[Effects of thoracic endovascular repair in patients of type B aortic dissection].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate early and mid-term results of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) of type B aortic dissection by the second generation of stent graft. METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2013, 383 acute, 43 sub-acute and 152 chronic patients with type B aortic dissection underwent TEVAR in our aortic center. The mean follow-up period was (27 ± 14) months. All clinical data were analyzed with SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality and morbidity were 0.35% and 1.2% respectively. The mid-term mortality and morbidity were 0.35% and 5.5%. Serious complications included retrograde type A dissection (n = 3), new tear at the distal end of stent (n = 26), endoleak (n = 3) and paraplegia (n = 0). The retreatment rate was 5.2% ( 6 patients were transformed to open operation and 24 patients underwent re-intervention). CONCLUSIONS: The early and mid-term results of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) of type B aortic dissection by the second generation of stent graft showed lower mortality, no paraplegia and significant reduced endoleaks in comparison with the first generation stent graft. The new distal tear caused by the stent graft became the major complication. The design of the stent graft still need improvement.

[Extra-anatomic bypass for complex aortic coarctation in adults].

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate an effective operation of extra-anatomic bypass for complex aortic coarctation in adults. METHODS: Between July 1997 and October 2010, 51 patients underwent extra-anatomic aortic bypass. There were 39 male and 12 female patients. Mean age was (40 ± 14) years (ranging from 18 to 63 years). Operative technique of extra-anatomic bypass consisted of performing an ascending-to-descending or abdominal or femoral aorta bypass (8, 39 and 4 patients). Concomitant procedures were performed in 38 patients: 10 isolated aortic valve replacements (AVR), 11 aortic root replacements (Bentall), 4 ascending aorta replacements including 3 concomitant AVR, 5 mitral valve replacements including 3 concomitant AVR, 4 ventricular septal defect correcting with AVR, and 4 coronary artery bypass graft. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was (30 ± 9) months (ranging from 5 to 60 months). Two patients were reoperated for hemorrhage in descending aorta anastomosis, one of whom was dead of multiple organ failure in perioperative period. Upper-extremity blood pressure after coarctation correction with extra-anatomic aortic bypass was significantly improved (< 10 mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). Arterial hypertension was well improved, except 10 patients controlled with less drug therapy. All grafts were patent without obstruction or pseudoaneurysm formation in the follow-up period evaluated by vascular ultrasound and computed tomographic angiogram. CONCLUSION: Extra-anatomic aortic bypass is a safe and effective option for complex aortic coarctation in adults.

[Early, middle and long-term clinical outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting for left main coronary stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early, middle and long-term clinical outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for a special subset of left main coronary stenosis (LMS). METHODS: A total of 626 LMS patients, recruited at our hospital between January 1998 and March 2008, were classified them into the statin therapy group (Group A, n = 322) or the non-statin therapy group (Group B, n = 304) according to whether or not taking statins pre-operatively. Then their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The inhospital mortality was 4.31% (n = 27). And the mortality was 1.90% (n = 6) for Group A and 6.91% for Group B (n = 21) (χ² test, χ² = 9.642, P = 0.002). Preoperative statin therapy could lower the all-cause mortality rate (1.90% vs 6.91%, P = 0.002), the prevalence of new atrial fibrillation or flutter (14.69% vs 19.61%, P = 0.016, χ ²= 5.780) and disabling stroke (2.50% vs 4.58%, P = 0.047, χ(2) = 3.94). Among 599 CABG survivors, 565 cases (94.3%) were actually followed up with a mean duration of 55.5 ± 26.1 months (range: 2 - 98). During the follow-up period, there were 29 (4.63%) cardiac events, including 12 deaths and 17 myocardial infarctions. There were 43 (7.18%) cases with relapsing angina pectoris. The univariate analysis showed that emergency procedure, abnormal C-reactive protein (CRP), abnormal troponin I(TnI), complicated LMS pathology, preoperative IABP (intra-aortic balloon pump) support, preoperative cardiac arrest, preoperative history of myocardium infarction and no preoperative statin therapy were the risk factors for perioperative death while complicated LMS pathology, preoperative IABP support, preoperative cardiac arrest, preoperative myocardium infarction and no preoperative statin therapy were the risk factor for late cardiac events. The multivariate binary logistic regression showed that emergency procedure, preoperative IABP support, no preoperative statin therapy and preoperative IABP support were independent predictors for peri-operative death. And preoperative IABP support, preoperative cardiac arrest, no preoperative statin therapy and complicated LMS pathology were independent predictors for late cardiac events. There was no statistical significance in inhospital mortality between on pump CABG and OPCAB (off pump coronary artery bypass). CONCLUSION: The CABG procedure for LMS carries a relative high mortality. However preoperative statin therapy may offer such protective effects as lowering the all-cause mortality rate and reducing the prevalence of new atrial fibrillation or flutter and disabling stroke.

