Anzhen Risk Evaluation System for Acute Aortic Syndrome (AZSCORE-AAS): protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study in northern China.

INTRODUCTION: Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is a group of acute and critical conditions, including acute aortic dissection (AAD), acute intramural haematoma and penetrating aortic ulcer. High mortality and morbidity rates result in a poor patient prognosis. Prompt diagnoses and timely interventions are paramount for saving patients' lives. In recent years, risk models for AAD have been established worldwide; however, a risk evaluation system for AAS is still lacking in China. Therefore, this study aims to develop an early warning and risk scoring system in combination with the novel potential biomarker soluble ST2 (sST2) for AAS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, prospective, observational study will recruit patients diagnosed with AAS at three tertiary referral centres from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023. We will analyse the discrepancies in sST2 levels in patients with different AAS types and explore the accuracy of sST2 in distinguishing between them. We will also incorporate potential risk factors and sST2 into a logistic regression model to establish a logistic risk scoring system for predicting postoperative death and prolonged intensive care unit stay in patients with AAS. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website (http://www. chictr. org. cn/). Ethical approval was obtained from the human research ethics committees of Beijing Anzhen Hospital (KS2019016). The ethics review board of each participating hospital agreed to participate. The final risk prediction model will be published in an appropriate journal and disseminated as a mobile application for clinical use. Approval and anonymised data will be shared. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1900027763.

Surgical management of aortic regurgitation secondary to Behcet's disease.

Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) related to Behcet's disease (BD) is rare, but usually fatal. Perivalvular leakage (PVL) is high if AR related to BD treated with regular AVR. In this study, we report the surgical management of AR secondary to BD. Methods: Between September 2017 and April 2022, 38 patients with AR secondary to Behcet's disease had surgery in our center. 17 patients did not have a BD diagnosis before surgery, 2 of them were diagnosed during surgery and received Bentall procedure. The remaining 15 patients received conventional AVR. 21 patients were diagnosed as BD before surgery, all of them received modified Bentall procedures. All patients were followed up by regular outpatient visits, transthoracic echocardiogram and CT angiography were performed to evaluate the aorta and aortic valve. Results: Seventeen patients did not have a BD diagnosis at the time of surgery. Out of them, 15 patients received conventional AVR, and a total of 13 patients suffered PVL after surgery. Twenty-one patients had a BD diagnosis before surgery. They received modified Bentall procedures and IST and steroids were given both pre- and post-surgery. In this group treated with Bentall procedure no patient suffered PVL during follow up. Conclusions: PVL is a complex scenario after conventional AVR for AR in BD. Modified Bentall procedure seems superior to isolated AVR in these cases. The use of IST and steroids before and after surgery in combination with modified Bentall procedure could have a role in effectively reducing PVL.

Development and validation of a nomogram for postoperative severe acute kidney injury in acute type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD). To the best of our knowledge, risk prediction models for AKI following AAAD surgery have not been reported. The goal of the present study was to develop a prediction model to predict severe AKI after AAAD surgery. METHODS: A total of 485 patients who underwent AAAD surgery were enrolled and randomly divided into the training cohort (70%) and the validation cohort (30%). Severe AKI was defined as AKI stage III following the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Preoperative variables, intraoperative variables and postoperative data were collected for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to select predictors and develop a nomogram in the study cohort. The final prediction model was validated using the bootstrapping techniques and in the validation cohort. RESULTS: The incidence of severe AKI was 23.0% (n = 78), and 14.7% (n = 50) of patients needed renal replacement treatment. The hospital mortality rate was 8.3% (n = 28), while for AKI patients, the mortality rate was 13.1%, which increased to 20.5% for severe AKI patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age, cardiopulmonary bypass time, serum creatinine, and D-dimer were key predictors for severe AKI following AAAD surgery. The logistic regression model incorporated these predictors to develop a nomogram for predicting severe AKI after AAAD surgery. The nomogram showed optimal discrimination ability, with an area under the curve of 0.716 in the training cohort and 0.739 in the validation cohort. Calibration curve analysis demonstrated good correlations in both the training cohort and the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a prognostic model including age, cardiopulmonary bypass time, serum creatinine, and D-dimer to predict severe AKI after AAAD surgery. The prognostic model demonstrated an effective predictive capability for severe AKI, which may help improve risk stratification for poor in-hospital outcomes after AAAD surgery.

