Abstract: Objective [WTBZ]To evaluate the longterm effects of preoperative glucocorticoid treatment on postoperative complications and survival rates for patients receiving cardiac surgery. Methods [WTBZ] We selected 57 patients including 22 males and 35 females at an average age of 52.3±11.2 years in the First Hospital of China Medical University who took steroids for a long time because of various combined diseases from September 2002 to August 2009 in the trial group, and we chose another 171 patients including 62 males and 109 females at an average age of 53.6±9.2 years who were hospitalized at the same time and had comparative basic features in the control group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in age, gender, and organ function. Different kinds of surgeries including coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valvuloplasty or valve replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting combined with heart valve replacement, and congenital heart disease surgery were performed on the patients. The proportion of surgeries carried out was similar in the two groups. Postoperative complications were compared between the two groups, and survival rates at the end of 6 months and one year followup were observed. Results [WTBZ]There was no statistical difference between the two groups in complications with respect to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (t=1.27, Pgt;0.05), reoperation for excessive postoperative bleeding (χ2=0.03, P=0.87), sternal and mediastinal infection (χ2=0.04, P=0.84), stroke (χ2=0.07, P=0.79), and gastrointestinal tract complications (χ2=2.89, P=0.09). The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia and requirement for intraaortic balloon pump in the trial group was higher, but no statistical difference was detected (χ2=2.24, P=0.13; χ2=2.20, P=0.14, respectively). Patients in the trial group were more likely to require prolonged ventilation (t=2.32, Plt;0.05), had higher rate of atrial fibrillation (χ2=4.09, P=0.04), and higher inhospital mortality (χ2=5.35, P=0.02). The sixmonth and oneyear survival rates were 0.79±0.10 and 0.73±0.12, respectively for the trial group, 0.94±0.09 and 0.86±0.10, respectively for the control group. Conclusion Longterm steroid treatment leads to higher atrial fibrillation incidence, longer ventilation time and increases the mortality rate following cardiac surgery.
Abstract:Objective To investigate the expression and significance of Voltage-gated Cl channel-3 （ClC-3） in acute cardiac allograft rejection in rats. Methods The model of heterotopic cardiac allograft of SD to Wistar rats was established. The rats were divided into two groups： control group and cyclosporin A（CsA） treated group （CsA group）. Living span of the transplants in eight rats of each group were observed. Allograft samples were harvested separately on the day 1, 3, 5, 7 after operation （n = 6）. The rejection was evaluated by routine pathological examinations. The myocardial apoptosis by terminal deoxylnucleotidyl transferase mediated-dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） method and the local expression of ClC-3 were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Results The allografts survival time was significantly longer in CsA group compared with that in control group （15.4±5.1dvs. 7.6±1.5d, P〈0.05）. There was lesser pathological changes in CsA group than that in control group. The apoptosis index were significantly higher in control group and the expression of ClC-3 was significantly lower（P〈0.05）. CsA could inhibit the rise of apoptosis index and the decrease of the ClC-3 expression. Conclusion The ClC-3 expression is closely related with the severity of myocardial necrosis and apoptosis index, which indicates that ClC-3 plays a very important role in the necrosis and apoptosis during acute cardiac allograft rejection of rat.
Objective To observe the influence of edaravone perfusion via the pulmonary artery on postoperative lung tissue and lung function during pulmonary ischemia in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest （DHCA）， and explore its possible mechanism. Methods A total of 24 healthy New Zealand white big-ear rabbits were randomly divided into three groups： （1） control group： DHCA model under cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） was established； （2）low potassium dextran （LPD）group： LPD solution perfusion via the pulmonary artery after the establishment of DHCA； （3）edaravone group：LPD solution containing edaravone （5 mg/kg） perfusion via the pulmonary artery after the establishment of DHCA. Oxygenation index and lung compliance were observed at the time of baseline condition， recovery of ventilation， 1 hour and 2 hours after recovery of ventilation， and postoperative lung function of the three groups were compared. Malondialdehyde （MDA） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in pulmonary venous blood were measured. All the rabbits were sacrificed after the operation. HE staining and immunohistochemistry were performed on the lung tissues to investigate lung structure changes and inflammatory reaction. Transmission electron microscopy was used to compare ultrastructural changes of lung.Results There were no statistical difference in oxygenation index， lung compliance， MDA and SOD among the 3 groups under the baseline condition （P＞0.05）. After recovery of ventilation， oxygenation index and lung compliance deteriorated to varying degrees in all 3 groups. Oxygenation index and lung compliance of the control group and LPD group at the time of recovery of ventilation， 1 hour and 2 hours after recovery of ventilation were significantly lower than those of edaravone group （oxygenation index：recovery of ventilation and in control group and edaravone group: 198.25±11.02 mm Hg vs. 244.87±13.05 mm Hg；lung compliance：one hour after recovery ventilation in control group and edaravone group：45.88±1.64 ml/cm H2O vs. 59.75±2.38 ml/cm H2O；P＜0.05）. After CPB removal， MDA levels were increased to varying degrees in all 3 groups. MDA levels of the control group and LPD group at the time of CPB removal， 1 hour and 2 hours after CPB removal were significantly higher than those of edaravone group （P＜0.05）. After CPB removal， SOD levels were decreased to varying degrees in all 3 groups. SOD levels of the control group and LPD group at the time of CPB removal， 1 hour and 2 hours after CPB removal were significantly lower than those of edaravone group （P＜0.05）. HE staining showed clear lung structure， less red blood cell leakage， less inflammatory cell infiltration， and less alveolar fluid accumulation in the edaravone group. Immunohistochemistry showed that integral light density of interleukin 6 （IL-6）in edaravone group was significantly lower than those of the LPD group and control group （14.44±1.75 vs. 20.18±2.22， P＜0.05）. Transmission electron microscopy showed integral basement membrane structure， clear blood gas barrier structure， significantly larger number of type II epithelial cells， abundant but not swollen mitochondria and lamellar bodies in the cytoplasm in the edaravone group， which were destroyed in varying degrees in the LPD group and control group. Conclusion Pulmonary artery perfusion of protective solution in low temperature can significantly reduce lung injury induced by DHCA and CPB. Protective solution containing edaravone in low temperature can better decrease lung injury and protect oxygenation.
