ObjectiveTo summarize our clinical experience of artificial chordal replacement with loop technique for the treatment of mitral insufficiency (MI) due to mitral valve prolapse. MethodsFrom January 2008 to August 2011, pre-measured expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) loops were used for the treatment of MI in 22 patients in the Department of Cardiac Surgery,Beijing Anzhen Hospital. There were 15 males and 7 females with their age of 26-69(53.1±8.5) years. Six patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ and 16 patients were in NYHA class Ⅲ. There were 14 patients with anterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture,2 patients with anterior mitral leaflet chordal elongation,4 patients with both anterior and posterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture,and 2 patients with posterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture. All the patients had severe MI. One patient had concomitant cor triatriatum,and another patient had coronary heart disease. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was 49-67 (58.1±3.9) mm,ejection fraction (EF) was 58%-69% (61.8±2.1%) and cardiothoracic ratio was 0.53±0.16. We measured the length of normal chordae adjacent to the ruptured or elongated chordae with a caliper for reference,and constructed the artificial chordal loops on the caliper with ePTFE suture according to the scope of mitral valve prolapse,then fixed the loops to the corresponding papillary muscles and free edge of the prolapsed mitral leaflets. Ring annuloplasty was routinely performed for all the patients. One patient received concomitant repair for cor triatriatum, and another patients underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. All the patients received oral anticoagulation with warfarin for 3 months after discharge. ResultsThere was no in-hospital death. Postoperatively,1 patient had hemoglobinuria and another patient had wound infection,both of whom were cured after treatment. Pre-discharge echocardiography showed mild or no MI in 1 patients and trivial MI in 21 patients. Postoperative LVEDD was 43-53 (48.1±2.1) mm and significantly smaller than preoperative LVEDD. All the patients were follow up for 4-39 (18.3±5.2) months after discharge. During follow-up,there were 5 patients with mild MI and 17 patients with none or trivial MI. Seventeen patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ,5 patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ,and their heart function was significantly improved than preoperative heart function. ConclusionArtificial chordal replacement with loop technique is easy to perform with satisfactory short-to mid-term results for the treatment of MI due to mitral valve prolapse.
ObjectiveTo summarize clinical outcomes of mitral valve replacement (MVR) with modified anterior leaflet preservation technique,improve therapeutic effects and reduce postoperative mortality and morbidity. MethodsFrom May 2005 to December 2012,128 patients underwent MVR with modified anterior leaflet preservation technique (modified group) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital,among whom 14 patients received concomitant aortic valve replacement. There were 49 male and 79 female patients in the modified group with their age of 45.0±12.3 years. Another 128 patients who underwent routine MVR during the same period were also included in this study as the control group,including 55 male and 73 female patients with their age of 48.0±8.4 years. There was no statistical difference in preoperative clinical characteristics between the 2 groups (P>0.05). ResultsIn the modified group,there was no perioperative death. Postoperatively,6 patients received reexploration for bleeding,4 patients had low cardiac output syndrome,5 patients had pulmonary infection,1 patient received tracheostomy,and 3 patients had acute kidney failure (AKI). In the control group,5 patients died postoperatively including 3 patients with left ventricular rupture and 2 patients with severe low cardiac output syndrome. Postoperatively,5 patients received reexploration for bleeding,12 patients had low cardiac output syndrome,4 patients had pulmonary infection,and 6 patients had AKI. Echocardiography at 6th month during follow-up showed that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) of modified group patients were improved compared with control group patients. There was statistical difference in LVEF and LVESD between the 2 groups (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in LVEDD between the 2 groups (P>0.05). LVEF,LVEDD and LVESD of modified group patients during follow-up were statistically different from preoperative values (P<0.05). LVEDD of control group patients during follow-up was statistically different from preoperative LVEDD (P<0.05). LVEF and LVESD of control group patients during follow-up was not statistically different from preoperative values (P>0.05). ConclusionMVR with modified anterior leaflet preservation technique is simple to perform with satisfactory short-term results. This technique is suitable for various types of mitral valve diseases especially degenerative mitral valve disease and infective endocarditis.