[The early and middle-long term clinical results of surgical treatment for ventricular septal rupture].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the way of promoting the efficacy of surgical treatment for ventricular septal rupture (VSR) after acute myocardium infarction in terms of perioperative and long term survival. METHODS: The clinic data of 37 VSR cases underwent surgical treatment from October 1994 to October 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 24 male and 13 female, and the age was (63.4 +/- 7.6) years old. The whole group was divided into the VSR repair plus revascularization group (group A, 26 cases) and simple VSR repair group (group B, 11 cases). RESULTS: There were 4 operative deaths in group A (15.4%), 7 deaths in group B (63.6%), P = 0.006. With the follow-up of (34.0 +/- 29.8) months ranged from 2 to 103 months of the 26 operational survivors, there were 5 late deaths, of which 2 deaths in group A and 3 deaths in group B. According to the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the actuarial survival rate at 6 to 8 year was (64.3 +/- 21.0)% for group A and the actuarial survival rate at 4 year was (25.0 +/- 21.7)% for group B, P = 0.011. Of the 21 mid-long term survivors, 17 cases were in NYHA class I to II and 4 cases in NYHA class III to IV. There were 4 cases suffered from VSR recurrence. According to Logistic regression, the risk factors for the early death were not adoptive of revascularization, cardiogenic shock and emergency surgical procedure, while the risk factors for late death were not adoptive of revascularization and low cardiac output after the procedures. CONCLUSIONS: VSR repair plus revascularization could improve the perioperative and mid-long term survival for the surgical treatment of VSR. The appropriate timing and procedures of the surgical operation are very important to promote perioperative survival and to prevent VSR recurrence.

[The anatomic pathological classification for intracardiac leiomyomatosis and the choice of its surgical strategy].

OBJECTIVE: To approach an anatomic pathological classification scheme for the intracardiac leiomyomatosis (ICL), and to guide the choice of the surgical strategy for ICL treatment. METHODS: Retrospectively reviews the data of 13 cases of ICL from February 1995 to March 2007 in Anzhen Hospital. They were surgically treated under the CPB with different surgical strategy, and a quaternary classification scheme was used to classify them according to their anatomic pathological features of ICL. RESULTS: There was no operative death. One patient with YBOR type of ICL died from recurrence due to the incomplete excision 5 months after the primary operation. The 5 yrs survival rate calculated by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve was 93% +/- 5%. Of the surviving 12 patients, 9 were in NYHA functional class I, and 3 in class II. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of ICL can get a good mid-long term survival rate and living quality, and a quaternary classification scheme for ICL can be used to guide the choosing of surgical strategy and to understand the symptoms of ICL.

[Repair of anterior leaflet mitral valve prolapse: the comparison between chordal replacement and chordal shortening].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the relative merits between chordal shortening and artificial chordae to repair the anterior leaflet prolapses (ALP). METHODS: The clinic data of 50 cases underwent repair of ALP from March 1990 to March 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 29 male and 21 female patients with a mean age of (42.6 +/- 11.3) years old. There were 23 patients in chordal shortening group and 27 patients in artificial chordae group. RESULTS: There were 3 operative deaths in chordal shortening group (13.0%), and 1 death in artificial chordae group (3.7%, P = 0.199). With a mean follow-up of (5.8 +/- 4.8) years and a total follow-up of 278 patient-years, there were 3 late deaths respectively in each group. According the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the actuarial survival rate at 5-8 years was 70.0% +/- 18.2% for chordal shortening group and 86.8% +/- 9.2% for artificial chordae group (chi(2) = 8.17, P = 0.046). There were 5 reoperations, of which 4 in chordal shortening group and 1 in artificial chordae group. According to the Kaplan-Meier freedom from reoperation curve, the freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 83.3% +/- 15.2% for chordal shortening group and 100% for artificial chordae group (chi(2) = 12.06, P = 0.007). The COX proportional hazard regressions revealed that chordal-shortening technique was the independent risk predictor for the late cardiac event after ALP surgical repair. CONCLUSION: Artificial chordae techniques has a relative superiority to chordal shortening for repair of mitral valve ALP.

