ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation with mitral valve replacement under totally thoracoscopic surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 107 patients with rheumatic mitral disease and atrial fibrillation who underwent mitral valve replacement and radiofrequency ablation at the same time in our hospital from January 2014 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: a totally thoracoscopic surgery group (n=51, including 20 males and 31 females, aged 50.57±5.24 years) and a median sternotomy group (n=56, including 21 males and 35 females, aged 52.12±5.59 years) according to the surgical methods. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data of the patients were compared.ResultsAll operations were successfully completed without death. In terms of bleeding volume, drainage volume, ventilator-assisted breathing time, hospital stay and incision length, the totally thoracoscopic surgery group was better than the median sternotomy group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The cardiopulmonary bypass time and radiofrequency ablation time in the totally thoracoscopic surgery group were longer than those in the median sternotomy group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the operation time, aortic occlusion time, postoperative complications, left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrial diameter and sinus rhythm maintenance between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no atrioventricular block, pulmonary vein stenosis, atrioesophageal fistula, coronary artery injury, stroke or hemorrhage during the follow-up.ConclusionRadiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation with mitral valve replacement under totally thoracoscopic surgery is safe and effective, and it is worthy of clinical application.
Objective To investigate the effect of edgetoedge mitral valve plasty on left ventricular diastolic function and in order to find the validity and safety of this procedure. Methods From Feb. 2006 to Dec. 2007, thirty cases with mitral regurgitation were divided into two groups. Quadrangular resection was performed on fifteen cases with posterior proplapse in control group, and edgetoedge mitral valve plasty was performed on fifteen cases with anterior or bileaflet proplapse in experimental group, and ring annuloplasty(Medtronic ring) was used in both groups. The hemodynamics were monitored and recorded with SwanGanz catheter at the time of postoperation，2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 12 h after operation. Left ventricular diastolic function was also evaluated with echocardiography using color Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging in the patients with sinus rhythm. The ratio of the peak E velocity and A velocity(E/A), the ratio of the early diastolic peak flow velocity to the early diastolic mitral valve annular movement velocity(E/Em), and the ratio of early diastolic mitral valve annular movement velocity to late diastolic mitral valve annular movement velocity（Em/Am）were measured before operation and 1 week after operation respectively. Results Mitralvalve area were significantly reduced at 1 week after operation compared with that before operation in both groups (control group 3.63±1.06 cm2 vs. 7.18±2.41 cm2, experimental group 3.44±1.02 cm2 vs. 6.51±3.06 cm2, Plt;0.05）; and mitral regurgitant grade were significantly reduced at 1 week after operation in both groups as well(control group 0.53±0.64 cm2 vs.3.60±0.51 cm2, experimental group 0.67±0.82 cm2 vs.3.40±0.63 cm2, Plt;0.05). However, there was no significant difference for mitral valve area and mitral regurgitant grade between two groups before and after operation（Pgt;0.05）. In experimental group, there were no significant change of evaluations of E/A,E/Em and Em/Am before and after operation（E/A 1.28±0.36 vs. 1.95±1.06,E/Em 8.79±2.16 vs. 8.13±3.02, Em/Am 1.39±0.38 vs. 1.31±041，Pgt;0.05). There was no significant change of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) before and after operation between two groups（13.60±4.37 mm Hg vs.12.20±3.53 mm Hg, Pgt;0.05）. Conclusion Edgetoedge mitral valve plasty technique is available and has no significant influence on left ventricular diastolic function, and a doubleorifice mitral valve has similar hemodynamic change compared with a physiological mitral valve.
