Abstract： Objective?To analyze the risk factors for early shunt dysfunction after systemic-pulmonary shunt in order to improve early postoperative outcomes. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 189 patients who underwent systemic-pulmonary shunt in General Hospital of Shenyang Military District between February 2002 and December 2010. There were 87 males and 102 females with their age ranging from 3 months to 50（5.3±6.2）years，and body weight ranging from 3 to 56（17.7±11.0）kg. There were 94 patients with tetralogy of Fallot （TOF） and pulmonary artery stenosis，51 patients with pulmonary atresia （PA） and ventricular septal defect，4 patients with PA and intact ventricular septum，10 patients with functional single ventricle （SV） and pulmonary stenosis（PS），6 patients with SV and PA，6 patients with double outlet right ventricle and PS，8 patients with transposition of the great arteries（TGA） and PS，and 10 patients with TGA and PA. The surgical procedures included central aorto-pulmonary shunt （Waterston） in 105 patients, modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in 61 patients and Melbourne shunt in 23 patients. Results Early postoperative death occurred in 13 patients （6.9%）. There were 12 patients （6.3%） with intra-operative severe hypotension or arrhythmia, 10 patients （5.3%） with postoperative severe low cardiac output, and 10 patients （5.3%） with early shunt dysfunction within the first 24 h postoperatively. Univariate analysis identified low body weight （P=0.027）, shunt size with diameter＜4 mm （P=0.025） and severe intra-operative adverse event （hypotension or arrhythmia with P=0.002） were risk factors for early shunt dysfunction. In multivariate analysis, intra-operative adverse event was an independent risk factor for early shunt dysfunction（P=0.017）. Conclusion Early outcomes after systemic-pulmonary shunt can be significantly improved by preventing intra-operative severe hypotension or arrhythmia and choosing shunt size larger than 4 mm，especially for patients with young age, low body weight, and poorly-developed pulmonary artery.
ObjectiveTo introduce a new type thoracic vest designed according to the incision characteristics of female patients undergoing totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery.MethodsSixty-one female patients undergoing totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery from February 2019 to May 2020 in our department were enrolled. All female patients had hypermastia and (or) mastoptosis which covered the incision. They were randomly divided into a research group (group A, n=32) and a control group (group B, n=29). The group A used the new type thoracic vest, while the group B used the traditional single shoulder belt. The degree of satisfaction, visual analogue scale (VAS) score 24 hours after the thoracic drainage tube removed, the average time-consuming of dressing change, dressing frequency and the incision infection rate were compared between two groups.ResultsThe degree of satisfaction in the group A was higher than that of the group B (P<0.001). The VAS scores of pain, average time-consuming of dressing change and dressing frequency in the group A were less or lower than those of the group B (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the incision infection rate between the two groups (P=0.214), but incision infection rate of the group A was lower than that of the group B.ConclusionThe new type thoracic vest seems to be more beneficial for patients than traditional single shoulder belt. It is easy to use, increases the psychological satisfaction of patients, reduces the pain and the incision infection and improves work efficiency, which is worthy of clinical application.
Objective To investigate the role and relative mechanism of stromal cell derived factorl (SDF-1) secreted by nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) on the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Methods The NPCs were isolated from the degenerated disc specimens after discectomy. NPCs at passage 1 were transfected with lentivirus-mediated SDF-1 over-expression; transfected and untransfected NPCs at passage 2 were cultured in the three-dimensional alvetex® scaffold, then they were co-cultured with HMEC-1 cells. The morphology of NPCs was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the apoptosis of HMEC-1 cells was detected by Annexin V/propidiumiodide staining after 72 hours co-culutre. The proliferation of HMEC-1 cells was detected by cell counting kit 8 at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours in transfected group and untransfected group, respectively. ELISA was used to measure the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression level. The virus transfection efficiency and relative Akt pathway were determined by Western blot. Results The NPCs maintained cell phenotype and secreted much extracellular matrix in three-dimensional-culture by SEM observation. In the co-culutre system, after NPCs were transfected with SDF-1 over-expression lentivirus, the proliferation of HMEC-1 cells was significantly increased, while the apoptosis was decreased obviously. The ELISA results demonstrated that the amount of VEGF was remarkably increased in the culture medium. Furthermore, SDF-1 promoted the up-regulation of phosphorylate Akt expression; after inhibition of Akt expression by GSK690693, the proliferation rate of VECs decreased significantly. Conclusion Over-expression of SDF-1 by NPCs is beneficial for VECs proliferation, which is involved in SDF-1-Akt signalling pathway.
ObjectiveTo analyze the short-term outcomes of cardiac surgery via minimally invasive approach under thoracoscope in a single-center. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent cardiac surgery via minimally invasive approach under thoracoscope between July 2017 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 453 patients were enrolled, including 150 males and 303 females at an average age of 42.2±14.6 years. The main disease types included atrial septal defect in 314 patients, partial atrioventricular septal defect in 26 patients, and cardiac tumor in 105 patients. There was no death during the perioperative period. The mean operative time was 3.9±0.8 h, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 101.2±34.0 min, aortic occlusion time was 42.1±25.1 min, ventilator assistance time was 11.6±9.4 h, ICU stay time was 22.6±13.9 h and postoperative hospital stay was 6.0±1.7 d. Intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in 18 (4.0%) patients, including 2 patients with conversion to sternotomy, 3 with incision expand, 3 with reoperation for bleeding, 1 with of redo operation, 4 with incision infection, 2 with respiratory insufficiency, 2 with cerebrovascular accident, and 1 with ventricular fibrillation. The follow-up time was 22.6±15.4 months, during which 1 patient died, 4 patients had moderate mitral regurgitation, 1 patient had mild-moderate mitral regurgitation, and 1 patient had mild-moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Conclusion Minimally invasive cardiac surgery under thoracoscope is safe with small invasions and few complications, and has satisfactory short-term outcomes.