Abstract: Objective To compare minimally invasive technique with multiple short incisions and traditional open technique for great saphenous vein (GSV) harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods Fortyseven patients underwent first time CABG between November 2007 to January 2009. These patients included 37 males and 10 females with their age ranged from 43 to 78 years and their average age was 61.3±84 years old. The patients were prospectively randomized into the minimally invasive harvesting group (group A,n=21) and the traditional open harvesting group (group B, n=26). For group A, we adopted the method of minimally invasive technique with multiple short incisions, while for group B, the traditional long incisions were adopted. The incision length, GSV harvesting time, lower limbs suture time and incision complications were compared between the two groups. Results During harvesting, no injury to the saphenous vein trunk or complications related to the quality of venous grafts occurred in both groups. There were no significantly differences in the number of venous grafts and the GSV length between the two groups. Group A had significantly longer GSV harvesting time than group B (51.9±11.5 min vs. 40.3±7.6 min,P=0.000). However, incision length (16.1±4.1 cm vs. 49.2±7.2 cm, P=0.000), incision suture time (11.0±3.0 min vs. 33.6±4.8 min,P=0.000) and lower limbs total operation time (62.6±14.9 min vs.73.8±11.6 min,P=0.006) in group A were much shorter than those in group B. Fortyseven patients were followed up (100%) and the followup time ranged from 3 to 26 months. The rate of leg wound complications such as serous exudates, hematomas and wound infection was 4.8% (1/21) in Group A and 34.6% (9/26) in Group B. These complications were all cured with additional treatments. Group A had lower leg wound complication rate than Group B (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that minimally invasive technique for GSV harvesting can be performed at a satisfactory speed and helpful in decreasing the lower limb incision complication rate.
Abstract: Objective To analyze the surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with anomalous coronary artery (ACA) crossing the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), in order to improve the outcome of the disease. Methods The clinical data of 26 patients of TOF with ACA crossing the RVOT of Fu Wai Hospital from Oct.1996 to Feb.2006 were analyzed retrospectively. A double ventriculotomy superior and inferior to ACA were used in 11 patients, one ventriculotomy inferior to ACA were used in 6 patients and superior to ACA for 4 patients, 2 patients needed extra cardiac conduits, and 3 patients received other approaches. Results There were 2 operative death (7.7%)and no late deaths. Follow-up was extended 1 to 100 months, all of them had no residual ventricular septal defect(VSD) and their right ventriclepulmonary artery gradient were 27.3±15.6 mmHg. Conclusion Preoperative identification of ACA in patients with TOF is necessary. The surgeon should be careful in inspection of distribution of coronary artery during operation, and undergo the individualized surgical procedures based on the extent of RVOT obstruction and distribution of the ACA.
Objective To investigate how to choose the methods of surgical treatment for Scimitar syndrome. Methods From Jan. 1999 to July 2004, the clinical data of 12 patients with Scimitar syndrome were analyzed retrospectively, 10 patients underwent repair by intra-atrial baffles approach, one patient by connecting scimitar vein and left atrium with artificial blood vessel under cardiopulmonary bypass, and one patient by directly reimplanting the scimitar vein to left atrium without cardiopulmonary bypass. Results All the 12 patients had no perioperative or late deaths and none of them required reoperation. Follow-up was extended from 1 to 36 months, echocardiography demonstrated a patent anastomosis in all patients without any evidence of restenosis. Conclusions Surgical approaches to Scimitar syndrome is based on the anatomic and pathologic features presented in each case. Approriate method will have good result.
Objective To investigate the safety, efficacy of the surgery and the characteristics of the blood flow after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) to analyze the early operative results, CT results and the graft flow. Methods From December 2015 to July 2016, 52 patients (46 males, 6 females) with an average age of 56.6±6.8 years, underwent CABG using bilateral internal mammary artery. All the operations were carried out under extracorporeal circulation, both internal mammary arteries were obtained with pedicle and the bypass path was designed according to the target vessels. After the anastomosis was completed, the graft flow was measured using Veri Q system. The CT angiography of coronary artery was completed before discharge. Perioperative outcomes, early CT outcomes, and blood flow of grafts were analysed. Results There was no operative mortality. The average operation time was 4.7±0.6 hours, average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 114.8±20.6 minutes, average cross-clamping time was 82.8±17.6 minutes, average mechanical ventilation time was 17.6±10.5 hours and average ICU stay was 2.7±1.8 days. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 4.6±0.8. One patient suffered sternal complication and poor wound healing and then receieved debridement as well as suturing. Other patients discharged without surgical complications. The average flow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft was 28.1±11.4 ml/min with a mean pulsatility index (PI) of 2.2±0.6. The average flow of right internal mammary artery (RIMA) was 27.3±12.0 ml/min with a mean PI of 2.4± 0.8. The mean flow of great saphenous vein was 41.5±21.5 ml/min with a mean PI of 2.2±0.7. There was no significant difference in the mean flow between LIMA and RIMA (P=0.978). The mean flow of the great saphenous vein was significantly higher than that of RIMA and LIMA (P=0.000). CT angiography showed no stenosis. Distal anastomosis of 7 vein grafts and 5 artery grafts was demonstrated shallow in CT angiography and 2 vein grafts were undemonstrated, suggesting occlusion. Conclusion The use of BIMA for CABG is safe with less complications. RIMA flow is equivalent to LIMA flow. RIMA with no stenosis and occlusion of artery grafts in the early stage, therefore is the ideal and stable coronary bypass graft.