ObjectiveTo summarize our clinical experience and improve clinical outcomes of chordal transfer and artificial chordae in mitral valvuloplasty (MVP). MethodsClinical data of 74 patients who received chordal transfer or artificial chordae in MVP for the treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse[degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR)] from January 2008 to February 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 34 male and 40 female patients with their age of 22-64 (48.00±6.40)years. According to different surgical techniques, all the 74 patients were divided into 2 groups. In the chordal transfer group, there were 42 patients who received chordal transfer with posterior leaflet chordae transferred to anterior leaflet. In the artificial chordae group, there were 32 patients who received artificial chordae with loop technique. Postoperative mortality, morbidity and MR were analyzed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD)and end-systolic diameter (LVESD)were examined by echocardiography during follow-up. ResultsThere was no perioperative death in either group. Two patients underwent reexploration for postoperative bleeding. Nine patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation postoperatively, and were cured by intravenous administration of amiodarone. Echocardiography before discharge showed mild MR in 5 patients, trivial MR in 12 patients, and none MR in 25 patients in the chordal transfer group, and mild MR in 6 patients, trivial MR in 15 patients and none MR in 11 patients in the artificial chordae group. Seventy patients[94.59%(70/74)] were followed up after discharge. In both groups, LVEF at 6 months after MVP was significantly higher than that before discharge (chordal transfer group:64.00%±4.20% vs. 55.00%±5.10%; artificial chordae group:63.00%±3.50% vs. 56.00%±4.20%). LVEDD (chordal transfer group:47.00±2.20 mm vs. 58.00±6.90 mm; artificial chordae group:45.00±3.80 mm vs. 57.00±5.10 mm, P < 0.05)and LVESD at 6 months after MVP were significantly smaller than preoperative values. There was no statistical difference in LVEF, LVEDD or LVESD preop-eratively, before discharge and 6 months after MVP respectively between the chordal transfer group and artificial chordae group (P > 0.05). One patient in the chordal transfer group underwent mitral valve replacement for severe MR 14 months after MVP. One patient in the artificial choadae group underwent mitral valve replacement for persistent hemoglobinuria 6 months after MVP. ConclusionChordal transfer and artificial chordae technique are both suitable for the treatment of complex anterior leaflet prolapse. Artificial chordae has wider range of application, and chordae transfer needs advanced and flexible surgical skills. Both techniques have good short-term clinical outcomes and deserve clinical application.
ObjectiveTo summarize surgical experience and explore the best treatment strategy for the management of complicated mediastinitis after cardiac surgery. MethodsClinical data of 18 patients who received vascularized muscle flap transposition combined with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)for the treatment of complicated mediastinitis after cardiac surgery in one stage in the Department of Cardiac Surgery of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University between June 2006 and December 2012 were retrospective analyzed. There were 12 male and 6 female patients with their average age of 65.5±8.2 years. The average interval between cardiac surgery and vascularized muscle flap reconstruction was 12.5±5.8 days. ResultsPostoperatively, 1 patient died of recurrent mediastinitis, sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Seventeen patients had an uneventful postoperative recovery and one-stage wound healing. Postoperative hospital stay was 18.6±7.2 days and wound healing time was 4.5±2.4 weeks. All the 17 patients were followed up for over 6 months, no recurrent mediastinitis was observed, and they had a good quality of life. ConclusionVascularized muscle flap transposition combined with NPWT is a simple and effective surgical strategy for the treatment of complicated mediastinitis after cardiac surgery in one-stage.
ObjectiveTo evaluate early and midterm outcomes of aortic root enlargement (ARE) combined with supra-annular valve implantation for adult patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and small aortic roots (SARs). MethodsFrom January 2007 to July 2011, ARE combined with supra-annular valve implantation was performed for 38 adult patients with AS and SARs in Department of Cardiac Surgery of Beijing Anzhen Hospital. There were 12 males and 26 females with their age of 16-58 (38.6±21.0) years, body weight of 48-78 (58.5±12.0) kg, body height of 153-176 (162.8±12.0) cm and a mean body surface area (BSA) of 1.67±0.32 m2. There were 19 patients with rheumatic AS, 11 patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valve and AS, 5 patients with degenerative AS and 3 patients with AS and infective endocarditis. Preopera-tively, 8 patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ, 29 patients were in NYHA class Ⅲ, and 1 patient was in NYHA class Ⅳ. Aortic annular diameter (AAD) was 15-20 (17.6±2.8) mm and trans-aortic pressure gradient was 53-75 (62.8±10.5) mm Hg. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was 83-145 (112±29) minutes, and aortic cross-clamping time was 58-116 (87±28) minutes. Intraoperative measurement of AAD was 15-20 (17.3±2.6) mm, AAD after ARE was 20-25 (22.6±2.3) mm. AAD after ARE was 12-17 (14.0±2.6) mm larger than AAD before ARE. Actual size of prosthetic valves was 2-3 sizes larger than predicted size without ARE in all the patients. There was no perioperative death or severe complication including bleeding. Length of ICU stay was 12-41 (26±14) hours, and length of hospital stay was 9-15 (12.5±3.2) days. A total of 37 patients (97.4%) were followed up for over 2 years after discharge. All the patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ. Grade 2/6 systolic murmur was heard in 3 patients. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed significant improvement or complete disappearance of left ventricular hypertrophy in 35 patients, and mild left ventricular hypertrophy in 2 patients. ECG during follow-up didn't show any sign of myocardial ischemia, ventricular arrhythmia or severe atrioventricular block in any patient. ConclusionEarly and midterm outcomes of ARE combined with supra-annular valve implantation for adult patients with AS and SARs are satisfactory, but long-term outcomes of this procedure need further follow-up.