Case of rheumatic heart disease and severe mitral stenosis, managed by balloon mitral valvuloplasty in pregnancy

Mitral stenosis (MS) is a progressive situation caused by obstruction of blood flow across the mitral valve from the left atrium to the left ventricle. It is one of the most common valvular heart lesions found during pregnancy. The chances of significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality are more in the case of severe MS. Balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) is a life-saving procedure in pregnancy instead of surgical correction. We are presenting the case of a 24-week pregnant woman with severe MS. She developed pulmonary edema and had undergone successful BMV which allowed her to tolerate her pregnancy decently. It leads to a decrease in the left atrial pressure as well as pulmonary arterial pressure. The patient underwent normal delivery uneventfully. Antibiotics were used with proper consultation and the patient was treated conservatively with excellent maternal and fetal outcomes. BMV is turns out to be a life-saving therapy for severe MS complicated by pulmonary edema.

The role of echocardiographic screening in reducing the burden of rheumatic heart disease in Latin America / El papel del tamizaje ecocardiográfico en la reducción de la carga de la cardiopatía reumática en América Latina / O papel da triagem ecocardiográfica na redução da carga de doença cardíaca reumática na América Latina

ABSTRACT The objectives of this article are to reflect on the rationale behind the use of echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease and to provide key recommendations about steps needed to implement and improve echocardiographic screening programs in Latin America. Rheumatic heart disease remains a public health problem affecting mainly low-income and lower-middle-income countries and populations. Latin America is an area with economic inequalities, and the epidemiology of rheumatic heart disease remains largely unknown. Echocardiographic screening is useful for updating the epidemiology and providing early diagnosis of the disease. We discuss different approaches used in successful echocardiographic screening programs worldwide and in Latin America. We then identify the key elements needed to establish successful echocardiographic screening programs in Latin America, including increased awareness and involvement from multiple sectors (e.g. the community, health care professionals, scientific organizations and public health entities), identification of areas in need, development of a plan and structure that include different screening approaches, and how to ensure appropriate follow up for those who screen positive.

RESUMEN Los objetivos de este artículo son reflexionar sobre los fundamentos que justifican el uso del tamizaje ecocardiográfico para detectar la cardiopatía reumática y ofrecer algunas recomendaciones importantes sobre los pasos que habría que dar para poner en marcha programas de tamizaje ecocardiográfico y mejorar los existentes en América Latina. La cardiopatía reumática sigue siendo un problema de salud pública que afecta principalmente a países y grupos poblacionales de ingresos bajos y medianos bajos. América Latina es una región de grandes desigualdades económicas y las características epidemiológicas de la cardiopatía reumática siguen siendo desconocidas en gran medida. El tamizaje ecocardiográfico resulta útil para actualizar los datos epidemiológicos y posibilitar un diagnóstico temprano de la enfermedad. En este artículo se analizan los diferentes enfoques empleados en algunos programas de tamizaje ecocardiográfico eficaces de distintas partes del mundo, incluida América Latina. A continuación se determinan los elementos clave necesarios para establecer programas eficaces de tamizaje ecocardiográfico en América Latina, incluida una mayor concientización y participación de diversos sectores (p. ej., la comunidad, los profesionales de salud, las organizaciones científicas y las entidades de salud pública), la identificación de las zonas más necesitadas, la elaboración de un plan y una estructura que incluyan diferentes abordajes del tamizaje, y el modo de garantizar un seguimiento adecuado de aquellas personas con un resultado positivo en el tamizaje.

RESUMO Os objetivos deste artigo são oferecer observações sobre a fundamentação do uso da triagem ecocardiográfica para doença cardíaca reumática e fornecer recomendações importantes sobre as etapas necessárias para implementar e melhorar os programas de triagem ecocardiográfica na América Latina. A doença cardíaca reumática continua sendo um problema de saúde pública que afeta principalmente países e populações de renda baixa e média-baixa. A América Latina é uma área com desigualdades econômicas, e a epidemiologia da doença cardíaca reumática continua amplamente desconhecida. A triagem ecocardiográfica serve para atualizar a epidemiologia e proporcionar o diagnóstico precoce da doença. Examinamos as diferentes abordagens usadas em programas de triagem ecocardiográfica bem-sucedidos em todo o mundo e na América Latina. Em seguida, identificamos os principais elementos necessários para estabelecer programas de triagem ecocardiográfica com sucesso na América Latina. Tais programas incluiriam maior conscientização e envolvimento de vários setores (por exemplo, a comunidade, profissionais de saúde, organizações científicas e entidades de saúde pública), identificação de áreas carentes, desenvolvimento de um plano e estrutura abrangendo diferentes abordagens de triagem e formas de garantir o seguimento adequado de pessoas com resultado positivo na triagem.

