OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of surgical treatment of secundum atrial septal defects in adults over 30 years old.

METHODSThere were 469 patients with secundum atrial septal defects in our study (male 144, female 325; ages 30-68, mean 38.6 years old). There were 105 cases with pulmonary hypertension and 458 cases with arrhythmia in the group. Surgical closure of defects were performed in all patients. Surgical closure of 358 cases were done by patches including 305 autologous pericardial patches. The low dose (6 x 10(-6)) nitric oxide inhalation was used in 25 postoperative patients with pulmonary hypertension. Right sided maze procedures were done in 5 cases with atrial fibrillation.

RESULTSSurgical mortality was 0.6% (3 cases), the others were healed. In the group, there were 180 cases with arrhythmia, 27 cases with left ventricular function amyoplasia, 28 cases with low cardiac output syndrome, 12 cases in secondary operation for bleeding and 1 case with air-embolism. The level of mean pulmonary artery pressure of 25 postoperative patients with pulmonary hypertension inhaled nitric oxide was down 28.5%. After right sided maze procedures were done in 5 cases with atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation disappeared. 352 cases were followed up from 3 months to 20 years (mean 5.6 years). Twenty-nine cases were in class I-II of cardiac function, and the others were better than class I of cardiac function.

CONCLUSIONSAtrial septal defects in adult should be operated as early as possible. When patch is needed, an autologous pericardial patch is the first selection. Inhaled nitric oxide is an effective method to postoperative pulmonary hypertension. The maze operation should be performed for atrial septal defect with atrial fibrillation while the surgical closure of defect was done. During and after operation, much attention should be paid to preventing and curing arrhythmia and protecting and supporting left heart function.

Administration, Inhalation ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThe effects of anxiety and depression on the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) are not clear. Whether CPVA can alleviate the anxiety and depression symptoms of persistent AF patients is unknown.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-four patients with persistent AF, of which 43 treated with CPVA (CPVA group) and 103 treated with anti-arrhythmics drugs (medicine group), were enrolled. The Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were assessed before and 12 months after treatment in all patients.

RESULTSThe scores of SAS (40.33 ± 7.90 vs. 49.76 ± 9.52, P < 0.01) and SDS (42.33 ± 8.73 vs. 48.17 ± 8.77, P < 0.01) decreased 12 months after CPVA. Over 12 months follow-up, AF relapsed in 17 patients in CPVA group. Compared with the data in the recurrent group (17 patients), the scores of SAS and SDS were significantly lower in the non-recurrent group (26 patients) at baseline. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed normal scores of SAS and SDS were the independent risk factors of AF recurrence after CPVA.

CONCLUSIONSAnxiety and depression increase the recurrence risk of persistent AF after CPVA. CPVA can ameliorate the anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with persistent AF.

Aged ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Anxiety ; complications ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; pathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Depression ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Compared with warfarin, novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are convenient to use, although they require a blanking period immediately before radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We compared NOACs and uninterrupted warfarin in the peri-procedural period of AF ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared 141 patients treated with peri-procedural NOACs (72% men; 58+/-11 years old; 71% with paroxysmal AF) and 281 age-, sex-, AF type-, and history of stroke-matched patients treated with uninterrupted warfarin. NOACs were stopped 24 hours before the procedure and restarted on the same procedure day after hemostasis was achieved. RESULTS: We found no difference in the CHA2DS2-VASc (p=0.376) and HAS-BLED scores (p=0.175) between the groups. The preprocedural anticoagulation duration was significantly shorter in the NOAC group (76.3+/-110.7 days) than in the warfarin group (274.7+/-582.7 days, p<0.001). The intra-procedural total heparin requirement was higher (p<0.001), although mean activated clotting time was shorter (350.0+/-25.0 s vs. 367.4+/-42.9 s, p<0.001), in the NOAC group than in the warfarin group. There was no significant difference in thromboembolic events (1.4% vs. 0%, p=0.111) or major bleeding (1.4% vs. 3.9%, p=0.235) between the NOAC and warfarin groups. Minor stroke occurred in two cases within 10 hours of the procedure (underlying CHA2DS2-VASc scores 0 and 1) in the NOAC group. CONCLUSION: Pre-procedural anticoagulation duration was shorter and intra-procedural heparin requirement was higher with NOAC than with uninterrupted warfarin during AF ablation. Although the peri-procedural thromboembolism and bleeding incidences did not differ, minor stroke occurred in two cases in the NOAC group.
Aged ; Anticoagulants/*therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation/complications/*drug therapy/*surgery ; Catheter Ablation/*methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage/epidemiology ; Heparin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Stroke/epidemiology ; Thromboembolism/epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Warfarin/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use

PURPOSE: Hybrid therapy with catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) and continuation of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD), or electrical cardioversion with AADs might be alternative treatments for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The goal of study was to assess the long term success rate of hybrid therapy for persistent AF compared to antiarrhythmic medication therapy after electrical cardioversion and identify the independent risk factors associated with recurrence after hybrid therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients with persistent AF who developed atrial flutter after the administration of a class Ic or III anti-arrhythmic drug were enrolled. This group was compared with a group (33 patients) who underwent cardioversion and received direct current cardioversion with AADs. Baseline data were collected, and electrocardiogram and symptom driven Holter monitoring were performed every 2-4 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the groups. The 12 month atrial arrhythmia free survival was better in the hybrid group, 49.0% vs. 33.1%, p=0.048. However, during a mean 55.7+/-43.0 months of follow up, the improved survival rate regressed (p=0.25). A larger left atrium size was an independent risk factor for the recurrence of AF after adjusting for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Despite favorable outcome during 12 month, the CTI block with AADs showed outcomes similar to AAD therapy after electrical cardioversion over a 12 month follow up period. Minimal substrate modification with AADs might be an alternative treatment for persistent AF with minimal atrial remodeling.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/*therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation/*drug therapy/mortality/*surgery ; Catheter Ablation/*methods/mortality ; Combined Modality Therapy ; *Electric Countershock/mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/mortality/prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; *Tricuspid Valve