[The clinical analysis of 54 cases for the surgical treatment of pulmonary embolism].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of surgical procedures for pulmonary embolism. METHODS: Fifty-four patients of pulmonary embolism received surgical treatment from October 1994 to June 2007, of which 9 were acute pulmonary embolism underwent pulmonary embolectomy and 45 patients were chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 44.4% in acute pulmonary embolism group and 13.3% in CTEPH group (P < 0. 05). Thirteen patients had residual pulmonary hypertension and 23 patients had severe pulmonary reperfusion injury postoperatively. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure changed from (89.4 +/- 36.3) mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) preoperative to (55.6 +/- 22.4) mm Hg postoperative. The pulmonary vascular resistance changed from (89. 7 +/- 56.7) kPa L(-1) S(-1) preoperative to (38.9 +/- 31.1) kPa L(-1) S(-1) postoperative. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen changed from (52. 3 +/- 6.7 ) mm Hg preoperative to (87.6 +/- 6.5) mm Hg postoperative. The arterial oxygen saturation changed from (88.9 +/- 4.5)% preoperative to (95.3 +/- 2.8 )% postoperative (P < 0.05). With the follow-up of (41.8 +/- 36.4) months, there were 4 patients died. According to NYHA, there were 28 patients for class I , 10 patients for class II and 2 patients for class III. According to Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the 3-year, 4-year, 5-year and 8-year survival rate were (97.1 +/- 2.8 )%, (94.0 +/- 4.1)%, (90.8 +/- 5.2)% and (85.0 +/- 7.3)% respectively. Linear rate of bleeding and thromboembolic related to anticoagulation were 0. 63% patient-years and 0. 62% patient-years respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The operational mortality of acute pulmonary embolism is significantly higher than CTEPH, and the mid-long term survival rate is agreeable and the complication rate related to anticoagulation is relatively low.

[Prognosis of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension receiving conservative or operative treatments according to a new clinical classification scheme].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of conservative or pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) therapy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients according to a new clinical classification scheme. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 63 cases of CTEPH admitted to our hospital from February 1995 to October 2007 and 45 cases were treated surgically (Group A) and 18 cases received conservative therapy (Group B). Results were analyzed using Fisher exact test and t test according to San Diego medical center quartering classification scheme and Anzhen Hospital modified bifurcate classification scheme. RESULTS: There were 6 operational deaths in Group A and 2 deaths during hospital stay in Group B. During follow-ups (mean 3.6 +/- 2.5 years), there were 4 deaths in Group A and 9 deaths in Group B. the totality survival rate is significantly higher in Group A than that in Group B (P < 0.05). For patients with San Diego Type I CTEPH, survival rate was significantly higher in Group A compared with Group B (P = 0.009) and was similar for patients with type II and III and IV CTEPH between the two groups (P = 0.338, 0.455, 0.800). Survival rate was significantly higher in Group A than that in Group B for patients with Anzhen central type CTEPH (P = 0.009), but was similar between the two groups for patients with Anzhen peripheral type CTEPH (P = 0.125). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve 5 years survival rate in the Group A was (91.7 +/- 8.0)% for Anzhen central type and (76.0 +/- 8.5)% for Anzhen peripheral type (P = 0.04), and the 5 years Kaplan-Meier survival rate in the Group B was (42.9 +/- 18.7)% for Anzhen central type and (56.2 +/- 10.8)% for Anzhen peripheral type (P = 0.851). CONCLUSION: Anzhen Hospital modified bifurcate classification scheme is a simple and effective classification to predict the prognosis and choose treatment method of CTEPH.

[Treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension through pulmonary thromboendarterectomy and the effect of deep hypothermia circulation arrest thereon].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) in the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and the effect of the deep hypothermia circulation arrest (DHCA) thereon. METHODS: The clinical data of 40 cases of CTEPH, 25 cases of central type and 15 cases of peripheral type, 29 males and 11 females, aged 46 +/- 12 (20 - 70), underwent PTH, 17 under deep hypothermia circulatory arrest (DHCA, Group A) and 23 not under DHCA (Group B), from February 1995 to October 2006. Follow-up was conducted for 41.8 +/- 36.4 months. RESULTS: In the peri-operative period, no patient died in Group A and there were 6 deaths in Group B. 9 suffered with residual pulmonary hypertension and 18 with severe pulmonary reflux injury. 72 h after the PTE, the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was 58.3 +/- 30.7 mm Hg, significantly lower than that before PTS (91.4 +/- 38.4 mm Hg, P < 0.05), the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was 357 +/- 278.7 dynes x sec(-1) x cm(-5), significantly lower than that before PTE (978 +/- 675.6 dynes x sec(-1) x cm(-5), P < 0.01); the partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood (PaO(2)) was 89.9 +/- 7 mm Hg, significantly higher than that before the PTE (54.5 +/- 7.7 mm Hg, P < 0.01),; and the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) was 96.5 +/- 1.8%, significantly higher than that before the PTE (90 +/- 4.3%, P < 0.05). During the follow-up there were 2 late deaths, and the cardiac function was graded as NYHA class I in 22 patients, as NYHA class II in 9 patients, and as NYHA class III in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: DHCA is a necessary and elementary condition for PTE, and it is a key factor in promoting the effect of PTE to treat the pulmonary reflux injury and residual pulmonary hypertension properly.

[Combined endocardial and epicardial radiofrequency modified Maze procedure in the treatment of atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the combined endocardial and epicardial saline-irrigated radiofrequency modified maze procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: During a period of 3 years, 295 patients with AF having concomitant cardiac surgery underwent the procedure. Patients underwent either the endocardial and epicardial group (n=185) or the endocardial group (n=110) radiofrequency ablation. There were 124 males, 171 females with a mean age of (52 +/- 11) year old. Mean duration of preoperative AF was 36 +/- 43 months. And about 90.8 percent valve pathology was rheumatic. Valve operation was performed in 289 patients, coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 19 patients and congenital heart disease operation in 6 patients respectively. Follow-up for the whole patients ranged from 3 to 47 months (mean 28 +/- 5 months). RESULTS: Ten patients died postoperatively (3.4%). Four patients died of low cardiac output, five patients died of multisystem and organ failure, one patient died of cerebral hernia. There were 2 patients died of nerves system complication during follow-up. At the end of the procedure 228 patients (77.3%) were sinus rhythm, including 78 patients (70.9%) in endocardial group while 150 patients (81.1%) in endocardial and epicardial group (P<0.05). At late follow-up, 191 of 259 patients (73.7%) were in stable sinus rhythm. Sinus rhythm was present in 64 patients (66.0%) in endocardial group while 127 patients (78.4%) in endocardial and epicardial group (P<0.05). Histopathology of the endocardial group revealed foci coagulative necrosis was limited to the endocardial side. While endocardial and epicardial ablation had full-thickness alteration of atrial tissue besides ill defined borders and inflammatory cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Combined endocardial and epicardial saline-irrigated radiofrequency modified maze procedure was performed safely and efficiently. And it restored sinus rhythm better than endocardial ablation only.

[Clinical analysis in 34 cases of paravalvular leakage after valve replacement].

OBJECTIVE: To study the treatment of paravalvular leakage (PVL) after cardiac valve replacement retrospectively. METHODS: Between 1993 and 2005, 34 patients with PVL were observed, including aortic PVL in 6 patients and mitral valve PVL in 28 patients. Twenty-five patients with severe anemia and/or heart failure were reoperated, 9 patients without severe clinical symptoms and signs had treated conservatively. Repair of PVL was carried out in 14 patients, and the other 10 patients were performed prosthetic valve replacement. RESULTS: Of 9 patients who had treated conservatively, 1 patients died of septic shock, and 1 patient died of heart failure. During 6 - 72 months follow-up, of the seven survivals, 2 patients died of heart failure. And the other 5 patients were in NYHA class II. Echocardiography demonstrated no obvious enlargement of the PVL and diameter of the heart. Among the 25 patients who were reoperated, the overall operative mortality was 12% (3 patients). Twenty-one survivals were in NYHA class II during the follow-up of 4 - 132 months. While a mitral valve PVL and a aortic valve PVL were diagnosed among them after the reoperation 4 years and 6 months respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PVL and no severe symptoms can be treated conservatively and followed up. A more aggressive surgical treatment is recommended for patients with PVL and severe anemia and/or heart failure.