Clinical characteristics of infantile Takayasu arteritis complicated with cardiac involvements / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of infantile Takayasu Arteritis (TAK) complicated with cardiac involvements.Methods:The clinical data and cardiac lesions of infantile TAK were collected retrospectively, and the clinical characteristics of the disease were analyzed and summarized. Mainly using decriptive statistical methods.Results:In these 20 cases, 16 cases (80%) had cardiac involvements, only 2 cases had related symptoms. The common lesions were coronary artery lesion (CAL), valvular disease, and elevated myocardial enzymes, while the rare lesions were arrhythmia, pericardial effusion, hypertensive heart disease, and heart failure. One case had acute heart failure, which was systolic heart failure and was accompanied by hypertensive heart disease. All 14 patients with CAL were found by conventional coronary ultrasound screening. A total of 39 CAL were found, all of which were coronary artery dilation, and the left main coronary artery was involved. Five patients had heart valve disease, all of them were valve insufficiency. The involved valves were mitral and tricuspid valves, and one of them was severe insufficiency. Arrhythmias were found in 2 cases, of which P1 was found to have paroxysmal atrial tachycardia with high atrioventricular block at 3 months. All 20 children survived and were in stable condition after being treat with biological agents and/or glucocorticoids. A case of hypertensive heart disease complicated with heart failure was followed up for 4 years, and the cardiac function and blood pressure returned to normal. Fourteen children with CAL lesions were given oral aspirin disease, the CALs disappeared in 10 cases and retracted in 4 cases. During the follow-up of 5 children with heart valves, insufficiency disappeared in 4 cases and improved in 1. No child underwent valve replacement during the follow-up. One of the children with arrhythmia was treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. After treatment, the arrhythmia disappeared. Now they have been followed up for 5 years without recurrence.Conclusion:Infantile TAK has a high incidence of heart involvement, with extensive lesions but insidious clinical symptoms. CALs are common, and heart failure is rare. It should be evaluated and treated as early as possible.

The occult rheumatic scourge: A clinicopathological analysis of missed rheumatic heart disease

Aims: To study the clinical and pathological manifestations of missed cases of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and postulate possible reasons behind a missed diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Retrospective 20-year (2000–2019) autopsy data of chronic RHD were reviewed and patients, in whom the valvular deformities had been incidental autopsy findings, were selected. The clinical details of these patients were correlated with the morphology of the affected valves. On this pathological analysis, the patients were assigned to a category of subtle or significant valvular deformity. By clinically correlating, the latter group was subdivided into clinically misdiagnosed, clinically undiagnosed, and sudden cardiac death. Statistical Analysis: Nil. Results: Among the 475 cases of chronic RHD identified at autopsy in the study period, the disease was diagnosed incidentally in 69 patients (14.5%). Significant valvular deformity was noted in 61 cases while the other 8 cases had subtle valvular deformity. The most common cause of death was cardiac failure in 39 out of 69 patients (56%). Eleven (16%) patients had experienced sudden cardiac death. Among the undiagnosed cases, 5 (7%) of them had a diagnosis of non-rheumatic cardiac disease, while the other 14 (20.5%) patients had overwhelming non-cardiac diseases. Conclusions: Our study indicates that mortality and morbidity due to RHD are underdetermined. The patients remain undiagnosed due to either insignificant valvular involvement, clinically silent in the presence of significant valvular deformity, presence of other overwhelming diseases or misdiagnosis partly due to the resemblance with the other pathologies.

