6 months， 1 year， 2 to 3 years postoperatively were reduced by 7.74 mm ［95% CI （3.76， 11.72）， P＜0.001］， 15.54 mm ［95% CI （12.55， 18.54）， P＜0.001］， 18.84 mm ［95% CI （15.54， 21.14），P＜0.001］ and 21.02 mm［95% CI （17.67， 24.37）， P＜0.001］ respectively compared with preoperative value. Compared with preoperative value， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） decreased by 7% at 2 weeks postoperatively ［95% CI （1%， 12%）， P=0.013］， increased by 9% at 6 months postoperatively ［95% CI （-14%， -3%）， P=0.002］， increased by 11% at 1 year postoperatively ［95% CI （-22%， 0%）， P=0.041］， and increased by 13% at 2-3 years postoperatively ［95% CI （4%， 21%）， P=0.004］. Compared with preoperative value， left ventricular fraction shortening （LVFS） decreased by 0.05 at 2 weeks postoperatively ［95% CI （0.03， 0.07）， P＜0.001］， increased by 0.02 at 6 months postoperatively ［95% CI （0.00， 0.04）， P=0.055］， increased by 0.03 at 1 year postoperatively ［95% CI （0.00， 0.06）， P=0.035］， and increased by 6% at 2-3 years postoperatively ［95% CI （0.02， 0.11）， P=0.008］. Conclusions LVEED and LVESD of patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle continuously decrease after heart valve replacement， especially in the first 6 months postoperatively， and return to normal in 2 to 3 years. LVEF and LVFS decrease in the first 2 weeks postoperatively， then start to increase， are higher than preoperative values at 6 months， and return to normal in 2 to 3 years. Heart valve replacement is conducive for the recovery of left ventricular morphology and systolic function of patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle.
Clinical application history of prosthetic heart valves has been over five decades, and mechanical heart valves have satisfactory clinical outcomes for surgical treatment of valvular heart disease. The development history of mechanical heart valves experienced from the first generation of ball valves and caged disc valves to the second generation of single tilting disc valve, and to the third generation of bileaflet valves. In 1960， ball valve was first used for heart valve replacement in abroad. In 1963， China-made ball valve was also produced and used in clinical practice. In 1969， the second generation of single tilting disc valve was developed in abroad. In 1978， China-made single tilting disc valve was produced and widely used in clinical practice with satisfactory clinical outcomes. Since 1980 when it was first produced， bileaflet valve has taken the place of above 2 types of valves for its excellent performance, and become the mainstream product all over the world. Currently, the development of China-made bileaflet valves has lagged behind， and domestic mechanical heart valve market has almost been monopolized by foreign bileaflet valve products. Therefore, the development of ideal China-made mechanical heart valve deserves further research.
Abstract: Objective To evaluate myocardial protection effect of different myocardial protective strategies for patients undergoing double valve replacement （DVR） . Methods From Jun. 2005 to Dec. 2005, 32 patients with predominant aortic valve stenosis undergoing DVR in Xinqiao Hospital were included in this study. These patients were randomly divided into four groups with 8 patients in each group： （1） antegrade perfusion group：Cold-blood cardioplegia was delivered antegradely through aortic root, and mitral valve replacement （MVR）was performed. Then cold-blood cardioplegia was delivered antegradely through left and right coronary ostia, and aortic valve replacement （AVR） was performed； （2）retrograde perfusion group：Cold-blood cardioplegia was delivered retrogradely and intermittently through coronary sinus, and DVR was performed； （3）antegrade＋retrograde perfusion group：The route of cold-blood cardioplegic infusion was antegrade during MVR procedure first and then retrograde during AVR procedure；and （4）beating heart group：Oxygenated blood from cardiopulmonary bypass machine was delivered retrogradely and continuously through coronary sinus, and DVR was performed with beating heart. Early clinical outcomes were observed. Serum cardiac troponin I （cTnI） was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Serum creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB） and myocardial lactic acid release rate were measured by Hitachi7150 Automatic Chemistry Analyzer. Myocardial mitochondria malondialdehyde （MDA） level was measured through thiobarbituric acid reagent species analysis. Results All the 32 patients survived their surgery and were discharged successfully. Myocardial lactic