Massive Bleeding After Surgical Repair in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Patients: Risk Factors, Outcomes, and the Predicting Model.

Background: Massive bleeding throughout aortic repair in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) patients is a common but severe condition that can cause multiple serious clinical problems. Here, we report our findings regarding risk factors, short-term outcomes, and predicting model for massive bleeding in ATAAD patients who underwent emergent aortic repair. Methods: A universal definition of perioperative bleeding (UDPB) class 3 and 4 were used to define massive bleeding and comprehensively evaluate patients. A total of 402 consecutive patients were enrolled in this retrospective study during 2019. Surgical strategies used to perform aortic arch procedures included total arch and hemiarch replacements. In each criterion, patients with massive bleeding were compared with remaining patients. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for massive bleeding. Logistic regression was used to build the model, and the model was evaluated with its discrimination and calibration. Results: Independent risk factors for massive bleeding included male sex (OR = 6.493, P < 0.001), elder patients (OR = 1.029, P = 0.05), low body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.879, P = 0.003), emergent surgery (OR = 3.112, P = 0.016), prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR = 1.012, P = 0.002), lower hemoglobin levels (OR = 0.976, P = 0.002), increased D-dimer levels (OR = 1.000, P = 0.037), increased fibrin degradation products (OR = 1.019, P = 0.008), hemiarch replacement (OR = 5.045, P = 0.037), total arch replacement (OR = 14.405, P = 0.004). The early-stage mortality was higher in massive bleeding group (15.9 vs. 3.9%, P = 0.001). The predicting model showed a well discrimination (AUC = 0.817) and calibration (χ2 = 5.281, P = 0.727 > 0.05). Conclusion: Massive bleeding in ATAAD patients who underwent emergent aortic repair is highly associated with gender, emergent surgery, increased D-dimer levels, longer CPB time, anemia, and use of a complex surgical strategy. Since massive bleeding may lead to worse outcomes, surgeons should choose suitable surgical strategies in patients who are at a high risk of massive bleeding.

CD8+ T lymphocyte is a main source of interferon-gamma production in Takayasu's arteritis.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis (TAK). However, the source of IFN-γ in TAK patients is not fully clear. We aimed to investigate the source of IFN-γ in TAK. 60 TAK patients and 35 health controls were enrolled. The lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry, cytokines were detected by Bio-plex. The correlation among lymphocyte subsets, cytokines and disease activity indexes was analyzed by person correlation. The level of serum IFN-γ in TAK patients was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD3+IFN-γ+ cells in peripheral blood CD3+ cells was significantly higher in TAK patients than that of healthy control group (P = 0.002). A higher proportion of CD3+CD8+IFN-γ+ cells/CD3+IFN-γ+ cells (40.23 ± 11.98% vs 35.12 ± 11.51%, P = 0.049), and a significantly lower CD3+CD4+IFN-γ+/ CD3+CD8+IFN-γ+ ratio (1.34 ± 0.62% vs 1.80 ± 1.33%, P = 0.027) were showed in the TAK group than that of control group. The CD3+CD8+IFN-γ+/CD3+IFN-γ+ ratio was positively correlated with CD3+IFN-γ+cells/ CD3+cells ratio (r = 0.430, P = 0.001), serum IFN-γ level (r = 0.318, P = 0.040) and IL-17 level (r = 0.326, P = 0.031). It was negatively correlated with CD3+CD4+IFN-γ+/CD3+IFN-γ+ ratio (r = - 0.845, P < 0.001). IFN-γ secreted by CD3+CD8 + T cells is an important source of serum IFN-γ in TAK patients.

Management of acute type A aortic dissection during COVID-19 outbreak: Experience from Anzhen.

