Objective     To investigate the left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in patients with aortic valve insufficiency with reduced ejection fraction (AIrEF) and aortic valve insufficiency with preserved ejection fraction (AIpEF) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods    The clinical and follow-up data of patients who underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the guideline, the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction<55% were allocated to an AIrEF group, and the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥55% were allocated to an AIpEF group. Results    A total of 50 patients were enrolled. There were 19 patients in the AIrEF group, including 15 males and 4 females with a mean age of 74.5±7.1 years. There were 31 patients in the AIpEF group, including 19 males and 12 females with a mean age of 72.0±4.8 years. All patients underwent TAVR successfully. Echocardiographic results showed that TAVR significantly promoted LVRR in the patients. Significant LVRR occurred in the early postoperative period (the first day after the surgery) in both groups. It remained relatively stable after the LVRR in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) in the AIpEF patients, while it continued to occur in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) to three months after the surgery in the AIrEF patients, and then remained relatively stable. Compared to preoperative values, AIrEF patients had a reduction in the average left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and left ventricular end-systolic volume index by 16.8 mL/m2 (P=0.003) and 8.6 mL/m2 (P=0.005), respectively, and the average left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index and end-systolic diameter index decreased by 2.5 mm/m2 (P=0.003) and 1.9 mm/m2 (P=0.003), respectively on the first day after the surgery. In comparison to the first day after the surgery, AIrEF patients experienced an average increase of 12.1% in the left ventricular ejection fraction three months after the surgery (P<0.001). Conclusion    TAVR has achieved good therapeutic effects in patients with aortic valve insufficiency, significantly promoting the LVRR in patients, and has better curative effects in AIrEF patients.

Objective:To explore the changes of left ventricular remodeling after artificial chordae implantation and its effect on the recurrence of mitral regurgitation(MR).Methods:Clinical data of 141 patients with severe mitral regurgitation(Carpentier type Ⅱ) repaired by artificial chordae technique in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into significant regurgitation group(15 cases) and non- significant regurgitation group(126 cases) according to the presence or absence of moderate regurgitation by follow-up echocardiography. To observe the effect of left ventricular reverse remodeling(LVRR) on the recurrence of MR after artificial chordae implantation and analyze the risk factors.Results:All patients successfully underwent mitral valvuloplasty with artificial chordae. In the early postoperative period(30 days after operation), LVRR appeared in both groups(LVEDD and LVESD were significantly smaller than those before operation, P<0.05); LVRR was further enhanced(LVEDD and LVESD were further reduced, P<0.05) in non- significant regurgitation group at 1 year after operation, but left ventricular remodeling reoccurred in significant regurgitation group at 1 year after operation(LVEDD and LVESD increased compared with the early postoperative period, P<0.05). After 12-132 months’ follow-up, 15 patients had more than moderate MR. In the early postoperative period, 13 patients had more than mild MR, 8 of which evolved to more than moderate MR during follow-up. Cox regression showed that LVEDD≥65 mm( HR=5.573) and more than mild MR in the early postoperative period( HR=8.801) were the risk factors for the recurrence of MR after artificial chordae implantation. Conclusion:LVRR appeared in the early postoperative period, and the degree of LVRR further increased at 1 year after operation, but the patients with significant MR would reappear left ventricular remodeling. Early postoperative LVRR had a bad effect on the recurrence of MR after artificial chordae implantation, while further enhanced LVRR at 1 year after operation had little effect on the recurrence MR.

