Clinical characteristics and outcome of aortic dissection in nine pregnant women with pre-eclampsia / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, management and outcome of aortic dissection (AD) in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia.Methods:Clinical characteristics, management, and prognosis of nine patients with pre-eclampsia complicated by AD who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to April 2021 were retrospectively summarized using descriptive statistical analysis.Results:(1) Clinical features: The incidence of pre-eclampsia complicated by AD among the total deliveries and pre-eclampsia deliveries were 18/100 000 (9/49 166) and 182/100 000 (9/4 943), respectively. All the nine cases of pre-eclampsia complicated by AD, with an average age of (36.6±4.2) years, presented clinical symptoms in the second or the third trimester that were mainly manifested as chest and back pain (8/9) and the average gestational week at onset was (31.0±4.7) weeks. Seven cases were confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and computed tomography angiography (CTA), one by TTE and magnetic resonance angiography, and one by TTE+MRI+CTA. The main classification of AD was Stanford B (8/9). In the grading of blood pressure during pregnancy, except for one case without data, eight cases were severe. (2) Management: Four women did not receive any antihypertensive treatment. However, blood pressure remained uncontrolled in the other five cases despite antihypertensive managment. Except for one death before operation due to rapid deterioration, the other eight cases all received initial treatment and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Four cases underwent TEVAR prior to the termination of pregnancy. Two cases were delivered by cesarean section first, and TEVAR was performed 5 and 6 days after delivery, respectively. The other two cases undenwent cesarean section and TEVAR at the same time. Lung infection ( n=6) was the main postoperative complication. (3) Delivery: Among the nine patients, one patient died, and the average termination time of the eight patients (six underwent cesarean section, including two cases with fetal death, two underwent vaginal delivery following fetal death) was (32.9±3.6) weeks and none of them had postpartum hemorrhage. (4) Maternal-infant outcomes: Follow-up of the eight surviving women showed that one had numbness in one side of the limbs, one with occasional heart palpitations, and the rest had good outcomes. There were four live births, including two with low birth weight and one with neonatal asphyxia, and five stillbirths. During the 7-83 months of follow-up, all four children grew well. Conclusions:Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia should actively control blood pressure to avoid AD. Once symptoms such as chest and back pain occur, the possibility of AD should be considered. Active treatment after diagnosis of AD can improve maternal and fetal survival rate.

Research progress on characteristics of aortic dissection related metabolomics / 中华全科医师杂志

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening vascular disease due to the tearing of aortic intimal layer, leading to the formation of pseudocavity. Once the acute progression of dissection happens, serious complications such as rupture and stroke may occur. The current imaging examinations for AD are invasive and may cause adverse effects related to contrast medium, which cannot be used for large-scale screening of AD. The latest studies have found that metabolic processes and metabolites of lipids,saccarides and proteins are involved in the pathogenesis and development of AD. In this article, we review the research progress in the caracteristics of AD related metabolism,summarize changes of specific metabolites in AD,and explore the clinical implication of studies on AD related metaboliome..

Analysis of risk factors associated with acute Stanford type B aortic dissection complicated with pleural effusion and observation of the curative effect after intracavitary repair / 中华内科杂志

