With the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and the increasing use of intracardiac pacemakers, the incidence of isolated tricuspid regurgitation is gradually increasing. Severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation has a seriously negative effect on the survival rate and life quality of patients. As the major invasive therapy, surgery is not routinely carried out due to high perioperative mortality. This article attempts to summarize the etiology, natural course and adverse consequences of isolated tricuspid regurgitation, current treatment strategies, surgical indications and techniques, efficacy evaluation, prognostic factors and transcatheter treatment progress of isolated tricuspid regurgitation, aiming to provide references for cardiologists and further researches.
Abstract： Objective To compare minimally invasive technique with multiple short incisions and traditional open technique for great saphenous vein (GSV) harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods Fortyseven patients underwent first time CABG between November 2007 to January 2009. These patients included 37 males and 10 females with their age ranged from 43 to 78 years and their average age was 61.3±84 years old. The patients were prospectively randomized into the minimally invasive harvesting group (group A,n=21) and the traditional open harvesting group (group B, n=26). For group A, we adopted the method of minimally invasive technique with multiple short incisions, while for group B, the traditional long incisions were adopted. The incision length, GSV harvesting time, lower limbs suture time and incision complications were compared between the two groups. Results During harvesting, no injury to the saphenous vein trunk or complications related to the quality of venous grafts occurred in both groups. There were no significantly differences in the number of venous grafts and the GSV length between the two groups. Group A had significantly longer GSV harvesting time than group B (51.9±11.5 min vs. 40.3±7.6 min,P=0.000). However, incision length (16.1±4.1 cm vs. 49.2±7.2 cm, P=0.000), incision suture time (11.0±3.0 min vs. 33.6±4.8 min,P=0.000) and lower limbs total operation time (62.6±14.9 min vs.73.8±11.6 min,P=0.006) in group A were much shorter than those in group B. Fortyseven patients were followed up (100%) and the followup time ranged from 3 to 26 months. The rate of leg wound complications such as serous exudates, hematomas and wound infection was 4.8% (1/21) in Group A and 34.6% (9/26) in Group B. These complications were all cured with additional treatments. Group A had lower leg wound complication rate than Group B (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that minimally invasive technique for GSV harvesting can be performed at a satisfactory speed and helpful in decreasing the lower limb incision complication rate.
Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which provides temporary cardiopulmonary assist for critical patients, and preliminary analysis of the cause of failure. Methods From February 2005 to October 2008, 58 adult patients (male 42, female 16) undergoing cardiogenic shock required temporary ECMO support. Age was 44.8±17.6 years, and support duration of ECMO was 131.9±104.7 hours. There were 24 patients (41.4%) with coronary heart disease, 11 patients (19.0%) with cardiomyopathy, 10 patients (17.2%) with cardiac valve disease,and 9 patients (15.5%) with congenital heart disease. Results 22 patients died in hospital. 11 patients (50%) died of multisystem organ failure, 5 patients (22.7%) died of refractory heart failure despite the ECMO support. Another patients died of bleeding and severe pulmonary hypertension etc. The percentage for patients need cardiac resuscitation before ECMO support and patients with acute renal failure treated by continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) under ECMO support were obviously higher in dead patients than those in survivor patients (45.5% vs.19.4%, 40.9% vs. 5.6%; P=0.043，0.001). All of the discharged patients were reassessed, mean followup time were 15.6 months. Three patients died of refractory heart failure， 1 patient died of neurologic complications. The other 32 survivors were in good condition with cardiac symptom of New York Heart Association class Ⅰ or Ⅱ. Conclusion ECMO offers effective cardiopulmonary support in adults. Early intervention and control of complications could improve our results with increasing experience. Combining using CRRT during the ECMO support is associated with significantly higher mortality rate. Suffered cardiac arrest prior to ECMO also influences the survival.
Objective To analyze the causes of mechanical valve dysfunction and the reconstructive surgical procedure, and summarize the treatment experiences in perioperative period. Methods From October 1996 to October 2008, 12 276 patients underwent mechanical valve replacement in Fu Wai Hospital. Thirtytwo of them were reoperated because of mechanical valve dysfunction. There were 12 male and 20 female aged from 1661 years with an average age of 43.8 years. All the reoperations were performed under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, including 16 mitral valve replacement, 8 aortic valve replacement, 3 aortic and mitral valve replacement, 3 tricuspid valve replacement, 2 disc rotation and 1 excision of an excessive knot. There were 13 emergency operation and 19 elective operation. Results The time of ventilator assistant respiration was 5.1-144.0 hours.The median time was 15 hours and tracheostomy was needed in 2 cases. Six patients died after reoperations, the mortality rate was 18.8%(6/32). Three died of low cardiac output syndrome, 2 died of multiple organ failure and 1 died of malignant arrhythmia. Three cases had complications. There were 1 infective endocarditis, 1 intractable hiccup and 1 incisional infection, respectively. They were all cured and discharged. Conclusion Prosthetic valve dysfunction is one of the serious complications after mechanical valve replacement. Early detection, early diagnosis and early reoperation are needed.
