Thoracic endovascular aortic repair has served as the predominant treatment approach for patients with thoracic aortic diseases. In order to ensure the successful release of the stent as well as a good proximal anchoring effect, it is necessary to preserve or reconstruct the left subclavian supply as much as possible. With the advance of various endovascular assistive technologies, different left subclavian artery revascularization techniques have gained widespread acceptance. So far, techniques include carotid-subclavian bypass or transposition, chimney grafts, fenestrations, branched aortic devices can reconstruct the left subclavian artery and other branch vessels on the arch. This article reviewed the present situation of left subclavian artery reconstruction and the selection of surgical methods of thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for and outcomes of preoperative hepatic dysfunction (HD) in patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection (ADIAD).Methods:A retrospective study including 810 consecutive patients between January 2014 and December 2019 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital was performed with emergency surgical repair. All patients were divided into non-HD and HD groups according to the Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score before surgery and their clinical parameters and clinical outcomes were collected and compared. To determine independent predictors of preoperative HD, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using variables with P<0.5 in the univariate analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted to analyze the association between preoperative HD and postoperative long-term survival. Results:The mean age of the patients was (52.4±12.5) years. 215 patients (26.5%) were identified as the preoperative HD group. In univariate analysis, significant difference was found with respect to the postoperative complications (98.6% vs. 94.5%, P=0.011) and 30-day mortality (20.0% vs. 8.4%, P<0.001) between the two groups. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that elevated serum troponin T levels upon admission( OR=1.921, P<0.001) and preoperative cardiac tamponade ( OR=2.158, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for preoperative HD. The long-term mortality rate was not significantly affected by preoperative HD. Conclusion:Early HD before surgery was commonly observed in patients with ADIAD and was associated with increased postoperative complications and 30-Day mortality. Elevated serum troponin T levels upon admission and preoperative cardiac tamponade were identified as risk factors for preoperative HD.

Objective:To investigate the short-term effects of staged hybrid abdominal aortic debranching technique in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aorta.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2018, 22 patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms underwent surgical treatment in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Among them, 12 underwent staged hybrid abdominal aortic debranching (AAD), and 10 underwent traditional thoracoabdominal aortic replacement (TAR). AAD consisted of two phases: the first phase of surgery was mid-opening, Y-type artificial blood vessels replaced the lower abdominal aorta and bilateral common iliac arteries, and the abdominal aortic branches were reconstructed at the same time: right branch artificial blood vessels-right renal artery-left renal artery, the left branch artificial blood vessel-superior mesenteric artery-common hepatic artery; the second phase was endovascular repair anchoring normal and long-term normal aorta or artificial blood vessel. The clinical effected of two methods for the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms were compared and analyzed.Results:The overall mortality rate was 13.6%, and the mortality rate in the TAR group increased significantly (0 vs. 30%). The main cause was dissection (91.7% vs. 90.0%, P=0.895). Crawford classification was predominantly type Ⅱ in both groups(58.3% vs. 50.0%, P=0.082). The proportion of patients with Marfan syndrome in the TAR group was higher (30% vs. 0, P=0.046). The TAR group was significantly more drained 24 h after surgery [(355.0±199.2)ml vs. (1244.0±716.1)ml, P= 0.003]. The TAR group had a higher proportion of lung infections (40% vs. 0, P= 0.018). The average cost was higher in the AAD group [(28.4±8.3) ten thousands yuan vs. (19.3±10.4) ten thousands yuan, P= 0.033]. Conclusion:The staged hybrid abdominal aortic debranching technique can effectively treat thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Compared with traditional thoracoabdominal aortic replacement, the surgical trauma is smaller but more expensive.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of the pulmonary rehabilitation system based on the concept of prehabilitation for patients after cardiac surgery to wean tube and avoid related complications.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2019 in a single-center(third-class hospital in cardiac surgery intensive care unit), all adult patients hospitalized for 7 days before open-heart surgery were included. They were randomly divided into pulmonary rehabilitation group(198 cases) and control group(234 cases). To compare and analyze the clinical effects, the main observations were observed including overall outcome indicators(such as early extubation rate, ICU stay, hospitalization costs, advanced oxygen therapy support after extubation) and lung outcome related indicators(such as the occurrence of pulmonary complications, chest drainage, secondary intubation, tracheotomy, lung infection and chest tube drainage).Results:There was no statistical difference between groups in basic conditions and surgical conditions. The lung rehabilitation group significantly increased the rate of early extubation, reduced the number of advanced oxygen therapy after weaning, shortened the length of ICU stay, saved hospitalization cost, significantly reduced the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications and improved postoperative respiratory function( P<0.05). Conclusion:During cardiac perioperation, pulmonary rehabilitation significantly can increase the rate of early extubation , shorten the length of mechanical ventilation, reduce the occurrence of secondary tracheal intubation and pulmonary complications. And it can also effectively promote the recovery of lung function and the overall recovery.