[Surgical management of ischemic mitral regurgitation].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience in surgical technique and clinical results of treating ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). METHODS: From April 1998 to September 2004 fifty-three IMR patients, 8 with mild-moderate IMR, 24 with moderate IMR, and 21 with severe IMR, underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with mitral valvuloplasty (MVP, n = 33) or mitral valve replacement (MVR, n = 20). The procedures of MVP included commissural annuloplasty in 14 cases, posterior ring annuloplasty in 18, and "double-orifice" technique in 1 case. In the cases undergoing MVR, mechanical valves were implanted in 18 patients and biological prosthesis was used in 2. Forty-two patients were followed up by outpatient department visit, telephone, or letter communication for 29 months. RESULTS: The total operative mortality was 15.09% (8/53) with the causes of death of heart failure in 4 cases, arrhythmia in 2 and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in 2. Two cases of late death were recorded. Thirty-seven survivors showed the NYHA functional class I-II, and 3 survivors showed the class III. Ultrasonic cardiography showed no or only trace mitral regurgitation (MR) in 17 cases undergoing MVP, mild MR in 6, and moderate MR in 3, all with the left ventricle size decreased significantly. There was 1 case of perivalvular leak in the MVR group. Statistical analysis showed that preoperative left ventricle ejection fraction and cardiac function were independent risk factors of operation, but operation protocol was not. CONCLUSION: While performing CABG, moderate to severe IMR with pathological changes of mitral valve must be corrected by revascularization and mitral correction. The choice of protocol depends on the mitral pathology and experience of the surgeon. MVP and MVR have the similar effect on IMR.

[Surgical treatment of the aortic root aneurysm related to Marfan syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of surgical treatment of aortic root aneurysm of Marfan syndrome. METHODS: We The clinical data of 84 Marfan syndrome patients, 61 males and 23 females, aged 35 +/- 12 (5 - 62), 41 cases presenting with aortic dissection (Debakey type I in 32 cases and type II in 9), 52 cases with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, and 9 cases with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation, 43 cases with cardiac function of class I - II, 30 with class III and 11 with class IV according the New York Heart Association (NYHA) standard, who underwent surgical treatment for aortic root aneurysm with a mean diameter of 68 mm +/- 14 mm, were analyzed. Bentall procedure was performed in 68 cases, Wheat procedure in 6, Cabrol procedure in 5, and aortic valve replacement and aortoplasty in 5. Concomitant procedures included mitral value replacement and mitral valvuoplasty in 3 cases respectively. Urgent surgery was conducted in 28 cases, and elective operation in 56 cases. RESULTS: There were 3 in-hospital deaths (3.57%). 76 cases were followed up for a mean duration of 55 +/- 31 months. Three patients underwent reoperation. The cardiac function returned to class I - II except for 2 cases that remained at the class III. CONCLUSION: Bentall procedure should be the first choice of the surgery for aortic root aneurysm of Marfan syndrome with a low mortality and a good late outcome.

[Left atrial plication for left atrium associated with mitral valve disease].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of left atrial plication (LAP) in patients with giant left atrium (GLA) associated with mitral valve disease. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with left atrial diameter (LAD) over 8.0 cm were enrolled. All cases underwent valve replacement and LAP between November 1993 and November 2004 were studied retrospectively. According to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 15 belonged to class III, 8 to class IV. Mitral valve replacements were performed in 18 patients (mechanical valve in 17 and biological valve in 1), double value replacement in 5, tricuspid valve plasty (TVP) in 15, atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation in 2. RESULTS: Low output syndrome happened in 3, respiratory failure in 2. The early death was in 3 cases (operative mortality 13%). The causes of death were: heart failure in 2 cases and stroke in 1. LAD was decreased significantly in patients after operation. CONCLUSIONS: LAP has considerably beneficial effects on improvement of postoperative respiratory and cardiac function, reducing operative mortality. Atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation is effective in patients with GLA associated with valve disease. It may be recommended for patients with GLA during mitral valve surgery, especially for patients with LAD > 8.0 cm.

