Objective: To evaluate the feasibility ofin vitro balloon dilatation for treating aortic coarctation infants younger than 6 months. Methods: A total of 13 aortic coarctation infants treated in our hospital from 2011-01 to 2015-12 were summarized. The patients were at the mean age of 3.4 months (from 20 days to 6 months), with the mean body weight of 4.8 kg (from 3.6 kg to 6.2 kg) including 9 male. Aortic coarctation segments were resected during the operation and the resected segments were expanded by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) via (2-4) times diameter balloon dilatation. The diameters of resected aortic segments were recorded before and after expansion; the change of vascular middle smooth muscle layer was observed by HE staining. Results: There were 8 cases with non-restricted ventricular septal defect (VSD) and 3 of them received staging operation, 2 with atrial septal defect (ASD), 3 with bicuspid aortic valve, 3 with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and 1 with pericardial effusion. The resected aortic segments presented that 9 patients had diaphragm type narrow and 4 had tube type narrow. After PTA, the diameters of resected aortic segments were slightly increased for the mean of 0.2 mm and no obvious change was observed; HE staining showed that the vascular inner mucosa was shed, while the middle smooth muscle layer was intact. Conclusion: Balloon dilatation had the poor effect for treating aortic coarctation infants younger than 6 months; surgical procedure could be applied for treating the relevant patients.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis could be treated by laminectomy internal fixation placement,unilateral or bilateral decompression,posterior laminectomy and so on.However,whether laminectomy internal fixation placement can be used remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of interbody fusion cage implantation of pedicle screw fixation,in combination with posterior lumbar laminectomy,bilateral resection and decompression of the inferior articular process,autologous facet joint bone transplantation in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.METHODS: A total of 41 patients of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis,who failed after 3 months of conservative therapy,including 23 males and 18 females,at a mean of 60.3 years,Received posterior lumbar laminectomy,bilateral inferior articular process resection and decompression,autologous facet joint bone and cage interbody fusion implant pedicle fixation.They were followed up for 24 months,preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)score evaluations were performed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of the patients,radiological examination was done to investigate the graft fusion and vertebral stability of surgical segments in patients.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During the follow-up,JOA score significantly increased compared with the preoperative score(P＜0.01)and clinical excellence rate was 90%; 40 cases obtained bony fusion,with a fusion rate of 98%,1 patient exhibited signs of lumbar instability.There was no loosening,fracture and other complications after internal fixation,but 2 cases appeared dural tear,1 case pedicle position deviation,1 case pseudoarticulation formation.The results suggest that the posterior lumbar laminectomy,bilateral inferior articular process resection and decompression,autogenous facet joint bone and cage interbody fusion implanted pedicle screw fixation show good clinical effects for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objective To appraise the clinical value of velocity vector imaging(VVI) by analyzing the peak systolic velocities,strain and strain rate of ventricular segments in patients with DDD pacing. Methods eventeen patients with DDD pacing were enrolled in this study. The peak systolic velocities, strain andstrain rate of ventricular segments were measured with VVI. The difference at baseline and after pacemaker implantation was analyzed. Results Left and right ventricular (LV and RV) longitudinal peak velocities at baseline and after DDD pacing were significantly decreasing from basal, mid to apical segments. But no significant difference was found in longitudinal strain,strain rate and radial motion characteristic of LV. The mean systolic velocities and strain rate at baseline and after pacemaker implantation and strain with pacing of RV posterior septum and free wall were higher than those of posterior septum and lateral segment of LV respectively. The mean strain and strain rate of RV after pacing were higher than that of LV. Compared with the values at baseline, mean strain of LV with pacing was lower significantly. Conclusions VVI can accurately assess ventricular systolic function in patients with DDD pacing, and can become a powerful means in assessing the regional myocardial function.

