Abstract： Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of young patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection who received surgical treatment in General Hospital of PLA between March 2004 and June 2011. All the patients were divided into two groups: a young patient group with patients’ age less than 40 years and a control group with patients’ age more than or equal to 40 years. There were 23 patients including 17 males and 6 females with an average age of 34.2±6.3 years in the young patient group and 31 patients including 27 males and 4 females with an average age of 51.5±6.8 years in the control group. The clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results There was no statistical difference in cardiopulmonary bypass（CBP）time（224.4±83.1 min vs. 215.0±88.0 min, t=0.39, P=0.69） and aortic cross-clamping time（152.3±60.8 min vs. 130.9±51.2 min, t=1.34, P=0.18）between the two groups. Compared with the patients in the control group, young patients were more likely to have congenital malformations with rate at 34.7%（8/23） vs. 6.4%（2/31） with χ2=5.27, P=0.02, such as Marfan syndrome and bicuspid aortic valve. The mortality of the young patients was similar to patients in the control group at rate of 13.0%（3/23）vs.12.9%（4/31） with χ2=0.15 and P=0.69, but postoperative mental and neurological complications rate in the young patient group were less frequent than those in the control group at 4.3%（1/23）vs. 32.2%（10/31） with χ2=5.32 and P=0.02. Conclusion Young patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection have fewer cardiovascular risk factors for aortic dissection but are more likely to have congenital malformations. The surgical methods are more active for young patients with less frequency of postoperative mental and neurological complications.
Objective To introduce alternative approach of right auxiliary artery cannulation through a 8 mm hemoshield graft for cardiopulmonary bypass and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Methods Twentythree cases of acute type A dissection and 7 cases of ascending aortic aneurysm, in which aortic arch was involved, were evaluated. An 4-5 cm long incision beneath right clavicle was made to expose auxiliary artery with auxiliary vein and brachial plexus intact. An 8 mm hemoshield graft was anastomosed to auxiliary artery and connected to the arterial end of cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. The auxiliary artery cannula was used for arterial perfusion and also used for selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Fifteen total arch and 15 semi-total arch replacement were performed. The graft connecting auxiliary artery was simply ligated when cardiopulmonary bypass was concluded. Results Arterial perfusion flow and pressure through auxiliary artery were not significantly different from that of cannulation via ascending aorta. No significant postoperative cerebral deficits and complications of right upper limb associated with cannulation of auxiliary artery occurred. Conclusion Arterial perfusion through right auxiliary artery provides an excellent approach for surgery of acute type A dissection and ascending aortic aneurysm with optimized body perfusion and allows for antegrade cerebral perfusion during circulatory arrest.
Objective To introduce the results and strategy of perioperative management undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients older than 70. Methods One hundred and twenty one patients, 93.4%(113/121) of whom was complicated with other diseases, were retrospectively studied. Off-pump CABG (OPCAB) was used in 80 cases (66.1%). For the rest patients with severely compromised heart function or small target vessel with diffuse lesion, conventional CABG (CCABG) was selected. Left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was harvested leaving pleural cavity intact and grafted to left anterior descending artery (LAD). Saphenous vein(SV) was utilized for other anastomoses. Transit-time flowmeter (TTFM) was utilized to make sure that grafts were patent with satisfactory blood flow. Procedure of sternotomy and chest closure was carefully performed to decrease the complication of mediastinitis. Adequate nutrition and gradually increased physical activity were encouraged for "fast-track". Results Grafts were 3.08±0.75 for CCABG and 2.24±0.82 for OPCAB . LIMA was used in 90.9%(110/121) patients. One patient receiving emergency operation died of multiple organ failure syndrome resulting in mortality of 0.8%. The incidence of complication was 3.3%(4/121). The others recovered smoothly without any complication. Intubation time of OPCAB(10.04±5.68 h) was significantly shorter than that of CCABG(21.46±14.54 h). Patients were discharged within 12.22±5.56 days after operation. Conclusion Good short term result, namely low incidence of mortality and complication, could be obtained in patients older than 70 who underwent CABG through meticulous perioperative management.
Objective To investigate clinical features and treatment strategy of cardiac complications caused by permanent pacemaker （PPM） implantation.?Methods?We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 10 patients with cardiac complications caused by PPM who received surgical treatment in General Hospital of People’s Liberation Army from January 2003 to May 2010. There were seven males and three females with an average age of 62.9 years. One patient had an Atrial demand inhibited pacemaker （AAI） PPM and the other nine patients had a DDD PPM. Cardiac complications included infective endocarditis （IE） in 5 patients, tricuspid insufficiency （TI） in 4 patients and pulmonary artery thrombosis in one patient. According to their respective situation, these patients underwent different surgical treatment such as tricuspid valve plasty （TVP）， tricuspid valve replacement and/or removal of PPM lead and vegetations as part of intensive debridement of the infected area.?Results?Postoperatively， all the patients were successfully discharged. Five patients whose PPM lines and leads were preserved in the surgery had normal PPM function. Three PPM-dependent patients whose PPM leads were removed in the surgery received a PPM reimplantation later. Nine patients were followed up for an average of 5.5 months and all these patients had a significantly improved quality of life. One patient after TVP had mild TI during follow-up. Conclusion Surgical treatment should be performed as early as possible when infection is too severeto control in patients with IE caused by PPM. PPM-induced TI may be hard to be diagnosed preoperatively, and transesophageal echocardiography or surgical exploration should be considered to establish the diagnosis. Measures should be taken to protect PPM if PPM lines and leads are preserved during operation. Patients whose PPM lines and leads are removed during the surgery need to choose a suitable time for PPM reimplantation.