Insight Into Kidney Protection by Vacuum-Assisted Venous Drainage in Adult Cardiac Operation　- A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between venous congestion and acute kidney injury (AKI) in cardiac surgery after cardiopulmonary bypass has not thoroughly investigated. Vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) reduces venous congestion, so we hypothesized that it would reduce the incidence of AKI in cardiovascular surgery.Methods and Results: We used a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis to evaluate the effect of VAVD on AKI in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The primary outcomes were AKI and renal replacement therapy (RRT). Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the association between VAVD exposure and adverse kidney outcomes. Of 15,387 eligible subjects, 13,480 and 1,907 had gravity drainage (GD) or VAVD, respectively, during cardiopulmonary bypass. On the basis of propensity scores, there were 1,468 matched patient pairs for GD and VAVD. The average central venous pressure (CVP) in the GD group was higher than in the VAVD group (4.43±1.23 mmHg vs. 2.30±0.98 mmHg, P<0.001). The occurrence of AKI and RRT was statistically significantly different in the 2 groups [(600/1,468, 40.87%) vs. (445/1,468, 30.31%), P<0.001; (36/1,468, 2.45% vs. 8/1,468; 0.54%), P<0.001, respectively)]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that VAVD was effective in protecting kidney function. CONCLUSIONS: VAVD was associated with a lower CVP and lower incidence of AKI, suggesting it protects adult cardiac patients from adverse renal outcomes.

Therapeutic Effect of Perioperative Mild Hypothermia on Postoperative Neurological Outcomes in Patients with Acute Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative patients of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAAD) often experience complications consisting of nervous system injury. Mild hypothermia therapy has been proven to provide the therapeutic effect of cerebral protection. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of perioperative mild hypothermia on postoperative neurological outcomes in patients with AAAD. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on adult patients undergoing aortic dissection surgery between February 2017 and December 2017. Patients in the treatment group underwent mild hypothermia (34° to 35°C) immediately after surgery, and in the conventional therapy group, patients were rewarmed to normal body temperature (36° to 37°C). Postoperative time to regain consciousness, postoperative serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100ß levels, cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, presence of delirium or permanent neurological dysfunction, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay duration, and 28-day mortality were compared. RESULTS: We enrolled 55 patients who underwent AAAD surgery and were randomly allocated into to 2 groups, 27 patients in the treatment group and 28 patients in the conventional therapy group. Compared with the conventional therapy group, postoperative time to regain consciousness was much shorter for patients in the mild hypothermia group (12.65 hours, interquartile range [IQR] 8.28 to 23.82, versus 25.80 hours, IQR 14.00 to 59.80; P = .02), and the rate of regaining consciousness in 24 hours after surgery was much higher (74.07% versus 46.42%; P = .037). At the same time, the ICU stay of patients in the mild hypothermia therapy group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional therapy group (5.53 ± 3.13 versus 9.35 ± 8.76 days; P = .038). Cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, incidence of delirium or permanent neurological dysfunction, duration of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality showed no statistical difference. Postoperative serum NSE and S-100ß levels increased compared with preoperative baseline values in both groups (P < .05), and the serum NSE levels of patients in the mild hypothermia therapy was significantly lower than the conventional therapy group 1 hour (P = .049) and 6 hours (P = .04) after surgery. There was no difference in the chest drainage volume or shivering between the 2 groups 24 hours after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative mild hypothermia therapy is able to significantly reduce brain cell injury and shorten the postoperative time to regain consciousness, thus improving the neurological prognosis of patients with AAAD.