Objective To investigate and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Chimney technique in mitral valve reoperation. Methods The clinical data of mitral valve reoperation patients who underwent Chimney surgery in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 26 patients were collected, including 7 males and 19 females, aged 27-67 (53.46±11.18) years. All patients had previous mitral valve surgery, including 23 mitral valve replacements and 3 mitral valve repairs. All patients received Chimney technique using the ideal artificial sized mitral valve, and 1 patient died of neurological complications in hospital. The cardiopulmonary bypass time and the aortic cross-clamping time were 231.11±77.05 min and 148.50±52.70 min, respectively. The mean diameter of the implanted mitral valve prosthesis was 29.08±0.68 mm, which was statistically different from pre-replacement valve prosthesis size of 26.69±0.77 mm (P＜0.001). The mean transvalvular pressure gradient of the prosthetic mitral valve measured on postoperative echocardiography was 14.77±5.34 mm Hg, which was statistically different from preoperative value of 20.92±9.83 mm Hg (P=0.005). Conclusion The Chimney technique is safe and effective for reoperation in patients with small mitral annuli, which can not only reduce the risk of reoperation, but also obtain larger prosthetic valve implants with good hemodynamic characteristics and clinical outcomes.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of biatrial Cox Maze Ⅳ cryoablation for concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) during minimally invasive valve surgery. Methods A total of 47 patients (26 males, 21 females, age of 42-69 years) with mitral valve disease and long-standing persistent AF received minimally invasive biatrial Cox Maze Ⅳ cryoablation procedure combined with mitral valve surgery through right minithoracotomy from January 2014 to September 2015. The etiology of mitral valve disease was rheumatic (n=31) and degenerative (n=16). AF duration ranged from 2 to 11 years. Diameter of the left atrium ranged from 43 to 60 mm. Concomitant biatrial Cox Maze Ⅳ cryoablation procedure was performed through right lateral minithoracotomy. Results All 47 patients successfully underwent this minimally invasive concomitant biatrial Cox Maze Ⅳ cryoablation procedure and valve surgery. No patient needed conversion to sternotomy during the surgery. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time and cryoablation time was 95-146 (120.3±12.3) min, 82-115 (93.3±7.7) min and 32-48 (38.6±4.5) min, respectively. There was no death perioperatively. The average postoperative length of hospital stay was 5-16 (7.9±1.9) d. At discharge, 44 patients (44/47, 93.6%) maintained sinus rhythm. At a mean follow-up of 6-26 (14.4±5.4) months, sinus rhythm was maintained in 41 patients (41/47, 87.2%). Cumulative maintenance rate of normal sinus rhythm without AF recurrence at one year postoperatively was 86.3%±5.8%. Conclusion Biatrial Cox Maze Ⅳ cryoablation procedure is safe, feasible and effective for AF during concomitant minimally invasive valve surgery.
Objective To evaluate the relationship between pattern of left ventricular dilation and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) by echocardiography. Methods A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted on 117 patients with age of 31-77 years and left ventricular end diastolic dimension≥60 mm treated in our hospital from January 2013 through May 2016. These patients were divided into four groups by FMR degree: FMR-None/Trace (FMR-N/T group,n=33), FMR-Minor (FMR-Mi group,n=37), FMR-Moderate (FMR-Mo group,n=34) and FMR-Severe (FMR-Se group,n=13). We analyzed their basic information and echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular dimension, volume, systolic function, spherical index, regional wall motion score index, tenting height and area of mitral vavle as well as anterior/posterior angle. Results The incidences of inferior/posterior/lateral myocardial infarction and basal myocardial dyskinesia/aneurysm increased with the increase of FMR degree (FMR-N/T vs. FMR-Mi vs. FMR-Mo vs. FMR-Se: 12.1% vs. 18.9% vs. 44.1% vs. 46.2%,P=0.001 and 12.1% vs. 27.0% vs.47.1% vs. 53.8%,P=0.005, respectively). The tenting height and area of mitral valve, anterior/posterior angle, regional wall score index of the left ventricle where the papillary muscle was attached to had a positive correlation with FMR degree (P＜0.05). Conclusion There is a relationship between regional left ventricular dilation and FMR. Evaluating and improving those parameters is very important when we choose the treatment strategy of functional mitral regurgitaion.
As technology advances, current evidence supports the use of devices for valvular heart disease interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation, transcatheter mitral or tricuspid valve repair, and transcatheter mitral valve implantation. These procedures require antithrombotic therapy to prevent thromboembolic events during the perioperative period, and these therapies are associated with an increased risk of bleeding complications. To date, there are challenges and controversies regarding how to balance the risk of thrombosis and bleeding in these patients, and therefore the optimal antithrombotic regimen remains unclear. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for antithrombotic therapy after transcatheter intervention in patients with valvular heart disease and highlight the importance of an individualized approach in targeting these patients.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries are the trend in the future. Among them, robotic cardiac surgery is the latest iteration with several key-hole incision, 3-dimentional visualization, and articulated instrumentation of 7 degree of ergonomic freedom for those complex procedures in the heart. In particular, robotic mitral valve surgery, as well as coronary artery bypass grafting, has evolved over the last decade and become the preferred method at certain specialized centers worldwide because of excellent results. Other cardiac procedures are in various stages of evolution. Stepwise innovation of robotic technology will continue to make robotic operations simpler, more efficient, and less invasive, which will encourage more surgeons to take up this technology and extend the benefits of robotic surgery to a larger patient population.
ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of loop-in-loop technique and annuloplasty ring for the treatment of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) under total thoracoscopy.MethodsBetween May 2012 and May 2017, 21 patients with MVP underwent mitral valve repair in our hospital. There were 12 males and 9 females with a mean age of 50.90±9.66 years and the mean weight of 64.81±11.56 kg. Loop-in-loop artificial chordae tendonae reconstruction and mitral annuloplasty were performed through the right atrial-atrial septal incision under total thoracoscopy. The water test and transesophageal echocardiography were performed during the operation to evaluate the effect of mitral annuloplasty. Data of echocardiography and chest radiography were collected postoperatively one week, before discharge and after discharge.ResultsAll the operations were successful without re-valvupoplasty or valve replacement, conversion to median thoracotomy, malignant arrhythmia, perioperative death or wound infection. Among them, 10 patients underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty, 1 patient underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty plus radiofrequency ablation simultaneously. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 255.57±37.24 minutes, aortic occlusion time was 162.24±19.61 minutes, the number of loop was 2–5 (3.29±0.78), the size of ring was 28–34 (31.11±1.88) mm, ventilator assistance time was 19.43±14.68 hours, ICU time was 58.45±24.60 hours and postoperative hospital stay was 12.28±3.61 days. Transthoracic echocardiography was re-examined postoperatively. Mild-mitral regurgitation was found in 3 patients. Warfarin anticoagulant therapy was given orally for 6 months postoperatively. The patients were followed up regularly for 2–51 months at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was 45.06±2.96 mm, left ventricular end-diastolic volume 108.11±17.09 mL, left atrial diameter (LAD) 35.56±6.93 mm and cardiothoracic ratio 0.53±0.13 at discharge which were significantly smaller than those at admission (P<0.05). Pulmonary artery pressure was 19.22±6.38 mm Hg which was significantly lower than that at admission (P<0.05), but left ventricular ejection fraction (62.33%±4.00%) had no significant change (P>0.05). The LAD and LVEDD were significantly smaller than those before operation, and the cardiac function improved to some extent during the follow-up. No new mitral valve prolapse, increased regurgitation, infective endocarditis, thromboembolism or anticoagulation-related complications were found during the follow-up.ConclusionLoop-in-loop artificial chordae tendon implantation combined with mitral annuloplasty is a safe and effective method for MVP under total thoracoscopy with minimal trauma, satisfactory cosmetic effect, and good early- and medium-term results. It is worth of popularizing. However, the operation time needs to be further shortened, and its long-term clinical effect needs further follow-up and other researches to confirm.
Mitral regurgitation is the most common cardiac valve disease, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is used as a promising intervention in non-surgical patients and in those with unsuitable anatomy for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. TMVR can also be performed for inoperable or high-risk patients with degenerated or failed bioporstheses or failed repairs, or in patients with severe annular calcifications. The complex anatomy of the mitral valves makes the design of transcatheter mitral valve prostheses extremely challenging, and increases the difficulty of TMVR procedure, thus could led to non-negligible complications including periprocedural and post-procedural long-term complications. This review aims to discuss the potential TMVR-complications and measures implemented to mitigate these complications, in order to improve the prognosis of TMVR patients.
Thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement is a common minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedure. However, small annulus, severe calcification of the annulus, and severe thickening of the posterior valve leaflet or sub valvular structure are the difficulties of thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement. Improper treatment can easily lead to left ventricular rupture or prosthesis-patient mismatch. This paper reports a thoracoscopic mitral bioprosthesis replacement case using the chimney technique in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and summarizes its operating key points. The patient was a 68-year-old female, weighing 36 kg. The preoperative diagnosis was rheumatic mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation, the preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram showed the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 39 mm. The surgical effect was satisfactory. The patient was in good condition at the follow-up 2 months after the operation.