Objective To compare the clinical outcomes and safety of minimally invasive and routine mitral valve repair or replacement for patients with single mitral valve disease. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 67 patients with single mitral valve disease （without aortic valve and tricuspid valve lesion or other heart diseases including atrial septal defect） who underwent mitral valve repair or replacement in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between January and July 2011. The patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical approaches：the minimally invasive surgery group （n=29，8 males and 21 females，age 51.4±9.4 years） underwent minimally invasive mitral valve repair or replacement via right mini-thoractomy；and the routine surgery group （n=38，11 males and 27 females，age 53.6±11.9 years） underwent mitral valve repair or replacement via middle sternotomy. In the minimally invasive surgery group，9 patients underwent mitral valve repair while the other 20 patients underwent mitral valve replacement. And no patient underwent transition to routine operation. In the routine surgery group，15 patients underwent mitral valve repair and 23 patients underwent mitral valve replacement. Clinical outcomes and safety of the operations were compared between the two groups. Results There was no statistical difference in operation time between the two groups （207.9±18.1 min versus 198.4±27.5 min，P=0.076）. The amount of postoperative drainage （126.7±34.5 ml versus 435.6±87.2 ml，P=0.000） and blood transfusion （red blood cell 1.4±0.8 U versus 2.3±1.1 U，P=0.000；blood plasma 164.3±50.4 ml versus 405.6±68.9 ml，P=0.000） of the minimally invasive surgery group were significantly lower than those of the routine surgery group. The cardiopulmonary bypass time （81.7±23.9 min versus 58.7±13.6 min，P=0.000） and aortic-clamping time （51.6±12.7 min versus 38.4±11.7 min，P=0.000） of the minimally invasive surgery group were significantly longer than those of the routine surgery group. The length of ICU stay （22.5±3.6 h versus 31.7±8.5 h，P=0.000），mechanical ventilation （7.4±3.2 h versus 11.2±5.1 h，P=0.000） and postoperative hospitalization （7.1±1.6 d versus 13.5±2.4 d，P=0.000） of the minimally invasive surgery group were significantly shorter than those of the routine surgery group. There was no statistical difference in postoperative complications between the two groups. Minimally invasive surgery group patients were followed up for 5.3±2.4 months with a follow-up rate of 72.4%（21/29）. Routine surgery group patients were followed up for 5.5±3.8 months with a follow-up rate of 71.0%（27/38）. There was no significant complication during follow-up in both two groups. Conclusion Minimally invasive mitral valve operation via right mini-thoracotomy is effective and safe with a good cosmetic result. Compared with routine operation，patients undergoing minimally invasive operation recover better and faster.
Mitral valve disease is the most common cardiac valve disease. The main treatment of mitral valve disease is surgery or interventional therapy. However, as the anatomy of mitral valve is complicated, the operation is particularly difficult. As a result, it requires sophisticated experiences for surgeons. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology can transform two-dimensional medical images into 3D solid models. So it can provide clear spatial anatomical information and offer safe and personalized treatment for the patients by simulating surgery process. This article reviews the applications of 3D printing technology in the treatment of mitral valve disease.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve disease and persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation.MethodsFrom May 2014 to July 2018, 144 patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were selected. Among them, there were 69 patients in a non-elderly group (<60 years) including 18 males and 51 females aged 52.07±5.56 years, and 75 patients in an elderly group (≥60 years) including 32 males and 43 females aged 65.23±4.29 years. A propensity-score matching (PSM) study was conducted to eliminate confounding factors. Both groups underwent mitral valve surgery and cryoablation at the same time. A 2-year follow-up was conducted after discharge from the hospital, and the perioperative and postoperative efficacy indexes were compared between the two groups.ResultsAfter PSM analysis, there were 56 patients in each group. The sinus rhythm conversion rate of the two groups at each follow-up time point was above 85%, and the cardiac function was graded asⅠorⅡ, which was significantly improved compared with that before the surgery, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Among the perioperative indicators of the two groups, the elderly group had more coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and longer postoperative ICU stay time compared with the non-elderly group (P<0.05), and the differences in other indicators were not statistically different (P>0.05).ConclusionThe mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation are safe, and the short-term outcome is satisfactory.