Abstract： Objective To summarize the clinical outcomes of maze procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation accompanied with valve replacement for the surgical treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation（AF） and rheumatic valve diseases. Methods A total of 124 patients with permanent AF and rheumatic valves diseases undergoing surgical treatment from March 2006 to October 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were randomly divided into ablation group and control group using coin method with 62 patients in each group. The mean atrial fibrillation duration was（56.1±47.1） months in ablation group, and patients in this group underwent maze procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation and valve replacement. The mean atrial fibrillation duration was（43.8±25.6） months in control group, and patients in this group underwent only valve replacement. Demographic characteristics, cardiopulmonary bypass（CPB）time, aortic cross-clamping（ACC）time, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit（ICU） length of stay, postoperative complications and follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results The demographic characteristics of the two groups were not statistically different （P＞0.05）. The CPB time and ACC time between the two groups were not statistically different （P＞ 0.05）. The postoperative hospital stay of ablation group was significantly longer than that of control group （15.8±6.1 d vs. 12.9±3.1d，P=0.001）. No patient needed permanent pacemaker implantation in either group. Postoperative ejection fraction of ablation group was significantly higher than that of control group（59.6%±9.2% vs. 55.5%±5.4%，P＜ 0.01）. The rate of sinus rhythm maintenance at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months during follow-up in ablation group were 88.5%, 87.5%, 87.1% and 82.4% respectively, 3.3%, 2.2%, 0.0%, and 0.0% in control group respectively, which was statistically different between the two groups（P＜ 0.05）. Conclusion Maze procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation.
Objective To systematically review the health economic evaluations of using long-term rhythm-control antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) for patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, Scopus, CNKI, SinoMed, WanFang Data, and official websites of well-established health technology assessment (HTA) institutions were electronically searched to present the economic evaluations of AAD and the recommendations of HTA institutions based on drug economy from inception to April 23rd, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data and systematic review was then performed. Results A total of 19 studies were included, including 11 cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis studies and 8 official documents from HTA institutions. Only 5 (45.5%) economic evaluations were of relatively high quality, and English language studies were of higher quality than Chinese language studies ones. The included studies lacked elements that CHEERS 2022 concerns, such as health economics analysis plans, equity and distributional effects, engagement with patients and other stakeholders and the impact on the study. Dronedarone and amiodarone were the main focus of the evaluation, and the study results showed that dronedarone was cost-effective compared with other drugs in different study designs and national settings. However, there were differences between the recommendations of HTA agencies and the results of economic evaluation studies. Conclusion The completeness of health economics evaluations needs to be improved, along with the quality of clinical evidence in the field of AF-AAD for Chinese patients. Additionally, the informational value of drugs should be thoroughly investigated through budget impact analysis and distributional cost-effectiveness analysis to provide evidence of high-quality studies for decision-makers in China.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the risk factors for new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) after off-pump coronary bypass grafting (OPCABG). MethodsPubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Wanfang data, CBM, VIP, and CNKI databases were systematically searched by computer to collect studies related to the risk factors for NOAF after OPCABG from the establishment of the database to July 2023. Literature screening and quality evaluation were conducted independently by two researchers. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the literature. RevMan 5.3 and Stata15.0 were used for meta-analysis. ResultsFinally, 19 case-control studies related to the risk factors for NOAF after OPCABG were included, all of which were high-quality literature with NOS score≥6 points, with a total of 7019 subjects. The results of meta-analysis showed that the following factors were associated with NOAF after OPCABG: (1) the patient’s own factors: age (MD=3.51, 95%CI 2.39 to 4.63, P<0.01); (2) preoperative factors: history of hypertension (OR=1.17, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.32, P=0.01), history of myocardial infarction (OR=1.21, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.38, P<0.01), history of percutaneous coronary intervention (OR=2.22, 95%CI 1.03 to 4.77, P=0.04), EuroSCOREⅡ score (MD=0.59, 95%CI 0.25 to 0.94, P<0.01), low-density lipoprotein (MD=0.11, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.20, P=0.02), left atrial diameter (MD=1.64, 95%CI 0.24 to 3.04, P=0.02); (3) postoperative and treatment factors: left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (MD=1.16, 95%CI 0.33 to 1.99, P<0.01), left ventricular ejection fraction (MD=0.90, 95%CI 0.07 to 1.73, P=0.03), mechanical ventilation time (MD=2.78, 95%CI 1.65 to 3.90, P<0.01), B-type natriuretic peptide (MD=219.67, 95%CI 27.46 to 411.88, P=0.03), ICU retention time (MD=7.07, 95%CI 5.64 to 8.50, P<0.01). ConclusionThe existing evidence shows that age, history of hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, history of percutaneous coronary intervention, preoperative EuroSCOREⅡscore, preoperative low-density lipoprotein, preoperative left atrial diameter, postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, postoperative B-type natriuretic peptide, and postoperative ICU retention time are risk factors for NOAF after OPCABG. Clinical attention should be paid to the above factors to achieve early identification, thereby reducing the incidence of NOAF after OPCABG and improving the clinical prognosis of patients.