OBJECTIVES: We seek to report our management protocol and early outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) repair during the early phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: From January 23 to April 30, 2020, we performed ATAAD repair for 33 patients, including three with pregnancy-related TAADs. Confirmation of COVID-19 depended on the results of two nucleic acid tests and pulmonary computed tomography scan. Based on testing results and hemodynamic stability, patients were triaged to an isolated intensive care unit or negative pressure operating room for emergency surgery. RESULTS: Mean age 50.2 ± 13.3 years and 20 were male (60.1%) and 8 patients were febrile (>37.3°C; 24.2%) and 17 were lymphopenic (51.5%). No patient was excluded from COVID-19 infection preoperatively. Extensive aortic repair with total arch replacement (TAR) was performed in 24 (72.7%), and limited proximal repair in 9 patients (27.3%). Cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times averaged 177 ± 34 and 88 ± 20 min for TAR, and 150 ± 30 and 83 ± 18 min for hemiarch, respectively. The mean operation time was 410 ± 68.3 min. Operative mortality was 6.1% (2/33). Complications included reintubation in four (12.1%), acute kidney failure in two (6.1%), and cerebral infarction in one (3.0%). No paraplegia nor re-exploration for bleeding occurred. COVID-19 was excluded in 100% eventually. No nosocomial infection occurred. Nor did any patient/surgical staff develop fever or test positive during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that our management protocol based on testing results and hemodynamic stability in patients with ATAAD during the COVID-19 pandemic was effective and achieved favorable early surgical outcomes.

Aortic dissection during pregnancy and postpartum in patients with Marfan syndrome: a 21-year clinical experience in 30 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy-related aortic dissection (AoD) in Marfan syndrome is a lethal catastrophe. Due to its rarity and limited clinical experience, there is no consensus regarding the optimal management strategy. We seek to present our 21-year experience in such patients , focusing on management strategies and early and late outcomes. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2019, we managed 30 pregnant women with Marfan syndrome (mean age 30.7 ± 4.3 years) who sustained AoD at a mean of 28.3 ± 8.8 weeks of gestation (GWs). AoD was acute in 21 (70%), type A (TAAD) in 24 (80%) and type B (TBAD) in 6 (20%). Fourteen TAADs (58.3%, 14/24) and 2 TBADs (33.3%, 2/6) occurred in the third trimester or postpartum. The maximal aortic size was < 45 mm in 26.7% (8/30; 3 TAADs, 5 TBADs). Management strategy was based on the types of dissection and GWs (i.e. surgical versus medical treatment, surgery or delivery first). RESULTS: TAADs were treated medically in 1 and surgically in 23. The timing of delivery and surgery were caesarean first at 35.4 ± 6.1 GWs in 7 (29.2%), followed by surgery after mean 46 days; single-stage C-section and surgery at 32.0 ± 5.0 GWs in 10 (41.7%); and surgery first at 18.0 ± 5.8 GWs in 6 (25%), followed by C-section after 20 days. Maternal and foetal mortality were 28.6% (2/7) and 14.3% (1/7), 10.0% (1/10) and 20.0% (2/10) and 16.7% (1/6) and 83.3% (5/6), respectively. Five TBADs (83.3%) were managed with C-section followed by surgery in 2 and medical treatment in 3. The respective maternal and foetal mortality were 50% (1/2) and 100% (2/2) and 33.3% (1/3) and 33.3% (1/3), respectively. One TBAD was managed surgically first followed by C-section, resulting in maternal survival and foetal death. Follow-up was complete in 95.8% (23/24) at 3.7 ± 2.9 years. Four late deaths occurred and reoperation was performed in 1 patient. Maternal and foetal survival were 64.3% and 54.1% at 6 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Management of AoD in pregnant women with Marfan syndrome should be based on types of dissection (surgical versus medical) and gestational age (delivery or surgery first), which largely determine maternal and foetal survival. Aortic repair should be considered prior to conception in women with Marfan syndrome even at diameters smaller than recommended by current guidelines.

One-stage hybrid procedure for distal aortic arch disease: mid-term experience at a single center.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzes the outcomes of a one-stage hybrid procedure combining thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with extra-anatomic bypass in patients with distal aortic arch disease. METHODS: This retrospective study collected 103 hybrid procedures combining TEVAR with extra-anatomic bypass (mean age, 62.2±9.3 years; 90 males) performed from January 2009 to January 2019 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital. We analyzed 30-day and mid-term outcomes including survival rate and the incidence of stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), and endoleak. RESULTS: Five deaths (4.6%) occurred within 30 days, including type I endoleak in Zone 1 (n=1), hemorrhagic shock (n=1), stroke (n=2), and stent migration (n=1). Two patients developed SCI. The median follow-up time was 39.5 (interquartile range, 13.6-69.0) months. In all, 14 late deaths occurred; these were due to stroke (n=2), severe pneumonia (n=1), aortic rupture caused by type I endoleak (n=3), and sudden death (n=8). Six late endoleaks occurred including three type I and one type II in Zone 1 and two type I in Zone 2. In a competing risks analysis, the incidences of reintervention at 7 years, late death, and survival without reintervention were 8%, 22%, and 70%, respectively. In a Cox risk model, stroke (HR, 21.602; 95% CI: 2.798-166.796; P=0.003) was the only risk factor for 30-day mortality. Stroke (HR, 19.484; 95% CI: 5.245-72.380; P<0.001), SCI (HR, 15.548; 95% CI: 2.754-87.786; P=0.002), and endoleak (HR, 4.626; 95% CI: 1.068-20.040; P=0.041) were independent risk factors for long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The one-stage hybrid procedure provides acceptable mid-term results with good mid-term patency of extra-anatomic bypass. Strict selection of patients suitable for hybrid repair can effectively improve the survival rate and reduce the incidence of complications. At the same time, close follow-up patients should receive close long-term follow-up after hybrid procedure.

