Objective     To evaluate a score system to allow stratification of complexity in degenerative mitral valve repair. Methods     We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 312 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for mitral valve repair and whose preoperative echocardiography was referable in our hospital from January 2012 to December 2013. A scoring system for surgical complexity was used based mainly on the preoperative echocardiography findings. Complexity of mitral valve repair was scored as 1 to 9, and patients were categorized into 3 groups based on the score for surgical complexity: a simple group (1 point), an intermediate group (2-4 points) and a complex group (≥5 points). There were 86 males and 35 females in the simple group (n=121) with an average age of 51.6±12.6 years, 105 males and 53 females in the intermediate group (n=158) with an average age of 51.1±12.8 years and 25 males and 8 females in the complex group (n=33) with an average age of 49.3±13.0 years. Results     There was significant difference in surgical complexity in different groups. In the simple, intermediate and complex groups, the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 111.7±45.5 min, 117.7±40.4 min and 153.4±74.2 min (P<0.001), the mean cross-clamping time was 77.5±33.8 min, 83.2±29.9 min and 108.8±56.2 min (P<0.001), and the mean number of repair techniques utilized was 2.1±0.4, 2.4±0.6 and 2.8±0.8 (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the early and late outcomes in different groups. Conclusion     It is feasible to use echocardiography to quantitatively evaluate the difficulty of mitral valvuloplasty.

Objective     To discuss the key points of anesthesia for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) surgery. Methods     We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of 70 patients who underwent TAVI in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital from March 2014 to October 2015. There were 39 males and 31 females with an average age of 73.7±4.5 years. The perioperative preparation and anesthesia points of TAVI were summarized. Results     All of the 70 included patients were aged and at high risk severe comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. The aortic stenosis and regurgitation occurred in 39 and 31 patients respectively. No patients died during the surgery. The total success rate was 95.7%. Conclusion     TAVI is a complex procedure for high risk patients and need more attention during anesthesia. The successful conduction of the procedure requires the whole team to prepare carefully and cooperate closely.

To investigate whether postoperative therapy can bring survival benefits to patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP regimen. Methods     We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 115 patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP regimen and underwent esophagectomy in our hospital from January 2007 through December 2016. Patients were divided into two groups including a non-receiving treatment group (54 patients with 47 males and 7 females) and a receiving treatment group (61 patients with 52 males and 9 females). There were 31 patients with postoperative chemotherapy, 14 with postoperative radiotherapy, and 16 with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the receiving treatment group. Results     In the non-receiving treatment group, the 5-year median disease free survival (DFS) rate was 54.7%, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 55.3%. In the receiving treatment group, the median DFS was 46.0 months (95% CI 22.9–69.1), the 5-year DFS rate was 42.3%; and the   median OS was 68.0 months (95% CI 33.0–103.0), the 5-year OS rate was 51.3%. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference between the two groups with regards to DFS (P=0.641) or OS (P=0.757) using Kaplan-Meier method. Besides, in each subgroup, the results of Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed postoperative treatment did not improve survival (P>0.05, respectively). Conclusion     Postoperative treatment does not bring survival benefits to patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP regimen.

Objective     To investigate the significance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of limited-disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC). Methods     We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 55 LD-SCLC patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital from May 2007 to August 2016. There were 42 males and 13 females with a mean age of 57 years. All patients underwent clinical staging before treatment. According to the different treatments, the patients were divided into two groups, a preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy group and a direct surgery group. The comparison of long-term survival rates was made between the two groups. Results     Among the 55 patients, median survival time was 27 months. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate was 89.1%, 45.0%, 33.8% respectively. Treatment methods and clinical N stage were significantly different in prognosis (P<0. 05). The results of Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that clinical N stage was prognostic factor of LD-SCLC patients (P<0. 05). Conclusion     Patients with clinical stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ SCLC are better to receive direct surgery. For patients with clinical stage Ⅲ, it is recommended to reach partial response or complete response with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. The status of lymph node metastasis is closely related to survival, thus identifying the accurate clinical stage is crucial before treatment.

Objective     To analyze the risk factors associated with prolonged length of hospital stay (PLOS) after lobectomy for lung cancer patients. Methods     The clinical records of 771 lung cancer patients undergoing lobectomy between May 2012 and June 2016 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. According to different length of hospital stay (LOS), 771 patients were divided into two groups, a normal LOS group and a PLOS group. In the normal LOS group, there were 551 patients including 234 females and 317 males with a median age of 59 years, whose LOS was shorter than 8.0 days. In the PLOS group, there were 220 patients including 72 females and 148 males with a median age of 60 years, whose LOS was no less than 8.0 days. Then, we analyzed the independent risk factors of PLOS by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results     Univariate analysis showed that risk factors for PLOS included male, arrhythmias and atrioventricular block, smaller FVC%, unilateral pneumonectomy, operation and anesthesia duration, intraoperative blood loss and number of lymph node dissection in the operation (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age ≥75 years (OR=4.100, 95%CI 1.677 to 10.026), unilateral pneumonectomy (OR=2.563, 95%CI 1.473 to 4.460), FVC% < 89.05% (OR=1.500, 95%CI 1.020 to 2.206), numbers of lymph node dissection≥ 13.5 (OR=1.826, 95%CI 1.262 to 2.642), operation duration≥126.5 min (OR=1.858, 95%CI 1.200 to 2.876) and arrhythmia (OR=2.944, 95%CI 1.380 to 6.284) were independent risk factors of PLOS (all P<0.05). Conclusion     LOS is influenced by age, surgical type, FVC%, numbers of lymph node dissection, arrhythmia and operation duration. Careful assessment and appropriate management of risk factors are helpful to improve postoperative recovery after lobectomy for lung cancer patients.

