Fluid Balance of the Second Day Following Operation is Associated with Early Mortality and Multiorgan Failure After Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis.

BACKGROUND: The operative mortality of pericardiectomy still is high. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the risk factors of early mortality and multiorgan failure. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing pericardiectomy from January 2009 to June 2020 at our hospital. Pericardiectomy was performed via sternotomy. Histopathologic studies of pericardium tissue from every patient were done. All survivors were monitored to the end date of the study. RESULTS: Ninety-two consecutive patients undergoing pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis were included in the study. Postoperatively, central venous pressure significantly decreased, and left ventricular end diastolic dimension and left ventricular ejection fractions significantly improved. The overall mortality rate was 5.4%. The common postoperative complications include acute renal injury (27.2%), and multiorgan failure (8.7%). Analyses of risk factors showed that fluid balance of the second day following operation is associated with early mortality and multiorgan failure. In this series from Guangxi, China, characteristic histopathologic features of tuberculosis (60/92, 65.2%) of pericardium were the most common histopathologic findings, and 32 patients (32/92, 34.8%) had the histopathologic findings of chronic nonspecific inflammatory changes. The functional status of the patients improved after pericardiectomy; 6 months later postoperatively 85 survivors were in class I (85/87, 97.7%) and two were in class II (2/87, 2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis is the most common cause of constrictive pericarditis in Guangxi, China. Fluid balance of the second day following operation is associated with early mortality and multiorgan failure after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis in our study.

Acute Kidney Injury: Lessons from Pericardiectomy.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney (renal) injury (AKI) is a severe and common complication that occurs in ~40% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. AKI has been associated with increased mortality and worse prognosis. This prospective study was conducted to determine the risk factors for AKI after pericardiectomy and decrease the operative risk of mortality and morbidity. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational cohort study of patients with constrictive pericarditis undergoing pericardiectomy. All patients underwent pericardiectomy via median sternotomy. Serum creatinine was used as the diagnostic standard of AKI according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification. All survivors were monitored to the end date of the study. RESULTS: Consecutive patients (N = 92) undergoing pericardiectomy were divided into 2 groups: with AKI (n = 25) and without AKI (n = 67). The incidence of postoperative AKI was 27.2% (25/92). Hemodialysis was required for 10 patients (40%), and there were 5 operative deaths. Mortality, intubation time, time in intensive care unit, fresh-frozen plasma, and packed red cells of the group with AKI were significantly higher than those of the group without AKI. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that statistically significant independent predictors of AKI include intubation time, chest drainage, fresh-frozen plasma, and packed red cells. The latest follow-up data showed that 85 survivors were New York Heart Association class I (97.7%) and 2 were class II (2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: AKI after pericardiectomy is a serious complication and contributes to significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Prevention of AKI development after cardiac surgery and optimization of pre-, peri-, and postoperative factors that can reduce AKI, therefore, contribute to a better postoperative outcome and leads to lower rates of AKI, morbidity, and mortality.

Preoperative Pericardial Effusion is Associated with Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis.

BACKGROUND: Low cardiac output syndrome is the main cause of death after pericardiectomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis from January 2009 to October 2020 at our hospital were included in the study. Histopathologic studies of pericardium tissue from every patient were performed. All survivors were followed up. RESULTS: Ninety-two consecutive patients underdoing pericardiectomy were included in the study. The incidence of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome was 10.7% (10/92). There were five operative deaths. Mortality and incidence of LCOS in the group with pericardial effusion were significantly higher than those in the group without pericardial effusion. Tuberculosis of the pericardium (60/92, 65.2%) was the most common histopathologic finding in this study. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that preoperative pericardial effusion is associated with increased rate of low cardiac output syndrome. Eighty-five survivors were in NYHA class I (85/87, 97.7%), and two were in class II (2/87, 2.3%) at the latest follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative pericardial effusion is associated with low cardiac output syndrome after pericardiectomy. Tuberculosis of the pericardium was the most common histopathologic finding in this study. For constrictive pericarditis caused by tuberculous bacteria, systematic antituberculosis drugs should be given. Preoperative pericardial effusion is associated with increased rate of low cardiac output syndrome. Perfect preoperative preparation is very important to reduce the incidence of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and mortality. It is very important to use a large dose of diuretics with cardiotonic or vasopressor in a short time after the operation.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Mechanical Hemolysis after Mitral Repair in Adult.

BACKGROUND: Mitral repair has been widely used in the treatment of secondary mitral lesions in recent years. Hemolytic anemia is known to be a rare complication after mitral repair. This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical hemolysis after mitral repair in adults. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of patients undergoing mitral repair complicated with mechanical hemolysis at our institution between August 2006 and May 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients undergoing mitral repair complicated with mechanical hemolysis were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: the reoperation group (patients who underwent reoperation; N = 18) and the conservative treatment group (patients who received symptomatic treatments, including blood transfusion, diuresis, alkalization of urine, liver protection, hemodialysis, and oral metoprolol; N = 6. All patients in the reoperation group underwent mitral valve replacement. There were six hospital deaths, all in the conservative treatment group. Seventeen of eighteen patients (94.4%) completed follow up. Fifteen of seventeen survivors (88.2%) were in NYHA class I and 11.8% (2/17) in NYHA class II at the last time follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Hemolysis is a sign of failure of mitral repair. Reoperation is the best choice once the hemolysis has been diagnosed. Reoperation should be carried out as soon as possible.

