With the discovery of cardiac stem cell, the conception of the heart considered to be a terminally differentiated organ was changed. Cardiac stem cells possess the common characteristics of self-renew, clone formation and differentiating into cardiomyocyte, smooth muscle cell, and endothelial cell. Because of the properties of tissue specificity and lineage commitment, cardiac stem cells are considered to have great advantages over other stem cells in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, the low rate of engraftment still remains a problem to be solved. In recent years, people attempted to combine stem cell therapy with other ways, such as tissue engineering, gene therapy, exosome therapy, to cure cardiovascular diseases, aiming at finding better ways to treat the cardiovascular disease. This article is mainly for the reviewing of the mechanisms underlying the stem cell therapy and the combinatory use of new technology emerged these years.
Objective To compare the postoperative outcomes of modified single-patch technique and one-and-a-half-patch technique for complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) with a large ventricular component (>1 cm). Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 79 CAVSD patients with a large ventricular component (>1 cm) in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2005 through January 2016. There were 37 males, 42 females with a median age of 8 months (range, 1.5 months to 10.2 years). Among the patients, 45 patients (20 males, 25 females) with a median age of 6 months(range, 1.5 months to 10.2 years) received modified single patch technique and 34 patients (17 males, 17 females) with a median age of 5.3 months (range, 2.5 months to 8.3 years) underwent one-and-a-half-patch (1.5-patch) technique. All the patients complicated with complex malformation such as double outlet of right ventricular, single ventricle, and transposition of great arteries were excluded. Results The mortality and reoperation rate in modified single-patch group were higher than those of the one-and-a-half-patch group. There were 2 postoperative early deaths in the modified single-patch group (4.4%). Among them, one patient died of postoperative valvular regurgitation and heart pump failure. The other one died of respiratory failure caused by severe pneumonia. There were 3 reoperations. Two patients performed valve plastic surgery because of valve regurgitation and one patient because of residual ventricular septal defect. There was no death and reoperation in the one-and-a-half-patch technique group. No left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and atrioventricular block in both groups were developed. Conclusion The 1.5-patch technique is an attractive clinical option in CAVSD patients with a large ventricular component.
Objective To evaluate the outcome of surgical repair of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) combined with anomalies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 48 patients with IAA combined with anomalies undergoing one-stage biventricular repair in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from November 2006 to April 2016. There were 25 males and 23 females with a median age of 29 d (range, 8 to 91 d) and a mean weight of 3.80±0.67 kg. All patients underwent end-to-end anastomosis with patch augmentation, and relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) was performed in 11 patients. Results In IAA children with anomalies, 39 (81.3%) suffered noncomplex lesions and 9 (18.8%) complex lesions. Mean follow-up was 72.1±19.7 months for 38 patients. There were 6 in-hospital deaths and 3 patients died during follow-up. The early survival rate was 87.5%, 5-year rate 83.3% and 10-year rate 81.3%. Reintervention was required in 10 patients, including 8 with subsequent LVOTO and 2 with anastomotic stenosis. Conclusion End-to-end anastomosis with patch augmentation is effective for IAA.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical efficacy of right midaxillary straight incision surgery in the treatment of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect. MethodsThe clinical data of children with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect who received surgeries in our hospital from August 2020 to July 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. All the children underwent surgical repair and were divided into two groups according to the incision position, including a right midaxillary straight incision group and a median incision group. The outcomes were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 187 patients were enrolled. There were 102 patients in the right midaxillary straight incision group, including 55 males and 47 females with a median age of 26.0 (5.0, 127.0) months and a median weight of 12.5 (5.1, 32.8) kg at surgery. There were 85 patients in the median incision group, including 37 males and 48 females with a median age of 4.0 (2.0, 168.0) months and a median weight of 6.7 (4.8, 53.9) kg at surgery. No mortality occurred in the study. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the cardiopulmonary bypass time (50.0±18.4 min vs. 46.1±15.7 min) or aortic cross-clamping time (31.3±18.6 min vs. 26.3±17.5 min) (P>0.05). Compared to the median incision group, the time from the end of cardiopulmonary bypass to the closure of chest (22.3±15.6 min vs. 37.1±13.4 min, P=0.001), postoperative hospital stay (6.9±3.9 d vs. 8.6±3.6 d, P=0.002), the length of incision (4.3±2.7 cm vs. 8.5±3.2 cm, P=0.001), drainage volume (79.0±32.2 mL vs. 100.2±43.1 mL, P=0.001), and the pain score on the 2nd and the 3rd day after the operation were statistically better in the right midaxillary straight incision group (P<0.05). The medical experience and incision satisfaction scores at discharge were higher than those in the median incision group (P<0.05). During the follow-up of 21.0 (1.0, 35.0) months, no residual shunt was detected and all patients in both groups had a normal cardiac function and mild or less valve regurgitation. ConclusionCompared to the median incision, minimally invasive right midaxillary straight incision is equally safe and reliable in the treatment of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect with the advantages of cosmetic and fast recovery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of a self-powered conduit in different patients’ models who underwent extracardiac Fontan procedure.MethodsFour children who underwent extracardiac Fontan procedure in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from 2011 to 2017 year were selected. Venae cavae and pulmonary arteries were reconstructed using Mimics 19.0®. In silico, a venturi conduit was introduced to the anastomosis of venae cavae and pulmonary artery. Then computational fluid dynamics simulation was performed using patients’ clinical data.ResultsWhen inferior venae cavae were directly to or to the left of superior venae cavae, the venturi conduit could assist the return of venous blood and reduce the pressures of venae cavae about 0.5 mm Hg. And the pressure differences between venae cavae and pulmonary arteries were about –0.7 mm Hg, which suggested that the conduit could generate right ventricle-like effect.ConclusionThe venturi conduit can reduce the pressure of venae cavae, increase pulmonary circulation flow and improve Fontan hemodynamics.
ObjectivePulmonary vein banding was used to establish a piglet model of pulmonary vein stenosis. We investigated the pathomorphological alterations of pulmonary veins in the model and compared it with the vascular tissue of recurrent stenosis after total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).MethodsTen pigs of 6 weeks old were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups: 5 in a sham operation group and 5 in a pulmonary vein banding group. The operation had two stages, in which thoracotomies through intercostal space were done respectively on both sides. Biocompatible materials were applied around the pulmonary veins in the experimental group. The same method was used in the sham group. But the pulmonary veins were not banded. Six weeks after the operation, the pulmonary veins of the animals were harvested for hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining to observe the pathological alterations of pulmonary veins. The proliferative tissues of patients with recurrent stenosis after TAPVC repair were collected and observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining.ResultsBoth the sham operation group and the pulmonary vein banding group survived. But the pulmonary vein banding group had obvious clinical manifestations of pulmonary venous stenosis. Compared with the sham group, the pulmonary vein banding group showed intimal hyperplasia, decreased expression of endothelial marker and increased expression of mesenchymal markers, and co-expression of endothelial and mesenchymal markers in intimal cells. Human pathology also showed intimal hyperplasia and co-expression of endothelial and mesenchymal markers in intimal cells.ConclusionThe surgical pulmonary vein stenosis in piglets shows intimal hyperplasia and myofibroblasts, which was consistent with clinical pathology.
ObjectiveTo analyze the outcomes of surgical repair for mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).MethodsBetween 2006 and 2018, a total of 51 patients with mixed TAPVC underwent surgery in our hospital. Patients with such associated anomalies as single ventricle and tetralogy of Fallot were excluded. There were 35 males and 16 females with a median age of 102.0 (59.0, 181.0) days and a median weight of 5.0 (4.1, 6.4) kg. Patients were divided into three categories based on the anatomy: "3+1" pattern (n=38, three pulmonary veins drained at one site, and the other drained at the opposite site); "2+2" pattern (n=9, the pulmonary veins from each lung joined to form a confluence and drained at separate sites); bizarre pattern (n=4, the anatomy could not be classified into the above two patterns).ResultsThere was no in-hospital death. The median follow-up was 41.0 (18.0, 86.5) months. Postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in 10 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed no statistically significant difference in postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction among the three groups (P=0.239). Cox risk regression showed that preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction was significantly associated with postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (P=0.024).ConclusionMixed TAPVC has various anatomic morphologies and requires individualized surgery.
ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of sutureless technique and conventional technique in the surgical repair for infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).MethodsThe clinical data of 46 consecutive patients with infracardiac TAPVC undergoing surgical repair in our hospital between June 2014 and April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with combined congenital cardiac anomalies such as single ventricle and tetralogy of Fallot were excluded. Patients were divided into a conventional technique group and a sutureless technique group according to the surgical techniques. There were 35 patients in the conventional technique group, including 28 males (80.0%) and 7 females (20.0%) with a median age of 21 (8, 42) d and a median weight of 3.6 (3.0, 4.0) kg. There were 11 patients in the sutureless technique group, including 8 males (72.7%) and 3 females (27.3%) with a median age of 14 (6, 22) d and a median weight of 3.5 (2.9, 3.6) kg. The curative effect of the two groups was compared.ResultsThere were 5 deaths (10.9%) in the conventional technique group, including 4 in-hospital deaths (8.7%) and 1 late death (2.2%). Overall mortality of the conventional technique group (14.3%, 5/35) was higher than that of the sutureless technique group (0.0%, 0/11), although the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.317). Cox regression analysis showed that sex (P=0.042), age at repair (P=0.028), cardiopulmonary bypass time (P=0.007), aortic cross-clamping time (P=0.018) and duration of ventilation (P=0.042) were risk factors for postoperative mortality. The median follow-up was 18.00 (5.00, 37.75) months. Postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in 22 patients of the conventional technique group, which was significantly more than that of the sutureless technique group (P=0.000).ConclusionFor infracardiac TAPVC, sutureless technique can reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction compared with conventional technique.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors and re-intervention strategies for mid- and long-term residual after arterial switch operation (ASO). MethodsThe clinical data of children with complex congenital heart disease who underwent ASO surgery in Shanghai Children’s Medical Center from January 2006 to June 2022 were retrospectively collected, and the factors for mid- and long-term residual after ASO were analyzed. ResultsA total of 952 children undergoing ASO were enrolled in this study, including 654 males and 298 females with an average age of 102.9±90.1 d and weight of 4.6±1.6 kg. There were 421 patients with D-transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (D-TGA/IVS), 357 patients with D-transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect (D-TGA/VSD), and 174 patients with right ventricle double outlet combined with inferior pulmonary artery absence (Taussig-Bing malformation). Eighty-nine patients died early after the surgery, the mortality rate was 9.3%. The 746 surviving children were regularly followed up after the surgery (follow-up rate 86.4%), with a median follow-up time of 79.4 (12.0-188.0) months. During the follow-up, 53 children underwent surgical re-intervention due to residual, including 33 males and 20 females, with a median age of 62.5 (17.0-214.0) months. The median surgical weight was 19.0 (8.2-86.0) kg, and the mean time of re-intervention was 28.0-170.0 (77.5±45.4) months after the ASO. Residual problems included common trunk and branch stenosis of the pulmonary artery in 34 patients, right outflow tract stenosis in 11 patients, left outflow tract stenosis in 6 patients, aortic arch restenosis in 5 patients, aortic insufficiency in 5 patients, residual shunt of ventricular septal defect in 2 patients, and tricuspid valve insufficiency in 1 patient. Two patients died early after the re-intervention because of acute left heart failure, and the mortality rate was 3.8% (2/53). The mean follow-up time of the surviving children was 52.4±28.6 months, and no mid- and long-term death occurred. Two patients underwent the third operations due to pulmonary restenosis. The multivariate analysis result showed that combined aortic arch surgery and early postoperative right ventricular outlet tract (RVOT) velocity>3 m/s were independent risk factors for mid- and long-term residual after ASO. ConclusionASO is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of D-TGA/IVS, D-TGA/VSD and Taussig-Bing malformations. Combined aortic arch surgery and early postoperative RVOT velocity>3 m/s are independent risk factors for mid- and long-term residual after ASO.