Abstract： Objective To summarize our experience and clinical outcomes of preservation of posterior leaflet and subvalvular structures in mitral valve replacement（MVR）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1 035 patients who underwent MVR in Beijing An Zhen Hospital from January 2006 to March 2011. There were 562 male patients and 473 female patients with their age of 37-78（53.84±13.13）years old. There were 712 patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and 323 patients with degenerative valve disease, 389 patients with mitral stenosis and 646 patients with mitral regurgitation. No patient had coronary artery disease in this group. For 457 patients in non-preservation group, bothleaflets and corresponding chordal excision was performed, while for 578 patients in preservation group, posterior leafletand subvalvular structures were preserved. There was no statistical difference in demographic and preoperative clinical characteristics between the two groups. Postoperative mortality and morbidity, and left ventricular size and function were compared between the two groups. Results There was no statistical difference in postoperative mortality（2.63% vs. 1.21%, P =0.091）and morbidity （8.53% vs. 7.44%, P=0.519）between the non-preservation group and preservation group, except that the rate of left ventricular rupture of non-preservation group was significantly higher than that of preservation group（1.09% vs. 0.00%, P=0.012）. The average left ventricular end-diastolic dimension （LVEDD）measured by echocardiography 6 months after surgery decreased in both groups, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The average left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 6 months after surgery was significantly improved compared with preoperative average LVEF in both groups. The average LVEF 6 months after surgery in patients with mitral regurgitation in the preservation group was significantly higher than that in non-preservation group （56.00%±3.47% vs. 53.00%±3.13%，P =0.000）, and there was no statistical difference in the average LVEF 6 months after surgery in patients with mitral stenosis between the two groups（57.00%±5.58% vs. 56.00%±4.79%，P =0.066）. Conclusion Preservation of posterior leaflet and subvalvular structures in MVR is a safe and effective surgical technique to reduce the risk of left ventricle rupture and improve postoperative left ventricular function．
Objective To investigate the correlation between the left atrial hydrodynamic change and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Methods According to cardiac rhythm before operation, 49 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis accompanying chronic AF were divided into two groups,group A: AF, 25 cases; group B: sinus rhythm, 24 cases. Control group : 29 healthy volunteers were examined. By using echocardiography, left atrial hydrodynamics were tested, and repeated 6-8 months after the operation. Results Left atrial stress (LAS), left atriala area (LAA) and left atrial volume(LAV) in group A after operation was much lower than before operation, LAS after operation in group B was also lower than before operation(Plt;0.01). Before operation, LAS in group A was significantly lower than that in group B, LAA and LAVwere larger. After operation, LAA and LAV in group A were significantly larger than those in group B(Plt;0.01). LAS, LAA and LAV in group A and group B before and after operation were higher than those in control group. Conclusion Left atrial hydrodynamic enviroment in patients with mitral stenosis has not reached normal even after valve replacement, LAS may be an important factor of causing AF.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of left ventricular morphology and contractile function of patients with mitral stenosis and small left ventricle after mitral valve replacement. MethodsStudies on the changes of left ventricular morphology and contractile function of patients with mitral stenosis and small left ventricle after mitral valve replacement were searched from the databases of Wangfang, VIP, CNKI, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, and Cochrane Library from establishment to January 2015. Quality of articles was evaluated. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies to conduct meta-analysis. Mean differences (MD) of left ventricle end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) between the preoperative and the postoperative value from eligible studies were analyzed and pooled, and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. R2.15.3 software was applied for statistical analysis. ResultsEight eligible studies involving 446 patients were analyzed in the study. The quality of included literature was high. The results of meta-analysis showed that LVEDVI and LVEDD increased by 14.51 ml/m2 with 95%CI -22.78 to -6.25 (P<0.01) and 4.88 mm with 95%CI -10.85 to 1.09 (P=0.11) respectively at 2 weeks postoperatively compared with preoperative value. LVEF decreased by 3.05% with 95%CI -3.02% to 9.12% (P=0.32) while LVFS increased by 1.16% with 95%CI -4.83% to 2.50% (P=0.53) at 2 weeks postoperatively. Compared with preoperative value, LVEDVI and LVEDD markedly increased by 16.11 ml/m2 with 95%CI -20.32 to -11.90 (P<0.01) and 10.56 mm with 95%CI -11.52 to -9.60 (P<0.01) respectively at 6 months postoperatively. LVEF and LVFS increased by 7.69% with 95%CI -17.18% to 1.8% (P=0.11) and 6.21% with 95%CI -10.07% to -2.36% (P<0.01) respectively at 6 months postoperatively compared with preoperative value. ConclusionLeft ventricular morphology and contractile function of patients with mitral stenosis and small left ventricle recovers well after mitral valve replacement.