ObjectiveTo evaluate the early and mid-term outcomes of GK bileaflet mechanical valve applied in mitral valve replacement. MethodsTwenty patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis underwent mitral valve replacement in our hospital from March 2008 to June 2011. Ten patients of them chose GK bileaflet mechanical valve for surgery (a GK group, 5 males and 5 females, aged 56.4±8.9 years), while the other 10 patients chose Medtronic Open Pivot mechanical valve (a Medtronic group, 4 males and 6 females, aged 50.2±8.0 years). The preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Cardiac CT angiography (CTA) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed to evaluate leaflets opening angle, the morphological features of the mechanical valve and the hemodynamic features in the third year after surgery during the follow-up. ResultsNo mortality, defect, low cardiac output syndrome or bleeding after surgery occurred in either group. The result of 3-year follow-up showed that the function of the mechanical valve showed no difference between the two groups. Cardiac CTA and TEE showed good morphological features in all patients. ConclusionThe GK bileaflet mechanical valve has equivalent effect as Medtronic Open Pivot mechanical valve for mitral valve replacement during the 3-year follow-up.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the in-hospital and long-term outcomes of patients receiving mitral valve replacement with mechanical or biological prosthesis.MethodsThe clinical data of patients undergoing mitral valve replacement in our center between January 2005 and August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with emergency, reoperation, bleeding or embolic events or incomplete clinical data were ruled out.ResultsTotally 569 patients were enrolled, including 325 with mechanical prosthesis (a mechanical prosthesis group, 111 males and 214 females with a mean age of 55.54±4.09 years) and 244 bioprosthesis (a bioprosthesis group, 90 males and 154 females with a mean age of 60.02±4.28 years). There was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality between the two groups (P=0.250). The survival rate at postoperative 15 years of the bioprosthesis group was higher than that of mechanical prosthesis group (78.69% vs. 66.25%, χ2=8.844, P=0.003). No remarkable differences were found in prosthesis failure (P=0.183) and thromboembolism events (P=0.505) between the two groups. Bleeding occurred more frequently in the mechanical prosthesis group (P=0.040). After the propensity-score matched analysis based on the age, the survival rate was still higher in the bioprosthesis group than in the mechanical prosthesis group (P=0.032).ConclusionBiological prosthesis can be considered as the preferable choice in mitral valve replacement procedure in order to improve the long-term survival and decrease the frequent of bleeding events.
ObjectiveTo explore the anticoagulant strategy of adjusting the dose of warfarin at different stages after mechanical valve replacement of mitral valve.MethodsClinical data of a total of 302 patients, including 76 males and 226 females, with an average age of 50.1±10.1 years, who underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement in the Chinese adult cardiac surgery database from 2013 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the dose adjustment strategy of taking warfarin, the patients were divided into a D group (adjusting warfarin dose in days) and a W group (adjusting warfarin dose in weeks) to evaluate the anti-coagulation effect of warfarin.ResultsThe total follow-up time was 423277 d (1159.7 years). There was no significant difference in the overall anticoagulant strength, and the warfarin dose adjusted in days was better in the early postoperative period (P<0.05), especially in patients over 60 years. It was better to adjust warfarin dose in weeks in the middle and long periods (P<0.05), especially in patients ≤40 years. In terms of the stability of anticoagulation, it was better to adjust the dosage of warfarin in weeks (P<0.05). It was better to adjust the dosage of warfarin in weeks for early, middle- and long-term anticoagulant therapy after operation (P<0.05), especially in the females aged >40 and ≤50 years.ConclusionWithin the target range of international normalized ratio (1.5-2.5), the anticoagulant strategy of adjusting warfarin dose in days after mechanical valve replacement of mitral valve can achieve a better anticoagulant strength, and adjusting the dosage of warfarin in weeks is better in the middle- and long-term after operation. In general, the anticoagulant effect is more stable in the short term when warfarin dose is adjusted on a weekly basis.
Objective To investigate the vaccination rate of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in patients undergoing cardiac mechanical valve replacement and to evaluate its effect on international normalized ratio (INR) value. MethodsWe investigated 132 patients who had received cardiac mechanical valve replacement and followed up in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from May to October 2021. There were 51 males and 81 females aged 26-72 (53.01±9.51) years. ResultsThe vaccination coverage rate was 53.8%. Among the 61 unvaccinated patients, concerns about heart side-effects were the main reason. The average INR of the first review after vaccination was higher than that of the last review before vaccination, with a difference of 0.40±0.72 (P<0.001). ConclusionThe vaccination rate of patients after cardiac mechanical valve replacement is low. At the same time, COVID-19 vaccine may increase INR value, and it is suggested that patients should increase the frequency of review and adjust warfarin dosage after vaccination.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and effectiveness of Commando procedure for mechanical valve dysfunction requiring reoperation. Methods The clinical data of patients who received Commando surgery (aortic/mitral curtain enlargement+valve replacement surgery) in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Gaozhou People's Hospital from December 2021 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients who had undergone mechanical mitral or aortic valve replacement and then had mechanical valve dysfunction with mitral or aortic valve lesions requiring repeat combined valve replacement surgery were selected. Results Eleven patients were enrolled, including 2 males and 9 females, aged 63.63±11.64 years. All 11 patients successfully underwent the Commando operation, and were implanted with suitable artificial valves, among which the aortic valve size was 27.00±2.00 mm, and the mitral valve size was 27.72±3.13 mm. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 195.81±39.29 min, aortic cross-clamping time was 121.81±28.60 min, mechanical ventilation time was 15.09±3.72 h, ICU stay time was 3.09±0.70 days, and total postoperative thoracic drainage volume was 417.18±68.65 mL. There was no perioperative death. ConclusionCommando procedure is a safe and effective method to perform combined valve operation for mechanical valve dysfunction. A larger artificial valve can be implanted during the procedure to obtain sound hemodynamic effects. In addition, for elderly patients, a suitable type of bioprosthetic valve can be implanted to improve the patient's quality of life. The early surgical effect is satisfactory, and the long-term impact needs further follow-up.