ObjectiveTo summarize mid- to long-term results of edge to edge mitral repair for mitral regurgitation (MR). MethodsClinical data of 31 patients who underwent edge to edge mitral repair in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from June 2002 to June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 13 male and 18 female patients with their age of 14-77 (43±21) years. Clinical and echocardiographic data were analyzed. ResultsThree patients died in hospital,and 28 patients finished mid- to long-term follow-up for 5-10 years. During follow-up, 1 patient died of acute decompensated heart failure in the 2nd year after discharge. Two patients had recurrent moderate MR, and 6 patients had recurrent moderate-to-severe MR including 3 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement in the 5th,6th and 7th postoperative year respectively because of severe MR. Five-year reoperation-free rate was 88.9% (24/27). Five-year mortality was 3.6% (1/28). The incidence of recurrent moderate or severe MR within 5 postoperative years was 28.6% (8/28). ConclusionFor complex MR or as an emergency substitute strategy for failed routine mitral valvuloplasty, edgeto- edge mitral repair can produce good mid- to long-term outcomes except for Carpentier Ⅲb MR.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical outcomes of real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT)for patients after cardiac surgery. MethodsFrom July 2008 to August 2012, 51 patients received tracheostomy after cardiac surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, including 20 patients after heart valve replacement, 17 patients after aortic dissection (De Bakey type I)surgery, 11 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting and 3 patients after surgical correction of congenital heart diseases. According to different surgical methods, all the patients were divided into 3 groups. In surgical tracheostomy (ST)group, there were 17 patients including 10 males and 7 females with their average age of 58.0±15.2 years. In fiberoptic bronchoscope guided PDT (FOB-PDT)group, there were 21 patients including 15 males and 6 females with their average age of 63.5±13.5 years. In real-time ultrasound-guided PDT (US-PDT)group, there were 13 patients including 7 males and 6 females with their average age of 64.5±10.2 years. Surgical outcomes were compared among the 3 groups. ResultsAll PDT operations were successfully completed. There was 1 failed patient in ST group. The incidence of bleeding was 41.18% in ST group, 9.53% in FOB-PDT group and 7.70% in US-PDT group (P=0.038). The incidence of mediastinal infection was 17.65% in ST group, 0% in FOB-PDT and US-PDT group (P=0.046). There was no statistical difference in endotracheal tube retention time, length of ICU stay and hospitalization, mortality or morbidity (hypoxemia, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema)among the 3 groups. One patient in ST group developed late tracheal stenosis. ConclusionReal-time ultrasound can provide information about cervical anatomy and help choose puncture site for PDT, which can improve the safety and reduce surgical difficulty and morbidity of PDT of patients after cardiac surgery.