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of acute Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) complicated with pleural effusion (PE) and the short-term and long-term outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).Methods:A case-control study. The clinical and imaging data of 1 083 patients with acute TBAD admitted to the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from April 2002 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 211 cases with pleural effusion and 872 cases without pleural effusion. The baseline analysis of the two groups of patients was performed. The risk factors associated with pleural effusion were analyzed by binary logistic regression, and the results were expressed as odds ratio ( OR) and 95% confidence interval ( CI). According to the quantity of pleural effusion, they were simultaneously divided into small pleural effusion group and medium large pleural effusion group, to compare the short-term and long-term effects of TEVAR patients with different amounts of pleural effusion. Results:The incidence of pericardial effusion (17.5% vs. 3.8%, P<0.001), anemia (21.3% vs. 12.5%, P=0.001), aortic spiral tear (49.8% vs. 37.8%, P=0.002), dissection tear over diaphragm (57.8% vs. 48.1%, P=0.011), serum creatinine [85 (69, 111) vs. 81 (67, 100) μmol/L, P=0.011] and white blood cell levels[(11.3±4.2)×10 9/L vs. (10.3±4.2)×10 9/L, P=0.002] in acute TBAD pleural effusion group were significantly higher than those in non-pleural effusion group, and the hemoglobin level was significantly lower than that in non-pleural effusion group [(128±20) vs. (133±17) g/L, P<0.05]. Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that pericardial effusion ( OR=5.038,95% CI 2.962-8.568, P<0.001), anemia ( OR=2.047,95% CI 1.361-3.079, P=0.001), spiral tear ( OR=1.551,95% CI 1.030-2.336 , P=0.002) and elevated white blood cell ( OR=1.059,95% CI 1.011-1.102, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for TBAD complicated with pleural effusion. The incidences of all-cause death (4/19 vs. 1.5% vs. 0.9%, P<0.001), aortogenic death (4/19 vs. 0.7% vs. 0.7%, P<0.001) and aortic related adverse events (4/19 vs. 1.5% vs. 1.1%, P<0.001) in patients with large pleural effusion during TEVAR operation were significantly higher than those in patients with small pleural effusion and those without pleural effusion, and the differences were statistically significant. At 1 month follow-up after TEVAR, the incidence of all-cause death (4/16 vs. 3.3% vs. 1.6%, P<0.001), aortogenic death (4/16 vs. 0.8% vs.0.7%, P<0.001), aorta related adverse events (4/16 vs. 4.1% vs. 4.7%, P=0.013) and overall clinical adverse events (4/16 vs.9.8% vs. 6.7%, P=0.014) in the medium and large thoracic group were significantly higher than those in the small pleural effusion group and no pleural effusion group, and the differences were statistically significant. At 1 year follow-up after TEVAR, the incidence of all-cause death (4/15 vs. 4.9% vs. 3.9%, P=0.004), aortogenic death (4/15 vs.2.5% vs. 2.1%, P<0.001), aorta related adverse events (5/15 vs. 11.5% vs. 9.4%, P=0.012) and overall clinical adverse events (5/15 vs. 18.9% vs. 13.1%, P=0.029) in the medium and large thoracic group were significantly higher than those in the small pleural effusion group and no pleural effusion group, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions:Single center data showed that pericardial effusion, anemia, spiral tear and elevated white blood cell were independent risk factors for acute TBAD complicated with pleural effusion; the early (1 month) and long-term (1 year) rates of all-cause death, aortic mortality, aortic adverse events and overall clinical adverse events were significantly higher in TBAD patients with moderate pleural effusion after TEVAR, and moderate and large pleural effusion was an independent risk factor for near and long-term aortic related adverse events after TEVAR surgery.

Efficacy of goal-directed analgesia/sedation for improvement in preoperative management of patients with aortic dissection / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of goal-directed analgesia/sedation for improvement in the preoperative management of the patients with aortic dissection.Methods:One hundred and ten patients of either sex, aged≥18 yr, diagnosed with arterial dissection by aortic CTA in our hospital, were divided into 2 groups ( n=55 each) using a random number table method: conventional group and goal-directed analgesia/sedation group. Routine preoperative management was performed in both groups. Fentanyl 0.13 μg/min was intravenously infused, and the infusion rate of fentanyl was adjusted to maintain the numerical rating scale (NRS) score at 0-3 at rest in conventional group. Midazolam 0.02 mg·kg -1·h -1 and fentanyl 0.13 μg/min were intravenously infused, and the infusion rates of midazolam and fentanyl were adjusted to maintain Richmond agitation-sedation score at -2 to 0 and NRS score at rest 0-3 in goal-directed analgesia/sedation group. Nicardipine was intravenously injected and the administration rate was adjusted to maintain systolic blood pressure at 100-120 mmHg, and metoprolol was taken orally to maintain the heart rate 60-70 beats/min. The time to reach the target blood pressure and consumption of fentanyl and nicardipine within 24 h were recorded, and the occurrence of drug-related adverse reactions during analgesia and sedation and perioperative death were recorded. Results:Compared with conventional group, the time to reach the target blood pressure was significantly shortened, and the consumption of fentanyl and nicardipine within 24 h was decreased in goal-directed analgesia/sedation group ( P<0.05). No adverse reactions or perioperative death was observed in two groups. Conclusions:Goal-directed analgesia/sedation (Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score -2-0, NRS score at rest 0-3) is helpful in controlling blood pressure and heart rate, thus improving the quality of preoperative management of patients with aortic dissection.

