Objective To compare early outcomes of the minimally invasive aortic valve surgery (MIAVS) through right parasternal mini-thoracotomy with conventional mitral valve surgery (AVS),and evaluate feasibility and safety of MIAVS.Methods From January 2017 to December 2017,60 patients undergoing elective AVS in Nanjing First Hospital were prospectively enrolled in this study.There were 32 male and 28 female patients with their age of 28-72 (46.5 ± 10.2)years.Using a random number table,all the patients were randomly divided into a port-access MIAVS group (MIAVS group,n =20) and a conventional AVS group (conventional group,n =60).MIAVS group patients received port-access cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) establishment via femoral artery,femoral vein and right internal jugular vein cannulation through right the 3rd in tercostal space with 5-6 cm right parasternal incision in length.Special MIAVS operative instruments were used for mitral valve repair or replacement.Conventional group patients received mitral valve repair or replacement under conventional CPB through median sternotomy.Perioperative clinical data,morbidity and mortality were compared between the 2 groups.Results There was no death in-hospital or shortly after discharge in this study.CPB time [(106.0 ± 21.0) minutes vs (73.0 ± 15.0) minutes] and aortic cross-clamping time [(78.0 ± 10.0) minutes vs (47.0 ± 7.0) minutes] of MIAVS group were significantly longer than those of conventional group (P ≤ 0.05).Postoperative mechanical ventilation time [(7.0 ±4.2) hours vs (10.2 ±5.3)hours],length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay [(19.0 ± 4.0) hours vs (27.5 ± 8.0) hours] and postoperative hospital stay [(8.5 ± 2.5) days vs (13.0 ± 3.0) days] of MIAVS group were significantly shorter than those of conventional group (P ≤ 0.05).Chest drainage volume within postoperative 12 hours [(100.0 ±40.0)ml vs (410.0 ±80.0)ml] and the percentage of patients receiving blood transfusion (15.0％ vs 55.0％) of MIAVS group were significantly lower than those of conventional group (P ≤0.05).Patients were followed up for 1-12 months,and the follow-up rate was 96.7％.There was no statistical difference in postoperative morbidity or mortality between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery through right right parasternal mini-thoracotomy is a safe and feasible procedure for surgical treatment of mitral valve diseases.MIAVS can achieve similar clinical outcomes as conventional AVS,with more quickly recovery and less blood transfusion,and is a good alternative to conventional AVS.

Objective To assess the prognostic value of the serum level and its change of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptides(NT-proBNP)in the elderly with acute decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF). Methods A total of 138 consecutive patients(≥ 65 years old) admitted in Geriatrics and Gerontology Department at Beijing Friendship Hospital were enrolled from June 2013 to June 2015.Demographic characteristics,combination of diseases,medication administration, laboratorial and echocardiographic data were recorded.Meanwhile,NT-proBNP levels at admission,7thday after admission,changes over 7 days were also recorded and calculated.At the end of 1 year follow up,all patients were divided into events group(n=72)with,and control group(n=66)without,adverse outcomes of heart failure death,heart failure readmission and all-cause death.The differences in NT-proBNP level at admission,7thday after admission,and its changed value and rate over 7 days were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was used for analysis of independent risk factors for prognosis.And the cut-off points of NT-proBNP values to predict adverse events were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve. Results NT-proBNP values were significantly higher at admission and at 7thdays after admission in the events group than in control group(P=0.000).There were no significantly differences in NT-proBNP level and its changes over 7 days between two groups(P= 0.370 and P= 0.272).Logistic regression analysis showed that NT-proBNP values at admission and 7thdays after admission,and NYHA functional classification were independent risk factors for adverse outcomes in 1 year in the elderly with HFpEF(all P<0.05).Furthermore,by the ROC curve,NT-proBNP values at admission and 7thdays after admission could predict adverse outcomes including composite endpoints of heart failure,re-admission,heart failure associated death,and all-cause mortality in 1 year. Conclusions Both the plasma NT-proBNP levels at admission and at 7thdays after admission have a correlation with prognosis in elderly patients with acute decompensated HFpEF,while changes of NT-proBNP concentration over 7 days could not predict adverse outcomes in this cohort.

Objective To summanrize the operative method and follow-up data of total aortic arch replacement combined with transaortic stented graft implantation into the descending aorta (Sun's procedure) for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection.Methods Between August 2004 and March 2012,73 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent this procedure.60 males and 13 females ranging in age from 26 to 79 years (mean age,49,6 years).Right axillary or femoral artery cannulation was routinely used for cardiopulmonary bypass.Cerebral protection was achieved by bilatero-antegrade or selected hrain perfusion.The stented elephant trunk was implanted throuugh the aortic arch under hypothermic circulatory arrest.The stented elephant trunk was a 10cmlong self expandable graft.Patent false lumina were evaluated using computed tomography 3 months and once each year after discharge to evaluate the postoperative time course of the residual false lumen.Results Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was (248.1±69.8)min,and selected cerebral perfusion time was (38.2±10.5)min.Hospital morality was 6.85 ％ (5/73).Thrombus obliteration of the residual false lumen in the descending thoracic aorta was observed in 9 1.7％ of the aortic dissections 3 months postoperatively.The mean follow-up time was(36.4 ± 31.6)months (range,2 to91 months).Survival at 1,5,7 years was 97％,87％ and 81％,respectively.Conclusion Total aortic arch replacement combined with transaortic stented paft implantation into the descending aorta is an effective treatment and n more promising choice for acute type A aortic dissection.

A 77-year-old man was admitted to our hospital at July 5th,2010 with an unexplained massive pericardial effusion for 10 years.With dyspnea for one month and normal vital signs without pulsus paradoxus,other physical examination included a small amount of moist rale,normal heart sounds,jugular vein engorgement,positive hepatojugular reflux,hepatosplenomegaly and pitting edema of the extremities.The patient had a complex past history with lymph node tuberculosis,primary artertial hypertension,polycythernia vera,chronic renal insufficiency and hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis),and moreover,received a high dose radiation of 31p in 1967. Family history is negative.The patient had no cardiac tamponade or pericardial constriction during 10 years,he received pericardiocentesis twice,and pericardial effusion was exudative with a high proportion of monocyte.There was no evidences of tuberculosis infection,hypothyroidism,malignant tumor,severe heart failure,uremia,trauma,severe bacterial or fungus infection,chronic myeloid leukemia or bone marrow fibrosis during the admission. The patient refused anti tuberculosis,indwelling catheter drainage or surgical therapy.In this rare case,the aetiology of chronic massive pericardial effusion is most probably chronic idiopathic recurrent pericarditis.