Objective To investigate the impact of preoperative use of low-molecular-weight heparin （LMWH） on early outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （OPCAB） . Methods Clinical data of 809 patients undergoingisolated OPCAB from April 1st，2011 to September 30th，2012 in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into LMWH group and control group according to preoperative use of LMWH or not. In LMWH group，there were 386 patients including 290 male and 96 female patients with their age of 49-81 years，who routinely received anticoagulation therapy with LMWH （LMWH sodium or LMWH calcium，4 000 U twice a day，subcutaneous injection） after discontinuation of anti-platelet therapy until the day before surgery. In the control group，there were 423 patients including 321 male and 102 female patients with their age of 46-78 years，who didn’t receive LMWH or any other anticoagulant after discontinuation of anti-platelet therapy. Postoperative mortality，incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction （MI），operation time，amount of blood loss and transfusion，and incidence of postoperative acute renal injury were compared between the 2 groups. Results Intraoperative blood loss （296±94 ml vs. 249±81 ml，P=0.03），postoperative thoracic drainage （526±159 ml vs. 410±125 ml，P=0.02），blood transfusion （2.6±1.1 U vs. 1.4±0.9 U，P=0.04） and operation time （172±34 min vs. 154±41 min，P=0.04） of LMWH group were significantly larger or longer than those of the control group. There was no statistical difference in postoperative mortality（1.0% vs. 1.2%，P=1.00）or incidence of perioperative MI（4.4% vs. 3.8%，P=0.55）between the 2 groups. Conclusion For OPCAB patientswith stable ischemic heart disease，preoperative management without use of LMWH can decrease operation time and amountof blood loss and transfusion without increasing postoperative mortality or incidence of perioperative MI.
Objective To study the technical characteristics, clinical outcomes and short- and long-term results of minimally invasive multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting and to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy. Methods From April 2012 to December 2014, minimally invasive cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) in 11 patients was performed in the First Hospital of China Medical University. All patients were males and the average age was 62.7 (47.0-73.0) years. Eight patients with 3-vessel lesions and 3 patients with 2-vessel lesions. General anesthesia was performed with double lumen endotracheal intubation and single lung ventilation. The patient was positioned 15 degrees to 30 degrees in right lateral position. The left anterior and lateral incision was made at the fourth/fifth intercostal space with the length of 5-7 cm and 2/3 part of the incision located in the medial side of anterior axillary line. Left internal thoracic artery (LIMA) was harvested from the third intercostal space up to the subclavian vein and down to more than fifth intercostal space through the surgical window. Through the xiphoid and sixth intercostal space incision with the length of 1 cm, the Starfish and Octopus system were placed to fix apex and ascending aorta and target vessels were exposed. The proximal and distal anastomosis was done under the direct vision. The sequence of distal anastomosis was from posterior descending branch to obtuse/diagonal branch and left anterior descending branch. The chest and pericardial draining tubes were placed through the xiphoid and sixth intercostal space incision. Results The mean operation time was 4.1 (3.2–5.8) h. Five patients underwent the operation with the assist of cardiopulmonary bypass and the mean assisting time was 21.0 (17.0-38.0 ) min. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 2.8 (2.0-3.0) and LIMA was harvested and grafted in all 11 patients. The mean drainage was 425.0 (180.0-750.0) ml, mean ventilation time 7.8 (4.3-11.2) h, ICU stay 15.9 (11.0-38.0) h, and hospital time 7.7 (5.0-14.0) d. There was no operative death and re-exploration for bleeding. One patient was complicated by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and one patient myocardial infarction. The average follow-up was 19.4 (12.0-36.0) months, and no chest pain, re-admission or re-intervention happened. Coronary artery CT angiographies demonstrated that all LIMAs were patent and 4 vein grafts were occluded and venous graft patency rate was 80.0% one year after surgery. Conclusion MICS CABG has the advantage of quick recovery, good cosmetic effect and low incision infection rate compared to the conventional CABG. Compared with robotic surgery, the cost of MICS CABG is low and the same as that of the conventional CABG. It is a new kind of CABG and could be performed following the learning curve under strict training of doctors and careful patient selection. With the good short- and middle-term results, MICS CABG needs to be evaluated for long-term graft patency rate, re-revascularization rate, and clinical evidence.