Objective    To summarize the experience and efficacy of "one-stop" left atrial appendage clipping (LAAC) combined with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and aortic valve disease. Methods     From April 2018 to March 2021, 16 patients with AF and severe aortic valve disease underwent "one-stop" LAAC and TAVR in our department. All patients had long-standing persistent AF. There were 10 males and 6 females with an average age of 77.2±6.2 years. CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.4±0.8 points, and HAS-BLED score was 3.5±0.7 points. Results    All patients successfully underwent "one-stop" LAAC combined with TAVR. There was no death during perioperative and follow-up periods. The length of the left atrial appendage base measured during the operation was 37.8±3.5 mm. The types of atrial appendage clip were 35 mm (n=3), 40 mm (n=8) and 45 mm (n=5). The time required for clipping the left atrial appendage (from skin cutting to skin suturing) was 25.7±3.8 min. There was no stroke or bleeding of important organs during the perioperative period. The average hospital stay was 6.8±2.0 d. The follow-up time was 19.6±10.1 months, during which there was no patient of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. During the administration of warfarin, 2 patients had subcutaneous ecchymosis and 1 patient had gingival bleeding. Conclusion    "One-stop" LAAC combined with TAVR can be safely and effectively used to treat AF and aortic valve disease patients with high risk of thromboembolism and anticoagulant bleeding. The early and middle-term curative effect is satisfactory.

Objective    To investigate the technique and efficacy of left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) in elderly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods    From 2013 to 2018, 84 elderly patients with CAD and AF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF< 50%) underwent OPCABG in our department. There were 54 males and 30 females at age of 70-82 years. They were divided into a left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion group (n=56) and a non-LAA occlusion group (n=28). Postoperative antithrombotic therapy: the LAA occlusion group was given warfarin + aspirin + clopidogrel “triple antithrombotic therapy” for 3 months after operation, then was changed to aspirin + clopidogrel “dual antiplatelet” for long-term antithrombotic; the non-LAA occlusion group was given warfarin + aspirin + clopidogrel “triple antithrombotic” for long-term antithrombotic after operation. The clinical effectiveness of the two groups was compared. Results    All patients underwent the surgery successfully. There were 56 patients in the LAA occlusion group, including 44 patients of LAA exclusion and 12 patients of LAA clip. The time of LAA occlusion was 3 to 8 minutes. There was no injury of graft vessels and anastomotic stoma. Early postoperative death occurred in 2 patients (2.4%). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in postoperative hospital stay (P=0.115). Postoperative LVEF of the two groups significantly improved compared with that before operation (P<0.05). There was no stroke or bleeding in important organs during hospitalization. During follow-up of 1 year, no cerebral infarction occurred in both groups, but the incidence of bleeding related complications in the LAA occlusion group was significantly lower than that in the non-LAA occlusion group (3.6% vs. 18.5%, P=0.036). Conclusion    For elderly patients with CAD and AF with reduced LVEF, LAA occlusion during OPCABG can effectively reduce the risk of stroke and bleeding related complications, and without increasing the risk of surgery.

Objective    To summarize the application and clinical effect of left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy to surgical repair of subarterial ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children. Methods    From October 2015 to April 2019, 21 children with subarterial VSD underwent surgical repair via left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged 5-13 (9.1±2.2) years, and weighing 22-55 (35.6±9.5) kg. The diameter of subarterial VSD was 4-15 (9.1±3.3) mm. Eight patients had right coronary valve prolapse, and 4 aortic valve regurgitation (3 mild and 1 mild-to-moderate). The minimally invasive surgery was performed via left parasternal thoracotomy through the second or third intercostal space. The peripheral perfusion was performed with femoral arterial and venous cannulation. After aortic cross-clamp (ACC), subarterial VSD was performed with direct suture of patch closure through an incision on the root of pulmonary artery. Results    All patients successfully underwent surgical repair (patch closure, n=15; direct suture, n=6) of subarterial VSD through left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 45-68 (57.1±6.3) min. The ACC time was 23-40 (32.6±4.7) min. The postoperative ventilation time was 5-9 (6.3±1.3) h, postoperative in-hospital time was 5-8 (5.7±1.0) d and drainage volume was 33-105 (57.5±17.7) mL in postoperative 24 h. No death, residual VSD shunt, atrioventricular block, wound infection or thoracic deformity occurred during the perioperation or follow-up. Only one patient still had trivial aortic valve regurgitation. Conclusion    Left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy could be safely and effectively applied to surgical repair of subarterial VSD in children, with satisfactory early- and mid-term outcomes.

