Objective To assess mid- and long-term outcomes of ascending aortic wrapping (AAW) in adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of adult patients who underwent AVR and AAW in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to August 2019. Ascending aorta diameter (AAD) was measured by echocardiography or CT scan preoperatively and postoperatively. Results A total of 33 patients were enrolled, including 23 males and 10 females aged 22-73 (51.06±12.61) years. There was no perioperative death. The mean preoperative, postoperative and follow-up AAD of the patients were (46.06±3.54) mm, (34.55±5.17) mm, and (37.12±5.64) mm, respectively. The differences in the AAD between pre-operation and post-operation, and between pre-operation and the last follow-up were both statistically significant (P<0.05). The median follow-up time was 38.20 (18.80-140.30) months. The median increase rate of diameter was 0.63 (−0.11, 1.36) mm per year after the surgery. The increase rate was >5 mm per year in 1 patient, and >3 mm in another one. Conclusion The mid- and long-term outcomes of AAW in adult patients undergoing AVR are satisfactory and encouraging.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been proven to reduce surgical injuries, promote recovery, and improve postoperative outcomes in different types of surgeries. A core principle of ERAS is to provide programmatic evidence-based perioperative interventions. An international multidisciplinary expert group provided a statement on clinical practice in each thematic area of ERAS by obtaining a list of potential ERAS elements, and reviewing literature. The version 2024 of "Perioperative care in cardiac surgery: A joint consensus statement by the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Cardiac Society, ERAS International Society, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)" is developed from the version 2019 of "Guidelines for perioperative care in cardiac surgery: Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Society recommendations". The consensus statement group was composed of multidisciplinary experts such as cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensive care physicians, and nurses, based on personal ERAS knowledge and experience. This article interprets the changes and new statements in the 2024 consensus, which can provide a foundation for the best perioperative practices for adult cardiac surgery patients.

Objective To analyze the research progress and hot topics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from 2018 to 2022.Methods The publications in the field of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from January 1,2018 to December 31,2022 were retrieved from Web of Science core collection database and included for a bibliomet-ric analysis.Results A total of 6355 publications were included,with an average citation frequency of 7 times.The year 2021 witnessed the most publications(1406).The analysis with VOSviewer showed that the re-search on sudden death related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,especially the predictive value of late gadolini-um-enhanced cardiac MRI in sudden death,was a hot topic.In addition,gene detection and the new drug mava-camten became hot research topics.The United States was the country with the largest number of publications and the highest citation frequency in this field.Chinese scholars produced the second largest number of publications,which,however,included few high-quality research results.Conclusions Risk stratification and prevention of sudden death is still an important and hot research content in the field of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Chinese scholars should carry out multi-center cooperation in the future to improve the research results.

Objective    To assess mid- and long-term outcomes and share our clinical method of reduction ascending aortoplasty (RAA) in adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 41 adult patients with aortic valve disease and ascending aortic dilatation before and after operation of RAA+AVR in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to July 2017. There were 28 male and 13 female patients aged 28-76 (53.34±12.06) years. Twenty-three patients received AVR+RAA using the sandwich technique (a sandwich technique group), while other 18 patients received AVR+ascending aorta wrap (a wrapping technique group). Ascending aorta diameter (AAD) was measured by echocardiography or CT scan preoperatively and postoperatively. Results    There was no perioperative death. The mean preoperative AAD in the sandwich technique group and the wrapping technique group (47.04±3.44 mm vs. 46.67±2.83 mm, P=0.709) was not statistically different. The mean postoperative AAD (35.87±3.81 mm vs. 35.50±5.67 mm, P=0.804), and the mean AAD at the end of follow-up (41.26±6.54 mm vs. 38.28±4.79 mm, P=0.113) were also not statistically different between the two groups. There were statistical differences in AAD before, after operation and at follow-up in each group. All 41 patients were followed up for 23-108 (57.07±28.60) months, with a median follow-up of 51.00 months. Compared with that before discharge, the AAD growth rate at the last follow-up was –1.50-6.78 mm/year, with a median growth rate of 0.70 mm/year, and only 3 patients had an annual growth rate of above 3 mm/year. Conclusion    Mid- and long-term outcomes of RAA in adult patients undergoing AVR with both methods are satisfying and encouraging.

