Objective To evaluate clinical outcomes of mild-to-moderate or moderate functional mitral regurgitation（FMR）after aortic valve replacement （AVR） in patients with severe aortic stenosis （AS），and analyze prognostic factors of these patients with mild-to-moderate or moderate FMR （2＋to 3＋）. Methods From September 2008 to December 2011，a total of 156 patients with severe AS （peak aortic gradient （PAG）≥50 mm Hg） as well as FMR （2＋to 3＋） underwent surgical treatment in Zhongshan Hospital. There were 95 male and 61 female patients with their average age of 59.2±10.5 years. Detailed perioperative clinical data were collected，and postoperative patients were followed up. The ratio of FMRpreoperative/FMR postoperative was calculated. Patient age，gender，body weight，history of hypertension，ventricular arrhythmia，atrial fibrillation （AF），left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF），left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD），left atrial diameter （LAD），pulmonary artery hypertension （PAH），PAG were assessed by logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results Six patients died postoperatively，including 4 patients with low cardiac output syndrome and 2 patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmia. Perioperative mortality was 3.8%. The average follow-up time was 20.3±8.5 months and follow-up rate was 85.3% （133/156）. Eight patients died during follow-up，including 3 patients with heart failure，2 patients with ventricular arrhythmia，and 3 patients with anticoagulation-related cerebrovascular accident. Multivariate regression analysis showed that FMR preoperative/FMR postoperative ratio was not correlated with age≥55 years，male gender，body weight≥80 kg，LVEDD≥55 mm，LVEF≤50%，history of hypertension or ventricular arrhythmia. However，LAD≥50 mm，PAH≥50 mm Hg，PAG≤75 mm Hg and preoperative AF were negatively correlated with postoperative FMR improvement. Conclusions Risk factors including LAD≥50 mm，PAH≥50 mm Hg，PAG≤75 mm Hg and preoperative AF are negatively correlated with postoperative improvement of FMR （2＋to 3＋）. Patients with severe AS and above risk factors should receive concomitant surgical treatment for their FMR during AVR，since preoperative FMR（2＋to 3＋）usually does not improve or even aggravate after AVR.
ObjectiveTo discuss the feasibility about the using of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in severe aortic valve stenosis chinese patients, then to make more exploration and accumulate enough experience. MethodsWe selected 10 out-patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and calcified with 9 males and 1 females at age of 76.4 (65-81) years in our hospital from January 2011 to March 2014. All the patients can't tolerate traditional open surgery through preoperative evaluation. So we chose the Sepian TX system, balloon dilated transcatheter aortic valve, to treat them via transfemoral approach. ResultsTen patients accomplished TAVI successfully. One patient was assisted by the left-ventricular puncture. No complication occurred. The function of aortic valve after TAVI improved significantly. The hospital stay time was 3-5 days. The patients were followed up for 3-34 months. One patient died of pulmonary cancer during the following-up. ConclusionTranscatheter balloon dilated aortic valve replacement can be used in chinese severe aortic valve stenosis patient, but more accurate preoperative preparation, evaluation, and operation are needed.
ObjectiveBy comparing the difference between different stenosed degree of aortic valve in flow field uniformity and turbulent shear stress (TSS), to explore the relation between flow field uniformity and different stenosed degree of aortic valve, and probe the clinical value for deciding the operation timing, and analyze the possible role of TSS in the progress of the disease.MethodsThe flow field uniformity values and TSS in parasternal long axis plane and apical five cavity plane on each point were measured and calculated by pulse wave Doppler echocardiography technique for 33 patients with different stenosed degree of aortic valve.ResultsThere were significant difference between the different stenosed degree of aortic valve in maximal velocity difference(ΔV max )and TSS( P lt;0.05, 0.01). The more severe the aortic stenosis was, the worse the flow field uniformity was, the lower the TSS was.ConclusionsThere are significant difference between the patients of different stenosed degree of aortic valve in flow field uniformity. Flow field uniformity has important value in classifying the degree of aortic stenosis and deciding the timing of operation. The more severe the aortic stenosis is ,the lower TSS is. It can be thought that low TSS distribution has important role in pathological process of constriction in cardiovascular system diseases.
Nowadays, aortic bioprostheses are used more and more widely in clinical practice, but the valve will experience structural valve degradation over time, and eventually lose its function, which is valve failure. Valve failure has become a significant challenge for aortic valve replacement and especially limits the expansion of indications for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This review focuses on the current status and relevant evidence on the definition, risk factors, epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis and evaluation, treatment strategies of aortic bioprostheses failure. The purpose is to provide a basis for a more comprehensive understanding of aortic bioprostheses failure, finding better coping strategies and further improving the long-term durability of the valve.