Objective    To summarize the experience of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with self-made single-valve conduit for the treatment of complex congenital heart disease, and to explore the key points of operation, and to evaluate the short-term and medium-term results of the treatment. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 65 patients with complex congenital heart disease treated by self-made single-valve conduit from January 2006 to June 2018. There were 42 males and 23 females aged 5-23 (9.9±4.2) years with weight 15-65 (26.2±9.9) kg. There were 19 patients with single valve artificial blood vessel (an artificial vascular group), and 46 patients with single valve bovine pericardium tube (a bovine pericardial tube group). There were 48 patients of ventricular septal defect (VSD) with pulmonary atresia (PA), 10 patients of corrective transposition of great artery with pulmonary artery stenosis, 5 patients of tetralogy of Fallot with single coronary artery malformation, 2 patients of double outlet of right ventricle with pulmonary artery stenosis and single coronary artery malformation. Results    Two patients died early after operation, both of them were VSD/PA patients who underwent radical treatment of extravascular prosthesis. The right ventricular outflow tract pressure difference was 13-37 (25.2±4.9) mm Hg in the artificial vascular group and 5-23 (10.5±3.3) mm Hg in the bovine pericardial tube group. No obvious reflux was found at discharge. The patients were followed up for 8 months to 13 years. One patient was lost. During the follow-up period, there were 5 patients of moderate tricuspid regurgitation, 32 patients of moderate intraductal regurgitation, 7 patients of severe right ventricular outflow  tract obstruction, 11 patients of moderate obstruction and 25 patients of mild obstruction. There was no late death. Heart function classification of all patients was in New York Heart Association classⅠtoⅡ. Conclusion    The self-made single-valve conduit used to reconstruct right ventricular outflow tract shows good clinical effect. Using bovine pericardium tube has less pressure difference of outflow tract in comparison with artificial blood vessel. Bovine pericardium tube is more recommended for young and low weight patients.

Objective    To explore the effect and safety of surgical treatment for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with mitral regurgitation (MR) through right mini-thoracotomy. Methods    From January 2008 to June 2018, 54 patients with HOCM and moderate-to-severe MR underwent modified Morrow procedure and edge-to-edge mitral valvuloplasty through right mini-thoracotomy, including 31 males and 23 females, with an average age of 47.1±12.6 years. All patients had systolic anterior motion (SAM) phenomenon. Preoperative left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOTPG) was 93.6±32.8 mm Hg, interventricular septum thickness (IVST) was 24.8±2.8 mm. Results    Surgeries in all patients were completed successfully. No early death or interventricular septal perforation occurred. One (1.9%) patient received permanent pacemaker implantation due to the complete atrial-ventricular block. At discharge, postoperative LVOTPG (18.1±6.2 mm Hg) and IVST (14.5±2.1 mm) were significantly decreased compared with the preoperative values (P<0.05). No MR or SAM was observed in all patients. The follow-up time was 6-132 months, and during this period, no death, MR or SAM occurred. The average LVOTPG was 19.4±5.7 mm Hg, and the average IVST was 14.2±1.5 mm. Conclusion    Morrow procedure and edge-to-edge mitral valvuloplasty through right mini-thoracotomy is a safe and effective method for treatment of HOCM with moderate-to-severe MR.