Objective To assess left ventricular(LV)twisting parameters in different layers with velocity vector imaging(VVI)in both healthy subjects and premature ventricular contraction(PVC)bigeminy from right ventricle(RV)patients,and investigate the rules of LV myocardium dynamics in sinus rhythm and PVC from RV.Methods Ten patients with PVC bigeminy from RV and twelve healthy subj ects underwent the examination of two-dimensional ultrasound,in which the standard LV mitral valve(MV)and apical short-axis views were acquired.The twisting angle(TA)and untwisting starting time(UST)were measured.Results In healthy subjects myocardium of LV MV short-axis twisted in clockwise,while the myocardium of LV apical short-axis twisted in counter-clockwise.TA of endocardium was higher than that of epieardium(P＜0.01).In PVC bigeminy from RA patients,their TA during sinus contraction was lower than that of healthy subjects both in MV and apical short axis respectively(P＜0.05),and UST was earlier(P＜0.05).In PVC the TA curve is bidirectional.and in early systolic TA twisted reversely compared with that of healthy subjects and sinus contraction in PVC patients.Conclusions Twisting parameters could be used to assess myocardium dynamics during different ventricular mechanical activation.VVl was a novel tool to analyze myocardium twisting.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular(LV) systolic synchrony and sequence in patients with premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT).Methods Thirty patients with frequent isolated PVCs from RVOT and 30 healthy subjects as control were included.Speckle tracking imaging (STI) was performed to assess the time-to-peak segmental systolic strain in longit udinal(TsL), circumferential (TsC) and radial (TsR) direction.The standard deviation (SD) of TsL,TsC and TsR of 18 LV segments were calculated respectively.All values of patients with PVCs were recorded during sinus beats(PVC-S) and PVC beats(PVC-V) respectively.LV systolic sequence in PVC-V was analyzed.Results Significant differences were observed in the SD values between the PVC-V and control subjects in three directions,as well as between the PVC-S and control subjects in circumferential and radial direction.In PVC-V significance difference was seen in TsL and TsR from apical to basal level,as well as in TsL and TsC in different walls.Conclusions LV systolic synchrony was demonstrated in patients with PVCs from RVOT during both sinus beats and PVC beats.Systolic sequence in PVC beats from RVOT exhibit certain rules.

Objective: To summarize the experience for treating pulmonary venous obstruction in patients after total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) operation. Methods: A total of 16 patients with post-TAPVC pulmonary venous obstruction in our hospital from 2011-01 to 2015-12 were retrospectively analyzed including10 male. All patients received echocardiography, electrocardiogram and chest X-ray examinations at pre-discharge, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-operation. Pulmonary venous obstruction was diagnosed by echocardiography measured pulmonary vein (PV) lfow speed>2m/s. The time of re-operation was determined by clinical manifestations as recurrent heart failure and growth retardation; sutureless technique and conventional patch enlarge technique were used in the second operation. Results: No one lost contact in all 16 patients. There were 7/16 patients with anastomotic stenosis (1 mixed type, 3 infracardiac type, 2 supracardiac type and 1 cardiac type), 7 patients with one PV stenosis, 2 with two PV stenosis and nobody with three or more PV stenosis. Based on per-operative Darling classiifcation, there were 2 patients with mixed type, 5 with infracardiac type, 5 with supracardiac type and 4 with cardiac type. Most post-operative PV stenosis occurred at 3-6 months after the surgery. There were 5 patients receive re-operation, 4 with sutureless technique, 1 with conventional patch enlarge technique and all of them suffered from anastomotic stenosis. 2 patients died and 3 were followed-up. Conclusion: Post-operative anastomotic stenosis was the main indication for re-operation in patients after TAPVC; early operation could better improve the clinical condition.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular(LV)myocardial contraction patterns and function when pacing in different right ventricular(RV)sites and discuss echocardiogarphic method to evaluate physiologcal pacing mode.Methods This study included 26 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia without organic heart disease.Four pacing modes including right atrium pacing(AAI),RV apex pacing(VVI-RVA),RV septal pacing(VVI-IVS)and RV outflow tract pacing(VVI-RVOT)were performed on the patients in a random order after succussful radiofrequency ablation.The parameters measured in each pacing mode included(1)LV systolic function parameters:LV twist angle(Twist),aortic systolic velocity-time integral(VTIAo)and LV global strain(Gε)；(2)LV contracting pattern:segmental peak systolic strain(Sε),the time to peak value(TPε),and the distribution of segmental Sε,TPε in each layer or wall.The relationship between Sε,TPε of each wall was analyzed.[Results]Pacing from RV sites showed lower Twist,VTIAO and Gε than AAI mode.Gε demonstrated significant difference in three RV sites pacing mode(VVI-RVOT＞VVI-IVS＞VVI-RVA,P＜0.05).Compared with the AAI mode,the distribution of segmental Sε,TPε in the each layer or wall alerted significantly in three RV sites pacing mode,especially in VV1-RVA.The distribution pattern was similar in VVI-RVOT and VVI-IVS.Furthermore,the wall Sε collated negtively with wall TPε(r =-0.51,P＜0.001).[Conclusions]Compared with AAI mode,RV pacing,especially the VVI-RVA induced the alternation of LV contraction patterns and reduction of systolic function.Longitudinal strain parameters can be used to assess the myocardial contraction patterns and function in different pacing mode.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the resection of cervical posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) in Bryan cervical disc arthroplasty. Methods Thirty-one patients underwent Bryan cervical disc implantation only in one level from August 2006 to January 2009 were investigated in this study. Cervical PLL was preserved in 14 patients, but not in other 17 patients. The clinical (JOA score,VAS score for neck and arm pain) and radiographic parameters (the FSU angle, ROM and diameter of the spinal cord) were compared between the two groups. Results No differences were found in terms of age, affected segment, gender, follow-up period, operation time and blood loss between the two groups. Patients underwent removal of cervical PLL were significantly superior to those underwent reservation of cervical PLL in term of clinical outcomes. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to the increase of FSU angle and ROM. However, the diameter of the spinal cord had a significant increase in patients underwent removal of cervical PLL. No severe complication was found in the two groups. Conclusion Removal of the cervical PLL is beneficial for the clinical outcomes and does not have an impact on the angle and ROM of the affected segment. The procedure is safe and feasible.

