Objective To investigate whether angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) have significant relation to permanent atrial fibrillation (Af) with mitral valvular diseases. Methods 124 consecutive lone mitral valvular disease patients who need surgery were studied. At baseline, all patients underwent a physical examination, 12lead electrocardiography and echocardiography. The plasma ACE level was measured in all patients by a radioimmunoassay technique. Patients who had permanent Af formed the Af group, and those who still kept sinus rhythm (SR) comprised the SR group. In Af group, patients were separated into two groups by the subgroup of mitral valvular disease ［mitral stenosis(MS) and mitral regurgitation(MR)］, then formed MSAf group and MRAf group. Results Af was diagnosed in 47.58% (59/124) of lone mitral valvular disease patients. Patients who had Af were older (by 6 years) than sinus rhythm patients and more frequently had a history of stroke. Mitral stenosis patients were easy to have Af (60.53% vs. 27.08%，Plt;0.05). The plasma level of ACEwas significantly higher in Af group than that in SR group (72.60 ±22.03 U/L vs. 56.40±17.96 U/L，Plt;0.05). In Af group, the ACE level in MSAf group was higher than that in MRAf group (82.92±18.75 U/L vs. 66.25±21.10 U/L，Plt;0.05). Mitral stenosis patients more frequently had a history of stroke than that of mitral regurgitation patients. Af correlated significantly with the level of ACE (r=0.089, P=0.021) and left atrial dimension (r=0.447, P=0.033). Conclusion We validated and extended the hypothesis that increasing ACE level predicted an increasing risk of Af in mitral valvular diseases. It was expressed significantly in mitral stenosis patients especially.
Abstract: There is a 1% - 4% incidence of cardiac disease in pregnancy, and rheumatic heart disease is the most common diagnosis. On the condition that medical treatment is inefficacious, an open heart surgery should be performed. Because of the changes in physiological functions, there is a major difference between pregnant patients and the general population in perioperative management of valve replacement. Now , the pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication for cardiopulmonary bypass, though the incidence of mortality and birth defects remains high. It is helpful in decreasing complications and increasing survival rate by improving themethods of cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative monitoring, anticoagulation etc. In this article, the progress in t reatments of perioperative period of cardiac valve replacement during pregnancy is reviewed.
ObjectiveTo investigate whether lysyl oxidase(LOX) has significant relation to persistent atrial fibrillation(AF) with mitral valvular diseases. MethodsWe included 184 consecutive lone mitral valvular disease patients who needed surgery in our hospital between March 2012 and February 2014. Patients who had persistent AF formed the AF group, and those who still kept sinus rhythm(SR) comprised the SR group. In the AF group, patients were separated into two groups by the subgroup of mitral valvular disease(mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation), then formed a MS+AF group and a MR+AF group. There were 97 patients with 44 males and 53 females at age of 52.76±11.35 years in the AF group and 90 patients with 48 males and 42 females at age of 47.95±14.22 years in the SR group. Blood specimens were obtained from patients for the first time peripheral venous blood after admitted to hospital. LOX levels were measured by ELISA test kits of LOX. ResultsAF was diagnosed in 51.87%(97/187) of lone mitral valvular disease patients. Mitral stenosis patients were easy to have AF(60.31% vs. 34.43%, P<0.05). The plasma level of LOX was significantly higher in the AF group than that in the SR group(73.78±25.42 IU/L vs. 51.05±18.96 IU/L，P<0.05). In the AF group, the LOX level in the mitral stenosis group was higher than that in the mitral regurgitation group(84.21±32.15 IU/L vs. 59.74±35.21 IU/L， P<0.05). Mitral stenosis patients more frequently had a history of stroke than mitral regurgitation patients did. AF correlated significantly with the level of LOX(r=0.124， P=0.036) and left atrial dimension(r=0.531，P=0.042). ConclusionWe validate and extend the hypothesis that increasing LOX level predicts an increasing risk of AF in mitral valvular diseases. Lysine oxidase is a potential diagnostic biomarker for AF. It is expressed significantly in mitral stenosis patients with AF especially.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of levosimendan versus dobutamine for the patients with severe valvular disease in perioperative period. Methods A randomized, single-blind, and controlled study was conducted in 59 patients with severe valvular disease in perioperative period. There were 48 males and 11 females at average age of 51±14 years (ranged from 18 to 70 years). The patients received Swan-Ganz catheterization with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)≥15 mm Hg, cardiac index (CI)≤2.5 L/(min·m2), and hemodynamic stability. They were divided into a levosimendan group (n=25) and a dobutamine group (n=34) to receive levosimendan or dobutamine injection intravenously for 24 hours on base of anti-heart failure treatment by random digital table. ResultsIn the levosimendan group, the level of PCWP was lower than the baseline level with a statistical difference(12.51±8.76 mm Hg vs. 20.11±8.04 mm Hg, P < 0.01) after 24 hours' treatment, and the level of CI was higher than the baseline level with a statistical difference (2.58±0.72 L/(min·m2) vs. 2.01±0.54 L/(min·m2), P < 0.05) after 24 hours' treatment. In the levosimendan group, the changes of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary arterial mean pressure (PAMP), sequential vascular response (SVR), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were more obvious compared with those in the dobutamine group with statistical differences (all P < 0.05) after 24 hours' treatment. The offline time and ICU stay in the levosimendan group reduced compared with those of the dobutamine group with statistical differences (47.3±10.4 h vs. 52.5±7.6 h, P < 0.05; 5.3±2.2 d vs. 6.8±3.5 d, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionCompared with dobutamine, levosimendan can improve hemodynamic stability of patients with severe valvular disease in perioperative period with good tolerability and safety.