Rare case of hereditary spherocytosis with rheumatic mitral stenosis

A rare case of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and rheumatic mitral stenosis coexisting in a patient having severe stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and symptoms of the left ventricular dysfunction, along with hemolytic anemia attributed to HS. We present the case of a 58-year-old lady who presented to the emergency department with complaints of increasing shortness of breath for the past week. She was examined to have atrial fibrillation with a fast ventricular rate. On investigations, she was found to have severe rheumatic mitral stenosis with evidence of hemolytic anemia. Further, evaluation of the cause of her anemia revealed HS.This case highlights the importance of the evaluation of anemia in patients with valvular heart diseases. If a treatable cause is found, anemia can be treated to reduce the cardiac burden

Gender differences in genotypic distribution of endothelin-1 gene and endothelin receptor A gene in pulmonary hypertension associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease

Introduction: The female gender is a risk factor for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, it is unknown whether females with rheumatic mitral valve disease are more predisposed to develop pulmonary hypertension compared to males. Aim: We aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in genotypic distribution of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin receptor A (ETA) genes between female and male patients of pulmonary hypertension associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease (PH-MVD). Methods: We compared prevalence of ET-1 gene (Lys198Asn) and ETA gene (His323His) polymorphisms according to gender in 123 PH-MVD subjects and 123 healthy controls. Results: The presence of mutant Asn/Asn and either mutant Asn/Asn or heterozygous Lys/Asn genotypes of Lys198Asn polymorphism when compared to Lys/Lys in females showed significant association with higher risk (odds ratio [OR] 4.5; p ¼0.007 and OR 2.39; p ¼0.02, respectively). The presence of heterozygous C/T and either mutant T/T or heterozygous C/T genotypes of His323His polymorphism when compared to wild C/C genotype in females showed a significant association with higher risk (OR 1.96; p ¼0.047 and OR 2.26; p ¼0.01, respectively). No significant difference was seen in genotypic frequencies in males between PH-MVD subjects and controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that mutant genotype Asn/Asn (p ¼0.007) and heterozygous genotype Lys/Asn of Lys198Asn polymorphism (p ¼0.018) were independent predictors of development of PH in females.

Analysis of risk factors of secondary thoracotomy to stop bleeding after rheumatic heart disease valve replacement / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To explore the related risk factors of secondary thoracotomy to stop bleeding after rheumatic heart disease valve replacement.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 373 patients in the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University who underwent rheumatic heart disease valve replacement surgery from December 2013 to October 2020. According to whether or not to perform secondary thoracotomy to stop bleeding after operation, they were divided into two thoracotomy case group and control group. Collect the relevant clinical data of the patients, and analyze the risk factors that affect the second postoperative thoracotomy to stop bleeding through univariate and multivariate Logistic regression.Results:Among the 373 patients, 62 cases (16.62%) were in the secondary thoracotomy group and 311 cases (83.38%) were in the control group. Univariate analysis showed that the patient' s age, gender, prehospital cardiac function classification, pulmonary artery pressure, hemoglobin value (Hb), prothrombin time (PT), operation time, combined hypertension, intraoperative blood transfusion and postoperative two The occurrence of secondary thoracotomy to stop bleeding was related, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that prehospital cardiac function classification, Hb, PT, and hypertension are the risk factors leading to secondary thoracotomy to stop bleeding after rheumatic heart disease valve replacement. Conclusion:Effective control of risk factors can reduce the incidence of secondary thoracotomy after rheumatic heart disease valve replacement, and reduce the risk caused by secondary operations.

The effect of mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral stenosis / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To retrospectively evaluate the clinical effect of mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral stenosis.Methods:We retropectively analyze the clinical datd of 50 rheumatic mitral disease patients undergoing mitral valve repair from January 2016 to March 2019, the clinical outcome was compaired with those of patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. The operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, blood loss, ICU time, hospital stay, and postoperative cardiac function were analyzed, and followed up for 2 years to assess mitral regurgitation, cardiac function, and complication rates.Results:The time of cardiopulmonary bypass and ascending aorta occlusion in the valve repair group were longer than those in the valve replacement group ( P<0.05), and the postoperative ventilator assistance time, ICU stay time, and hospital stay were shorter than those in the valve replacement group ( P<0.05). After 2 years of follow-up, no patients died in the two groups. The rehospitalization rate in the valve repair group was lower than that in the replacement group ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the reoperation rate between the groups ( P>0.05); There was 1 case (2%) of moderate mitral valve regurgitation in the mitral valve repair group, no moderate or severe mitral valve stenosis, no paravalvular leakage in the mitral valve replacement group, and no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction in the mitral valve repair group were significantly better than those in the mitral valve replacement group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Mitral valve repair is effective in treating rheumatic mitral stenosis. It is beneficial to protect heart function, reduce postoperative anticoagulation complications, and does not increase the rate of reoperation. It is a safe, effective and feasible treatment.