Objective To evaluate the influence of diabetes on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA). Methods From December 2015 to August 2017, 182 patients (153 males, 29 females, age of 56.5±6.8 years) underwent CABG using BIMA. The propensity score was used to create matched diabetes (n=66) and non-diabetes (n=66) cohorts. The operative data, post-operative outcomes and coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the diabetes group (53 males, 13 females, age of 57.8±7.2 years) and the non-diabetes group (56 males, 10 females, age of 56.3±6.0 years) were analyzed retrospectively. Results There was no peri-operative mortality. There was no difference in operative sternal wound complication (P=0.466), or graft patency (P=0.730 for internal mammary arteries and 0.684 for saphenous vein grafts) between the matched diabetes and the non-diabetes groups. However, patients with elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (n=54) had more sternal wound complications (P=0.006). The level of Hb1Ac of the patients with sternal wound complication was significantly higher than that of the patients without sternal wound complication. Conclusion BIMA grafting may be performed routinely even in diabetic patients, without increased complications. However, elevated HbA1c level should be avoided to reduce sternal wound complication.
Objective To investigate the correlation between D-dimer level within 2 hours on admission and early in-hospital major adverse events (MAEs) in patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and the frozen elephant trunk (FET) implantation. Methods The patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and the FET implantation, who hospitalized in our hospital from September 2017 to December 2022, were included in this retrospective study. Grouping based on the occurrence of in-hospital major adverse events (MAEs) after total arch replacement and FET implantation, with no in-hospital MAEs as a control group and in-hospital MAEs as an observation group. The perioperative data were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for MAEs (in-hospital mortality, gastrointestinal bleeding, paraplegia, acute kidney failure, reopening the chest, low cardiac output syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, respiratory insufficiency, multiple organ dysfunctionsyndrome, gastrointestinal bleeding, and severe infection). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the prediction area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results Finally 218 patients were collected, including 157 males and 61 females with an average age of 51.54±9.79 years. There were 152 patients in the control group and 66 patients in the observation group. In-hospital mortality was 2.8% (6/218). The level of D-dimer, lactic acid, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, ventilator-assisted time and ICU stay in the observation group were higher or longer than those in the control group (P=0.013). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that D-dimer (OR=1.077, 95%CI 1.020-1.137, P<0.05) was an independent risk factor for MAEs in hospital. The level of D-dimer within 2 hours admission predicted that the AUC of MAEs in hospital was 0.83 (95%CI 0.736-0.870, P<0.05), and the optimal critical point was 2.2 μg/mL, with sensitivity and specificity of 84.8% and 73.0%, respectively. Conclusion Increased D-dimer levels at admission are associated with early in-hospital MAEs in the patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and FET. These results may help clinicians optimize the risk evaluation and perioperative clinical management to reduce early adverse events.
