Objective To determine risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery underdeep hypothermic circulatory arrest （DHCA） and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion （ASCP）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 113 patients who underwent aortic arch surgery under DHCA＋ASCP in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital， Medical School of Nanjing University from October 2004 to April 2012. According to whether they regained consciousness within 24 hours after surgery， all the 113 patients were divided into normal group （73 patients including 55 males and 18 females with their average age of 48.1±10.9 years） and delayed recovery group （40 patients including 29 males and 11 females with their average age of 52.2±11.4 years）. Risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after surgery were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Nine patients （8.0%） died postoperatively， including 5 patients with multi-organ failure， 2 patients with heart failure， 1 patient with mediastinal infection， and 1 patient with pulmonary hemorrhage. There were 7 deaths （17.5%） in the delayed recovery group and 2 deaths （2.7%） in the normal group， and the in-hospital mortality of the delayed recovery group was significantly higher than that of the normal group （P=0.016）. A total of 94 patients （including 65 patients in the normal group and 29 patients in the delayed recovery group） were followed up for 4-95 months. Eight patients （including 5 patients in the normal group and 3 patients in the delayed recovery group） died during follow-up， including 2 patients with stroke， 3 patients with heart failure， 2 patients with pulmonary hemorrhage and 1 patient with unknown cause. Ten patients were lost during follow-up. Univariate analysis showed that age （P=0.042）， hypertension （P=0.017）， emergency surgery （P=0.001）， cardiopu- lmonary bypass （CPB） time （P=0.007）， aortic cross-clamp time （P=0.021）， and blood transfusion（P=0.012）were risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery. Multivariate logistic regression showed that emergency surgery （P=0.005） and CPB time＞240 minutes （P=0.000） were independent risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery. Conclusion Delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery is attributed to a combination of many risk factors. Correct patient diagnosis， lesion site and involved scope should be made clear preoperatively in order to choose appropriate surgical strategies. During the surgery， strengthened brain protection， shortened operation time， improved surgical techniques， and perioperative stable circulation maintenance are all important measures to prevent delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery.
As an extracorporeal life support technology, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been demonstrated its role in the treatment of patients with severe respiratory failure. Its main advantages include the ability to maintain adequate oxygenation and remove excess CO2, increase oxygen delivery, improve tissue perfusion and metabolism, and implement lung protection strategies. Clinicians should accurately assess and identify the patient's condition, timely and accurately carry out VV-ECMO operation and management. This article will review the patient selection, cannulation strategy, anticoagulation, clinical management and weaning involved in the application of VV-ECMO.
ObjectiveTo explore the early outcomes of the surgical treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) combined with intracardiac abnormities via right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (RVIAT).MethodsA total of 7 children with PDA combined with intracardiac defects underwent surgery through RVIAT at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2016 to 2018. There were 4 males and 3 females, with an average age of 5.3±4.5 years and weight of 18.0±11.2 kg.ResultsIn all patients, PDA was ligated before the repair of intracardiac abnormities. No patient died in hospital. All patients were followed up, with a mean follow-up time of 18.0±8.0 months. No other complications such as residual shunts, arrhythmias, hemorrhaging or wound infection occurred after operations or during the follow-up period.ConclusionRVIAT is an emerging technique used for the surgical repair of PDA combined with intracardiac defects. It yields satisfying cosmetic results, without increasing postoperative complications or mortality.
ObjectiveTo explore the optimal preoperative management strategy in patients with acute type A aortic dissection and pericardial tamponade.MethodsA total of 197 patients with acute type A aortic dissection were admitted to the Cardiovascular Center at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2017 to 2019, among whom 26 patients suffered from cardiac tamponade, including 20 males and 6 females with an average age of 59.27±10.76 years. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed.ResultsAll patients underwent surgical repair of the aorta. The median cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamping time were 174.5 min and 121.5 min, respectively. Postoperative complications included kidney failure in 3 patients, respiratory failure in 2 patients and disturbance of consciousness in 3 patients. Postoperative death occurred in 5 (19.2%) patients. The other 21 patients were successfully followed up for 2 years, during which 1 patient died with a survival rate of 95.2%, and no re-intervention was indicated.ConclusionAdequate preoperative management is crucial in patients with acute type A aortic dissection complicated with cardiac tamponade. A cardiac surgery team with round-the-clock availability, an integrated cardiac surgery ward and a rational algorithm that can shorten the time from disease onset to surgery treatment are the keys to improve survival rate.
During the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been controversy over whether emergency surgical management should be performed or not in the patients with COVID-19. Stanford type A aortic dissection is a very urgent life-threatening disease, and guidelines recommend surgical treatment for patients with type A aortic dissection in the first instance. However, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation can be fatal to patients recovering from COVID-19. During the pandemic, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has played an important role in supporting COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. This article reports a successful V-V ECMO treatment for a Stanford type A aortic dissection patient, who suffered respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 after emergency surgery.