Effects of heart valve replacement under extracorporeal circulation on left ventricular function and regulatory T cells in elderly patients with rheumatic heart disease / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To assess the effects of heart valve replacement under extracorporeal circulation(ECC)on left ventricular function and regulatory T cells in elderly patients with rheumatic heart disease(RHD).Methods:113 elderly patients with rheumatic heart disease receiving ECC heart valve replacement at our hospital from September 2018 to September 2020 were selected retrospectively as subjects.Another 113 healthy people from the same period were selected as the control group.Patients in the observation group received ECC heart valve replacement.Left heart function and regulatory T cells were compared between the two groups.Results:Before surgery, the left atrial transverse diameter(LA)of RHD patients was significantly increased compared with the control group[(56.2±9.3)mm vs.(29.4±3.5)mm, t=28.670, P<0.001], and the left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVDD)[(32.4±7.7)mm vs.(38.4±8.5)mm, t=5.561, P<0.001], left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)[(58.4±11.5)% vs.(65.6±10.5)%, t=4.915, P<0.001]and cardiac output(CO)[(3.7±2.6)L/min vs.(4.7±1.6)L/min, t=3.482, P<0.001]were significantly decreased compared with the control group.There were no significant changes in left heart function parameter values 10 min and 1 day after surgery(all P>0.05).One month after surgery, the inner diameter of pulmonary artery(PA)[(25.2±3.8)mm vs.(31.2±5.6)mm, t=9.659, P<0.001]and LA[(46.2±7.8)mm vs.(56.2±9.3)mm, t=8.758, P<0.001]were decreased compared with those before surgery, while changes in right ventricular end diastolic inner diameter(RVDD)and left ventricular end diastolic inner diameter(LVDD)were not significant, and there were no significant differences in LVEF, CO and LVFS(all P>0.05).The proportion of CD25 + CD4 + T cells in lymphocytes and the proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells in CD4 + T cells in RHD patients before surgery were significantly lower than those in the control group( P<0.01).The proportions decreased 10 min and 1 day after surgery, but increased 3 days after surgery and returned to preoperative levels 7 days after surgery, but were still significantly lower than those in the control group( P<0.05). Conclusions:After ECC heart valve replacement in elderly RHD patients, the left atrium will shrink for a short time and tricuspid regurgitation can recover, with reduced damage of cellular immune function, but its contractile function remains unchanged.

Analysis of outcome indexes in randomized controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine for rheumatic heart disease / 中国中药杂志

The present study analyzed the efficacy evaluation indexes of the randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of Chinese medi-cine in the treatment of rheumatic heart disease to lay the foundation for the construction of the corresponding core outcome index set. Clinical RCTs with a definite diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Sino Med, Pub Med, EMbase, and Cochrane Library from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Thirty-five RCTs were included, involving 3 314 patients and 41 efficacy evaluation indexes, which covered seven domains [traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) symptoms/syndromes, symp-toms/signs, physical and chemical examination, quality of life, long-term prognosis, economic evaluation, and safety events]. Physi-cal and chemical examination(56. 91%) and symptoms/signs(29. 27%) were the more frequently applied. The number of indexes used in a single trial ranged from 1 to 15, with an average of 4. The measurement time points of the top five indexes in the frequency of use were as follows: total response rate was reported at five measurement time points, ranging from 14 days to 6 months; left ventri-cular ejection fraction was measured at eight time points ranging from 5 days to 6 months; left ventricular end systolic diameter was measured at six time points, ranging from 5 days to 6 months; interleukin-2(IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were repor-ted 28 days after treatment. At present, there are many problems in the efficacy outcome indexes of RCTs in the treatment of rheumatic heart disease with TCM, such as large difference in quantity, unclear primary and secondary indexes, unreasonable selection of " surro-gate indexes", insufficient attention to long-term prognostic indexes and safety event indexes, non-standard application of composite in-dexes, long measurement period, and lack of TCM characteristics. It is urgent to establish the core outcome set for TCM treatment of rheumatic heart disease.