Objective:To introduce a new method of root reconstruction for proximal repair of acute type A aortic dissection, and to retrospectively analyze its short-term efficacy.Methods:From January 2018 to October 2019, a total of 455 patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection received surgical treatment. Among them, 343 patients underwent double-jacket-wrapping(DJW) root reinforcement(11 patients underwent leaflet suspension), 81 patients underwent Bentall surgery, 15 Wheat operations, 12 untreated roots, and 4 David operations. Compared 343 patients who underwent double-jacket-wrapping root reconstruction and 81 patients who underwent Bentall surgery. The perioperative indicators and short-term survival of the two groups were compared.Results:No patients died intraoperatively. The 30-day mortality rate in the DJW group and the Bentall group were 10.5% and 7.4%, respectively( P=0.403); cardiopulmonary bypass time were(218.8±68.4) min and(240.2 ± 59.8), P=0.011; aortic clamp time were(150.6 ± 47.9) min and(181.3 ±45.6)min, P=0.000. There was no difference between the operation time and the deep hypothermia circulatory time between the two groups. The mean follow-up was(11.7±6.4) months. Seven and two follow-up deaths occurred in the DJW group and the Bentall group, respectively, and the cause of death was not related to the aortic root. The degree of aortic regurgitation after DJW was 0.7±0.5, which was significantly lower than that before surgery( P=0.000). Conclusion:Compared with Bentall surgery, DJW method is a safe and effective method for the repair of acute type A aortic dissection roots, which can obtain good perioperative and early curative effects.

Objective:To summarize acute type A aortic dissection(ATAAD) is relatively uncommon in dialysis patients, and repair outcomes are not fully understood.Methods:Between January 2014 and March 2020, 20 patients with ATAAD required dialysis for preoperative end-stage renal disease(ESRD) were treated by our group. There were 11 male and 9 female patients at mean age of(47.8±11.3) years. The mean duration of dialysis therapy in the total 20 patients before the onset of ATAAD was(4.5±3.9 )years, with 90%(18 cases) of these patients undergoing hemodialysis(rather than peritoneal dialysis). 17 patients were treated emergency surgically, surgical operation were performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and perfused the cerebral selective cerebral perfusion, 5 cases with ascending aorta + arch fenestrated stent, 5 cases with ascending aorta+ hemi-arch replacement(2 cases with stent elephant trunk), 4 cases with ascending aorta+ arch replacement+ stent elephant trunk(1 case with coronary artery bypass grafting for left anterior descending coronary artery), 2 cases with aortic valvuloplasty + ascending aorta+ hemi-arch replacement, 1 case with Bentall+ arch fenestrated stent.Results:2 patients were died from aortic ruptured before operation, 1 patient treated medically was alive three months after admission. Cross-clamp, cardiopulmonary bypass, and circulatory arrest times of all the surgical patients were(233.8±84.4) min, (155.5±63.6)min and(28.2±10.8)min, respectively. The following complications occurred postoperative: 3 cases died in the hospital, 1 case of tracheotomy, 2 cases of cerebral infarction, 1 case of cerebral hemorrhage, 1 case of transient paraplegia, and 1 case of surgical site infection. After a mean follow-up of(11.6±14.5) months(rang, 3-61 months). the overall survival rate at 1 year and 5 years was 53% and 27% respectively.Conclusion:Dialysis patients with ATAAD should be operated on urgently and medical treatment carries high risks of aortic rupture, although in-hospital mortality is acceptable, long-term mortality is poor.