Patients diagnosed as infective endocarditis(IE) are prone to follow with a variety of brain lesions, among which infective intracranial aneurysm(IIA) is a very rare cerebrovascular disease, could also be found in IE patients. IIA always has a great influence on patients’ prognoses. The incidence of this kind of aneurysm varies in different investigations, and was reported in mostly about 10% of cerebrovascular complications. The most popular pathogens causing IIA are streptococci and staphylococci, which are similar to the common pathogens of IE. IIA is a kind of pseudoaneurysm with various pathological changes and pathogenesis. The diameter of aneurysm would increases gradually with the time passing, and finally ends with intracranial hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The examination methods mainly include cerebral-enhanced CT and cerebral contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, but cerebral angiography is still the gold standard. There are drug therapy, surgery, interventional therapy, and other treatment methods. At present, interventional therapy is the first choice in clinical practice. Surgery is recommended if intervention is unavailable. In terms of the relationship between the operation of IE and IIA treatment, there is still a lack of evidence to give priority to cardiac surgery or IIA. Therefore, it should be considered individually according to the patient’s specific situation.

Objective:To explore the surgical strategy of coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) for moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation(IMR), and to clarify the impact of mitral valve surgical intervention(MVS) on the long-term prognosis of such patients.Methods:The clinical data of 234 consecutive patients with moderate IMR who received CABG from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively included, with 184 males and 50 females. The age ranged from 29 to 78 years, with a mean of(61.5 ± 8.7) years old. According to whether MVS was performed at the same time, they were divided into CABG group(108 cases, CABG alone) and CABG+ MVS group(126 cases, CABG+ MVS at the same time). The long-term cardiac events, all-cause deaths, major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events(MACCE) and other end events were followed up. A matching queue was established by propensity matching score for statistical analysis.Results:After propensity matching score, a matching queue was established, including 78 pairs of patients. Survival analysis showed that the incidence of long-term cardiac events and postoperative new onset atrial fibrillation in CABG+ MVS group was significantly higher( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in all-cause mortality, cardiogenic mortality, and the incidence of MACCE events( P>0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that simultaneous CABG+ MVS was a risk factor for long-term cardiac events and new postoperative atrial fibrillation. The results of subgroup studies showed that for patients without tricuspid regurgitation before operation, left ventricular end diastolic diameter>55 mm, and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) ≤0.55, the probability of cardiac events after MVS at the same time of CABG was higher( P<0.05). However, patients with no tricuspid regurgitation before operation, left ventricular end diastolic diameter>55 mm, LVEF≤0.55, and left atrial diameter≥40 mm had a higher probability of atrial fibrillation after MVS at the same time of CABG( P<0.05). Conclusion:CABG can improve left ventricular remodeling in patients with moderate IMR, whether MVS intervention is performed at the same time or not, and the long-term survival rate of both is similar. CABG+ MVS in the same period can maintain a low residual reflux, but the incidence of long-term cardiac events and arrhythmias is high. The longer-term prognosis needs to be further studied. The surgical strategy of such patients should be selected individually according to the specific situation and the surgical quality in medical centers.

The "2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure" replaces the "2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of heart failure" and the "2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA focused update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of heart failure". The 2022 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose and manage patients with heart failure. Heart failure remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The 2022 heart failure guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to manage patients with heart failure, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients’ interests. New recommendations have been created when supported by published data. Value statements are provided for certain treatments with high-quality published economic analyses. This article summarized and interpreted the new concept of heart failure in 2022 guidelines, especially the new evidence and suggestions related to cardiac surgery.

Objective:To investigate the changes of strains based on feature tracking in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) after surgical myectomy and the potential factors that influenced post-myectomy global strains.Methods:A total of 27 patients with HOCM who underwent septal myectomy in Fuwai Hospital from June 2014 to July 2017 were retrospectively collected. They all received cardiac MR (CMR) cine acquisitions before and after surgery. Their preoperative and postoperative strain parameters, including radial strain (RS), circumferential strain (CS), and longitudinal strain (LS) of the global left ventricle, septum, and lateral wall, were assessed by feature tracking. Comparisons of pre-myectomy and post-myectomy imaging parameters were performed using paired-samples t-test or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were utilized to find the correlated factors of postoperative global strains. Results:Compared with preoperative strains, postoperative global LS, septal LS, lateral RS, lateral CS, and lateral LS increased statistically (all P<0.05); postoperative global RS, global CS, and septal CS decreased (all P<0.05); no statistically significant difference was observed in septal RS ( P=0.165). Age at surgery ( r=0.428, P=0.026) and preoperative myocardial maximum ventricular wall thickness ( r=-0.587, P=0.001) were both linearly related to postoperative global RS; the further multivariate stepwise linear regressions showed that only preoperative myocardial maximum ventricular wall thickness might be correlated with postoperative global RS (adjusted R 2=0.287, P=0.002). Only myocardial maximum ventricular wall thickness was linearly related to global CS ( r=0.679, P<0.001) and global LS ( r=0.588, P=0.001), respectively; univariate linear regression revealed that preoperative myocardial maximum ventricular wall thickness might be correlated postoperative global CS (adjusted R 2=0.337, P=0.001) and postoperative global LS (adjusted R 2=0.281, P=0.003), respectively. Conclusions:Cardiac surgery definitely relieves left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and generally improves longitudinal and lateral strains, but a negative impact may occur in global and septal CS and RS. Preoperative maximum ventricular wall thickness may affect postoperative global strains.