Objective To summarize safety and effectiveness of cryomaze ablation procedure concomitant with valve surgery. Methods We retrospectively investigated the clinical data of 62 patients (24 males and 38 females) with mean age of 49.4±14.2 years who underwent cryomaze ablation procedure concomitant with valve surgery in our hospital from August 2013 through July 2015. The heart rhythm of the patients after surgery was supervised by 12-leads electrical cardiogram respectively. Results The rate of sinus rhythm restored right after surgery was 98.4%. The rate of sinus rhythm restored at the time of discharge was 93.4%. The rate of sinus rhythm restored 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months after surgery was 90.2%, 87.3%, 85.0%, 83.3% respectively. The one-year post-operation rate of sinus rhythm restored for the group of right minimal invasive thoracoscopic assisted mitral valve surgery was 90.5%. Longer duration for atrial fibrillation (>7 years) was a risk factor for the reoccurrence of atrial fibrillation 1 year after surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion Cryomaze ablation procedure concomitant with valve surgery is quite effective in treatment of rheumatic valve disease and atrial fibrillation. This approach is associated with fewer complications, comparable atrial fibrillation reoccurrence for short-term follow-up.
ObjectiveTo analyze the long-term efficacy and its influencing factors in the treatment of the permanent atrial fibrillation(AF) using monopolar radiofrequency ablation during concomitant cardiac valve replacement surgery with rheumatic heart disease. MethodsClinical data of the 116 patients with rheumatic heart disease and permanent AF who underwent modified maze procedure using monopolar radiofrequency ablation and concomitant cardiac valve replacement in the affiliated hospital of Qingdao university from October 2004 to December 2010 were collected and retrospectively analyzed, including 43 males and 73 females with their age of 50.5±7.5 years. Electrocardiogram (ECG) with 12-lead and echocardiography data, as well as the related complications, cardiac function and life quality were collected at the time of the immediately after the operation, discharge from hospital, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year postoperatively and every year after the operation. Patients were divided into eliminating group of AF (including sinus rhythm and nodal rhythm) and AF group according to the results of the ECG at the time of the ending follow-up. In the eliminating group of AF, there were 52 patients (16 males, 36 females) with their age of 48.4±7.3 years, and in the AF group, there were 50 patients (22 males, 28 females) with their age of 51.9±7.1 years. Analyzed the difference of the related factors between the two groups using statistical methods and tried to find the factors affecting the long-term clinical efficacy of the operation. ResultsThree patients died in hospital (one died of the hemolysis, acute renal insufficiency and hyperkalemia. One died of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by the acute renal insufficiency. And the other one died of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by the repetitive ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation on the day of the automatic discharge). Three patients died during the follow-up (one died after the reoperation because of the perivalvular leakage in other hospital, and the causes of death in the two others could not be catched). One patient occurred cerebral embolism, and the other one occurred cerebral hemorrhage in the af group during the follow-up. There was statistical significance between two group at the aspects of age, preoperative AF duration, preoperative left atrium diameter, time of the cardiopulmonary bypass and time of the cross-clamp ascending aorta. In multivariate analysis, age and preoperative left atrium diameter are risk factors affecting the long-term efficacy. ConclusionThe treatment of the permanent atrial fibrillation using monopolar radiofrequency ablation concomitant cardiac valve replacement with rheumatic heart disease is effective and has good long-term efficacy. The factors of affecting the long-term clinical efficacy are the patient's age and the diameter of left atrium.
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.