Objective To assess the left ventricular(LV)contraction synchrony in patients with DDD pacing by velocity vector imaging(VVI).Methods Acoustic clip capture was performed in 13 patients before and after pacemaker implantation and obtained high-frame rate B-mode echocardiographic images.VVI was done in all three standard LV apical views and parasternal LV short axis(SAX)views.The time to peak systolic longitudinal velocity(Tvl)and systolic longitudinal strain(Ts1)in the LV apical views and the time to peak systolic radial velocity(Tvr)and systolic circumferential strain(Tsc)in the LV SAX views were measured bv VVI.The standard deviation of Tvl,Tsl,Tvr and Tsc(Tvl-SD,Tsl-SD,Tvr-SD and TscSD)and the maximal temporal difference of Tvl,Tsl,Tvr and Tsc(Tvl-d,Tsl-d,Tvr-d and Tsc-d)of 18 segments were calculated.Results Compared with the values at baseline,Tvr-SD,Tsc-SD,Tsl-d,Tvr-d and Tsc-d increased significantly in patients after pacemaker implantation(P＜0.05).Conclusions The longitudinal,radial and circumferential systolic asynchrony of the LV was commonly existed in patients after DDD pacing.VVI can be used to evaluate the systolic synchrony of the LV in patients with DDD pacing.

BACKGROUNDFrequent premature ventricular complexes from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-PVCs) are associated with left ventricular dysfunction. This study adopted two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging to evaluate global and regional left ventricular myocardial function in patients with frequent RVOT-PVCs.

METHODSThis study included 30 patients with frequent RVOT-PVCs and 30 healthy subjects. Aortic systolic velocity-time integral (AoVTI) and myocardium strain in circumferential (CS), radial (RS) and longitudinal (LS) directions were evaluated by conventional echocardiography and speckle tracking imaging. All values of patients with RVOT-PVCs were recorded during sinus (PVC-S) and PVC beats (PVC-V).

RESULTSSignificant differences were demonstrated in global CS, RS and LS between the control subjects and the PVC-V (CS: (17.46 ± 2.48)% vs. (11.52 ± 3.28)%, RS: (48.26 ± 10.20)% vs. (20.92 ± 9.78)%, LS: (19.89 ± 2.62)% vs. (11.79 ± 3.66)%, P < 0.01), and in segmental RS and LS of nearly all the left ventricular segments. Statistical differences in segmental CS between the PVC-V and the control subjects were only observed in anterior, anteroseptal and septal segments (only seen in anteroseptal and septal segments at apex). Furthermore, V/S AoVTI (AoVTI during the PVC beat divided by AoVTI during the sinus beat, then multiplied by 100%) correlated with coupling interval (r = 0.67, P < 0.001) and global strain (CS: r = 0.48, P = 0.007; RS: r = 0.65, P < 0.001; LS: r = 0.65, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSFrequent RVOT-PVCs can induce global and regional left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The reduction of hemodynamic parameters relates to the coupling interval and the global systolic function.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; physiopathology