Objective    To summarize the pathological characteristics of primary left ventricular tumors and their influence on surgical treatment. Methods    The clinical data of 32 patients with primary left ventricular tumor in Fuwai Hospital from January 2008 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 17 males and 15 females with an average age of 33.88±17.89 years. The impact of different types of left ventricular tumor pathology on the surgical outcome was analyzed. Results    Thirty-two patients with primary left ventricular tumors underwent surgery. Postoperative pathological biopsy results revealed benign tumor in 31 patients, including myxoma in 10 patients, lipomas in 7 patients, fibroma in 4 patients, hemangioma in 3 patients, rhabdomyoma in 2 patients, cyst in 2 patients, schwannoma in 1 patient, papillary fibroelastoma in 1 patient, cavernous hyperplasia of valvular lymphatic vessels in 1 patient. There was 1 patient of carcinoid (low-grade malignant tumor). Thirty patients underwent tumor resection surgery under hypothermic anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass followed by cardiac arrest while 2 patients without cardiopulmonary bypass. Nine patients received partial resection of the tumor, including lipomas in 6 patients, rhabdomyoma in 2 patients, schwannoma in 1 patient. Twenty-three patients received complete resection of the tumor. There were no in-hospital deaths, bleeding, secondary thoracotomy, low cardiac output, renal failure, postoperative embolism or other surgical complications. All the patients were normal before they were discharged out of the hospital. Their average postoperative hospital stay was 8.1±2.7 d. Within 6 months after the surgery, all 32 patients returned to the hospital for reexamination, and ultrasound results were all normal. Afterwards, the patients were followed up by telephone or in an outpatient clinic, and 3 patients were lost. The follow-up rate was 90.63%. During the follow-up of 3-120 (61.4±38.5) months, among the 9 patients whose tumors were partially resection, 2 patients recurred. One patient with schwannoma recurred 30 months after the surgery, and in the other patient lipomas grew 15 months later which resulted in massive regurgitation of the mitral valve. Conclusion    Surgical resection is the first choice for the treatment of left ventricular benign tumors. For malignant left ventricular tumors, it is necessary to be cautious, and the surgical risk needs to be carefully evaluated. Most of the primary left ventricular tumors need to be operated as soon as possible. A surgeon should develop different surgical strategies according to different pathological types of tumors.

Objective:To evaluate the early effects of combined transaortic and transapical approach to septal myectomy in patients with complex hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM).Methods:We consecutively enrolled 20 complex HOCM patients who received transaortic and transapical myectomy in fuwai hospital from January 2019 to October 2019. Echocardiography was performed to compare left atrial size, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, peak left ventricular outflow gradient, ventricular septal thickness, mitral systolic anterior motion and mitral regurgitation grade before and after operation. Furthermore, pre-operative and post-operative electrocardiogram were also analyzed to determine the incidence of bundle branch block. Functional status was evaluated by New York Heart Association functional class.Results:Of the 20 complex hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients, 7(35%) HOCM patients with long-segment septal hypertrophy more than 7cm, 4(20%) patients had both mid-ventricular obstruction and left ventricular outflow obstruction. Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with LOVT obstruction was observed in 5 patients(25%) and aneurysm was found in 4(20%) HOCM patients. Postoperative thickness of ventricular septum was significantly decreased compared with that of preoperation[(21.1±3.6)mm vs.(13.4±3.1)mm]. Peak LOVT gradient or mid-ventricular gradient also significantly reduced after operation[(77.0±21.0) mmHg vs.(9.2±3.4) mmHg] or [(71.0±23.0) mmHg vs. 0 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa]; After surgery, mitral systolic anterior motion disappeared, mitral regurgitation degree reduced from (1.9±1.5) to (0.2±0.4); NYHA class improved from(2.1±0.2) to(1.3±0.5). New incidence of left bundle branch block occurred in 9 patients, and 1 patient developed complete bundle branch block and implanted permanent pacemaker. The 30-day survival was 100%.Conclusion:Combined transaortic and transapical septal myectomy is an effective and reasonably safe procedure for patients with complex hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.