ObjectiveTo explore the postoperative characteristics and management experience of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) undergoing cardiac and vascular surgery. MethodsFrom December 7, 2022 to January 5, 2023, the patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Cardiovascular Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University and underwent cardiac and vascular surgery were selected. The clinical history, surgical information, postoperative recovery process and treatment plan were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThere were 18 patients in this group, including 11 (61.1%) males and 7 (38.9%) females, with an average age of 58.1±10.9 years. There were 7 patients of hypertension, 5 patients of diabetes, 3 patients of respiratory diseases, and 2 patient of chronic renal insufficiency. There were 5 (27.8%) patients receiving emergency operations and 13 (72.2%) elective operations. All the 18 patients underwent cardiac and vascular surgery in the period of COVID-19, and the time between the last positive nucleic acid test and the surgery was 1.50 (1.00, 6.25) days. There were 8 patients of pulmonary imaging changes, including 3 patients with chest patch shadow, 3 patients with thickened and disordered lung markings, and 2 patients with exudative changes before operation. Antiviral therapy was not adopted in all patients before operation. Three patients were complicated with viral pneumonia after operation, including 2 patients with high risk factors before operation, who developed into severe pneumonia after operation, and underwent tracheotomy. One patient with thrombus recovered after anticoagulation treatment. Another patient of mild pneumonia recovered after antiviral treatment. The other 15 patients recovered well without major complications. There was no operation-related death in the whole group. One patient died after surgery, with a mortality rate of 5.6%. Conclusion Patients with COVID-19 are at high risk of cardiac and vascular surgery, and patients with high-risk factors may rapidly progress to severe pneumonia. Patients with preoperative lung imaging changes or other basic visceral diseases should consider delaying the operation. Early antiviral combined with immunomodulation treatment for emergency surgery patients may help improve the prognosis.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of skeletonized and pedicled harvesting of bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods From December 2015 to May 2017, 152 patients (128 males, 24 females, age of 56.5±6.8 years) underwent CABG using either skeletonized BIMA (s-BIMA group, n=73) or pedicled BIMA(p-BIMA group, n=79). The operative data and post-operative outcomes were analyzed in the s-BIMA group (61 males, 12 females, age of 56.6±7.0 years) and the p-BIMA group (67 males, 12 females, age of 56.3±6.7 years). Results There was no peri-operative mortality. There was no statistical difference in operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time or internal mammary artery graft flow between the two groups. One patient(1.4%) in the s-BIMA group suffered from severe sternal wound complication, which was major sternal wound complication. Five patients (6.3%) in the p-BIMA group suffered from sternal wound complications, including 1(1.3%) with severe complication and 4(5.1%) with minor complication. One(1.4%) patient in the s-BIMA group and 7 (8.9%) patients in the p-BIMA group suffered from chylothorax. The chest tube drainage significantly reduced in the s-BIMA group, both in postoperative day 1(P=0.000) and postoperative day 1-3 (P=0.001). CT angiography showed no stenosis of BIMA in both groups. Conclusion The use of skeletonized BIMA for CABG is safe and efficacious, with less sternal wound complications, chylothorax and chest tube drainage. Skeletonization should be suggested if BIMA is harvested in CABG.
Objective To verify whether hybrid surgical and interventional ablation(HA) for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is superior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical radiofrequency ablation (VATS-RA). Methods From September 2010 to December 2017, 79 consecutive patients with persistent AF underwent VATS-RA or HA in Fuwai Hospital. VATS-RA was performed in sixty patients (a stand-alone surgical group, 48 males and 12 females, at average age of 56.0±7.6 years, and HA was performed in nineteen patients (a hybrid group, 14 males and 5 females, at average age of 58.0±7.3 years). Follow-up was completed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and annually thereafter. Postoperative sinus rhythm was defined as sinus rhythm recorded in 24-hour or 7-day Holter during follow-up, without exhibited rapid atrial tachyarrhythmia≥30 s including AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia. Results Seventy-eight patients (98.7%) completed the follow-up. Although the preoperative left atrial diameter (49.1±5.3 mm) in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (41.7±6.2 mm, P<0.001). Overall sinus rhythm maintenance rate in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (94.7% versus 64.4%,P=0.011). And sinus rhythm maintenance rate free from anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) and catheter ablation in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (84.2% versus 50.8%, P=0.010). Conclusion HA is superior to VATS-RA in the treatment of persistent AF, but a larger sample size is needed for further validation in prospective randomized studies.
ObjectiveTo evaluate short-term clinical outcomes of skeletonized bilateral internal mammary artery (sBIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsThe clinical data of 62 patients (54 males and 8 females with an average age of 56.8±6.0 years) undergoing isolated CABG using sBIMA in our hospital from October 2016 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The coronary graft flow, perioperative clinical outcomes and CT results were reviewed.ResultsAll the operations were carried out under extracorporeal circulation. Anastomosis of 124 internal mammary arteries was performed and 116 great saphenous veins were used simultaneously with an average anastomosis site of 4.5±0.8 for each patient. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116.4±22.9 min, aortic clamping time was 83.0±18.3 min, mechanical ventilation time was 20.8±21.3 h and ICU stay was 2.7±1.7 d. The graft flow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA), right internal mammary artery (RIMA) and great saphenous vein were 28.8±12.4 mL/min, 32.8±13.8 mL/min and 41.5±21.5 mL/min, respectively. There was no significant difference in the graft flow between LIMA and RIMA (P=0.112). There was no perioperative mortality, myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. Only one male patient suffered sternal complication and poor wound healing and then received debridement as well as suturing. Coronary CT angiography showed that distal anastomosis of 7 vein grafts and 5 artery grafts was demonstrated shallow and 1 vein graft was undemonstrated, suggesting occlusion.ConclusionCABG with sBIMA is a safe and reliable technique with excellent early results.