Objective To study the development of a physiologic fixation method and investigate the effect of physiologic fixation method on porcine aortic root and aortic valve leaflets. Methods Physiological fixer of aortic root was manufactured in a factory. The fixers with different diameter were made of organic glass. Porcine aortic root with ascending aorta and anterior leaflet of mitral valve and partial ventricular septum were dissected out from the fresh heart. The roots were attached to appropriately sized inflow and outflow spigots. Physiologic fixation was utilized to maintain aortic root and leaflets natural anatomical shape, the aortic root was pressurized to the inflow and outflow portions simultaneously, and the leaflets floated freely at zero-pressure differential with in the pressurized root. Results The process of physiologic fixation retained the properties of a native valve. The leaflets were much softer and extensible than those from valves fixed under low pressure. The results of pulsatile flow testing indicated that the effective orifice areas of predilation at 80mmHg were significantly greater than those of predilation at 40 mmHg（P〈0.05）, while mean pressure differences were found to be lower comparatively（P〈0.05）. This difference translates into a mode of valve function that more closely approximates that of the native aortic valve. Conclusion Physiologic fixation process retains the valve＇s natural anatomical shape as well as the underlying structure of the leaflets, providing improved flow characteristics.
With the development of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, it has become the first-line treatment for elderly patients with aortic valve stenosis. A case of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a patient at high risk of coronary artery occlusion was reported. The use of intravascular ultrasound to observe the spatial relationship between the coronary ostia and the valve was the characteristic of this case. This patient was an elderly male who was assessed as a high risk of acute coronary artery occlusion before transcatheter aortic valve replacement. After fully evaluation of the patient’s surgical risks\benefits, the strategy was formulated. Percutaneous coronary intervention was the first step. At the same time, intravascular ultrasound was used to observe the spatial relationship between the coronary ostia and the valve, and balloon was embedded for coronary protection. The procedure went smoothly.
Cardiac conduction block is one of the most common perioperative complications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a proportion of which will resolve spontaneously over time, but its incidence has not decreased with the iteration of instruments. It is associated with poor prognosis of patients. The prevention and management strategies of cardiac conduction block after TAVR are still being explored. This paper expounds the mechanism, influence, incidence, predictors, management of cardiac conduction block and indications, timing of permanent pacemaker implantation to provide a reference for the prevention and management of cardiac conduction block after TAVR in clinical practice.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a mature technology. Because of the complicated valvular anatomy and the severe non-symmetrical valve calcification, the patient with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (BAVs) once having a lower procedure successful rate, was considered as the relative contradiction for TAVR. However, with the application of the skirted and retrievable next generation prosthesis system, the outcomes of the treatment have been greatly improved. In this article, we summarized the current situation of TAVR applied in BAVs, and the outcomes difference of the old and new generation prosthesis systems.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety and clinical outcomes of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR)through right anterior minithoracotomy (RAMT)and conventional median sternotomy. MethodsFrom March 2006 to March 2013, 169 patients underwent isolated AVR in Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. Among them, 42 patients received AVR via RAMT (RAMT group)including 30 males and 12 females with their age of 59.31±8.30 years. And 127 patients received AVR via conventional median sternotomy (conventional surgery group)including 89 males and 38 females with their age of 60.02±5.93 years. There were 75 patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS), 42 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR)and 52 patients with AS+AR. Postoperative outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsThere was no statistical difference in preoperative clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. All the patients successfully received isolated AVR. 153 patients received mechanical prosthesis and 16 patients received bioprosthetic valves. Fifty-two patients received 21 mm valves, and 117 patients received 23 mm valves. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time of RAMT group were significantly longer than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). But mechanical ventilation time, length of postoperative ICU stay and hospital stay of RAMT group were significantly shorter than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). Postoperative thoracic drainage, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion of RAMT group were significantly less than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). In conventional surgery group, 2 patients underwent reexploration for bleeding and 2 patients had wound infection postoperatively. Two patients died postoperatively, both in conventional surgery group, including 1 patient with low cardiac output syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and another patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis secondary to sternal wound infection. ConclusionCompared with conventional median sternotomy, RAMT is safe and efficacious for patients undergoing isolated AVR with minimal surgical injury, better postoperative recovery and cosmetic outcomes.
ObjectiveTo summarize the indication and surgical experiences of valve replacement, high-risk factors and long-term results for aortic regurgitation and large left ventricle. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 42 patients with aortic regurgitation and left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) ≥70 mm and left ventricle end-systolic diameter (LVESD) ≥ 50 mm in our hospital from March 2004 through December 2012. There were 38 males and 4 females,aged 16-73 (45.86±14.99) years. The patients underwent aortic valve replacement, who were evaluated by echocardiography at pre-operation, pre-discharge and early follow-up. The follow up period was 12-132 months. ResultsEarly death occurred in one patient. And five patients died during the follow-up. One week after surgery in 41 patients, LVEDD (62.00±13.21 mm), LVESD (50.71±14.02 mm), indexed LVEDD (35.23±8.58 mm/m2), indexed LVESD (28.92±9.08 mm/m2), LVEF (46.41%±12.49%), were significantly smaller than those before the operation (P<0.01). Heart function grades, preoperative EF, LVEDD and indexed LVEDD were the predictors for left ventricular function recovery. One-year, 5-year, 10-year survival rate was 92.9%, 90.2%, 83.8%, respectively. ConclusionMost of patients with aortic regurgitation and large left ventricle still have indications for surgical treatment, but severe left ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmia are high risk factors for long-term survival.