Totally thoracoscopic surgery is a branch of minimally invasive cardiac surgeries, and its operational indicators are expanding with the development of the medical and imaging devices compared with median sternotomy and other minimally invasive cardiac surgeries (such as thoracoscope-assisted small incision surgery and robotic surgery). The learning curve is significantly shortened through the professional technique training. Totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery has many advantages, such as minor trauma, few serious complications, fast recovery, high patient acceptance and being suitable to our country's current situation. Therefore it will be one main direction of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. This article mainly introduced the current status of totally thoracoscopic technology in the field of cardiac surgery in China.
ObjectiveTo discuss the operation skill and clinical effects of using domestic balloon-expandable Prizvalve® transcatheter "valve-in-valve" to treat the degenerated bioprosthesis in the tricuspid position.MethodsAll the admitted surgical tricuspid valve bioprosthetic valve replacement patients were evaluated by computerized tomography angiography (CTA), ultrasound, and 3D printing technology, and 2 patients with a degenerated bioprosthesis were selected for tricuspid valve "valve-in-valve" operation. Under general anesthesia, the retro-preset Prizvalve® system was implanted into degenerated tricuspid bioprosthesis via the femoral vein approach under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance.ResultsTranscatheter tricuspid valve implantation was successfully performed in both high-risk patients, and tricuspid regurgitation disappeared immediately. The operation time was 1.25 h and 2.43 h, respectively. There was no serious complication in both patients, and they were discharged from the hospital 7 days after the operation.ConclusionThe clinical effect of the degenerated tricuspid bioprosthetic valve implantation with domestic balloon-expandable valve via femoral vein approach "valve-in-valve" is good. Multimodality imaging and 3D printing technology can safely and effectively guide the implementation of this innovative technique.
In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has developed rapidly in China, and the number and quality of operations have increased significantly. TAVR has become an important treatment strategy for patients with severe aortic stenosis and regurgitation following surgical aortic valve replacement. Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) is one of the main complications after TAVR, but the incidence of TAVR-related PPM is significantly lower than surgical aortic valve replacement. Most studies believe that PPM has no significant effect on the clinical prognosis of most patients after TAVR, and only increases postoperative mortality in a specific population. This article will review the incidence, influencing factors, impact on clinical prognosis and related coping strategies of PPM after TAVR.
ObjectiveTo analyze the impact of balloon post-dilation on cardiac conduction in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). MethodsFrom June 2021 to December 2022, patients with severe aortic valve stenosis or regurgitation who underwent TAVR surgery using domestically produced valves at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University were selected. The occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative cardiac conduction block was recorded. According to whether balloon post-dilation was performed during the surgery, patients were divided into the post-dilation group and the non-post-dilation group. The baseline data, postoperative cardiac conduction block occurrence, and cardiac function of the two groups were analyzed. ResultsA total of 126 patients were included, including 83 males and 43 females, with an average age of 66.6±7.6 years. There were 30 patients in the post-dilation group and 96 patients in the non-post-dilation group. On the first day after TAVR, the average QRS intervals in the post-dilation group and the non-post-dilation group were 105.6±13.8 ms and 125.9±28.2 ms, respectively (P=0.017). At discharge, the average PR intervals in the two groups were 168.7±36.8 ms and 192.1±44.2 ms, respectively (P=0.024). After TAVR, 9 (7.1%) patients developed new atrioventricular block, 5 (4.0%) patients developed complete right bundle branch block, and 33 (26.2%) patients developed complete left bundle branch block. During hospitalization, 2 (1.6%) patients received permanent cardiac pacemakers, both of whom were in the non-post-dilation group. There was no statistical difference in postoperative left ventricular structure and function between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionPostoperative expansion using domestically produced interventional valves for TAVR do not increase the incidence of early atrioventricular block and permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation after valve implantation, and there are no significant changes in cardiac structure and function in patients with conduction block in the short term after surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) through apical approach for aortic regurgitation of large annulus.MethodsFrom November 2019 to May 2020, 10 male patients aged 64.50±4.20 years with aortic valve insufficiency (AI) underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital. The surgical instruments were 29# J-valveTM modified and the patients underwent TAVR under angiography. The preoperative and postoperative cardiac function, valve regurgitation, complications and left ventricular remodeling were summarized by ultrasound and CT before and after TAVR.ResultsA total of 10 valves were implanted in 10 patients. Among them, 1 patient was transferred to the aortic arch during the operation and was transferred to surgical aortic valve replacement; the other 9 patients were successfully implanted with J-valve, with 6 patients of cardiac function (NYHA) class Ⅱ, 4 patients of grade Ⅲ. And there was a significant difference between preoperation and postoperation in left ventricular ejection fraction (44.70%±8.78% vs. 39.80%±8.48%, P<0.05) or aortic regurgitation (1.75±0.72 mL vs. 16.51±8.71 mL, P<0.05). After 3 months, the patients' cardiac function was good.ConclusionTAVR is safe and effective in the treatment of severe valvular disease with AI using J-valve.