[Surgical treatment of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm: clinical analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical experiences, efficacies and postoperative left ventricular remodeling changes of surgical ventricular reconstruction in the treatment of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm. METHODS: The investigators reviewed retrospectively the clinical data, operative approaches and follow-up outcomes of consecutive 194 patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm, who underwent surgical ventricular reconstruction between January 1997 and December 2009. There were 54 cases in the linear group and 137 cases in the endoventricular patch plasty group. The changes of ventricular remodeling were measured by peri-operative and follow-up echocardiography. RESULTS: All patients underwent surgery with a mean cardiopulmonary bypass duration of (103 ± 35) min and aortic cross clamp duration of (62 ± 26) min. There were 8 per-operative deaths with a mortality rate of 2.2%. Angina pectoris of other cases disappeared and heart function greatly improved. After operation, the ventricular remodeling results showed that in the linear group, there was not significant difference in the changes of ventricular remodeling of post-op 2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 5 years versus pre-operation. However, in the endoventricular patch group, the changes of ventricular remodeling of post-op 2 weeks and follow-up 6 months versus pre-operation were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). End-systolic volume (LVESV) reduced from (129 ± 27) ml to (65 ± 8) ml and end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) decreased from (104 ± 14) ml/m(2) to (44 ± 6) ml/m(2) and the subgroup of LVEF < 35% was the most significant in the changes of LVESV and LVESVI. But LVEF improved significantly at post-operation and follow-up (from preoperation 42% ± 11% to 52% ± 7% during follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with infarction left ventricular aneurysm, left ventricular reconstruction is quite effective. The choice of operative approaches is determined by the size and range of ventricular aneurysm. Both string suture and endoventricular patch plasty technique can yield similarly satisfactory surgical outcomes. After operation, ventricular volume significantly decreases and cardiac function greatly improves.

[Clinical application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe heart failure during peri-operative period of end-stage cardiopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical effect and experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for severe heart failure during peri-operative period of end-stage cardiopathy. METHODS: From June 2007 to July 2010, 6 patients with severe heart failure during peri-operative period of end-stage cardiopathy received ECMO support. The changes in the hemodynamics and outcome of the patients during the use of ECMO were investigated. RESULTS: The duration of ECMO assistance ranged from 23 to 168 hours with a mean of 78 hours. The hemodynamics after using ECMO was much improved than before ECMO [mean arterial pressure (mm Hg, 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa): 78.13±8.01 vs. 47.75±5.21, central venous pressure ( mm Hg ): 11.03±3.21 vs. 19.36±4.51, cardiac output (L/min): 4.93±1.01 vs. 3.50±0.81, cardiac index (L×min(-1)×m(-2)): 2.71±0.51 vs. 1.91±0.40, pulmonary artery wedge pressure ( mm Hg ): 12.72±6.52 vs. 20.22±6.91, venous oxygen saturation: 0.66±0.13 vs. 0.54±0.07], and the amount of using inotropic drug was significantly reduced compared with that before ECMO [dopamine (µg×kg(-1)×min(-1)): 5.05±0.85 vs. 14.20±5.05, epinephrine (µg×kg(-1) ×min(-1)): 0.05±0.01 vs. 0.24±0.04, all P<0.05]. All patients were successfully weaned from ECMO. After weaning, 3 patients recovered and discharged, and the hospital discharge rate was 50%, while 3 patients died of multiple organ failure (MOF). Major complication was bleeding, disseminated intravascular coagulation, infection, embolism. CONCLUSION: ECMO is an important extracorporeal method to support life. ECMO is an effective measure of treatment for end-stage cardiopathy patients with peri-operative severe heart failure. It is important to properly select patients for ECMO.