Clinical comparative analysis of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution and St. Thomas crystalloid cardioplegia: A 12-year study from a single institution.

Cardioplegic reperfusion during a long-term ischemic period interrupts cardiac surgery and increases cellular edema due to repeated administration. The present clinical study compared the protective effects of histidine-ketoglutarate-tryptophan (HTK) solution and St. Thomas crystalloid cardioplegia. Clinical experiences of the myocardial protection induced by one single perfusion with HTK were reviewed in high-risk patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease. This retrospective study included 88 high-risk patients (aortic cross-clamp time, >120 min) between March 2001 and July 2012. The cohort was divided into two groups according to the technique used. Either myocardial protection was performed with one single perfusion with HTK solution (HTK group) or with conventional St. Thomas crystalloid cardioplegia (St group). The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass did not differ between the two groups. The mortality, morbidity, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, postoperative hospitalization, and transfusions of HTK group are significantly lower than those of the St group (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that HTK is a statistically significant independent predictor of decreased early mortality and morbidity (P<0.05). In conclusion, the present findings suggested that HTK solution decreases mortality, morbidity, ICU stay, postoperative hospitalization, and transfusions in high-risk patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease.

[Application of rapid PCR to authenticate Ranae Oviductus].

Rapid allele-specific PCR primer was designed base on Cytb 155 A/T single nucleotide polymorphism, DNA was extracted by alkaline lysis and the PCR reaction systems including denatured and annealing temperature and cycle numbers were optimized. The results were performed to authenticate Ranae Oviductus and its 4 adulterants. When 100×SYBR Green I was added in the PCR product at 90 ℃ denatured 3 s, 62 ℃ annealing 20 s and 32 cycle. Ranae Oviductus visualized strong green fluorescence under 365 nm UV lamp whereas adulterants appeared negative. The whole process can be completed in 40 minutes．The established method provides the technical support for authentication of the Ranae Oviductus.

Effects of modified penoplasty for concealed penis in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of modified penoplasty in the management of concealed penis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 96 consecutive patients with concealed penis, which had been surgically corrected between July 2013 and July 2015. All patients underwent modified Shiraki phalloplasty. All patients were scheduled for regular follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery. Data on the patients' age, operative time, postoperative complications, and parents' satisfaction grade were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 17.4 months (range 7-31 months). The mean operative time was 63.2 ± 8.7 min. The mean perpendicular penile length was 1.89 ± 0.77 cm preoperatively and 4.42 ± 0.87 cm postoperatively, with an improved mean length of 2.5 ± 0.68 cm in the flaccid state postoperatively (p < 0.05). The patients' satisfaction grades after the surgery were improved significantly (p < 0.05). Fifty-two patients had penile lymphedema postoperatively; however, it disappeared spontaneously within 3 months. Additionally, postoperative wound infection occurred in two patients. There were no complications such as flap necrosis, penile shaft contracture, voiding difficulty, and erection difficulties. CONCLUSION: The modified Shiraki phalloplasty for concealed penis can achieve maximum utilization of prepuce to assure coverage of the exposed penile shaft. It has fewer complications, achieving marked asthetics, and functional improvement. It is a relatively ideal means for treating concealed penis.

[Modified Mathieu urethroplasty for failed hypospadias repair].

OBJECTIVE: To review the indications, techniques and complications of reoperation for failed hypospadias repair using modified Mathieu urethroplasty. METHODS: Using modified Mathieu urethroplasty, we treated 24 hypospadias patients aged 3-12 (mean 4.5) years for whom the first (n = 20) or the second hypospadias repair (n = 4) had failed, including 13 cases of large coronary sulcus urethrocutaneous fistula, 5 cases of urethral meatus retraction and 6 cases of anterior urethra dehiscence. The modified procedure involved median longitudinal incision of the urethral posterior wall, dorsal tunica albuginea plication under the vascular and nerve bundle, and double dartos flap protection of the neourethra. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 19 (79.2%) were successfully treated by the first operation, which achieved desirable straightness, good cosmetic appearance and normal urethral meatus of the penis, without postoperative complications. Small urethrocutaneous fistula developed in 4 cases, of which 3 were cured by fistula repair and 1 self-healed. Urethral meatus stenosis occurred in 1 case, which was restored by meatal dilation. Urethrocele and urethrostenosis were not found in any of the cases. Two cases received urethroscopy postoperatively, which revealed no hypertrophic cicatrix at the site of median longitudinal incision in the urethral posterior wall. CONCLUSION: Modified Mathieu urethroplasty can be applied to hypospadias reoperation, particularly in such cases as large coronary sulcus urethrocutaneous fistula, urethral meatus retraction and anterior urethra dehiscence. The modified procedure includes median longitudinal incision of the urethral posterior wall, dorsal tunica albuginea plication under the vascular and nerve bundle, and double dartos flap protection of the neourethra.

Spiculisporic acids B­D, three new γ-butenolide derivatives from a sea urchin-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. HDf2.

Three new γ-butenolide derivatives 1–3, named spiculisporic acids B–D, were isolated from the culture of Aspergillus sp. HDf2, a marine-derived fungus that resides in the sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina. The structures of 1–3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including MS and 2D NMR techniques. Their in vitro cytotoxic activities against two cell lines (SGC-7901, human gastric adenocarcinoma and SPC-A-1, human lung adenocarcinoma) and inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 51650 were investigated.