Acute Aortic Dissection in Young Adult Patients: Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Perioperative Outcomes.

Background: Acute aorta dissection (AD) is a fatal emergency, however, studies addressing the clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of acute AD in young adult patients aged under 45 years in China are very few.Methods: A retrospective study including 490 patients with acute AD as the final diagnosis was conducted. Patients' demographics, clinical characteristics, medical history, and laboratory and diagnostic imaging findings were retrieved from medical records. Results: The median age of young adult patients with acute AD was 38 years old with an interquartile range from 33 to 41. Male and smoker constituted 84.49% and 50.61% of the cohort, respectively. Hypertension was found in 54.49%, while Marfan syndrome was seen in 4.29% of the patients. Abrupt onset of chest or back pain was the most common symptoms (85.31%), while altered consciousness, coma and oliguria were less reported. Most patients (89.39%) were managed with surgical interventions. Typical complications (central nervous system complications, spinal cord ischemia, myocardial ischemia/infarction, mesenteric ischemia/infarction and acute renal failure) were seen in a small portion of treated patients during perioperative period. For in-hospital mortality there were 24 (∼5%) cases recorded. Correlation analysis indicated that perioperative complications were associated with the length of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (P < 0.0001), and mortality after surgery correlated history of prior cardiac surgery (P = 0.043). Conclusion: CPB and prior cardiac surgery were associated with perioperative complications and mortality after surgery, respectively. The findings are valuable to the further refinement of diagnosis and surgical management of patients with acute aortic dissection.

Surgical repair of cervical aortic arch: An alternative classification scheme based on experience in 35 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical aortic arch (CAA) is rare and difficult to repair. Clinical experience is limited. We report the surgical techniques and midterm outcomes in 35 patients with CAA based on an alternative classification scheme. METHODS: Of 35 patients with CAA, 30 (85.7%) had left-sided aortic arch and 5 had (14.3%) right-sided aortic arch (all 5 had a vascular ring). Mean age was 34.2 ± 13.1 years, 23 were female (65.7%), and 18 were asymptomatic (51.4%). Surgical access and procedure were chosen according to an alternative classification scheme that is based on the presence or absence of vascular ring and relationship of descending aorta to the side of the aortic arch. In the left-sided aortic arch group, aortic arch reconstruction though median sternotomy was performed in 15 patients, and distal arch and descending thoracic aortic replacement via left thoracotomy in 15 patients. In the right-sided aortic arch group, ascending-to-descending aortic bypass was done via median sternotomy in 2 patients and right thoracotomy in 1, and distal arch and descending thoracic aortic replacement via right thoracotomy in 2 patients. RESULTS: Neither death nor spinal cord injury occurred. Left recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, prolonged ventilation, and reexploration for bleeding occurred in 1 each. In 11 patients with coarctation, the upper-lower limb gradient decreased significantly postoperatively (from 34.0 ± 12.7 to 10.2 ± 2.7 mm Hg; P < .01). The diseased aortic segment was excluded in 34 patients, except 1 with residual aneurysm in the proximal descending thoracic aorta. Follow-up was complete in 100% at mean 4.4 ± 2.0 years. No late death, limb ischemia, or stroke occurred. Endovascular repair was performed in 1 patient, and ascending aortic dilation occurred in 1 patient. The residual aorta remained nondilated in 33 patients. Aortic grafts were patent in 100%, with no anastomotic leak or pseudoaneurysm. At 6 years, the incidences of death, aortic events, and event-free survival were 0%, 6.5%, and 93.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Open repair of CAA can achieve favorable early and midterm outcomes. Surgical accesses and procedures should be chosen based on type of CAA, anatomic variations and associated anomalies. Our alternative categorization scheme of CAA is intuitive and comprehensive, which may facilitate classification and surgical decision making.

