Clinical observation of postoperative warfarin anticoagulation in 300 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement with a carbomedics mechanical valve.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-intensity warfarin treatment in Chinese patients after mitral valve replacement as well as the rationality of the INR standards of the hospital (The First People's Hospital of Jining City). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 270 cases in our hospital from January 2009 to December 2013; 239 patients completed the 5-year follow-up. There were 192 male and 78 female subjects, age 32-65 years old with a mean age 51.51 ± 12.12 years old. All eligible candidates received a Carbomedics artificial mechanical valve replacement and were anticoagulated under this hospital's current guidelines for postoperative anticoagulant therapy mitral valve replacement (INR 1.8-2.5). We analyzed the patient's regularly recorded prothrombin times (PTs) and the occurrence of anticoagulation-related complications, such as bleeding, thrombosis, and embolism. RESULTS: A follow-up for 239 of 300 patients was performed for 3-60 months. Within this group, one patient died from cerebral hemorrhage, there was 1 case of subcutaneous bleeding, 1 case of epistaxis, 12 cases of gingival bleeding, in 15 menstrual quantity increased, and in 1 case we found cerebral infarction. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, low-intensity anticoagulation after mitral Carbomedics valve replacement is therapeutically effective and safe. There is room to improve the anticoagulation standard currently used, perhaps at a slightly lower level than this standard suggests. From our research we can formulate individualized treatment plans and effectively reduce the occurrence of complications.

Presence of gingivitis and periodontitis significantly increases hospital charges in patients undergoing heart valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and impact of gingivitis and periodontitis in patients having heart valve surgical procedures. METHODS: Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2004-2010 was used. All patients who had heart valve surgical procedures were selected. Prevalence of gingivitis/periodontitis was examined in these patients. Impact of gingivitis/periodontitis on hospital charges, length of stay, and infectious complications was examined. RESULTS: 596,190 patients had heart valve surgical procedures. Gingivitis/periodontitis was present in 0.2 percent. Outcomes included: median hospital charges ($175,418 with gingivitis/ periodontitis versus $149,353 without gingivitis/periodontitis) and median length of stay (14 days with gingivitis/periodontitis versus 8 days without gingivitis/periodontitis). After adjusting for the effects of patient- and hospital-level confounding factors, hospital charges and length of stay were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in those with gingivitis/periodontitis compared to their counterparts. Further, patients with gingivitis/periodontitis had significantly higher odds for having bacterial infections (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 2.33-4.98, p < 0.0001) when compared to those without gingivitis/periodontitis. CONCLUSION: Presence of gingivitis and periodontitis is associated with higher risk for bacterial infections and significant hospital resource utilization.

Antithrombotic management of patients with prosthetic heart valves: current evidence and future trends.

Over 4 million people worldwide have received a prosthetic heart valve, and an estimated 300,000 valves are being implanted every year. Prosthetic heart valves improve quality of life and survival of patients with severe valvular heart disease, but the need for antithrombotic therapy to prevent thrombotic complications in valve recipients poses challenges for clinicians and patients. Here, we review antithrombotic therapies for patients with prosthetic heart valves and management of thromboembolic complications. Advances in antithrombotic therapy and valve technologies are likely to improve the management of patients with prosthetic heart valves in developed countries, but the most important unmet need and potential for benefit from these new therapies is in developing countries where a massive and rapidly increasing burden of valvular heart disease exists.

Long-term outcomes of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene conduits with bulging sinuses and a fan-shaped valve in right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Various types of conduits are available for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction. We have developed an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) conduit with bulging sinuses and a fan-shaped ePTFE valve. This study summarized the results of a multicenter study evaluating the valved ePTFE conduit. METHODS: The valve functions of 902 patients (median age, 3.9 years; median weight, 12.6 kg) who underwent RVOT reconstruction using valved ePTFE conduits (9 different sizes, 8-24 mm in diameter) at 65 hospitals between 2001 and 2015 were retrospectively investigated. Median follow-up time was 5.5 years. The valve functions were assessed using echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and magnetic resonance angiography. RESULTS: There were no deaths related to the ePTFE conduit. The peak RVOT gradient was 16.5 ± 13.1 mm Hg, and pulmonary insufficiency graded better than mild was 95.9% at the latest follow-up. Conduit replacement was performed in 55 patients, and in only 3 patients because of conduit infection. Freedom from intervention at 5 years and 10 years was 92.3% and 76.1%, respectively, with small conduits (8-16 mm in diameter) and 99.6% and 95.1%, respectively, with large conduits (18-24 mm in diameter). CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcomes of the ePTFE conduit with a fan-shaped valve and bulging sinuses appear clinically satisfactory. We believe that the longevity of small-sized conduits can yield sufficient time to exchange them to larger-sized conduits without any loss of their valve functions. Regarding longevity and resistance to infections, this ePTFE valved conduit can be one of the best ways to reconstruct the RVOT.

