Objective To investigate the preliminary experience, the evolution of surgical approach of multidisciplinary therapy for atrial fibrillation and the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 69 patients with stand-alone surgical ablation with or without transcatheter radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in our center from January 2015 to May 2017. There were 50 males and 19 females at average age of 57.2 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical approach including a median sternotomy group (n=9), a left unilateral thoracoscopy group (n=7) and a bilateral thoracoscopy group (n=53). One (11.1%) patient, 3 (42.9%) patients and 26 (49.1%) patients received transcatheter mapping and radiofrequency ablation after surgical ablation in each group, respectively. Results The mean follow-up time in the median sternotomy group was 10.2 months. All 9 patients maintained sinus rhythm. The mean follow-up time of the left unilateral thoracoscopy group was 7.4 months. Five (71.4%) patients maintained sinus rhythm. While the mean follow-up time of the bilateral thoracoscopy group was 5.0 months. Forty-seven (88.7%) patients maintained sinus rhythm. There was no perioperative death, or death, stroke, major bleeding nor pulmonary vein stenosis during follow-up. Conclusion The classic Cox-Maze Ⅳ procedure with high success rate is still the basic operation for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation, while the thoracoscopic mini maze procedure has the advantages of minimally invasiveness, repeatibility, and can achieve similar results as Cox-Maze Ⅳ procedure when combined with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation. Multidisciplinary therapy could be the best solution for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the results of a hybrid procedure for treating Stanford type B1C aortic dissection.MethodsIn our center, 49 patients with Stanford type B1C aortic dissection underwent supra-arch branch vessel bypass and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) from December 2013 to December 2017. There were 33 males and 16 females with an average age of 60.4±5.5 years. Left common carotid artery to left subclavian artery bypass (n=29), right common carotid artery to left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery bypass (n=18), left common carotid artery to left subclavian artery and right common carotid artery to right subclavian artery bypass (n=2) were performed.ResultsEarly mortality rate was 2.0% (1/49). Forty-eight patients survived postoperatively. The follow-up rate was 100.0% (48/48). The patients were followed up for 6 to 47 (26.8±11.9) months postoperatively. Chest pain relapsed in one patient 8 months after the operation. The whole aorta CTA showed type A1S aortic dissection in one patient 6 months after the operation, and the re-operation was satisfactory. There was no endoleak or paraplegia.ConclusionInitial results suggest that the one-stage hybrid procedure is a suitable therapeutic option for type B1C aortic dissection.
ObjectiveReporting a case of hybrid procedure of extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) with type B dissection due to Marfan syndrome (MFS) using a prosthetic graft as the distal landing zone for stent-graft.MethodsRetrospectively summarize in-hospital profiles of a patient for who was diagnosed as MFS complicated with TAAA and type B dissection and admmited to Vascular Surgery Department of West China Hospital in May 2018. A GORE-TEX 18 mm×9 mm Y-shaped graft was sewn side-to-end to the bifurcation of left common iliac artery as the inflow site, and a self-made penta-limb graft was sewn side-to-end to the bifurcation of the 18 mm graft. The visceral and bilateral iliac arteries were reconstructed subsequently. Then, the release of the stent-graft was designed from distal to proximal. The distal part of the stent-graft was anchored into the main body of the 18 mm Y-shaped graft.ResultsThe patient underwent the operation successfully with a duaration of 6 h, blood loss of about 800 mL. No serious postoperative complications occurred. Computed tomography angiography at 2-year follow-up showed that the bypass grafts were patent without endoleak, stent migration, stent infolding or infections of the vessel graft and endograft.ConclusionThis modified management of the landing zone could be a proper choice for this kind of rare case as extensive aneurysm or dissection involved in patients with MFS.
The treatment of chronic thoracoabdominal aortic dissection aneurysm remains a major challenge in aortic surgery. Open surgery is the mainstream treatment at present. New devices for endovascular treatment of chronic thoracoabdominal aortic dissection are gradually applied in clinical practice. The hybrid procedure is a combination of open and endovascular procedures. The appropriate treatment should be selected according to the patient's age, anatomy, genetic aortic disease, and comorbidities.