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect, safety and effectiveness of multiple valvular surgery through right anterolateral intercostal thoracotomy, as well as the mid-term follow-up results and surgeon's learning curve.MethodsThe clinical data of 154 patients with multiple valvular disease were performed minimally invasive cardiac surgery in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, from 2015 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 103 males and 51 females, aged 23-68 years. Closed cardiopulmonary bypass was established through femoral artery and femoral vein, and the thoracic cavity was entered through a 6 cm transverse incision in the fourth intercostal space on the right side of sternum. Baseline and perioperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes were reviewed.ResultsThere was no perioperative death. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 159.3±39.4 min, and the aortic clamping time was 102.3±20.3 min. One patient underwent thoracotomy during the operation, and two patients underwent second thoracotomy for hemostasis. During the follow-up period of 10-55 months, 1 patient died, 2 patients developed mild perivalvular regurgitation, 6 patients developed moderate tricuspid regurgitation, and no serious cardiovascular events occurred in the rest of the patients.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that multiple valvular surgery through right anterolateral intercostal thoracotomy is safe, and in an acceptable risk of complication. The early and middle follow-up results are satisfactory. The minimally invasive cardiac surgery can also meet the requirements of cosmetology, and is conducive to the recovery of patients' mental and physical health. This method is worthy of application in medical centers with rich experience in routine cardiac surgery.
After nearly two decades of application and development, the clinical efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been continuously improved and demonstrated. Due to the expansion of indications of TAVR, the frequency of encountering patients with mixed valvular diseases increases greatly, particularly the moderate to severe mitral regurgitation combined with aortic stenosis. Multiple registry studies suggest that the incidence of significant mitral regurgitation is approximately 13% to 74% in patients who undergo TAVR. Some studies have reported that moderate to severe MR is associated with higher mortality, while simultaneous aortic and mitral valve surgery is associated with significantly higher surgical risk. Therefore, the optimal treatment strategy for this special patient group remains uncertain. With the further development of transcatheter therapy, staged surgery may be a feasible solution. However, there is currently a lack of evidence-based support such as randomized clinical trials. This review aims to report and evaluate relevant existing research data to help clinicians make optimal treatment decisions for this specific patient populations.
Preoperative evaluation is crucial for heart valvular surgery. This article discusses some issues that need to be emphasized: the impact of hypertension on the severity of aortic valve lesions, and how to improve the accuracy of clinical assessment; the identification of functional tricuspid regurgitation, in order to choose the appropriate surgical technique; the need for right ventricular function testing, and the use of risk scoring models, to better grasp surgical timing and indications and improve efficacy; and the importance of evaluating atrial mitral and/or tricuspid regurgitation complications in chronic atrial fibrillation, and making rational choices for interventional and surgical treatment.
Objective To investigate the feasibility and early efficacy of transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) combined with transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in patients with high-risk aortic valve lesions combined with severe mitral regurgitation. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent "one-stop" transapical TAVR+TEER in our hospital from August 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Five patients were collected, including 3 males and 2 females with a mean age of 66.6±1.8 years. Four patients had aortic valve insufficiency combined with mitral regurgitation and one had aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency combined with mitral regurgitation. All patients successfully completed transapical TAVR+TEER, and the immediate postoperative echocardiographic results revealed that none of them had more than mild perivalvular leakage and mitral regurgitation, and the prosthetic valves were in good position and function. At 1 week postoperatively, echocardiographic results showed 5 patients with no displacement of the prosthetic valve, detachment of the mitral clip, or damage to the leaflets. At 1 month postoperatively, cardiac function was improved to varying degrees in 4 patients, and 1 patient died of multiorgan failure. At 2 months postoperatively, 1 patient died of cerebrovascular accident, and at 3 months postoperatively the echocardiographic results of the remaining 3 patients revealed that there was no more than mild perivalvular leakage or mitral regurgitation, and the patients' postoperative cardiac function and daily life ability were significantly improved. Conclusion In high-risk aortic valve lesions combined with severe mitral regurgitation, "one-stop" transapical TAVR+TEER is feasible with favorable early efficacy and safety.
With the continuous innovation in medical technology, the field of cardiac surgery has witnessed significant technological breakthroughs, particularly in the innovative application of minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of valvular diseases. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery addresses valve diseases such as tricuspid valve, mitral valve, and aortic valve, encompassing various surgical techniques including small incisions, thoracoscopy, and robotics. Compared to traditional thoracotomy, minimally invasive techniques exhibit notable clinical advantages, characterized by minimized surgical incisions, reduced postoperative pain, decreased perioperative complication rates, shortened hospital stays, and accelerated recovery of bodily functions. Driven by the precision development of surgical instruments, the collaborative advancement of imaging and perioperative monitoring technologies, and the gradual improvement of standardized training systems for specialist physicians, minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques continue to innovate and evolve rapidly. This article aims to systematically elaborate on the latest research progress of minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques in the treatment of valvular diseases.