Objective To investigate the clinical effects of levosimmentan combined with freeze-dried recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in elderly patients with heart failure. Methods Eighty patients with heart failure diagnosed in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2018 were selected as subjects. According to the random number table prepared in Excel 2007,40 patients in the experimental group and the control group were given. For basic treatments such as diuresis,the experimental group was treated with levosimtan combined with lyophilized recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide,and the control group was treated with levosimtan and dobutamine. The left ventricle of the two groups before and after treatment was compared. End-diastolic period (LVEDD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),cardiac index(CI),stroke volume(SV),serum cystatin C (Cys-C),amino terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor(NT-proBNP),mean arterial pressure(MAP), pulmonary capillary pressure(PCWP). Results Before treatment,the differences of LVEDD,LVEF,CI and SV levels between the experimental group and the control group were not statistically significant(P > 0.05). After treatment,the LVEDD of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P < 0.05).The LVEF,CI and SV values in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum Cys-C and NT-proBNP levels between the experimental group and the control group before treatment(P > 0.05). After treatment,the serum levels of Cys-C and NT-proB-NP in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P < 0.05). Before treatment,the difference of MAP and PCWP levels between the experimental group and the control group was not statistically significant(P > 0.05). After treatment,the MAP and PCWP levels in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the experimental group was 10.00％ and the difference between the control group and the control group was not statistically significant(P > 0.05). Conclusions Levosimmentan combined with freeze-dried recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in patients with senile heart failure can significantly improve cardiac function,reduce Cys-C,NT-proBNP levels,and improve hemodynamic parameters.

Objective: To study the treatment of huge empyema with free vastus lateralis muscle flap. Methods: From May 2015 to December 2015, 3 cases of empyema were treated with free vastus lateralis muscle flaps, (unilateral vastus lateralis muscle flap, n=2; bilateral vastus lateralis muscle flaps with Flow-through technique, n=1). The volumes of defects were 12.4 cm×5.1 cm×6.4 cm, 11.8 cm×6.9 cm×5.6 cm, and 14.4 cm×7.6 cm×9.4 cm, respectively. Result: All flaps was survived after 23-29 months follow-up. The pus cavities were filled well. There was no empyema reoccurred. The patients felt good, without chest distress. The donor site of flap healed well. The function of lower limb was not affected. Conclusions Vastus lateralis muscle can fill the pus cavity of empyema successfully, without the sacrifice of chest shape. Free vastus lateralis muscle flap is an ideal choice to repair large empyema defection. For young patient, bilateral free vastus lateralis muscle flap can be used if the cavity is too large to fill with one flap.