acid release rate at 80 min after aortic cross-clamping, serum cTnI and CK-MB on the first postoperative day, myocardial mitochondria MDA levels of beating heart group were 13.59%±6.27%,（1.17±0.25） ng/ml, （56.43±16.50） U/L and（2.18±1.23） nmol/（ng.prot）respectively, all significantly lower than those of retrograde perfusion group ［（33.49%±8.29%, （1.82±0.58 ）ng/ml, （78.31±21.27） U/L （5.07±2.35） nmol/（ng.prot），P＜0.05］ and antegrade＋retrograde perfusion group［20.87%±7.22%, （1.49±0.23） ng/ml,（66.67±19.13） U/L,（4.34±1.73） nmol/（ng.prot），P＜0.05］, but not statistically different from those of antegrade perfusion group ［18.83%±5.97%, （1.41±0.32） ng/ml, （63.21±37.52） U/L, （3.46±1.62） nmol/ （ng.prot），P＞0.05］. Conclusion All the four myocardial protective strategies are effective myocardial protection methods for DVR patients. Continuous retrograde perfusion with beating heart and intermittent antegrade perfusion can provide better myocardial protection, and therefore are preferred for DVR patients. The combination of antegrade and retrograde perfusion is easy to administer and does not negatively influence surgical procedures. Retrograde perfusion is also effective as it takes only a short time.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate early clinical outcomes and short-term follow-up results of CL-V bileaflet prosthesis. Methods From April 2004 to May 2010， 38 patients with valvular heart diseases underwent mechanical heart valve replacement. Eighteen patients received CL-V bileaflet valve replacement （CL group） including 8 males and 10 females with their mean age of （47.4±6.2）years and mean body weight of （64.7±11.9） kg. Preoperatively，15 patients were in New York Heart Association （NYHA） classⅢ， and 2 patients were in NYHA classⅣ. Mitral valve replacement （MVR） was performed in 16 patients， mitral and aortic valve replacement（DVR） in 2 patients. A total of 20 CL-V bileaflet prostheses were implanted. Twenty patients received St. Jude bileaflet valve replacement （SJM group）including 9 males and 11 females with their mean age of （49.7±7.6） years and mean body weight of （66.1±11.1） kg. Preoperatively， 15 patients were in NYHA classⅢ， and 3 patients were in NYHA classⅣ. MVR was performed in 17 patients，aortic valve replacement （AVR） in 1 patient， and DVR in 2 patients. A total of 22 St. Jude bileaflet prostheses were implanted. Clinical outcomes， hear function， hemodynamics and blood compatibility were measured on the 7th postoperative day and 6 months during follow-up and compared between the two groups. Results There was no early mortality （＜30 d） or postoperative complication in either group. Follow-up rate was 100% and the mean follow-up duration was 19.8 （6-61）months. At 6 months after surgery， those patients who were preoperatively in NYHA classⅢ orⅣall improved to classⅠ orⅡ. In CL group， cardiothoracic ratio was 0.51±0.05， left atrium diameter （44.5±7.8） mm， left ventricular end diastolic diameter （LVEDD，46.6±4.1） mm， LVEF 65.3%±7.7%，and LVFS 35.0%±7.1%. In SJM group， cardiothoracic ratio was 0.51±0.06， left atrium diameter （45.8±9.6） mm， LVEDD （46.2±9.8） mm， LVEF 64.1%±9.0%，and LVFS 34.9%±4.7%， which were not statistically different from those parameters of CL group respectively （P＞0.05）. At 6 months after surgery， transthoracic echocardiography was used to compare hemodynamics of bileaflet prostheses with same size 27 mm in the two groups. Prosthetic transvalvular gradient was （5.1±0.9）mm Hg in CL group and （5.8±0.8） mm Hg in SJM group， and effective orifice area was （2.3±0.3）cm2 in CL group and（2.5±0.2）cm2 in SJM group，which were not statistically significant between the two groups （P＞0.05） respectively. In both groups， the level ofhemoglobin， lactate dehydrogenase and platelet at 6 months postoperatively were all within normal range and not statistically from those respective preoperative parameters（P＞0.05）. Hemolytic reaction and hemolytic anemia were not found. During early and short-term follow-up， there was no thromboembolic complications or anticoagulation-related severe bleeding events in the two groups with same anticoagulation intensity target （target INR value 1.5 to 2.5）. Conclusion Early clinical outcomes and short-term follow-up results of CL-V bileaflet prostheses are similar to those of St. Jude bileaflet prostheses. Postoperative patients have good clinical outcomes， hemodynamics and blood compatibility. Patients’ heart function significantly improve during short-term follow-up without valve-related complication. Mid-term and Long-term follow-up are further needed to demonstrate its good performance.