Objective To investigate the surgical indications and the mid and long term results of morphologic tricuspid valve replacement for corrected transposition of the great arteries（cTGA）. Methods From September 1997 to September 2007, 18 cases with cTGA were treated in Fu Wai Hospital. There were 15 male and 3 female, aged from 16 to 51 years（33.3±12.8 years）, and weighed from 47 to 90 kg(60.9±14.7 kg). There were 10 cases with isolated morphologic tricuspid valve insufficiency, 3 complicated with ventricular septal defect, 2 complicated with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary valve stenosis, 2 with morphologic tricuspid valve insufficiency after septal defect repair, and 1 with mechanical valve dysfunction after morphologic tricuspid valve replacement. The preoperative mean morphologic right ventricle ejection fraction was 562%±11.6%. Of the 18 cases, 12 were in grade Ⅱ and 6 were in grade Ⅲ according to New York Heart classification（NYHA）.All the cases had undergone morphologic tricuspid valve replacement. Postoperative indices such as cardiac function and morphological right ventricle ejection fraction were followed up. Results One patient died of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. Two had pervavlvular leak, which were cured by pervavlvular leak repair at 7th and 30th day after operation, respectively. Sixteen were followed up with a followup time of 57.0±407 months. There was no statistical significance between preoperative and postoperative mean morphologic right ventricle ejection fraction（52.8%±9.2% vs.56.2%±11.6%; t=2.062, Pgt;0.05）. The followup showed that 12 were in NYHA grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, and 4 were in NYHA grade Ⅲ. There was no statistical significance between preoperative and postoperative percentage of cases in NYHA grade Ⅲ（χ2=1.532，Pgt;0.05）. Conclusion Morphologic tricuspid valve replacement can prevent the further damage to morphologic right ventricular function caused by morphologic tricuspid valve insufficiency. The mid and long term results were satisfying. During the followup, the morphologic right ventricle can function appropriately.
Objective To analyze symptoms, associated anomalies, diagnostic approach, and surgical procedures in patients with unroofed coronary sinus syndrome (UCSS), a rare congenital disorder. Methods The clinical, echocardiographic, operative, and followup data on 44 patients with unroofed coronary sinus syndrome (typeⅠin 15，typeⅡin 9，type Ⅲ in 5 and type Ⅳ in 15) between May 1998 and January 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The initial diagnosis of unroofed coronary sinus syndrome was made by echocardiography in 12 patients, by the surgeon at repair of other congenital cardiac anomalies in 32 patients. The patients underwent cardiovascular surgery at Fu Wai hospital. Left superior vena cava(LSVC) directly drains into the left atrium (LA) were found in 15 cases, LSVC was ligated in 1 case, the intracardiac tunnel to drain LSVC to right atrium (RA) were reconstructed in 14 cases. The associated cardiac lesions were corrected concomitantly. Results There were 3 hospital deaths. One patient died of low cardiac output syndrome and 2 patients died of pulmonary infection. One case was applied diaphragm plication because of right diaphragm paralysis after the heart operation and the hospital stay was 70 days.The other 40 cases had good surgical result. The average time of extubation was 11.7±12.1 h and hospital stay was 8.1±2.8 d. In the 32 cases, who have been followed up from 4 months to 10 years, there was no death and severe complications. Conclusion Unroofed coronary sinus syndromes are often missed in the preoperative evaluation of congenitally malformed hearts. When associated with LSVC, unroofed coronary sinus syndrome should be considered as a possible additional finding.We performed different surgical approaches to deal with the different kinds of LSVC with a good result.
Objective To compare the clinical early results of on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting re-operations (re-CABG)and introduce our experience. Methods From April 2000 to June 2006, 21 cases with coronary artery diease of re-CABG were performed in this hospital. 10 patients received off-pump CABG (off-pump group), and 11 underwent CABG re-operations with cardiopulmonary bypass CABG(on-pump group). There were no significant difference regarding gender, age, weight, diabetes, hypertension, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between two groups before operation. On-pump CABG procedures were performed on hypothermia cardiopulmonary bypass. Standard methods were used to finish off-pump CABG. Flow meters were utilized to measure the flow of grafts in both groups. Results No one in off-pump group needed to conver to on-pump CABG. There was no operative or late mortality. The operation time, respiratory support time, the volume of chest tube drainage, blood transfusion and postoperative hospital stay were less in off-pump group than those in on-pump group after operation. Early death occurred in 1 patient in on-pump group. The number of distal anastomosis were more in on-pump group than that in off-pump group. Conclusions Both off-pump CABG and on-pump CABG can be applied to CABG re-operations and achieved similar completeness of revascularization, similar early surgical results.
Abstract: Objective To study the impact of different kinds of mechanical circulation support devices on plasma free hemoglobin(FHb). Methods From Mar. 2004 to Dec. 2005, 20 patients received mechanical circulation support in Fu Wai Hospital, who were divided into 4 groups according to the different type of supporting devices. 9 got extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, 8 received BVS5000 left ventricular support, 2 got MEDOS left ventricular support and 1 received AB5000 left ventricular support. Random control group included 9 cardiotomy patients after CPB supporting and 9 patients with offpump coronary artery bypass grafting during the same period. Parameters such as FHb, Tbil, Dbil, Cr and BUN were monitored throughout the supporting term. The results were compared according to the different types of mechanical circulation support devices. Results The elevation of FHb caused by CPB could be decreased to normal within 1d. However, in BVS5000 group, the elevated FHb level decreased to normal till 2 days later. The others mechanical circulation support devices such as ECMO, MEDOS, AB5000 elevated the FHb throughout the whole supporting period. Compared with those in ECMO group, the patients in BVS5000 group had obviously lower level of FHb since the third day after the beginning of supporting. In patients who got ECMO treatment, there was a trend that the elevation degree of FHb was lower in those with support flow rate less than 2.5 L/min. For most patients got devices support, there was also an elevation of Tbil and BUN level during the supporting period. Conclusion Mechanical circulation support devices, such as ECMO, BVS5000, MEDOS and AB5000, can cause red cell destruction in acceptable level. BVS5000 has much smaller impact on cell destruction than others do in postoperative patients.