The Contegra valved bovine conduit: a biomaterial for the surgical treatment of congenital heart defects.

Contegra, a bovine jugular vein graft, has been widely used as a preferable biomaterial in the surgical treatment of congenital heart defects, especially as a conduit for the right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. This article aims to make a comprehensive review on the clinical outcomes of Contegra. Reports of Contegra published since 2002 were comprehensively retrieved, collected and analyzed. There were 1718 Contegra, applied in 1705 patients. The sizes of the conduits were 8-22 mm. The patients aged from newborn to 74.5 years, prevailed by pediatrics. The primary diagnosis was congenital heart defects in all cases, with Tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosus and pulmonary atresia being the first three diagnoses, representing 25.6%, 16.7%, and 13.1%, respectively. Contegra was used as a tube graft in the pulmonary position in 1635 (95.9%) patients, as a monocuspid patch in 12 (0.7%), as a graft in the position of the pulmonary valve or a monocusps in 40 (2.3%), and as an inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery conduit in the Fontan procedure in 18 (1.1%) patients, respectively. Conduit reimplantation was performed in 141 (8.3%) patients 33.8 ± 37 (8.6-106.8) months after the initial conduit insertion. Conduit plasty was necessary in 6 (0.4%), and reintervention in 83 (4.9%) patients. Indications for conduit reimplantation included severe stenosis of the distal anastomosis, pseudoaneurysm of the proximal anastomosis and severe conduit regurgitation. As for the good performance, availability and longevity, Contegra is a biomaterial suitable for the right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and for patch repair for ventricular septal defect, but not apt for Fontan procedure.

Early and late outcome after aortic root replacement with a mechanical valve prosthesis in a series of 528 patients.

BACKGROUND: Aortic root replacement with a mechanical valve prosthesis is a widely accepted surgical technique. This study aims to evaluate short-term and long-term outcomes of this approach and to identify predictors of 30-day mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of 528 patients (mean age, 54±13 years) who underwent aortic root replacement for aneurysm (83%), acute type A dissection (15%), or endocarditis (2%) in the period between 1974 and 2008. The mean time of follow-up was 9.0±7.0 years (range, 0 to 36 years). Concomitant aortic surgery was performed in 71%, coronary revascularization in 18%, and mitral valve surgery in 3%. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion was applied in 25% and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in 28% of patients. RESULTS: Overall 30-day mortality was 3.2% to 2.5% for elective surgery and 6.5% for urgent surgery. Morbidity included resternotomy for bleeding or tamponade (19%), pacemaker implantation (3.6%), myocardial infarction (4.0%), and neurologic damage (4.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed myocardial infarction (p<0.001) and the lack of glue use (p=0.018) as independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Subanalysis of the selective antegrade cerebral perfusion patients and the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest patients revealed infarction (p=0.005) and coronary artery disease (p=0.45) for selective antegrade cerebral perfusion and wrapping (p=0.035) for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest as independent risk factors. The survival rate was 87%, 73%, and 29% after 5, 10, and 25 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic root replacement with a mechanical valve prosthesis can be performed safely with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. Perioperative myocardial infarction is the strongest independent risk factor of 30-day mortality.

O conduto valvulado bovino contegra, um biomaterial para o tratamento cirúrgico de cardiopatias congênitas / The contegra valved bovine conduit: a biomaterial for the surgical treatment of congenital heart defects