[Surgical management for Stanford A aortic dissection].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the surgical experience for Stanford A aortic dissection. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with Stanford A aortic dissection underwent surgery from March 1998 to October 2004, acute aortic dissection in 45 cases, chronic aortic dissection in 23 cases. The operation were performed by using moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in 53 cases, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) in 11 cases; DHCA with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) in 4 cases. Surgical procedures included ascending aortic grafting in 7 cases, ascending and hemiarch grafting in 6, ascending and total arch grafting in 3, ascending and total arch grafting with Frozen elephant trunk procedure in 4. Concomitant procedures included Bentall procedure in 34 cases, Wheat procedure in 12 cases, aortic valvuloplasty in 2 cases, mitral valvuloplasty in 1 cases. Urgent surgery was in 39 cases (emergency surgery in 19). RESULTS: Operative mortality was 7% (urgent surgery mortality was 8%, elective surgery mortality was 7%). Fifty-eight cases were followed up for (37 +/- 22) months. Actuarial survival of 58 cases at 1, 3 and 5 years was 100%, 95% and 86% respectively. CONCLUSION: The choice of surgical procedures depend on the location of intimal tear for Stanford A aortic dissection. Proper surgical indication, technique and brain protections are the key factors of Stanford A aortic dissection surgery.

[Interventional treatment of thoracic aortic dissection with stent-graft placement guided by transesophageal echocardiography].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of transfemoral stent-graft placement in combination with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in treating DeBakey IIIb aortic dissecting aneurysm. METHODS: Eight male patients [mean age (55.8 +/- 10.2) years, range 28-71 years] with DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection were diagnosed and confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). With TEE and fluoroscopy monitoring, transfemoral stent-grafts placement was performed with resulting close of the proximal or both proximal and distal ruptures of aortic dissection. The immediate and follow-up results were assessed. RESULTS: Eleven stent-grafts were placed successfully in the 8 patients, the mean diameter of stents was 29.4 (22-38) mm. Three patients had a mild endoleak and 2 patients had a tiny shunt immediately after operation. Ascending aortic dissection occurred in 1 patient after balloon dilation. The mean stay in hospital was 9 days. All the eight patients were followed up and the mean time of follow-up was 10.5 (6-18) months, 4 residual shunts disappeared. No stents displacement or new endoleak occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Transfemoral stent-graft placement in combination with TEE for the treatment of DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection is a promising method, which is safe, effective and with little injury. Its recent and middle term result is satisfactory, but further observation is needed for long term result.

Edge-to-edge chordal transfer repair for anterior leaflet prolapse of mitral valve in 21 patients.

BACKGROUND: Repair of anterior mitral leaflet (AML) prolapse is still a technical challenge for cardiac surgeons. It is an important issue to find a way to repair the AML prolapse with a reliable and reproducible technique. METHODS: Between January 2002 and June 2009, the operation of chordal transfer based on the "edge-to-edge" technique was performed in 21 patients with serious mitral valve regurgitation because of prolapse of the anterior leaflet. After the operation, echocardiography was performed in each patient before discharge and at the time of follow-up. RESULTS: All patients survived the operation. One patient required mitral valve replacement because of anterior leaflet perforation 3 days after the operation. The other patients were free from reoperation. At the time of follow-up, all these patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I. In all these patients, pre-discharge and follow-up echocardiography showed neither stenosis nor significant regurgitation of the mitral valve: the cross-sectional area of the mitral valve was 3.3 - 4.8 cm(2) (mean (3.78 ± 0.52) cm(2)), the mean regurgitation area was (0.45 ± 0.22) cm(2). At the same time, both dimension of left atrium and left ventricle reduced significantly (left atrium diameter: pre-operation (48.26 ± 11.12) mm, post-operation (37.57 ± 9.56) mm, P < 0.05; the end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle: pre-operation (61.43 ± 8.24) mm, post-operation (42.35 ± 10.79) mm, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: "Edge-to-edge" chordal transfer technique is a simple, reliable, and reproducible technique that can provide good results for repair of anterior leaflet prolapse of mitral valve.

Femoral artery cannulation in Stanford type A aortic dissection operations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate femoral artery cannulation in Stanford type A aortic dissection operations. Between March 1994 and December 2001, 88 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection underwent surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and perfusion through the femoral artery; 31 of them had deep-hypothermic circulatory arrest. False lumen perfusion was detected in 8 patients (9.1%). There were 4 (4.5%) cerebral events: 2 patients had diffuse cerebral injury, with one death; and 2 patients had hemiplegia, with one death. Six patients (8.0%) had delayed incision healing, with local infection in one. There was no lower extremity ischemia associated with femoral artery cannulation. It was concluded that retrograde perfusion through the femoral artery was effective for repair of aortic dissection, with a low risk of those cerebral events associated with a high mortality rate.