This paper analyzed the current status of standardized training for specialists in China using American "milestone concept" and its competency training and assessment system for specialists as references. To achieve the goal of training high-standard and homogeneous cardiothoracic surgeons, a "milestone plan" focusing on the cultivation of diagnosis and treatment capacity of specialists, their mastery ability of medical knowledge, communication ability, professional ability, system-based clinical practice ability, practice-based learning ability and the ability of pursuing improvement was explored. In addition, daily assessment and summary assessment were carried out by means of self-evaluation, superior evaluation and peer evaluation. At the end, training of six core competencies and multi-dimensional evaluation system for cardiothoracic surgeons were constructed, which provided significant references to the construction of training and assessment system for specialists in China.

Objective:To assess the association of time interval with surgical repair effects for patients with ventricular septal defect(VSD) following acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods:From January 2010 to December 2017, 14 patients with VSD induced by AMI have received surgical therapy in our department. The age of the entire group was (65.5±3.3) years with male percentage of 78.6%(11/14). VSDs were anterior apical in 10(71.4%) and posterior inferior in 4(28.6%) patients. Average size of VSD was(15.8±5.8)mm. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' clinical manifestations, surgical methods and outcomes. According to the time interval from AMI onset and operation, patients were divided into two groups, Group 1(9 cases) as more than one week and Group 2(5 cases) as less than one week. Comparing study was done and differences were analyzed.Results:All patients underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic clamp time was(203.9±52.3)min and(152.4±44.8)min. The mortality rate was 14.3%(2/14), higher in Group 2 but no significant differences(20.0% vs 11.1%, P=1.000). Mechanical support(IABP and ECMO) were more common in Group 2, both in preoperative(IABP 80.0% vs 22.2%, P=0.091; ECMO 20.0% vs. 0, P=0.357) and intraoperative period(IABP 60.0% vs. 0, P=0.027; ECMO 40.0% vs. 0, P=0.110). Compared with Group 1, Group 2 revealed worse left ventricular function(LVEF 0.304±0.023 vs. 0.408±0.103, P=0.035), higher rate of urgent procedure(100% vs. 11.1%, P=0.003). No resistant shunt and death was found during follow-up. Conclusion:Surgery is an effective way to treat AMI with VSD. When the time from onset to surgery exceeds one week, the patient's hemodynamic condition is more stable and the operation is safer. Patients undergoing surgery within one week show more unstable hemodynamic status, and mechanical assistance supports can correct the hemodynamic status and improve perioperative success rate.

Objective: To analyze the treatment results of cardiac rupture in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) . Method: Clinical data of 6 with cardiac rupture after AMI, who were hospitalized in our hospital from June 2015 to June 2017, were retrospectively analyzed,and the clinical manifestations, methods of treatment and outcomes were investigated. Results: Cardiac function classification was Killip class Ⅱin all patients. There were 3 massive anterior wall myocardial infarction, 2 anterior wall myocardial infarction,and 1 inferior myocardial infarction. There were 4 patients with ventricular septal defect, 1 patient with rupture of papillary muscle,and 1 patient with left ventricular free wall rupture.All patients received continuous infusion of vasoactive medicines and treated with intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP), 2 patients (1 patient accepted operative treatment,and 1 patient received conservative treatment) were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mechanical ventilation,and continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT).Three patients received surgical repair,1 case was supported by IABP, 1 case supported by ECMO,CRRT,and IABP,and 1 case did not use IABP or ECMO post operation. All 3 surgically treated patients recovered successfully and were discharged from hospital.Meanwhile, in the other 3 patients treated conservatively, 2 patients died in the hospital and 1 patient was discharged according to own will. Conclusion On the basis of vasoactive medicines and IABP, surgery repair is a feasible option for cardiac rupture patients secondary to AMI,and ECMO may improve the perioperative state in these patients.

The first aortic valve repair was performed in 1958, but the clinical outcome was limited. Since the invention of prosthetic valves, aortic valve replacement has become and still maintained the dominated surgical treatment option. As the impact of the prosthetic valve-related event to quality of life of the patients and the studies of the mechanism of aortic regurgitation and the functional anatomy of aortic root grow, the application of aortic valve repair gets more popular, and the short- and mid-term outcomes are good.