Application value of the aortic dissection detection risk score plus D-dimer for the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the application value of aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) combined with D-dimer (DD) in the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD).Methods:The clinical data of 70 patients with suspected aortic dissection detection admitted to The Second Hospital of Jiaxing from August 2019 to April 2020 were collected. All patients were scored using the ADD-RS, and grouped according to the scoring results. The sensitivity and specificity of ADD-RS plus DD in the early diagnosis of AAD were calculated. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves that were plotted for drADD-RS plus DD versus DD alone to screen AAD were compared to evaluate efficacy. Results:CT angiography results showed that among 70 patients with suspected AAD, 29 patients had AAD and 41 patients had no AAD. A total of 21 patients were scored 0, 41 patients were scored > 1, and 8 patients were scored > 0. ADD-RS > 0 had an overall sensitivity of 79.31% and a specificity of 36.59% for AAD diagnosis. DD test results had an overall sensitivity of 86.20% and a specificity of 36.50% for AAD diagnosis. The area under the ROC curve of ADD-RS = 0 plus DD-negative result and the area under the ROC curve of DD-negative result alone in ruling out AAD were 0.885 with 95% CI (0.786-0.949) and 0.787 with 95% CI (0.673-0.876), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P = 0.024). Conclusion:Compared with DD-negative result alone, the ADD-RS = 0 plus DD-negative result strategy offers greater specificity to rule out AAD. The combined strategy has a greater efficacy in ruling out AAD. However, a multi-center study involving a large sample is required for in-depth evaluation.

Síndrome de Marfan. Presentación de un caso / Marfan syndrome. A case report

RESUMEN El síndrome de Marfan es una enfermedad genética autosómica dominante del tejido conectivo, caracterizada por una combinación variable de manifestaciones cardiovasculares, músculo-esqueléticas y oftalmológicas. A pesar del descubrimiento de las mutaciones causales, su diagnóstico resulta complejo, al exhibir una gran diversidad en su presentación clínica y carecer de características patognomónicas. El diagnóstico actual de síndrome de Marfan se basa en una serie de criterios clínicos y genéticos denominados Criterios Gante revisados. Se describe el caso de una paciente de 44 años de edad, con antecedentes de luxación del cristalino, miopía y escoliosis, sin antecedentes patológicos familiares y que cumplió con los criterios diagnósticos actuales. Se sugiere la pesquisa etiológica de afecciones como luxación del cristalino y escoliosis, por parte de las especialidades correspondientes, como traducción orgánica de una enfermedad sistémica como el síndrome de Marfan.

ABSTRACT Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disease of connective tissue, characterized by a variable combination of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and ophthalmologic manifestations. Despite the discovery of the causal mutations, its diagnosis is complex, as it exhibits great diversity in its clinical presentation and lacks pathognomonic characteristics. The current diagnosis of Marfan syndrome is based on a series of clinical and genetic criteria called the revised Ghent Criteria. The case of a 44-years-old female patient with a history of lens dislocation, myopia and scoliosis, with no family pathological history and who met current diagnostic criteria is described. The etiological investigation of conditions such as lens dislocation and scoliosis is suggested, by the corresponding specialties, as an organic translation of a systemic disease such as Marfan syndrome.

Outcomes Following Supracoronary Ascending Aortic Replacement with Aortic Valve Resuspension versus Modified Bentall's Operation for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

Abstract Introduction: Type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) remains a challenging cardiac emergency despite the availability of various management strategies. This study compared the outcomes of supracoronary ascending aortic replacement (SCAAR) with aortic valve (AV) resuspension with those of modified Bentall's operation for type A AAD and the progression of aortic regurgitation (AR), long-term dilatation of aortic root and proximal arch, and long-term mortality in SCAAR patients. Methods: Sixty patients underwent surgery for type A AAD (January 2005 to December 2015). Forty-three patients underwent SCAAR with AV resuspension and 17 underwent modified Bentall's operation. All patients were followed up. Results: Upon follow-up of SCAAR patients (n=40), there was significant reduction in aortic root size (preoperative 39.3 mm [9.4] vs. postoperative 33.1 mm [9.1]; P<0.001). Three of these patients worsened to severe AR while others had similar or lesser degree of AR. On comparison between preoperative and postoperative dimensions of all patients (n=53), there was no significant difference in distal ascending aorta size (35.7 mm [8.1] vs. 34.4 mm [8.9]; P=0.52). However, an increase in descending thoracic aorta size (28.8 mm [7.8] vs. 33.7 mm [9.9]; P<0.001) was observed. In-hospital and late mortalities for SCAAR vs. modified Bentall's procedure were 11.7% (seven patients) (7% [3] vs. 23.5% [4]) and 28% (15 patients) (15% [6] vs. 69% [9]), respectively. Conclusion: SCAAR with AV resuspension is a safe surgical option for type A AAD. Preservation of AV is associated with better long-term outcomes and reduced mortality. Modified Bentall's operation may be associated with long-term mortality.