Objective    To compare the clinical efficacy of modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy, which preserves azygos vein, thoracic duct and peripheral tissues, and classic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy, which resects these tissues, in the treatment of esophageal cancer, so as to evaluate whether it is necessary to resect azygos vein, thoracic duct and peripheral tissues in esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Methods    Patients scheduled for surgical treatment of thoracic esophageal cancer in Department of Thoracic Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from June 2011 to June 2013 were randomly assigned to the retention group and the resection group, each including 100 patients. The retention group included 87 males and 13 females with an average age of 60.53±7.72 years. In the resection group, there were 80 males and 20 females with an average age of 60.69±7.69 years. Patients in the two groups were compared for the duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative thoracic drainage volume, postoperative complications, and number of dissected lymph nodes, etc. Postoperative relapse and survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years postoperatively were also followed up and compared for patients in the two groups. Results    There was no statistical difference between the two groups in general patient characteristics, number of dissected lymph nodes, or postoperative pathological stage, etc. (P>0.05). Compared to the resection group, there were shorter duration of surgery, less intraoperative blood loss, and less thoracic drainage   volume in the first 3 days following surgery in the retention group, with statistical differences (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in type or site of relapse or metastasis (P>0.05). The survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years postoperatively was 78.7% vs. 81.3%, 39.4% vs. 37.5%, and 23.4% vs. 17.7%, respectively, in the retention group and the resection group, with no statistical difference (P>0.05). Conclusion    Modified Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy preserving azygos vein, thoracic duct and peripheral tissues could reduce surgical trauma, would not increase postoperative relapse or metastasis, and could produce long-term efficacy comparable to that of extended resection.

Objective    To evaluate the efficacy of tubless therapy for pulmonary bulla resection under the concept of fast track surgery. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 45 patients (29 males and 16 females at an average age of 26.1 years) with pulmonary bullae in our hospital between January 2015 and December 2017. These patients were divided into two groups. Among them, 25 patients were treated with preoperative gastric tubes and catheters, tracheal intubation anesthesia and postoperative drainage tubes (a tube group). And 20 patients were treated with no preoperative gastric tube or catheter, sublaryngeal anesthesia and no postoperative drainage tube (a tubless group). Results    There was a statistical difference in postoperative pain index (2.60±1.14 vs. 5.16±1.24, P<0.001) and larynx complication (P=0.00) between the two groups. Shorter period of epidural analgesic tubes (1.40±0.50 d vs. 2.84±0.75 d, P<0.001), shorter operation and anesthesia time (15.00±2.59 min vs. 18.56±2.10 min, P<0.001; 95.30±4.38 min vs. 105.50±4.59 min, P<0.001), shorter hospital stay (9.45±1.66 d vs. 12.80±1.87 d, P<0.001), and less expense (20 245.96±1 113.02 yuan vs. 22 147.06±1 735.01 yuan, P<0.001) in the tubless group were found compared with the tube group. But there was no statistical difference in incidence of complication of lung (P=0.43) between the two groups. Conclusion    Tubless therapy in the treatment of pulmonary bulla resection can accelerate the postoperative recovery with shorter hospital stay and less expense, and is an advantageous treatment.

