Objective:To explore the maintenance of sinus rhythm and the changes in functional tricuspid regurgitation(FTR) in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF) combined with FTR following the Mei Mini Maze Procedure, and to analyze the correlation between these two factors.Methods:We retrospectively included 180 patients with AF and FTR who underwent left-sided thoracoscopic AF ablation(the Mei Mini Maze Procedure) at Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai from January 2019 to December 2021. After propensity score matching to eliminate confounding factors, the patients were divided into two groups based on the severity of FTR before surgery: the non-significant FTR group(+ -+ +, 68 cases) and the significant FTR group(≥+ + +, 68 cases). Outpatient follow-up with 24-72 hour dynamic electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) was conducted at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months post-discharge. The maintenance of sinus rhythm and changes in FTR were compared between the two groups.Results:All patients successfully completed the Mei Mini Maze Procedure. Compared to preoperative values, the severity of FTR improved in both groups. Non-significant FTR group: 59% of patients(40 cases) had no regurgitation, 27%(18 cases) had mild FTR, 11%(8 cases) had moderate FTR, and 3%(2 cases) had severe FTR; significant FTR group: 19%(n=13) had no regurgitation, 25%(17 cases) had mild FTR, 25%(17 cases) had moderate FTR, and 31%(21 cases) had severe FTR. The Kaplan-Meier(KM) curve revealed that the sinus rhythm maintenance rate at 3 years post-surgery was significantly higher in the non-significant FTR group(72.06%) than in the significant FTR group (57.35%), with a statistically significant difference( P=0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative FTR ≥ moderate( HR=11.469), preoperative significant FTR( HR=1.206), age over 65 years( HR=3.734), non-paroxysmal AF( HR=2.346), and longer AF duration( HR=1.151) were risk factors for AF recurrence in this cohort. Conclusion:The recovery of sinus rhythm in AF patients is closely related to the severity of FTR. Patients with preoperative significant FTR had a lower rate of sinus rhythm maintenance after surgery. Both preoperative and postoperative significant FTR are risk factors for AF recurrence in AF patients with FTR. Therefore, for patients with significant FTR, simultaneous treatment of FTR during the surgery, including a standard Cox-Maze Ⅳ procedure, may be more beneficial for maintaining postoperative sinus rhythm.

Objective:To explore the maintenance of sinus rhythm and the changes in functional tricuspid regurgitation(FTR) in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF) combined with FTR following the Mei Mini Maze Procedure, and to analyze the correlation between these two factors.Methods:We retrospectively included 180 patients with AF and FTR who underwent left-sided thoracoscopic AF ablation(the Mei Mini Maze Procedure) at Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai from January 2019 to December 2021. After propensity score matching to eliminate confounding factors, the patients were divided into two groups based on the severity of FTR before surgery: the non-significant FTR group(+ -+ +, 68 cases) and the significant FTR group(≥+ + +, 68 cases). Outpatient follow-up with 24-72 hour dynamic electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) was conducted at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months post-discharge. The maintenance of sinus rhythm and changes in FTR were compared between the two groups.Results:All patients successfully completed the Mei Mini Maze Procedure. Compared to preoperative values, the severity of FTR improved in both groups. Non-significant FTR group: 59% of patients(40 cases) had no regurgitation, 27%(18 cases) had mild FTR, 11%(8 cases) had moderate FTR, and 3%(2 cases) had severe FTR; significant FTR group: 19%(n=13) had no regurgitation, 25%(17 cases) had mild FTR, 25%(17 cases) had moderate FTR, and 31%(21 cases) had severe FTR. The Kaplan-Meier(KM) curve revealed that the sinus rhythm maintenance rate at 3 years post-surgery was significantly higher in the non-significant FTR group(72.06%) than in the significant FTR group (57.35%), with a statistically significant difference( P=0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative FTR ≥ moderate( HR=11.469), preoperative significant FTR( HR=1.206), age over 65 years( HR=3.734), non-paroxysmal AF( HR=2.346), and longer AF duration( HR=1.151) were risk factors for AF recurrence in this cohort. Conclusion:The recovery of sinus rhythm in AF patients is closely related to the severity of FTR. Patients with preoperative significant FTR had a lower rate of sinus rhythm maintenance after surgery. Both preoperative and postoperative significant FTR are risk factors for AF recurrence in AF patients with FTR. Therefore, for patients with significant FTR, simultaneous treatment of FTR during the surgery, including a standard Cox-Maze Ⅳ procedure, may be more beneficial for maintaining postoperative sinus rhythm.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of stiff left atrial syndrome (SLAS) after Mei mini maze procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF), and to explore its risk factors and treatments. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of the patients who underwent Mei mini maze procedure in Xinhua Hospital between 2010 and 2020. According to whether SLAS occurred in the early postoperative period, patients were divided into a SLAS group and a non-SLAS group. The basic data, perioperative echocardiogram and laboratory test indexes of the two groups were compared. Results A total of 1 056 patients were collected. There were 672 (63.6%) males with an average age of 63.6±9.3 years, including 489 patients with persistent AF and 567 patients with paroxysmal AF. Fourteen (14/1 056, 1.3%) patients developed SLAS, with an average occurrence time of 2.1±1.1 days after the surgery. The average follow-up time of the whole group was 21.4±7.8 months. Two patients in the SLAS group developed SLAS again after discharge, and the occurrence time was 3 weeks and 4 weeks after the operation, respectively; while no SLAS occurred after discharge in the non-SLAS group. Diabetes and small preoperative left atrial diameter were risk factors for SLAS after surgery. Patients with SLAS had a good prognosis after adequate diuretic therapy. Conclusion The incidence of SLAS after Mei mini maze procedure for AF is low, and it mostly occurs in the early postoperative period. After adequate diuretic treatment, the prognosis is good.

Objective    To summarize the clinical data and efficacy of surgical treatment of aortic periannular abscess. Methods    The clinical data of 35 aortic periannular abscess patients admitted to our hospital from January 2009 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 21 males and 14 females, aged 36 to 67 (53.0±12.3) years. Among them, there were 14 patients of native aortic valve endocarditis and 21 patients of prosthetic valve endocarditis (16 patients of mechanical valve and 5 patients of biological valve). Preoperative blood cultures were positive in 15 patients, including 8 patients of Staphylococcus aureus, 2 patients of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 3 patients of Streptococcus grass green, 1 patient of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 1 patient of Enterococcus. Results    Eleven patients underwent emergency or urgent surgery. Thirty patients underwent aortic valve replacement, and 5 patients underwent modified Cabrol surgery to replace the aortic root. Early postoperative complications included 1 patient of bleeding, 8 patients of low cardiac output syndrome, 5 patients of renal insufficiency, 10 patients of respiratory insufficiency, 3 patients of tracheotomy, 8 patients of pulmonary infection and 1 patient cerebrovascular accident. The postoperative follow-up period was 6 to 120 (53.6±20.8) months. During the follow-up, 4 patients died and 4 patients were lost. No infection recurred during the follow-up. Perivalval leakage occurred in 3 patients, and one patient underwent occlusion 12 months following the procedure. The survival curve indicated that the 1-year survival rate was 85.5%, and the 5-year survival rate was 67.3%. Conclusion    Although the lesions of periannular abscesses are complicated and critical, effective perioperative antibiotic treatment, individualized surgical timing, and appropriate surgical strategies can significantly reduce mortality and achieve better results.