ObjectiveTo evaluate the continuous half-thickness suture outside of the pectinate muscles in the right atrium incision in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. MethodsA total of 1 040 consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery by the right atrium incision with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomly divided into a control group (n=518 with 236 males and 282 females at mean age of 44.55 years) and a trial group (n=522 with 242 males and 280 females at mean age 45.75 years) between January 2010 and June 2014. The right atrium incision was sutured by continuous full-thickness suture in the control group and sutured by continuous half-thickness suture in the trial group. After the suture, the bleeding in the right atrium incision was recorded. ResultsAll patients underwent the open-heart operation. Seven patients died of postoperative low cardiac syndrome including four patients in the control group and 3 patients in the trial group. The heart incision was inspected before suturing the pericardium. A total of 203 patients of local active bleeding were stitched again in the right atrium incision in the control group. Only 26 patients were stitched again in the trial group (P<0.001). In the cases of re-exploration for bleeding or tamponade after cardiac operation, 3 patients of bleeding due to the right atrium incision were confirmed in the control group, and no one was confirmed in the trial group. ConclusionThe continuous half-thickness suture in the right atrium incision can prevent the incision bleeding, and avoid locally stitching again in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
ObjectiveTo compare clinical outcomes between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB)for high-risk coronary artery disease (CAD)patients with high European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE). MethodsA total of 211 CAD patients undergoing surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from June 2007 to July 2013 were enrolled into this study, including 52 patients receiving CABG and 159 patients receiving OPCAB. Predicted risk of operative mortality (PROM)of each patient was calculated by EuroSCORE. Patients with PROM≥6 were stratified into high-risk subgroups. Clinical outcomes were compared between CABG and OPCAB patients, as well as incidence of cardiovascular events, angina and stroke within 30 postoperative days in high-risk subgroup patients. ResultsOPCAB and CABG group patients had similar left main disease. There was no statistical difference in the number of distal anastomosis between OPCAB (2.75±0.82)and CABG group patients (2.83±0.58) (P > 0.05). Operation time[ (3.92±0.79)hour vs. (6.83±1.53)hour], thoracic drainage[ (983.14±802.39)ml vs. (1 620.40±879.32)ml], blood transfusion[ (1 289.30±668.08)ml vs. (2 325.30±491.98)ml], length of ICU stay[ (3.90±1.33)days vs. (5.08±1.78)days], and mechanical ventilation time[ (9.63±3.32)h vs. (13.76±3.79)h] of OPCAB group patients were significantly shorter or lower than those of CABG group patients (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in 30-day mortality between OPCAB and CABG group patients (1.26% vs. 3.85%, P > 0.05). Among high-risk subgroup patients, the odds ratio of stroke within 30 postoperative days in CABG was 5.7 (95%CI 1.28-25.09, P < 0.05)compared with OPCAB group patients, and the incidence of cardiovascular events and angina within 30 postoperative days were similar between the 2 subgroups. ConclusionsPostoperative mortality and number of distal anastomosis are not significantly different between CABG and OPCAB patients, but OPCAB can significantly reduce operation time, thoracic drainage, blood transfusion, length of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation time compared with CABG. For high-risk patients with high EuroSCORE, OPCAB can better reduce the incidence of postoperative stroke compared with CABG.