Objective:To investigate the relationship between early international normalized ratio(INR)and overanticoagulation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)treated with Warfarin, and to evaluate its clinical value in predicting overanticoagulation.Methods:A total of 470 elderly patients with AF treated with Warfarin for anticoagulation were enrolled retrospectively.INR was detected in the morning of the next day after 3 days and 7 days of Warfarin treatment.According to whether INR was greater than 3.0 after 7 days of Warfarin treatment, the patients were divided into over-anticoagulation group(n=107)and non-over-anticoagulation group(n=363). The general clinical data of the two groups were analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was used to evaluate the value of 3-day INR(early INR)level in predicting overanticoagulation.Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to overanticoagulation in elderly AF patients receiving Warfarin treatment.Results:The age, initial warfarin dose, early INR and serum aspartate transferase level in the over-anticoagulation group were higher than those in the non-over-anticoagulation group( P<0.05 for all). The proportions of patients with initial Warfarin dose≥2.5 mg, age≥70 years old, body weight≤65 kg, valvular atrial fibrillation, hypoproteinemia, abnormal liver function, and combined use of antibiotics were higher in the over-anticoagulation group than those in the non-over-anticoagulation group( P<0.05 for all). The body weight, serum albumin level and the proportion of diabetes mellitus in the over-anticoagulation group were lower than those in the non-over-anticoagulation group( P<0.05). ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of early INR in predicting over-anticoagulation was 0.927(95% CI: 0.900-0.949, P<0.0001), the sensitivity was 82.86% and the specificity was 88.43%, the optimal cutoff value for predicting overanticoagulation was INR≥1.66.Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that early INR level≥1.66( OR=33.871, P<0.001), initial warfarin dose≥2.5 mg( OR=17.062, P=0.011), body weight≤65 kg( OR=2.824, P=0.002), age≥70 years old( OR=2.678, P=0.003), and abnormal liver function( OR=2.091, P=0.022)were related factors for over-anticoagulation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. Conclusions:Early INR level is closely related to overuse of anticoagulation in elderly AF patients receiving Warfarin treatment, which can be regarded as a predictor of overuse of anticoagulation.Early INR level in elderly AF patients receiving warfarin treatment should be monitored to reduce the incidence of anticoagulant overuse.

Objective:To investigate the effect of preoperative use of diuretics on cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury(CSA-AKI)in elderly patients.Methods:In this single-center retrospective study, 1 638 patients aged ≥60 years and undergone cardiac surgery(including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement and valvuloplasty)in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Linyi People's Hospital between January 2015 and December 2022 were recruited.The last preoperative serum creatinine(SCr)level was taken as the baseline value, and AKI was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes(KDIGO)criteria.Patients were divided into an AKI group and a non-AKI group according to whether AKI occurred after surgery.The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared, and the effect of preoperative use of diuretics on CSA-AKI was evaluated by multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:Of 1638 patients enrolled in the study, 284 patients(17.3%)developed CSA-AKI.Compared with the non-AKI group, there were higher proportions of patients in the AKI group receiving furosemide(62.7% or 178/284 vs.46.2% or 626/1 354, χ2=25.397, P<0.001), spironolactone(70.1% or 199/284 vs.49.9% or 676/1 354, χ2=38.284, P<0.001), and hydrochlorothiazide(8.1% or 23/284 vs.3.5% or 47/1354, χ2=12.288, P<0.001). The number of diuretics in the AKI group was higher than in the non-AKI group[2(0, 2) vs.1(0, 2), Z=-6.381, P<0.001], and the proportion of patients using ≥2 diuretics was higher in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group(70.1% or 199/284 vs.49.0% or 664/1354, χ2=41.652, P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypoalbuminemia, NYHA functional class Ⅲ/Ⅳ, cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery, operative duration≥6 h, postoperative blood transfusion>600 ml, postoperative use of >3 vasoactive drugs and other variables, preoperative use of ≥2 diuretics remained an independent risk factor for CSA-AKI in elderly patients( OR=1.580, 95% CI: 1.042-2.396, P=0.031). Conclusions:AKI is a common complication after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.Preoperative use of ≥2 diuretics used may be an independent risk factor for CSA-AKI.