Successful repair of acute type A aortic dissection during pregnancy at 16th gestational week with maternal and fetal survival: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection during pregnancy is a rare but life-threatening event for mothers and fetuses. It often occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Most patients have connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome. Thus, the successful repair of a sporadic aortic dissection with maternal and fetal survival in the early second trimester is extremely rare. CASE SUMMARY: A 28-year-old woman without Marfan syndrome presented with chest pain at the 16th gestational week. Aortic computed tomographic angiography confirmed an acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) with aortic arch and descending aorta involvement. Preoperative fetal ultrasound confirmed that the fetus was stable in the uterus. The patient underwent total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk using moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest with the fetus in situ. The patient recovered uneventfully and continued to be pregnant after discharge. At the 38th gestational week, she delivered a healthy female infant by cesarean section. After 2.5 years of follow-up, the patient is uneventful and the child's development is normal. CONCLUSION: A fetus in the second trimester may have a high possibility of survival and healthy growth after aortic arch surgery.

Treatment with Corticosteroid and/or Immunosuppressive Agents before Surgery can Effectively Improve the Surgical Outcome in Patients with Takayasu's Arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical outcome of corticosteroid and/or immunosuppressive treatment preoperatively in patients with Takayasu's arteritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients with Takayasu's arteritis who received cardiovascular surgery between January 2010 and December 2015 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were enrolled in this study. Their clinical characteristics, preoperative drug therapy, surgical treatment, and pathological examination results were retrospectively analyzed for the effect of drugs on outcome of the surgery. RESULTS: All 8 patients with active disease prior to surgery had postoperative complications including one death due to stubborn perivalvular regurgitation induced heart failure during the perioperative period. Among 38 patients without active disease prior to surgery, only 4 patients (10.5%) had postoperative complications. Thirty-four patients showed symptomatic relief in the perioperative period, of whom 23 patients treated with corticosteroid and/or immunosuppressive agents preoperatively. CONCLUSION: The surgery can effectively improve the symptoms of patients with Takayasu's arteritis. Active disease of Takayasu's arteritis markedly increased risk for postoperative complication and resulted in poor outcome of the surgery. Treatment with corticosteroid and/or immunosuppressive agents before surgery can effectively control the patient's condition, improve the rate of remission, and effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Frozen elephant trunk with modified en bloc arch reconstruction and left subclavian transposition for chronic type A dissection.

BACKGROUND: Several methods of arch vessel reconstruction, such as en bloc (island) and branched graft techniques, have been proposed to treat aortic arch pathologies during total arch replacement (TAR). We seek to review our experience with modified en bloc technique and left subclavian (LSCA)-left carotid artery (LCCA) transposition in TAR and frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for chronic type A aortic dissection (CTAAD). METHODS: From September 2010 to September 2016, 35 consecutive patients with CTAAD underwent modified en bloc arch reconstruction with LSCA-LCCA transposition during TAR and FET procedure. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was performed during follow-up. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 5.7% (2/35). No neurological deficit or spinal cord injury occurred. Re-exploration for bleeding and continuous renal replacement therapy were required in 2 patients each (5.7%). Follow-up was complete in 100% for a mean duration of 4.1±1.8 years (range, 0.5-6.7 years). One patient experienced a transient stroke and thoracoabdominal aortic replacement was performed in 1. There were 2 late non-cardiac deaths. Survival was 87.9% (95% CI, 70.7-95.3%) at 6 years. At 6 years, the incidence was 3% for reoperation, 12% for late death, and 85% of patients were alive without reoperation. The anastomosis between the LSCA and LCCA was patent in 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptable early and mid-term outcomes were achieved for patients with chronic type A dissection using en bloc technique with LSCA-LCCA transposition during TAR and FET procedure. This technique may be an alternative approach to chronic type A dissection in selected patients.