Acute heart failure as an initial symptom of pediatric rheumatic carditis: clinical analysis of 10 cases / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of pediatric rheumatic carditis with the initial symptom of acute heart failure, and to improve the clinical understanding of the disease.Methods:The clinical data, laboratory examination results, imaging findings, treatment and prognosis data of 10 cases with acute rheumatic carditis were collected and analyzed retrospectively.The patients pre-sented with acute heart failure as the first symptom and were treated in Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from January 2015 to February 2022.Results:There were 4 males and 6 females in this study.The mean age was 9.1 years (3 years and 1 month to 11 years and 3 months), and the average onset age was (9.3 ± 3.2) days (4-14 days). All the 10 cases had circulation symptoms.Besides, 4 cases were also complicated with joint symptoms, 3 cases with neurological symptoms and 2 cases with skin symptoms.Echocardiography revealed mitral valve diseases in all cases.More specifically, combined valve diseases were found in 5 cases, pure mitral regurgitation in 3 cases, and mixed mitral valve diseases (mitral regurgitation complicated with mitral stenosis) in 2 cases.After receiving antibiotic therapy, anti-infection treatment and anti-heart failure therapy, symptoms improved in all patients and valve lesions were alleviated.All patients were followed up for 6 months to 6 years.Six cases had persistent rheumatic heart disease during the follow up.Conclusions:Pediatric rheumatic carditis with the initial symptom of acute heart failure is characterized by early onset and the typical manifestation of rheumatic fever.Mitral valve disease is the commonest lesion.Echocardiography is of great value for the early diagnosis of the disease.Medical treatment is effective, but the incidence of chronic rheumatic heart disease is still high.

Early and long-term outcomes after left-side heart valve replacement and tricuspid valve replacement in rheumatic patients / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To evaluate and compare the early and long-term outcomes of rheumatic patients who underwent left-side heart valve replacement with concomitant tricuspid valve replacement, and analyze the difference of early mortality and long-term survival rate between mild pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and moderate to severe PASP patients.Methods:From January 2009 to December 2018, 79 cases of patients were reviewed and summarized. The mean age before operation was (45.7±7.8) years old. These patients were divided into mild PASP group(<50 mmHg, 38 cases) (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and moderate-severe PASP group (>50 mmHg, 41 cases) . Kaplan- Meier method was used to estimate the overall long-term survival rate and the incidence of complications, and to compare the long-term survival rate of patients with mild and moderate -severe PASP elevation. Results:The mortality rate of early postoperative patients was 8.9% (7/79). The causes of death included: low cardiac output syndrome in 3 cases, multiple organ failure caused by pulmonary infection in 2 cases, acute renal insufficiency in 1 case, sudden cardiac arrest in 1 case. Although the mortality rate of early moderate-severe PASP group (12.2% vs. 5.3%) was higher than that of mild PASP group, there was no significant difference ( P>0.05). The mean follow-up time was (51.8±31.7) months (3-115 months). Kaplan- Meier method was used to estimate the 10-year survival rate, the rate of avoiding thrombosis, the rate of avoiding serious bleeding event and the rate of avoiding reoperation, which were (67.2±10.6)%, (85.7±6.2)%, (83.4± 6.9)% and (93.7 ± 3.7)%, respectively. Although the long-term survival rate of mild PASP (78.0±10.6) % was higher than that of moderate-severe PASP (62.8 ± 13.4) %, there was no significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The early mortality rate of rheumatic patients who underwent left-side heart valve replacement with concomitant tricuspid valve replacement is still relatively high. The recurrent heart failure is the major causes of long-term death.