Evaluation of Surgical Outcomes of Type A Intramural Hematoma

Abstract Introduction: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the results of type A intramural hematoma (TA-IMH) cases that underwent ascending aortic surgery. Methods: One hundred ninety-four patients who underwent aortic surgery between 2010 and 2018 were included in this study. TA-IMH was differentiated according to tomography angiographic images. Demographic data, operation type, hypothermic circulatory arrest times, echocardiographic findings, wall thickness of IMH, complications, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results: TA-IMH (n=14) or type A aortic dissection (AD) (n=35) data were collected from patients' files and 49 cases were enrolled into the study. Bentall operation was performed in eight patients (type A AD = six [17.1%], TA-IMH = two [14.3%]); 41 patients underwent tubular graft interposition of ascending aorta (AD = 29 [82.9%], TA-IMH = 12 [85.7%]). There was no significant difference in terms of age, gender distribution, aortic dimensions, cardiopulmonary bypass times, hypothermic circulatory arrest times, hospital ward stay, and intensive care unit stay between the two groups. The mortality rate of AD group was 34.4% and of TA-IMH group was 14.3%. There was no significant difference in terms of mortality between the groups. In our study, 45.7% of patients had hypertension and that rate was lower than the one found in the literature. In addition, bicuspid aorta was not observed in both groups. Connective tissue disease was not detected in any group. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of aorta is beneficial for TA-IMH. Our aortic surgical indications comply with the European aortic surgical guidelines. Hypertension control should be provided aggressively.

Correlation between the changes of TC, CRP, VEGF after thoracic endovascular aortic repair and the degree of false lumen thrombosis and its clinical significance / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To explore the relationship between the changes of total cholesterol (TC), C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the degree of false lumen thrombosis after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and its clinical significance.Methods:A total of 95 patients with aortic dissection admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from June 2015 to July 2020 were selected for retrospective study. All patients were treated with TEVAR. According to the disappearance of false lumen detected by computed tomography (CT) angiography six months after operation, 95 patients were divided into complete disappearance group ( n=43) and incomplete disappearance group ( n=52). The levels of plasma TC, CRP and VEGF in the two groups were compared before operation and 1 and 3 months after operation, as well as the degree of false lumen thrombosis. Spearman′s method was used to analyze the relationship between the levels of plasma TC, CRP and VEGF and the degree of postoperative false lumen thrombosis; multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting the disappearance of false lumen after TEVAR; The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze the value of each index in predicting the complete disappearance of false lumen. Results:The plasma levels of TC, CRP and VEGF in the complete disappearance group were lower than those in the incomplete disappearance group 1 and 3 months after operation (all P<0.05). The degree of false lumen thrombosis in the complete disappearance group was significantly different from that in the incomplete disappearance group 1 and 3 months after operation (all P<0.05). The plasma levels of TC, CRP and VEGF 1 and 3 months after TEVAR were negatively correlated with the degree of false lumen thrombosis (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the plasma levels of TC, CRP and VEGF 1 and 3 months after operation were correlated with the disappearance of false lumen (all P<0.05). With the passage of time, the AUC of each index to predict the complete disappearance of false lumen gradually increased. At 3 months after operation, the AUC of TC, CRP, VEGF and combined prediction of the complete disappearance of false lumen were 0.706, 0.899, 0.781 and 0.943, respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The changes of plasma TC, CRP and VEGF levels after TEVAR are related to the degree of false lumen thrombosis and the disappearance of false lumen in patients with aortic dissection. Combined examination of the three can be an effective method to predict the complete disappearance of false lumen.