O Contegra, um enxerto de veia jugular bovina, tem sido amplamente utilizado como biomaterial de preferência no tratamento cirúrgico das cardiopatias congênitas, especialmente como um conduto para a reconstrução da via de saída ventricular direita. Este artigo tem como objetivo fazer uma revisão abrangente sobre os desfechos clínicos do Contegra. Foram recuperados, coletados e analisados, relatos de Contegra publicados desde 2002. Havia 1.718 Contegra, aplicados em 1.705 pacientes. Os tamanhos dos condutos foram de 8-22 mm. As idades dos pacientes foram de recém-nascidos até 74,5 anos, com prevalência de pacientes pediátricos. O diagnóstico primário foi cardiopatia congênita em todos os casos, sendo os três diagnósticos principais: tetralogia de Fallot, tronco arterioso e atresia pulmonar, que representaram 25,6%, 16,7% e 13,1%, respectivamente. O Contegra foi utilizado como enxerto tubular na posição pulmonar em 1635 (95,9%) pacientes, como remendo monocúspide em 12 (0,7%), como enxerto na posição da valva pulmonar ou monocúspide em 40 (2,3%), e, como conduto artéria pulmonar-veia cava inferior na operação de Fontan, em 18 (1,1%) pacientes, respectivamente. O reimplante de conduto foi realizado em 141 (8,3%) pacientes, 33,8 ± 37 (8,6-106,8) meses após a inserção do conduto inicial. A plástica do conduto foi necessária em seis (0,4%) e a reintervenção em 83 (4,9%) dos pacientes. As indicações do reimplante do conduto incluíram estenose importante da anastomose distal, pseudoaneurisma da anastomose proximal e regurgitação importante do conduto. Quanto ao bom desempenho, disponibilidade e longevidade, o Contegra é um biomaterial adequado para a reconstrução da via de saída ventricular direita e como remendo para reparo de comunicação interventricular, mas não é apto para a operação de Fontan.

Contegra, a bovine jugular vein graft, has been widely used as a preferable biomaterial in the surgical treatment of congenital heart defects, especially as a conduit for the right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. This article aims to make a comprehensive review on the clinical outcomes of Contegra. Reports of Contegra published since 2002 were comprehensively retrieved, collected and analyzed. There were 1718 Contegra, applied in 1705 patients. The sizes of the conduits were 8-22 mm. The patients aged from newborn to 74.5 years, prevailed by pediatrics. The primary diagnosis was congenital heart defects in all cases, with Tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosus and pulmonary atresia being the first three diagnoses, representing 25.6%, 16.7%, and 13.1%, respectively. Contegra was used as a tube graft in the pulmonary position in 1635 (95.9%) patients, as a monocuspid patch in 12 (0.7%), as a graft in the position of the pulmonary valve or a monocusps in 40 (2.3%), and as an inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery conduit in the Fontan procedure in 18 (1.1%) patients, respectively. Conduit reimplantation was performed in 141 (8.3%) patients 33.8 ± 37 (8.6-106.8) months after the initial conduit insertion. Conduit plasty was necessary in 6 (0.4%), and reintervention in 83 (4.9%) patients. Indications for conduit reimplantation included severe stenosis of the distal anastomosis, pseudoaneurysm of the proximal anastomosis and severe conduit regurgitation. As for the good performance, availability and longevity, Contegra is a biomaterial suitable for the right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and for patch repair for ventricular septal defect, but not apt for Fontan procedure.

Infective endocarditis in Europe: lessons from the Euro heart survey.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of active infective endocarditis (IE) in Europe. DESIGN: Prospective survey of medical practices in Europe. SETTING: 92 centres from 25 countries. PATIENTS: The EHS (Euro heart survey) on valvar heart disease (VHD) enrolled 5001 adult patients between April and July 2001. Of those, 159 had active IE. RESULTS: 118 patients (74%) had native IE and 41 (26%) had prosthetic IE. Mean (SD) age was 57 (16) years. Blood cultures were obtained for 113 patients (71%) before antibiotic treatment was started. Surgery was performed in 52% of patients. Reasons for surgery were heart failure in 60%, persistent sepsis in 40%, vegetation size in 48%, or embolism in 18%. Surgery was for implantation of mechanical prosthesis in 63%, bioprosthesis in 21%, aortic homograft in 5%, and valve repair in 11%. In-hospital mortality was 12.6%, being 10.4% in the medical group and 15.6% in the surgical group. Among the total population of 5001 patients, only 50% of those with native VHD had been educated on endocarditis prophylaxis and only 33% regularly attended dental follow up. Of patients with IE who had had a procedure at risk during the preceding year only 50% had received adequate prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: The EHS on VHD shows that patients with active IE have a high risk profile and often undergo surgery. However, there are deficiencies in obtaining blood cultures and applying prophylaxis. Mortality remains high, which is a justification for the improvement of patient management through education and the implementation of guidelines.