Objective To explore the feasibility of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) in the treatment of severe coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Methods Clinical data of 37 cases of severe coronary heart disease from January to December, 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. All operations were conducted under general anesthesia by midline sternotomy. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and the great saphenous vein (SV) were divided for grafting. Then we stabilified the local myocardium and exposed the diseased coronary arteries. Following the insertion of an intracoronary shunt, the LIMA was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Afterwards, the SV was proximally anastomosed to the aorta, and then, to the coronary artery. Results All the operations were completed by beating heart revascularization. The number of bypass grafting was 3 2?0 5 (range, 1～6). Except 1 patient died on the 10th postoperative day, no severe complications, such as peri-operative myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, renal insufficiency or cerebrovascular accident, took place in the remaining 36 patients. Conclusions In the context of skillful procedure techniques and strict peri-operative management, OPCAB in the treatment of severe coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is feasible.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting and traditional surgical management in coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods Between march 2007 to June 2008,215 patients underwent CABG.Among them,87 patients underwent endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting.At the same time,128 cases were managed by traditional ways.Results The cases were foUowed up for 1-17 months.Endoscopic great saphenous vein harvesting was superior to traditional management in the healing of wound infection,relief of pain,improvement of edema and skin feeling(P＜0.05).Conclusion Endoscope saphenous vein harvesting is an efficient technique for CABG which is characterized by less trauma and fewer wound complications,and will not influcence the function of vein as well.On the other hand,the satisfaction is improved.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of the change of serum matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1,-2,-3 and -9 in acute and chronic aortic diseases and acute myocardial ischemia.Methods The blood serum levels of MMP-1,-2,-3 and -9 were detected in 30 patients with acute aortic dissection,19 patients with chronic aortic dissection,19 patients with aortic aneurysm and in 12 patients with acute myocardial ischemia,as well as in 16 healthy individuals who served as the control group.Serum MMP levels were measured by using an ELISA technique.Results There were significantly higher levels of MMP-3 in patients with acute myocardial ischemia as compared to acute aortic dissection ( [19.10 ± 3.11 ] μg/L vs [11.89 ± 1.31 ] μg/L,P =0.02).Significantly lower levels of MMP-1 were found in healthy controls compared to the groups of patients ( [1.30 ± 0.56 ] μg/L vs [2.99 ± 0.78 ] μg/L in acute aortic dissection,P =0.03,[3.12 ±0.78] μg/L in chronic dissection,P =0.02,[3.01 ± 1.01 ] μg/L in thoracic aortic aneurysm,P =0.03 and [5.01 ± 0.98 ] μg/L in acute myocardial ischemia,P =0.01 ).Higher levels of M MP-1 and MMP-3 were detected on males.There was a positive correlation between MMP-1 and increasing age ( r =0.38,P ＜ 0.05 ).In patients operated for acute type A aortic dissection,the levels of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-9 increased immediately after surgery,while the levels of MMP-2 decreased.Twenty-four hours after surgery levels of MMP-1,-2 and -9 were almost equal to the preoperative ones( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion Measurement of serum MMP levels in thoracic aortic disease and acute myocardial ischemia is a simple and relatively rapid laboratory test that could be used as a biochemical indicator of aortic disease or acute myocardial ischemia,when evaluated in combination with imaging techniques.

Objective To describe the follow-up data of 34 patients receiving total arch replacement with an open stent graft for acute type Ⅰ aortic dissection.Methods The subjects were 34 consecutive patients with type Ⅰ acute aortic dissection ( Twenty-eight males and 6 females,aged 34.0 - 46.0 yrs) who received total arch replacement with an open stent graft in our hospital from Jan.2005 to Oct.2010.Thirty of the 34 patients were followed up for 2 - 70 months.CT scanning was performed at the 3 and 12 months and then yearly after operation to detect the thrombus formation,absorption of thrombus,and obliteration of the false lumen after its exclusion by the stent graft.Results Three patients died peri-operatively with the mortality of 8.8％.One patient died during the follow-up period.Obliteration was recognized in all the patients at the distal side of the stent graft during the follow-up period.The false lumen remained in 10 patients at the distal part of descending aorta,but the diameter of the false lumen was not enlarged.Conclusion In patients with acute type Ⅰ aortic dissection,it is relative safe to perform extensive primary repair of the thoracic aorta by stent grafting.This method may enhance the obliteration of the false lumen and reduce the possibility for further operations to manage a residual false lumen.

Objective To summarize our experience in endovascular repair of 83 cases with type B aortic dissection.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 83 cases of type B aortic dissections who were treated in our hospital.Results The surgical procedure was successful for all the patients.Two patients died peri-operatively.One case encountered a coma,but no post-operative paraplegia occurred.Conclusion Endovascular repair for type B aortic dissection is a micro-invasive,safe and effective technique.Long-term follow-up is required to give a comprehensive evaluation.