Objective    To study the clinical results of Mini Maze procedure in atrial fibrillation patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function. Methods    From June 2010 to December 2017, 86 atrial fibrillation patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function received Mini Maze procedure including 54 males and 32 females, with an average age of 60.7±5.9 years. Among them, 12 were with paroxysmal, 27 were with persistent and 47 were with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. The mean atrial fibrillation duration was 6.5±4.8 years. CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.2±1.1. The mean diameter of left atrium was 46.9±3.8 mm. The mean diameter of left ventricle was 51.7±4.6 mm. The preoperative ejection fraction was 42.2%±4.7%. All patients received Mini Maze procedure after general anesthesia. The ablation included 3 annular ablations and 3 linear ablations. The left atrial appendage was excised by Endo-Gia. Ablation of Marshall ligament and epicardial autonomic ganglions were made by an ablation pen. Results    Eighty-six patients successfully completed the procedure without transition to thoracotomy. There was no death during the perioperative period. Seventy-seven patients (89.5%) maintained sinus rhythm at discharge. Eighty patients were followed up for 27.2±12.1 months and 72 patients maintained sinus rhythm. The overall postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 47.1%±6.2%. The ejection fraction of the postoperative sinus rhythm group was 48.2%±5.8%, and the ejection fraction of the non-sinus group was 41.6%±5.8% (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed a left atrial diameter (HR=1.485, 95%CI 1.157-1.906, P<0.05) and an increase in ejection fraction over 10% (HR=18.800, 95%CI 1.674-189.289, P<0.05) were closely related to postoperative recurrence. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in patients with an increase in postoperative ejection fraction over 10% (P<0.05). Conclusion    Mini Maze procedure is safe and effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which helps to improve left ventricular function to prevent the vicious circle of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Objective To determine the effects of resecting the lower half of left stellate ganglion (LSG) on fast ventricular rate (VR) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and its mechanism. Methods Twelve mature healthy male beagle dogs (15–25 kg) were studied. They were randomly divided into two groups (an experimental group and a control group, 6 dogs in each group). The control group were merely performed with rapid left atrial pacing to induce persistent AF. The experimental group were disposed with rapid left atrial pacing and received resection of the lower half of LSG after the persistent AF was documented. Simultaneously the ventricular rates were monitored separately before anesthesia, after anesthesia, 30 minutes and one month after LSG resection. The forward passing effective refractory period (ERP) of the canine atrioventricular node (AVN) was also measured. Results Each dog was documented with persistent AF after 3–6 weeks’ left atrial pacing. After resecting the lower half of LSG for 30 minutes (the control group was only observed for 30 minutes without LSG resection), the average VR of the control group attained 144.5±4.2 beats/min, while that of the experimental group was 121.5±8.7 beats/min (P<0.001). After resecting the lower half of LSG for one month (the control group was observed for one month without LSG resection), the average VR of the control group was 139.2±5.6 beats/min, while that of the experimental group was 106.5±4.9 beats/min (P<0.001). Meantime, the forward passing ERP of AVN of the experimental group was significantly prolonged than that of the control group (265.6±7.8 msvs.251.1±4.6 ms, P=0.003). Conclusion Resection of the lower half of LSG is efficient in reducing VR in canines with persistent AF, one of the mechanisms of which may be prolonging the forward passing ERP of AVN.

Objective    To investigate the results of emergent aortic arch replacement using moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest and unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA+UACP). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 146 patients who underwent emergent aortic arch replacement using MHCA+UACP in our institution from January 2008 to June 2018. There were 111 males and 35 females aged 60.3±7.2 years. According to different surgical approaches, patients were divided into two groups: a total arch replacement (TAR) group (n=104) and a semi arch replacement (SAR) group (n=42). Right axillary artery was cannulated for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cerebral perfusion. Core temperature at the onset of MHCA was 23.4±1.4 ℃. UACP was initiated at 18-22 ℃ with the flow of 5-10 ml/(kg·min). Flow was adjusted to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure of 50–60 mm Hg. Results    CPB time was 235.0±42.0 min. Aortic clamp time was 154.0±29.0 min. Circulatory arrest (CA) time was 48.1±13.0 min. The CPB time and CA time of the TAR group were longer than those of SAR group. Overall mortality rate was 9.6%. Complications included permanent neurological dysfunction (PND), temporary neurological dysfunction (TND), acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis and delayed extubation (mechanical ventilation time > 72 hours). Overall incidence of PND and TND was 2.7% and 6.8%, respectively. The incidence of AKI requiring dialysis was 4.1%. The incidence of delayed extubation was 21.9%. No difference of mortality rate or incidence of complications was found between the two groups. The average follow-up was 63.0±33.1 months. The 5-year survival rate was 72.6% in the TAR group and 85.5% in the SAR group. Conclusion    Emergent aortic arch replacement using MHCA+UACP can be accomplished with excellent results.