Abstract： Quality of life （QOL） refers to an individual’s perception and subjective evaluation of their health and well-being, and has become an important index to evaluate the outcomes of clinical treatment in the last past decades. There are a large number of different instruments to evaluate QOL, and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey （SF-36） is currently one of the most widely used instruments. In recent years, SF-36 has been used to evaluate QOL of valvular heart disease patients to investigate the risk factors those influence their postoperative QOL, provide more preoperative evaluation tools for clinical physicians, and improve postoperative outcomes of patients with valvular heart disease. However, it is now just the beginning to use SF-36 to examine QOL of valvular heart disease patients. Because of significant differences in sample size, follow-up period, country and culture, current research has some controversial results. This review focuses on the progress in evaluating QOL in postoperative patients with valvular heart disease using SF-36.
Objective To evaluate the left ventricular remodeling after valve replacement for valvular heart disease with giant left ventricle. Methods The clinical material of 92 patients with valvular heart disease and giant left ventricle after valve replacement was retrospectively reviewed. The results of ultrosonic cardial gram（UCG） and the changes of cardiac function before and after operation were compared. Results There was no operative death. The value of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension （LVEDD）, left ventricular end-systolic dimension （LVESD）, left atrial dimension （LAD）, left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）, left ventricular fractional shortening （LVFS）, stroke volume （SV） and cardiothoracic ratio in 2 weeks and 2 months after operation were more decreased than those before operation（P〈0. 05）. The value of LVEDD and LAD in 2 months after operation were much more decreased than those in 2 weeks after operation （P〈0. 05）. The cardiac function in early stage after operation was more decreased than that before operation,but the cases of cardiac functional class Ⅱ （38 cases, 41.3% ） in 2 months after operation was significantly more than those before operation （5 cases, 5.4 % ）. Conclusions The early effect of left ventricular remodeling is significant for valvular heart disease with giant left ventricle after valve replacement. The diameter of left ventricle and left atrial are significantly decreased after operation. The protection for cardiac function should be carefully taken in order to prevent the occurrence of complication after operation.
Technical advances both in cardiac surgery and relating to anesthesia,cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial protection have significantly improved the prognosis for patients combined with coronary heart disease and heart valve disease. In addition to technology, variable factors that affect operative survival following combined operation include the severity of valvular disease, the number of coronary vessels affected, impairment of left ventricular function and both age and gender differences. In this article, we review the outcome of surgical intervention for heart valve disease combined with coronary heart disease and discuss future prospects in this field.
ObjectiveTo investigate clinical outcomes and risk factors of patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) and giant left ventricle undergoing heart valve replacement (HVR). MethodsClinical data of 144 VHD patients with giant left ventricle who underwent HVR in Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 116 male and 28 female patients with their age of 15-69 (44.9±11.9) years and disease duration of 57.8±98.3 months (range, 1 month to 40 years). There were 92 patients with rheumatic VHD, 28 patients with degenerative VHD, 15 patients with congenital VHD, and 9 patients with infective endocarditis. A total of 137 patients who were discharged alive were followed up. Risk factors of postoperative mortality, morbidity and late death of VHD patients with giant left ventricle undergoing HVR were analyzed with t-test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis. The life-table method was used to calculate long-term survival rate and draw the survival curve. ResultsMajor postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in 19 patients (13.2%), ventricular arrhythmias in 56 patients (38.9%), prosthetic paravalvular leaks in 7 patients (4.9%), pleural effusion in 33 patients (22.9%), pericardial effusion in 8 patients (5.6%), liver failure in 23 patients (16.0%), and renal failure in 5 patients (3.5%). Seven patients (4.9%) died postoperatively. Logistic univariate analysis showed that advanced-age ( > 50 years), rheumatic VHD, higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅲ or Ⅳ), long disease duration, poor preoperative left ventricular function[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%], double valve replace-ment (DVR), other concomitant intracardiac procedures, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and aortic cross-clamping time, postoperative LCOS and ventricular arrhythmias were risk factors of early mortality of VHD patients with giant left ventricle undergoing HVR (P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that advanced age ( > 50 years), long disease duration, higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅳ), poor preoperative left ventricular function (LVEF < 40%), DVR, prolonged CPB time were independent predictors of early mortality (P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅲ or Ⅳ), other concomitant intracardiac procedures, poor preoperative left ventricular function (LVEF < 50%) were independent predictors of postoperative LCOS (P < 0.05). Higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅲ or Ⅳ) and preoperative non-sinus rhythm were independent predictors of postoperative ventricular arrhy-thmias (P < 0.05). Within 2 weeks after the operation, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left atrial diameter (LAD), LVEF and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were all significantly reduced compared with preoperative parameters (P < 0.05). Five patients died during follow-up. One-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year survival rates were 97.1%, 95.0%, 92.7% and 92.7% respectively. Preoperative LVEF, LVEDD and NYHA were significantly different between patients who died or survived during follow-up. ConclusionsHVR can produce low postoperative mortality, high long-term survival rates and satisfactory clinical outcomes for VHD patients with giant left ventricle. Advanced age ( > 50 years), long disease duration, higher preoperative NYHA class (Ⅳ), preoperative non-sinus rhythm, poor preoperative left ventricular function (LVEF < 40%), DVR and prolonged operation time may be risk factors of postoperative mortality and morbidity. Poor preoperative left ventricular function and significantly enlarged left ventricle may be risk factors of late death after HVR.