[Aortic arch operation under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the surgical experience of aortic arch operation under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. METHODS: 22 patients suffering from aortic dissection or descending aorta aneurysm with the involvement of aortic arch received operation under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Eight patients underwent ascending aorta and partial aortic arch replacement, one patient received aortic root, ascending aorta, and partial aortic arch replacement, 2 patients received ascending aorta and total arch replacement, 2 patients received aortic valve replacement plus ascending aorta and partial aortic arch replacement, 8 patients underwent ascending aorta and total arch replacement plus elephant trunk technique (stunted elephant trunk used in 6 cases), and 1 patient received left partial aortic arch and descending aorta replacement. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed concomitantly in 4 cases. RESULTS: Three patients died peri-operatively with a mortality rate of 13.6%. One patient had aortic dissection rupture before operation leading to cardiac tamponade, acute inferior myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. This patient received operation while resuscitation. After operation, the patient had severe right heart failure and died 16 hours later. One patient had bleeding and multi-organ failure, and died 3 days later. The third patient, with acute aortic dissection did not awake after operation, had pulmonary infection and multi-organ failure, and died 39 days later. Re-thoracotomy for bleeding was required in 3 cases; delayed awareness occurred in 3 cases; and 2 cases had renal failure after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic arch operation includes partial aortic arch replacement, total arch replacement, and total arch replacement with elephant trunk technique. The operation procedure is selected according to the primary lesion and how aortic arch has been affected. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with selective cerebral perfusion facilitates complicated aortic arch operation, resulting in a reduction of mortality and morbidity for arch aneurysms or dissection.

[Surgical treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ventricular septal myectomy concomitant mitral valve replacement].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experiences and results of ventricular septal myectomy concomitant mitral valve replacement (MVR) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM). METHODS: From January 2000 to June 2007, 22 patients of OHCM with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation underwent concomitant ventricular septal myectomy concomitant MVR. There were 20 male and 2 female patients. The age ranged from 28 to 51 years old with a mean of (36 + or - 5) years old. The left ventricular out tract gradient pressure (LVOTGP) was 55 to 120 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), with a mean of (88.0 + or - 15.8) mm Hg. The manifestation of pre-operative UCG, intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and post-operative UCG in 10 d, 6 months and 1 year were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: One patient died in hospital due to serious ventricular arrhythmias. The intra-operative TEE showed that the phenomenon of systolic anterior motion (SAM) of mitral valve disappeared in all patients. Twenty-one cases were followed-up. The intra-operative TEE and post-operative UCG in every period of all 21 cases survived indicated that the mean LVOTGP and interventricular septal thickness (IVST) decreased obviously (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Concomitant ventricular septal myectomy concomitant MVR is an effective and safe treatment for OHCM with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, the short and mid-term outcome is excellent.

Is the use of cardiopulmonary bypass for isolated coronary artery bypass an independent predictor of mortality and morbidity in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction?

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with severe left ventricular dysfunction (SLVD) undergoing conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCABG) are at an increased risk of perioperative mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors responsible for mortality and morbidity among patients with SLVD by comparing CCABG and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 186 consecutive patients with SLVD who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including 102 by CCABG and 84 by OPCAB. Registry database, medical notes, and charts were studied for preoperative and postoperative data of the patients. Different variables and risk factors (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) were evaluated and compared. The morbidity and mortality outcomes were compared in the two groups. The follow-up results and quality of life were assessed after surgery. RESULTS: The two groups had similar percentage of patients with preoperative high-risk profiles and no significant differences were found between groups in baseline variables such as age or comorbidities. There was a significant difference in the number of grafts used between the two groups. CCABG patients received (3.6 +/- 0.5) grafts per patient, while OPCAB patients had (2.7 +/- 0.6) grafts (P < 0.05). Completeness of revascularization was also significantly different between the two groups (CCABG 91.1% vs OPCAB 73.8%, P < 0.05). The hospital mortality was similar in the two groups (4.8% in OPCAB vs 5.9% in CCABG). The risk-adjusted mortality, according to the calculated propensity score, did not reach statistical significance in the two groups. In this study, OPCAB seemed to have a beneficial effect on reducing reoperation for bleeding, blood transfusion requirement, and the length of stay at ICU. But the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was more common in the off-pump group (P < 0.05). The degree of improvement in angina and quality of life did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Using cardiopulmonary bypass is not an independent predictor of mortality and morbidity in patients with SLVD. Isolated CABG can be safely performed in SLVD patients with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality in addition to encouraging home discharge rates and higher quality of life. Therefore, CCABG remains a viable option in selected patients with SLVD.