Perioperative complications and risk factors of postoperative death in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the perioperative complications and risk factors of postoperative death in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).Methods:The perioperative data of 228 patients with ATAAD who underwent continuous surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2013 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The complications were analyzed. According to the survival within 30 days after surgery, they were divided into death group (24 cases) and survival group (204 cases). The risk factors of postoperative death were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawed to evaluate the predictive efficacy of various risk factors on postoperative death of ATAAD patients.Results:The first three complications before operation were hypoxemia (10.1%, 23/228), pericardial tamponade (7.9%, 18/228), renal insufficiency (5.3%, 12/228), the first three complications after surgery were hypoxemia (75.8%, 173/228), renal insufficiency (26.8%, 61/228) and liver insufficiency (26.3%, 60/228). A total of 24 patients died, the fatality rate was 10.5%(24/228). Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥55 years old ( OR=7.733, 95% CI: 1.986-30.111, P=0.003), preoperative pericardial tamponade ( OR=5.641, 95% CI: 1.546-20.577, P=0.009), cardiopulmonary bypass time (CBP)≥200 min ( OR=1.008, 95% CI: 1.002-1.014, P=0.007) and postoperative renal insufficiency ( OR=5.875, 95% CI: 1.927-17.907, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for early death after ATAAD. The area under the ROC curves of joint prediction was 0.905 (95% CI: 0.820-0.950, P<0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of joint prediction were 88.4%, 76.5%, respectively. Conclusions:ATAAD has many perioperative complications and high mortality. Age≥55 years old, preoperative pericardial tamponade, CPB time≥200 min, and postoperative renal insufficiency were independent risk factors for postoperative death in ATAAD patients.

Efficacy and safety of flow diverters in the treatment of posterior circulation dissecting aneurysm / 国际脑血管病杂志

The clinical features of posterior circulation dissecting aneurysm are complex, and microsurgical clipping is more difficult. Endovascular therapy is the main treatment method at present. Flow diverter (FD) has higher metal coverage rate. Compared with the traditional endovascular therapy, especially when the parent artery needs to be retained during procedure, FD has a lower complication rate after treatment of posterior circulation dissecting aneurysm, and it has gradually become an effective treatment method for such aneurysms. This article reviews the efficacy and safety of FD in the treatment of posterior circulation dissecting aneurysms.

Epidemiological analysis of 556 procedures of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the Public Health System in the largest Brazilian city

ABSTRACT Objective Despite the development of endovascular procedures, open repair remains the gold standard for the treatment of aortic thoracoabdominal aneurysms and some type B dissections, with well-established good outcomes and long-term durability at high-volume centers. The present study described and analyzed public data from patients treated in the public system in a 12-year interval, in a city where more than 5 million inhabitants depend on the Public Health System. Methods Public data from procedures performed between 2008 and 2019 were extracted using web scraping techniques. The variables available in the database include sex, age, elective or emergency hospital admission, number of surgeries, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and information on reimbursement values. Results A total of 556 procedures were analyzed. Of these, 60.79% patients were men, and 41.18% were 65 years of age or older. Approximately 60% had a residential address registered in the municipality. Of all surgeries, 65.83% were elective cases. There were 178 in-hospital deaths (mortality of 32%). In the elective context, there were 98 deaths 26.78% versus 80 deaths (42.10%) in the emergency context (p=0.174). Mortality was lower in the hospitals that performed more surgeries. A total of USD 3,038,753.92 was paid, an average of USD 5,406.95 for elective surgery and USD 5,074.76 for emergency surgery (p=0.536). Conclusion Mortality was no different between groups, and hospitals with higher volume presented more favorable outcomes. Specialized referral centers should be considered by health policy makers.

Efficacy and safety of total aortic arch replacement in elderly patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of total aortic arch replacement in elderly patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection(TAAD).Methods:In this retrospective study, a total of 481 TAAD patients treated with total arch replacement in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2020 were divided into three groups: aged≤59 years, 60-69 years and ≥70 years.The differences between three groups in surgical method, extracorporeal circulation time, blocking time, circulatory time, stopping time, surgical time, ventilator use time, ICU time, hospitalization time, treatment rate of continued renal replacement, fatality rate, and cause of death were statistically analyzed and compared.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the stopping time between any two groups of the three groups(all P<0.05). The older the age, the shorter the circulatory arrest time.The difference of ventilator time and ICU time between ≤59 and 60-69 years was statistically significant( P<0.01). Patients with continuous renal replacement(CRRT)were 19.0%(71/373)in ≤59 years, 23.1%(18/78)in 60~69 years, and 26.7%(8/30)over 70 years.In-hospital mortality was 35/373(9.4%)in the group of ≤59 years old, 11/78(14.1%)in the group of 60~69 years old, and 5/30(16.7%)in the group of ≥70 years old.There was no death in patients undergoing type Ⅱ hybrid surgery. Conclusions:Age is one of the important death factors after total aortic arch replacement in TAAD patients.Total aortic arch replacement is an acceptable surgical method for elderly patients with TAAD.Hybridization may reduce hospitalization death in elderly patients.