Objective::Annulus-sparing (AS) repair for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with a dysplastic pulmonary valve annulus (PVA) is a challenging procedure and is controversial. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and surgical effect of AS repair versus transannular patch enlargement (TAPE) repair, especially in individuals with dysplastic pulmonary valves.Methods::This retrospective cohort study included 375 pediatric patients with a primary diagnosis of TOF in the Center for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai hospital from January 2014 to June 2017. Among them, 60 consecutive and nonselective patients underwent 1-stage repair of TOF with aggressive PVA-preserving strategies performed by a single surgeon were enrolled in AS cohort. In AS cohort, patients were divided into AS, PVA z-score ≥-2 group (33 patients) and AS, PVA z-score <-2 group (27 patients). During the same period, 315 patients underwent TAPE repair by other surgeons were enrolled as TAPE cohort, of these, 87 patients with PVA z-score ≥-2 were excluded. From the 228 patients in the TAPE group, 27 cases were selected as TAPE, PVA z-score <-2 group according to the propensity score and 1:1 ratio with AS, PVA z-score <-2 group. The primary outcome was a composite of reintervention, significant pulmonary regurgitation, and significant annular peak gradient (APG). Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted to show the survival rate of severe pulmonary regurgitation.Results::One death occurred after the TAPE operation in TAPE group, and 1 patient in the AS z ≥-2 group needed reintervention with a balloon. After a median follow-up of (30.3±11.6) months, compared with AS z ≥-2 group, there was no difference in the technical performance score for severe pulmonary stenosis (APGs > 20 mmHg) in the AS z <-2 group. Compared with TAPE, AS repair was often accompanied by a postoperative APGs over 20 mmHg ( P = 0.001). More patients underwent TAPE suffered from moderate or severe pulmonary regurgitation than those who received AS repair (20 (74.1%) vs. 7 (26.0%), P < 0.001). AS repair was associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (20 vs. 29 hours, P = 0.039), faster discharge from the intensive care unit (2.0 vs. 4.0 days, P = 0.022) and shorter postoperative hospitalization (8.0 vs. 11.0 days, P = 0.008) compared with TAPE. Conclusions::APG demonstrated an upward trend in the TAPE group and a downtrend in the AS group after discharge from hospital. AS repair had an acceptable surgical effect in TOF patients, even in those with a dysplastic PVA. A higher APG remained upon hospital discharge in dysplastic patients with AS, but a downward trend was observed over time.

Objective::Annulus-sparing (AS) repair for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with a dysplastic pulmonary valve annulus (PVA) is a challenging procedure and is controversial. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and surgical effect of AS repair versus transannular patch enlargement (TAPE) repair, especially in individuals with dysplastic pulmonary valves.Methods::This retrospective cohort study included 375 pediatric patients with a primary diagnosis of TOF in the Center for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai hospital from January 2014 to June 2017. Among them, 60 consecutive and nonselective patients underwent 1-stage repair of TOF with aggressive PVA-preserving strategies performed by a single surgeon were enrolled in AS cohort. In AS cohort, patients were divided into AS, PVA z-score ≥-2 group (33 patients) and AS, PVA z-score <-2 group (27 patients). During the same period, 315 patients underwent TAPE repair by other surgeons were enrolled as TAPE cohort, of these, 87 patients with PVA z-score ≥-2 were excluded. From the 228 patients in the TAPE group, 27 cases were selected as TAPE, PVA z-score <-2 group according to the propensity score and 1:1 ratio with AS, PVA z-score <-2 group. The primary outcome was a composite of reintervention, significant pulmonary regurgitation, and significant annular peak gradient (APG). Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted to show the survival rate of severe pulmonary regurgitation.Results::One death occurred after the TAPE operation in TAPE group, and 1 patient in the AS z ≥-2 group needed reintervention with a balloon. After a median follow-up of (30.3±11.6) months, compared with AS z ≥-2 group, there was no difference in the technical performance score for severe pulmonary stenosis (APGs > 20 mmHg) in the AS z <-2 group. Compared with TAPE, AS repair was often accompanied by a postoperative APGs over 20 mmHg ( P = 0.001). More patients underwent TAPE suffered from moderate or severe pulmonary regurgitation than those who received AS repair (20 (74.1%) vs. 7 (26.0%), P < 0.001). AS repair was associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (20 vs. 29 hours, P = 0.039), faster discharge from the intensive care unit (2.0 vs. 4.0 days, P = 0.022) and shorter postoperative hospitalization (8.0 vs. 11.0 days, P = 0.008) compared with TAPE. Conclusions::APG demonstrated an upward trend in the TAPE group and a downtrend in the AS group after discharge from hospital. AS repair had an acceptable surgical effect in TOF patients, even in those with a dysplastic PVA. A higher APG remained upon hospital discharge in dysplastic patients with AS, but a downward trend was observed over time.