Valuing tonsillitis manifestations in schoolchildren in Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the importance attributed to tonsillitis by guardians and their level of knowledge about the disease, correlating their management with their schooling and socioeconomic profiles. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive and observational cross-sectional study involving students aged 5 to 17 years from state-owned and private schools. A questionnaire was applied on management of tonsillitis and knowledge about rheumatic fever, addressing demographic and socioeconomic data. Results: A total of 323 students were included, predominantly females (61.3%), from state-owned schools (77.1%), with a mean age of 9.7±0.3 years. Among the guardians, 48.6% completed high school. Among the students 75.2% had at least one episode of odynophagia in the previous 12 months. Considering the previous 2 years, 89.8% reported this symptom. There was no collection of bacteriological specimens in 67.8%, and in 83% if taking into account only the last episode, despite the search for medical care in most cases (92.6%). The use of anti-inflammatory drugs was very frequent (43.0% "always" and 42.4% "sometimes"). Among the guardians, 81.7% denied being aware of the relation between rheumatic fever and inappropriate treatment of odynophagia; 85.8% said they wished they had received more information. Conclusion: Although it is quite common in schoolchildren, tonsillitis is neglected by many guardians and health professionals, and the ignorance of its relation with rheumatic fever is practically universal, which may contribute to its high prevalence.

Non-infectious thrombotic endocarditis associated with chronic rheumatic heart disease and disseminated tuberculosis

Rheumatic heart disease is still common in developing countries and requires prompt intervention to prevent chronic complications. Vegetations in rheumatic heart disease might be due to acute episodes of rheumatic fever itself or due to either infective endocarditis (IE) or Non-infectious thrombotic endocarditis (NITE). Each form of vegetations has specific pathological characteristics on gross and microscopic examination. However, clinically IE and NITE may have overlapping signs and symptoms. A chance of misdiagnosis of NITE as culture-negative infective endocarditis is higher if the former present with infective symptoms like fever. NITE of valves can be due to underlying associated malignant neoplasm, particularly mucinous adenocarcinoma, pneumonia, cirrhosis, autoimmune disorders, and hypercoagulable state. The coexistence of tuberculosis, non-infectious thrombotic endocarditis and rheumatic valvular heart disease was rarely documented in medical literature. We describe a case of chronic rheumatic heart disease with vegetations in the posterior mitral valve leaflet, treated as culture-negative infective endocarditis, which, at autopsy, reveals the presence of Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis vegetation over calcified, fibrosed mitral valve leaflets and associated disseminated tuberculosis along with classic pathological sequela findings of chronic rheumatic mitral valvular heart disease in lungs and liver.

Mid-term clinical outcome analysis of aortic valve repair for rheumatic aortic valve disease / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the mid-term outcomes of patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent aortic valve repair surgery in a prospective cohort.Methods:From January 2016 to December 2020, a total of 54 patients with rheumatic heart disease underwent aortic valve repair surgery in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, with an average age of (50.61±13.29) years, including 29 females (53.7%). There were 31 patients (57.4%) had pure aortic insufficiency, 2 patients (3.7%) had pure aortic stenosis and 21 patients (38.9%) had mixed lesion. During the same period, 43 patients (80.0%) underwent mitral valve surgery, 36 patients (66.7%) underwent tricuspid valve surgery, and 20 patients (37.0%) underwent atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation.The follow-up period was from 1 month to 61 months (median follow-up was 25 months). Paired rank-sum test was used to compare the differences in continuous variables among subjects, and Kaplan- Meier method was used to analyze the clinical outcomes during the follow-up period. Results:Proportion of moderate and severe aortic regurgitation Preoperatively was higher than that of discharge data, aortic valve orifice maximum velocity and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were significantly lower than discharge data (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate was (96.1±2.7)% (2 patients died). The 5-year freedom from reoperation after aortic valve repair was (89.5±4.5)%(5 patients underwent redo surgery). The 5-year freedom from valvular-related complications was (91.3±4.2)%(3 patients suffered from complications). Conclusion:Aortic valve repair surgery for rheumatic aortic valve disease is feasible and has excellent early and mid-term results, it can be a reliable treatment option.