Objective To describe the treatment experience of post-operative complications after total arch replacement for acute type A aortic dissection in 34 cases.Methods The subjects were 34 consecutive patients (Twenty-eight males and 6 females,age 34.0 -60.0 yrs) who received total arch replacement for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection from Jan.2005 to Oct.2010 in our hospital.The duration from the onset of the symptoms to the hospitalization ranged from 4 - 18 hrs.Pre-operative 2-D Echo revealed aortic valve regurgitation in 8 patients and mitral valve regurgitation in 1 patient.Results Three patients died after operation ( mortality 8.8％ ).Severe complications included acute kidney injury in 13 cases,respiratory dysfunction in 12 cases,paraplegia in 1 case,mental disorder in 10 cases and excessive post-operative bleeding in 2 cases.Conclusion The incidence of the complications after total arch replacement is still high and severe.Intensive care should be stressed peri-operatively and early diagnosis and treatment for post-operative complications are important procedures.

Objective To retrospectively analyse the clinical data of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery(OPCAB)in our department and summarize the clinical experience of peri-operative management.Methods From January 2007 to May 2008,253 patients underwent OPCAB.Seventy-six cases with left main disease(including 18 cases of single left main lesion and 58 cases of complex lesion);13 cases had single vessel disease;32 cases had double vessels disease and 190 cases had triple vessels disease.Eighteen cases received emergency OPCAB.All vessel anastomosis were performed with coronary artery stablizer and shunt through median sternotomy.Resuits Three cases died after operation(1.2%).Intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 11 cases.Mechanical ventilation time was 3-168 h[(24.1±22.3)h],and ICU stay time was 1-14 day[(2.8±2.0)d].Postoperative hospital stay time was 8-42 days[(15.6±6.3)d].Conclusion OPCAB is reliable for most bypass cases.With appropilate peri-operative management,a satisfied result will be acceptable.

Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of 1386 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCAB)during Jan 2002 to Mar 2008.Methods OPCAB was done through midsternumtomy under ordinary-temperature anesthesia after radial artery,left breast artery and vena saphena magna were taken.Patients over 70 years old accounted for 32.35%,and the oldest was 99 years old.Emergency and subemergency OPCAB was done in 111 cases,re-do CABG with off-pump technique was done in 52 patients.Results 24 cases died during perioperation,with mortality of 1.73%and all other patients discharged from the hospital.Following operation,the symptoms of angina pectoris were relieved and the life quality was much beaer than that before operation.Conclusion OPCAB is feasible for older patients,who are complicated with other chronic diseases for elder patients.Skillful technique of surgeon,right indications for OPCAB and management of peri-and postoperation are key to success of operation.

Objective To summarize the clinical experiences and early-to median effect of coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)in patients aged 70 years or above.Methods From Dec.2006 to Dec.2007,86 patients aged 70 or above underwent CABG,of whom 71 cases underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCAB),15 cases had CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).5 cases underwent mitral valve replacement,3 underwent aortic valve replacement besides CABG,and one case underwent removal of ventricular aneurysm.Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.Results There was one case who died of enterobrosis after operation.The average ICU stay time was(77.4±49.6)h,the average postoperative stay time was 15 d,and the average drainage was 530 ml.22 postoperative complications were found.76 cases were followed up for 10-22 months.Follow up effect was better showing cardiac classification I-II and no angina pectoris,myocardial infarction and late death.Conclusion Patients with coronary heart disease in good condition will have not remarkable improvement in mortality as compared with ordinary patients but attention should be paid to their preoperative pulmonary function and angina pectoffs.OPCABG would have encouraging result in reducing the rate of postoperative complications and hospital death,which should be recommended as the first choice for the elderly patients.

Objective To evaluate the effects of 'patch-skill'in the management of refractory bleeding during the process of open heart surgery.Methods Between May 2007 to Oetober 2008,7 patients undergoing open-heart surgery experienced active bleeding.Autologous perieardial patches were used in 6 patients, and polyester patch in the other one.The patches were sutured continuously by 5-0 Prolene suture.Results The 24 hour chest tube output was less than 500 ml in all 7 cases after operation.There were no death, secondly active bleeding,or mediastinal in-faction.Conclusion The'patch-skill' can effectively control the refractory bleeding during open heart surgery.Au-tologous perieardial patehe is the first choice because it has multiple advantages.The polyester patch ean be used al-ternatively when autologous pereardiurn cannot be used (for various reasons such as edema and infection).