Clinical value of modified acute aortic dissection risk score in the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of modified acute aortic dissection risk score in the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD).Methods:The general, clinical, and imaging data of 162 patients who complained of chest and back pain who received treatment between January 2019 and January 2021 in the Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Jiaxing, China were collected for this study. The included patients were divided into control (non-AAD, n = 120) and observation (AAD, n = 42) groups according to whether they were diagnosed with AAD. The indexes with statistical significance between the two groups were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A score table was established according to the size of OR value. The modified AAD risk score was predicted using the receiver operating curve. Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male sex, family history, sudden severe chest and back pain, bilateral blood pressure asymmetry, hypertension, abnormal ultrasound, and D-dimer level were independent risk factors for the diagnosis of AAD (statistical values = 7.84, 6.96, 7.04, 11.38, 7.12, 8.15, 15.07, 9.11, all P < 0.05). Taking the total score of 5 as the prediction standard, the specificity and sensitivity in the prediction of the occurrence of AAD were 84.94% and 95.43%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating curve regarding the modified AAD risk score was 0.909. Conclusion:The modified AAD risk score can be used to conveniently and quickly predict the occurrence of AAD and has a high predictive value. This study is highly innovative and scientific.

Iatrogenic Acute Aortic Dissection in the Era of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Experience of a Center and Review of Literature

Abstract Introduction: Iatrogenic acute aortic dissection (IAAD) type A is a rare but potentially fatal complication of cardiac surgery. Methods: The purpose of this article is to review the literature since the first reports of IAAD in 1978, examining its clinical characteristics and describing operative details and surgical outcomes. Moreover, we reviewed the recent literature to identify current trends and risk factors for IAAD in minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures, often related to femoral artery cannulation for retrograde perfusion. Results: We found that IAAD ranges from 0.04 to 0.29% of cardiac patients in overall trials and ranged from 0.12 to 0.16% between 1978-1990, before the minimally invasive surgical era. And we concluded that since the first cases to the recent reports, the incidence of IAAD has not significantly changed. As minimally invasive procedures are on the rise, some authors think that the incidence of IAAD could increase in the future; we think that using all the precaution - such a strict monitoring of perfusion pressure throughout the intervention, avoiding extremely high jet pressures using vasodilators, repositioning of arterial cannula, or splitting perfusion in both femoral arteries -, this complication can be extremely reduced. Finally, we describe a very singular case occurring during mitral valve replacement followed by spontaneous dissection of left anterior descending artery one month later. Conclusion: The present article adds to the literature a more detailed clinical picture of this entity, including patients' characteristics, the mechanism, timing, and localization of the tear, and mortality details.

Early and late-term follow-up results of patients diagnosed with aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection with aortic regurgitation undergoing aortic valve repair or valve-sparing aortic surgery

Abstract Introduction: Valve-reimplantation and remodelling techniques used in aortic reconstruction provide successful early, mid, and long-term results. We present our early and late-term experience with 110 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) who underwent aortic valve repair (AVr) or valve-sparing aortic root surgeries (VSARS) due to aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm. Methods: Nine hundred eighty-two patients who underwent aneurysm or dissection surgery and aortic valve surgery between April 1997 and January 2017 were analysed using the patient database. A total of 110 patients with AR who underwent AVr or VSARS due to aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm were included in the study. Results: In the postoperative period, a decrease was observed in AR compared to the preoperative period (P<0.001); there was an increase in postoperative ejection fraction (EF) compared to the preoperative values (P<0.005) and a significant decrease in postoperative left ventricle diameters compared to the preoperative values (P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed one, two, four, and five-year freedom from moderate-severe AR as 95%, 91%, 87%, and 70%, respectively. Freedom from reoperation in one, two, and five years were 97.9%, 93.6%, and 81%, respectively. Eight patients (7.4%) underwent AVr during follow-up. Out of the remaining 100 patients, 13 (12%) had minimum AR, 52 (48%) had 1st-2nd degree AR, and 35 (32%) had 2nd-3rd degree AR during follow-up. Conclusion: For the purpose of maintaining the native valve tissue, preserving the EF and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, valve-sparing surgeries should be preferred for appropriate patients.