Mortality Trends from Cardiovascular Diseases in the State of Bahia, Brazil, between 2000 and 2015

Abstract Background: Mortality from cardiovascular diseases has reduced in Brazil in recent decades, but this phenomenon is not clear in the northeast region of the country. Objectives: To describe the mortality trends from cardiovascular disease in Bahia from 2000-2015, in total population and by sex and age groups, and by specific causes (ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, rheumatic heart disease and heart failure). Methods: This was a time series study. Data were obtained from SIM-DATASUS and IBGE, and the 10th revision of the ICD used for disease classification. Mortality rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) were calculated from total cardiovascular disease and specific causes, by sex and age groups. Direct standardization was used to adjust for age, using the population of 2010 as reference. Linear regression models estimated percentage variation. The significance level of 5% was adopted. Results: In Bahia, crude mortality rates from cardiovascular disease increased in the period; however, after standardization by age, mortality rates became stable for the total and female populations, with a slight reduction for the male population. An increase in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease was found in the elderly groups. For ischemic heart disease, a progressive increase in adjusted mortality rates was observed: 43%, 24% and 29% for the total, male, and female population, respectively. There was a progressive reduction in crude and age-standardized mortality rates from heart failure in all groups, a modest reduction in age-adjusted mortality rates from cerebrovascular diseases, and a slight reduction in age-standardized mortality rate from rheumatic heart disease, especially in the subgroup <40 years. Conclusions: Mortality from cardiovascular disease in Bahia did not follow the decreasing trend of other Brazilian states, especially in relation to ischemic heart disease, which showed an increase in mortality rates.

The global burden of rheumatic heart disease: population-related differences (it is not all the same!)

Abstract Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains the most common cardiovascular disease in young adults and adolescents in need of heart surgery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The mean age of patients is 20-25 years, often much younger. By contrast, the few patients with chronic RHD in developed countries present a mean age of around 55 years. It is absolutely fundamental to differentiate these two types of population. Pathology, lesions and surgical methods are different, and the results should not be compared. It is not all the same! A certain enthusiasm for mitral repair has recently surged, with several reports showing excellent results in children and young adults, resulting from the renewed interest of cardiac surgeons, also based on new and modified techniques developed in the meantime. While surgery is easily accessible to patients in developed countries, the situation in LMICs is often dramatic, with countries where there is a complete absence of or few surgical facilities absolutely unable to meet gigantic demands. Many foreign surgical teams conduct humanitarian missions in several of these countries. They are just a "drop of water in the ocean" of needs. In some cases, however, these missions led to the establishment of local teams that now work independently and, in some cases, outperform the foreign teams still visiting.

Chronic rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease complicating pregnancy: a study of the cardiac events, the maternal and perinatal outcome during 2011-2013 at tertiary care centre

Background: Objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease complicating pregnancy, study the maternal and perinatal outcome, and indications for termination of pregnancy.Methods: Preconception counseling, antenatal care by pregnancy heart team as per protocol. One 2nd gravida (G2A1) with 26 weeks gestation, underwent mitral valve replacement during 26th week gestation i/v/o infective endocarditis associated with severe mitral regurgitation.Results: Authors had CRHD: CHD = 29:21, out of 50 cases, the ratio was 1.3:1 in this study. Atrial septal defect (ASD) was the predominant lesion in this study -29% ASD alone and 9% associated with pulmonary artery hypertension. Eisenmenger's syndrome, was associated with ASD in three and VSD in two. Corrected lesions were 24%. In the rheumatic heart disease, mitral stenosis was the predominant lesion and PBMV was done in four (13.7%) cases. In CRHD cases, surgically corrected by prosthetic heart valve were -11 (37.9%). In CRHD total corrected cases, by prosthetic heart valve and percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV) account for 51.7%. One patient had PBMV procedure during 5th month of present pregnancy i/v/o severe mitral stenosis with mitral valve area -0.8 cm2 and another patient had PBMV during her first pregnancy. In this study 42% were in NYHA class I. 14% were in NYHA class IV. CHF was seen in 10%. Termination of pregnancy was necessary in 6 with CHD and 5 with CRHD. There were 39 deliveries with one set of twins. All the babies were alive. Maternal mortality was confirmed in one case with Eisenmenger’s syndrome + HELLP syndrome. Live birth rate was higher in cases with NYHA class I/II than in those with NYHA class III/IV (82.8% versus 66.60%).Conclusions: Management by a pregnancy heart team as per guidelines would reduce mortality.