Objective    To investigate the effectiveness of establishment of chest pain center and optimized process in the diagnostic and treatment progress and short-term prognostic value of acute non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Methods    This was a retrospective study. We included NSTEMI patients admitted in the Emergency Department in our hospital, 41 patients admitted before the establishment of the chest pain center (April 2015) were included as group A (30 males and 11 females at age of 64.7±11.8 years), 42 patients after the establishment of the chest pain center (April 2016) as group B (31 males and 11 females at age of 64.6±11.8 years), and 38 patients after the establishment of the chest pain center (April 2017) as group C (30 males and 8 females at age of 62.6±10.0 years). The clinical outcomes of the three groups were compared. Results     The time from admission to electrocardiogram was 20.0 (17.0, 25.5) min in the group A, 4.0 (2.8, 5.0) min in the group B, and 3.0 (2.0, 4.0) min in the group C (P<0.001). The first doctor's non-electrocardiogram advice time was 13.0 (10.0, 18.0) min, 9.5 (6.8, 15.3) min, and 9.0 (7.0, 12.0) min (P=0.001) in the three groups, respectively. The diagnostic confirmed time was 139.4±48.5 min, 71.1±51.5 min, 63.9±41.9 min   (P<0.001). The proportion of patients receiving emergency dual anti-platelet load dose treatment was 53.1%, 70.0%, 100.0% (P=0.001), respectively. The time of receiving emergency dual anti-platelet load dose treatment was 208.0 (72.0, 529.0) min, 259.0 (91.0, 340.0) min, and 125.0 (86.0, 170.0) min (P=0.044) in the three groups, respectively. Emergency percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) start time was 60.9 (42.1, 95.8) hours, 61.3 (43.3, 92.2) hours, 30.5 (2.8, 44.1) hours (P<0.001) in the three groups, respectively. Among them, the moderate risk patients’ PCI starting time was 63.0 (48.1, 94.2) hours, 62.3 (42.1, 116.2) hours, and 40.1 (17.2, 60.4) hours (P>0.05), respectively. The high risk patients’ PCI starting time was 47.9 (23.7, 102.4) hours, 55.2 (44.0, 89.6) hours, 23.2 (1.7, 41.8) hours in the three groups, respectively (P<0.001). The hospitalization time of the patients was 7.0 (5.4, 9.4) days, 5.9 (4.9, 8.7) days, 4.7 (3.1, 6.2) days in the three groups (P<0.001), respectively. The hospitalization time of the moderate risk patients was 6.9 (4.9, 8.8) days, 6.4 (4.9, 8.0) days, 4.8 (3.2, 6.5) days in the three groups (P>0.05), respectively. The hospitalization time of the high risk patients was 7.1 (5.5, 9.9) days, 5.9 (4.6, 9.8) days, and 4.4 (3.0, 6.1) days, respectively (P<0.001). The fatality rate of inpatients was 4.9%, 0.0%, and 0.0%, respectively (P>0.05). The correlation coefficient of hospitalization time, diagnosis confirmed time and PCI starting time was 0.219 and 0.456 (P<0.05), respectively. Conclusion    The establishment and optimized process of chest pain center can accelerate the time of early diagnosis of NSTEMI, which is helpful to obtain stratified and graded standardized treatment for patients according to their conditions, to accelerate the specific treatment process of high risk NSTEMI patients, and shorten the hospitalization time.

Objective    To explore our novel strategy of surgical treatment for ventricular septal rupture (VSR) and the long-term outcomes. Methods    All the patients referred to the Center of Adult Surgery, Fuwai Hospital were treated with integration treatment of vasoactive agents, intra-aortic balloon pump, or left ventricular assist device. The timing of surgical treatment was individually customized. One hundred and five consecutive patients with VSR (63 males, 42 females ) presented at the mean age of 63 (range, 41 to 80) years. We retrospectively analyzed the results and followed up patients who survived the surgical procedure. Results     They were divided into a hemodynamics stable group (25 patients, 2 received emergent operation and 23 received selective operation) and a hemodynamics unstable group (80 patients, 34 received vasoactive agents and selective operation, 4 received vasoactive agents and emergent operation, 20 received vasoactive agent, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP), and selective operation, 16 received vasoactive agents, IABP, and emergent operation, 2 received vasoactive agents, IABP, ventilator support, and selective operation, 2 received vasoactive agents, IABP, and ventilator support and emergent operation, 2 received vasoactive agents, ventilator support, and selective operation). There were 3 in-hospital deaths. Ninety-nine patients were followed up, with a follow-up rate of 97.1%. The mean follow-up time was 76.56±47.78 months. There were 2 late deaths during follow-up. Conclusion    The timing of surgical treatment for ventricular septal rupture should be individually customized. The long-term outcomes of ventricular septal rupture patients who survived the surgery are satisfactory.

Objective    To explore the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and aortic dissection (AD). Methods    Fifty three patients with AD diagnosed by CTA in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2018 were selected. All the patients with AD were scored by the STOP-BANG questionnaire. The patients who scored more than or equal to 3 received polysomnography (PSG) after surgical or conservative treatment, and according to whether the sleep apnea-hypopnea index was higher than or equal to 5. Fifty-three patients were divided into an OSAHS group and a non OSAHS group. Results    There were 18 patients with 17 males and 1 female at average age of 43.3±8.4 years in the OSAHS group, and 35 patients with 23 males and 12 females at average age of 56.6±12.9 years in the non OSAHS group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the Stanford classification of aortic dissection, the time of onset, personal history, the history of diabetes, coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia, or post-treatment systolic/diastolic blood pressure before sleep (P>0.05). The age of patients in the OSAHS group was significantly less than that in the non OSAHS group (P<0.01), the proportion of men/women (P=0.021), weight (P<0.01), height (P=0.028), body mass index (P<0.01), and post-treatment systolic/diastolic blood pressure after waking up (P=0.028,P=0.044) in the OSAHS group were significantly higher than those in the non OSAHS group. In the OSAHS group, the proportion of previous hypertension was significantly higher than that in the non OSAHS group (P=0.042).   Conclusion    AD patients combined with OSAHS are mostly male patients. The number of young and high-fat people is significantly more than that in the non OSAHS group. OSAHS may be one of the risk factors for young, high-fat men with AD.