Objective To investigate surgical outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with coronary heart disease and low left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF≤40%） undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting （OPCAB）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of 63 discharged patients with coronary heart disease and low LVEF who underwent OPCAB in Peking University People’s Hospital from 2001 to 2004 year. There were 48 males and 15 females with mean age of 65.1±9.2 years and mean LVEF of 33.8%±5.0%. Regular follow-up evaluation was completed. We investigated risk factors for long-term survival of the patients by Kapalan-Meier survival curve, log-rank test and Cox regression model.?Results?Follow-up time was 3-107 （71.3±24.4） months, and six patients were lost during the follow-up. Nineteen patients （30.2%） died during follow-up including 10 patients （15.9%） who had cardiac-related death. The survival rate at 1, 3, 5 and 8 year was 96.7% （61）, 94.9% （60）, 85.9% （55）, 77.2% （53） respectively. Univariate analysis shows LVEF≤30% and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days are risk factors for long-term survival（P＜0.05）. Cox regression analysis showed that LVEF≤30%（RR=4.662, P＜0.05）and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days（RR=5.544, P＜0.05）were two independent risk factors for cardiac-related death after discharge. Conclusion Patients with coronary heart disease and low LVEF can have satisfactory surgical outcomes after OPCAB. LVEF≤30% and acute myocardial infarction within 30 days are the two independent risk factors for cardiac-related death after discharge.
Objective We probed how to predict left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of the ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients would be improved apparently after revascularization. Methods Between July 2010 and December 2015, 245 ICM patients (30%≤LVEF≤40%) with coronary bypass grafting (CABG) were retrospectively observed. Among them, 146 patients were accompanied by ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) (146/245, 59.6%), and 41 patients underwent mitral valvuloplasty or replacement because of more than moderate IMR. There were 13 patients early death, and other 232 patients who were followed up over 6 months were divided into two groups based on whether or not post-operative LVEF increased by 10%: a LVEF recovered group (group A, 124 patients) and a non-recovered group (group B, 108 patients). Results Preoperative NT-proBNP in the group A was significantly higher than that in the group B (P=0.036). There were less patients with myocardial infarction in the group A than that in the group B (P=0.047), and more with angina pectoris in the group A than that in the group B (P=0.024). There was no significant difference in the extent of mitral regurgitation or mitral surgery between the groups A and B (P>0.05). There were lower left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) in the group A than those in the group B (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative LVEDD dilated apparently and no angina pectoris existed before surgery were independent risk factors for LVEF with no recovery in the ICM patients (30%≤LVEF≤40%) after revascularization. The LVEDD of 245 patients (including 13 early deaths) was 41-71 mm. We found that the ICM patients with LVEDD ≥60 mm were more likely to signify the unfavourable prognosis (χ2=8.63, P=0.003, OR=2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 3.91). Conclusion Preoperative LVEDD dilated and no angina pectoris before surgery are independent risk factors for LVEF with no recovery in the ICM patients (30%≤LVEF≤40%) after revascularization. LVEDD≥60 mm can be regarded as the preoperative forecasting factors for the unfavourable prognosis in the ICM patients (30%≤LVEF≤40%) after revascularization.
The Universal Definition and Classification of Heart Failure consensus has proposed the universal definition, classification and staging criteria of heart failure. The prevalence of heart failure is still increasing, and the phenotype of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming more and more common. Neuro-endocrine antagonists are effective in treating patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, there is no effective drug that can improve the clinical prognosis of patients with HFpEF. The pathophysiological mechanism of HFpEF involves metabolic-inflammatory mechanism disorders, epicardial fat tissue accumulation, and coronary microvascular dysfunction. The exploratory treatment of these mechanisms requires further research to confirm whether it is beneficial to patients with HFpEF. In addition, the improvement of ejection fraction and the recovery of cardiac function in patients with HFrEF after treatment cannot interrupt the drug treatment of heart failure.
Objective To explore the risk factors for long-term death of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and develop and validate a prediction model for long-term death. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 1013 patients diagnosed with AMI and reduced LVEF in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2010 and June 2019. Using the RAND function of Excel software, patients were randomly divided into three groups, two of which were combined for the purpose of establishing the model, and the third group was used for validation of the model. The endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality, and the follow-up was until January 20th, 2021. Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the risk factors affecting the long-term death, and then a prediction model based on those risk factors was established and validated. Results During a median follow-up of 1377 days, 296 patients died. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age≥65 years [hazard ratio (HR)=1.842, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.067, 3.179), P=0.028], Killip class≥Ⅲ[HR=1.941, 95%CI (1.188, 3.170), P=0.008], N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide≥5598 pg/mL [HR=2.122, 95%CI (1.228, 3.665), P=0.007], no percutaneous coronary intervention [HR=2.181, 95%CI (1.351, 3.524), P=0.001], no use of statins [HR=2.441, 95%CI (1.338, 4.454), P=0.004], and no use of β-blockers [HR=1.671, 95%CI (1.026, 2.720), P=0.039] were independent risk factors for long-term death. The prediction model was established and patients were divided into three risk groups according to the total score, namely low-risk group (0-2), medium-risk group (4-6), and high-risk group (8-12). The results of receiver operating characteristic curve [area under curve (AUC)=0.724, 95%CI (0.680, 0.767), P<0.001], Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P=0.108), and Kaplan-Meier survival curve (P<0.001) showed that the prediction model had an efficient prediction ability, and a strong ability in discriminating different groups. The model was also shown to be valid in the validation group [AUC=0.758, 95%CI (0.703, 0.813), P<0.001]. Conclusions In patients with AMI and reduced LVEF, age≥65 years, Killip class≥Ⅲ, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide≥5598 pg/mL, no percutaneous coronary intervention, no use of statins, and no use of β-blockers are independent risk factors for long-term death. The developed risk prediction model based on these risk factors has a strong prediction ability.
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.