ObjectiveTo investigate clinical outcomes and summarize perioperative management experience of heart valve replacement (HVR)in elderly patients. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 47 elderly patients undergoing HVR in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College from January 2011 to May 2014. There were 19 male and 28 female patients with their age of 60-79 years. There were 35 patients with rheumatic heart disease, 10 patients with degenerative valvular disease, and 2 patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valve. Preoperatively, there were 23 patients in NYHA functional class Ⅱ, 19 patients in class Ⅲ, and 5 patients in class Ⅳ. All the patients received HVR under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and some patients received concomitant tricuspid valvuloplasty (TVP), left atrial thrombectomy or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Postoperative mortality, morbidity and heart function improvement were evaluated. ResultsTwenty-seven patients received mitral valve replacement (MVR), 15 patients received aortic valve replacement (AVR), and 5 patients received MVR+AVR. Concomitantly, 4 patients received TVP, 3 patients received left atrial thrombectomy, and 6 patients received CABG. Operation time was 138-412 (196±52)minutes, CPB time was 48-301 (108±33)minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 34-196 (87±21)minutes, and length of hospital stay was 12-31 (19±5)days. There was no intraoperative death, and 2 patients (4.3%)died postoperatively because of left ventricular failure and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome respectively. Twenty-three patients (51.1%)had postoperative complications including respiratory failure in 6 patients, pulmonary infection in 5 patients, arrhythmias in 5 patients, wound infection in 2 patients, pleural effusion in 2 patients, low cardiac output syndrome in 2 patients, and acute renal failure in 1 patient. Forty-five survival patients were followed up by telephone, online video and at the outpatient department for 1-32 months, and follow-up rate was 100%. There were 11 patients in NYHA functional classⅠ, 32 patients in class Ⅱ, and 2 patients in class Ⅲ. ConclusionAccording to clinical characteristics of elderly patients with valvular heart disease, meticulous surgical techniques and perioperative management can effectively reduce mortality and morbidity after HVR.
ObjectiveTo investigate risk factors of in-hospital death of patient after heart valve replacement (HVR) in Xinjiang. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 214 patients undergoing HVR in the First Teaching Hospital of Xinjiang Medical university from January 2011 to Month 2014. There were 96 male and 118 female patients with their age of 49.91±13.27 years. According to their postoperative prognosis, all the patients were divided into a death group (21 patients) and a survival group (193 patients). Risk factors of perioperative death were analyzed. ResultsIn-hospital mortality was 9.81% (21/214). There was statistical difference in preoperative prothrombin time (PT), incidences of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≤50%, NYHA classⅣ, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) > 60 mm Hg, cardiopulmonary bypass time≥2 hours, concomitant coronary artery disease and renal failure between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that shortened preoperative PT, PAP > 60 mm Hg, NYHA classⅣand LVEF≤50% were independently risk factors of in-hospital death after HVR (P < 0.05). ConclusionsIndependent risk factors of in-hospital death of patients after HVR in Xinjiang include shortened preoperative PT, PAP > 60 mm Hg, NYHA classⅣand LVEF≤50%. Heightened caution is needed for patients with above risk factors to receive HVR after correction of those risk factors.