ObjectiveTo investigate the risk or protective factors for systemic embolism (SE) in patients undergoing bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (MVR). Methods Between October 2002 and March 2013, a total of 146 patients underwent bioprosthetic MVR. There were 78 females and 68 males with mean age of 66.23±5.17 years. The primary reason of mitral valve disease was mitral valve degeneration or mitral valve leaflet prolapse in 40 patients, rheumatic heart valve disease in 101 patients, ischemic heart disease in 3 patients, infectious endocarditis in 1 patient, and mechanical peri-valvular leak in 1 patient. All patients were given anticoagulation therapy with warfarin for 3 months. Thereafter, antithrombotic medication was prescribed according to the surgeon's preference. The patients were followed up by telephone or mail for postoperative condition and SE events. ResultsSixteen (10.96%) patients developed SE events, including cerebral infarction in 13 cases, transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 2 cases and spleen infarction in 1 case. A total of 16 patients died during follow-up. The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year cumulative survival rate after surgery was 95.2%, 93.6%, 92.5% and 88.3% respectively. Patients with SE events had lower rate of left atrial appendage obliteration than those without SE events (25.0% vs. 78.6%, P=0.015). Multivariate analysis showed that left atrial appendage obliteration was an independent protective factor for SE in patients undergoing bioprosthetic MVR (P=0.041). ConclusionLeft atrial appendage obliteration is a major protective factor for systemic embolism in patients undergoing bioprosthetic MVR no matter what antithrombotic medication is taken.
ObjectiveTo analyze the early results and risk factors of surgical revascularization for patients with ischemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Methodsclinical data of 318 patients with ischemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≤50% who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (cABG) from January 2003 to July 2013 was retrospectively reviewed. There were 266 males and 52 females with a mean age of 62.6±9.2 years (range 36 to 83). seventy-six patients underwent off-pump cABG (oPcAB) and 242 patients underwent conventional cABG. Fifteen patients underwent concomitant mitral valve repair or replacement. The patients who underwent left ventricular aneurysmectomy (LVA) were excluded from this study. Perioperative data were collected including the risk factors, echocardiographic results, morbidities and mortalities. The risk factors were analyzed with the endpoints of adverse events and mortalities to find the elements that influence the early results of the procedure. ResultsThe EuroscorE Ⅱ predicted operative mortality rate was 2.78±4.02% (range 1.00% to 45.00%) and actual mortality rate was 1.9% (6/318). Three of 6 patients died from low cardiac output syndrome. Totaladverse events rate was 47.2% (150/318) including prolonged ventilation (25.2%), low cardiac output syndrome (6.3%),ventricular arrhythmia (4.4%), acute renal dysfunction (4.1%), myocardial infarction (3.8%), cerebralvascular accident(2.8%), and re-exploration for bleeding (0.6%). Compared with those preoperatively, the LVEF was significantly improvedfrom 42.14%±5.94% to 45.64%±8.33% (t=6.084, P=0.000), and the left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVEDD) wassignificantly reduced from 53.96±6.28 mm to 48.64±7.50 mm (t=-9.681, P=0.000) postoperatively. The logistic multiplevariables regression analysis showed perioperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) implantation was mutual risk factorof prolonged ventilation and low cardiac output syndrome. ConclusionSurgical revascularization is an effective optionfor patients with ischemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction, demonstrated by improved LVEF and reducedLVEDD. Low cardiac output syndrome is the main cause of operative death. Perioperative IABP implantation is mutualrisk factor of prolonged ventilation and low cardiac output syndrome. Meticulous perioperative management plays a keyrole in satisfactory early results.
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.