Survival of mother and infant following treatment of acute Stanford type B aortic dissection with endovascular repair under local anesthesia in second trimester: a case report / 中华围产医学杂志

We report the diagnosis and treatment of a pregnant woman with acute Stanford type B aortic dissection in the second trimester who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair under local anesthesia and later gave birth to a live neonate. The patient was admitted due to acute upper back pain at 27 weeks of gestation, who was diagnosed as acute Stanford type B aortic dissection. Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair was performed with low radiation dose under local anesthesia. A live neonate was born through cesarean section at 33 +6 gestational weeks due to the flat baseline of the fetal heart monitor, with a birth weight of 1 840 g and Apgar score of 9 at 1 min. The neonate was discharged after a 20-day treatment. During the follow-up of 12 months, the infant grew and developed well, and covered stent was well placed in the mother without leakage in the distal or proximal ends of the stent or any other complications.

Protective effect of dexmedetomidine on perioperative myocardial injury in patients with Stanford type-A aortic dissection

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on perioperative myocardial injury in patients with Stanford type-A aortic dissection (AD). METHODS: Eighty-six patients with Stanford type-A AD were randomly divided into Dex and control groups, with 43 cases in each group. During the surgery, the control group received the routine anesthesia, and the Dex group received Dex treatment based on routine anesthesia. The heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded before Dex loading (t0), 10 min after Dex loading (t1), at the skin incision (t2), sternum sawing (t3), before cardiopulmonary bypass (t4), at the extubation (t5), and at end of surgery (t6). The blood indexes were determined before anesthesia induction (T0) and postoperatively after 12h (T1), 24h (T2), 48h (T3), and 72h (T4). RESULTS: At t2 and t3, the HR and MAP in the Dex group were lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, in the Dex group at T1, T2, and T3, the serum creatine kinase-MB, cardiac troponin-I, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were decreased, and the interleukin-10 level, the serum total superoxide dismutase, and total anti-oxidant capability increased, while the myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels decreased (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dex treatment may alleviate perioperative myocardial injury in patients with Stanford type-A AD by resisting inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Investigar o efeito protetor e o mecanismo da dexmedetomidina (Dex) na lesão perioperativa do miocárdio em doentes com dissecação aórtica Tipo A de Stanford (AD). MÉTODOS: Oitenta e seis pacientes com o Tipo A de Stanford foram aleatoriamente divididos em Dex e grupos de controle, 43 casos em cada grupo. Durante a cirurgia, o grupo de controle recebeu a anestesia de rotina, e o grupo Dex recebeu tratamento Dex baseado na anestesia de rotina. A frequência cardíaca (AR) e a pressão arterial média (MAP) foram registradas no momento anterior ao Dex carregar (t0), 10 minutos após o Dex carregar (t1), incisão cutânea (t2), serragem de esterno (t3), antes do bypass cardiopulmonar (t4), extubação (t5) e fim da cirurgia (t6). Os índices de sangue foram determinados no momento antes da indução da anestesia (T0) e no pós-operatório 12 horas (T1), 24 horas (T2), 48 horas (T3) e 72 horas (T4). RESULTADOS: Em T2 e t3, o RH e o MAP do grupo Dex foram inferiores ao grupo de controle (p<0,05). Em comparação com o grupo de controle, no grupo Dex em T1, T2 e T3, os níveis séricos de creatina quinase-MB, troponina-I, proteína C-reativa e necrose do fator-α do tumor diminuíram, o nível interleucina-10 aumentou, o desalinhamento total do superóxido sérico e a capacidade antioxidante total aumentaram e os níveis de mielopeperóxido e malondialdeído diminuíram (todos p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento com Dex pode aliviar a lesão do miocárdio perioperativo em doentes com o Tipo A de Stanford por resistência à resposta inflamatória e ao estresse oxidativo.