Aortic Dissection in Pregnancy: Management Strategy and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection in pregnancy is a rare but lethal catastrophe. Clinical experiences are limited. We report our experience in 25 patients focusing on etiology, management strategies, and outcomes. METHODS: Between June 1998 and February 2015, we treated 25 pregnant women (mean age, 31.6 ± 4.7 years) in whom aortic dissection developed at a mean of 28 ± 10 gestational weeks (GWs). Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) was present in 20 (80%) and type B (TBAD) in 5 (20%). Marfan syndrome was seen in 17 (68%). Management strategy was based on dissection type and GWs. RESULTS: TAADs were managed surgically in 19 (95.0%) and medically in 1 (5.0%). Maternal and fetal mortalities were, respectively, 14.3% (1 of 7) and 0 (0 of 7) in the "delivery first" group (7 of 20), 16.7% (1 of 6) and 33.3% (2 of 6) in "single-stage delivery and aortic repair" group (6 of 20), 16.7% (1 of 6) and 66.7% (4 of 6) in "aortic repair first" group (6 of 20), and 100% (1 of 1) and 100% (1 of 1) in the "medical management" group (1 of 20). TBADs were managed surgically in 60% (3 of 5) and endovascularly and medically in 20% each (1 of 5). No maternal deaths occurred. Fetal mortality was 100% in the surgical group and 0% in the other groups. During late follow-up, which was complete in 95.2% (20 of 21), 3 maternal and 2 fetal deaths occurred in the TAAD group. Overall maternal survival was 68.6% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Marfan syndrome predominates among women with aortic dissection in pregnancy. For TAADs, after 28 GWs, delivery followed by surgical repair can achieve maternal and fetal survival adequately; before 28 GWs, maternal survival should be prioritized given the high risk of fetal death. For TBADs in pregnancy, nonsurgical management is preferred.

[Application and results of Robicsek procedure for dilated ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the Robicsek procedure and summarize its short to mid-term results for patients with dilatation of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease. METHODS: From December 2002 to June 2006, 30 patients with a moderately dilated ascending aorta [mean diameter, (46.7+/-3.1) mm] underwent concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR) or repairing and reinforced aortoplasty with a well-tailored Dacron vascular graft. Follow-up was obtained on all patients with ultrasonic cardiography (UCG) or computed tomography (CT) scan and was (18.0+/-10.5) months. RESULTS: The total average cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) time was (103.4+/-21.7) min (80-151 min), and aortic arrest time was (73.0+/-21.6) min (48-120 min), whereas the average CPB time and aortic arrest time of 19 patients who underwent the isolated Robicsek procedure were only (91.3+/-8.9) min (80-118 min) and (61.6+/-11.3) min (48-82 min). No mortality occurred in the hospital. During follow-up of 18 months, no recurrent ascending aortic dilatation and dissection were observed, and the average aortic diameter was reduced to (33.7+/-2.5) mm. Sixteen of the 30 patients were diagnosed as bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The ascending aortic media were histologically abnormal in 23 patients. CONCLUSION: Considering the underlying wall deficiency and the homodynamic stress, the Robicsek operation should be an optimal choice to those patients with a mild to moderate dilated ascending aorta caused by aortic valve lesion. Compared with the Bentall and David procedures, the Robicsek procedure could achieve the same or even better clinical results with less operative time and risks.

[Clinical analysis of pregnancy and postpartum cardiovascular complications in Marfan syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the management of pregnancy and cardiovascular complications in women with Marfan syndrome (MFS). METHODS: From October 1994 to September 2006, 30 patients with MFS undergoing cardiovascular surgery were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: In the labor of 46 offsprings given birth by 30 women, 5 cases (11%) were performed elective cesarean section because of the existence of aortic complication, and 12 (26%) were diagnosed as MFS. The gestation in two patients was terminated due to deterioration of aortic abnormalities during their third trimester, and they received surgical treatment with Bentall procedure. Two developed acute aortic dissection during labor and post delivery respectively. With the manipulation of anticoagulation peripartum, one who had the implantation with mechanical prosthesis went through pregnancy and delivery uneventfully. The average duration between delivery and cardiovascular surgery was (15 +/- 9) years. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal delivery can be done safely in patients with the MFS who do not have or have mild cardiovascular system abnormalities, aortic dissection, or other important cardiac abnormalities, cesarean section should be the preferred method of delivery. Women with MFS are at increased risk for dissection and congestive heart failure during pregnancy and should be counseled before pregnancy about these risks, as well as the inheritance of the condition.