Objective:Analysis of surgical strategies for atrial functional mitral regurgitation with atrial fibrillation.Methods:Retrospective analysis of 112 patients with mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation between June 2017 and January 2023. Among them, 56 cases were severe atrial functional mitral regurgitation with atrial fibrillation, and the other 56 cases were degenerative mitral regurgitation with atrial fibrillation. All patients underwent maze Ⅳ procedure and mitral valve surgery. Follow up will be conducted through outpatient follow-up and telephone calls. The condition of postoperative mitral valve is obtained through echo. The postoperative cardiac rhythm is based on the patient's conscious symptoms, electrocardiogram, 24 hour dynamic electrocardiogram.Results:The comparison of preoperative basic data shows that the age, duration of atrial fibrillation, and comorbidity of patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation are significantly higher than those in the degenerative mitral regurgitation group. All patients successfully completed the surgery. Postoperative death occurred in 2 cases in the atrial mitral regurgitation group. The causes of death were ARDS and pulmonary infection, respectively. The main postoperative complications include bleeding, low cardiac output, pulmonary infection, and acute kidney injury. During follow-up, 43 patients (79.6%) in the atrial mitral regurgitation group maintained sinus rhythm, while 49 patients (87.5%) in the degenerative group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the Kaplan- Meier curves. In the atrial mitral regurgitation group, there were 47 cases with no mitral regurgitation, 4 cases with mild regurgitation, and 1 case with moderate regurgitation. In the degenerative group, there were 42 cases with no mitral regurgitation, 6 cases with mild regurgitation, 1 case with moderate regurgitation, and 1 case with severe regurgitation. The risk for atrial fibrillation recurrence in the atrial mitral regurgitation is related to postoperative left atrial diameter greater than 50 mm, while in the degenerative group, atrial fibrillation recurrence is related to postoperative left atrial diameter greater than 50 mm and residual mitral regurgitation. Conclusion:Mitral valve repair combined with maze Ⅳ procedure is an effective treatment for patients with severe atrial functional mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation. Further improving the success rate of atrial fibrillation and reducing surgical trauma will benefit patients in the future.

Objective:To study the influence of Mei mini maze procedure for atrial functional mitral regurgitation.Methods:The data of 33 patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial functional mitral regurgitation from January 2017 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received Mei mini maze procedure for atrial fibrillation. The procedure is carried out thoracoscopically through the left thoracic approach. The ablation of atrial fibrillation includes bilateral circumferential pulmonary vein ablation, isolation of the left atrium posterior wall, left atrial appendage resection, ablation of Marshall's ligament and autonomic ganglion, etc. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient follow-up and telephone. Postoperative heart rhythm was recorded by the patient's symptoms, electrocardiogram, 24 h holter and other examinations. Postoperative mitral valve lesions were obtained by echocardiography.Results:33 patients successfully completed the operation. There was no conversion to thoracotomy and no perioperative death. Thirty patients(90.9%) maintained sinus rhythm at discharge. Before discharge, 16 patients had no mitral regurgitation in echocardiography, 8 patients had mild mitral regurgitation, and 9 patients had moderate mitral regurgitation. Follow-up was 1-4 years after discharge, with a mean of(2.6±1.1) years. Sinus rhythm was maintained in 23 patients(69.7%). 17 patients had no mitral regurgitation, 9 had mild mitral regurgitation, 6 had moderate, and 1 had severe mitral regurgitation. The degree of regurgitation in 25 patients was reduced compared with pre-operation, 5 patients remained unchanged, and 3 patients mitral regurgitation aggravated. Unreduced atrial functional mitral regurgitation was associated with recurrence of atrial fibrillation by Cox multivariate analysis.Conclusion:This study found a close relationship between atrial fibrillation rhythm and atrial functional mitral regurgitation. Most moderate atrial functional mitral regurgitation can be alleviated by effective treatment for atrial fibrillation. It is not recommended that patients with severe atrial functional mitral regurgitation only receive treatment for atrial fibrillation.

Objective    To investigate the technique and efficacy of left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) in elderly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods    From 2013 to 2018, 84 elderly patients with CAD and AF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF< 50%) underwent OPCABG in our department. There were 54 males and 30 females at age of 70-82 years. They were divided into a left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion group (n=56) and a non-LAA occlusion group (n=28). Postoperative antithrombotic therapy: the LAA occlusion group was given warfarin + aspirin + clopidogrel “triple antithrombotic therapy” for 3 months after operation, then was changed to aspirin + clopidogrel “dual antiplatelet” for long-term antithrombotic; the non-LAA occlusion group was given warfarin + aspirin + clopidogrel “triple antithrombotic” for long-term antithrombotic after operation. The clinical effectiveness of the two groups was compared. Results    All patients underwent the surgery successfully. There were 56 patients in the LAA occlusion group, including 44 patients of LAA exclusion and 12 patients of LAA clip. The time of LAA occlusion was 3 to 8 minutes. There was no injury of graft vessels and anastomotic stoma. Early postoperative death occurred in 2 patients (2.4%). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in postoperative hospital stay (P=0.115). Postoperative LVEF of the two groups significantly improved compared with that before operation (P<0.05). There was no stroke or bleeding in important organs during hospitalization. During follow-up of 1 year, no cerebral infarction occurred in both groups, but the incidence of bleeding related complications in the LAA occlusion group was significantly lower than that in the non-LAA occlusion group (3.6% vs. 18.5%, P=0.036). Conclusion    For elderly patients with CAD and AF with reduced LVEF, LAA occlusion during OPCABG can effectively reduce the risk of stroke and bleeding related complications, and without increasing the risk of surgery.

Objective    To summarize the application and clinical effect of left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy to surgical repair of subarterial ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children. Methods    From October 2015 to April 2019, 21 children with subarterial VSD underwent surgical repair via left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged 5-13 (9.1±2.2) years, and weighing 22-55 (35.6±9.5) kg. The diameter of subarterial VSD was 4-15 (9.1±3.3) mm. Eight patients had right coronary valve prolapse, and 4 aortic valve regurgitation (3 mild and 1 mild-to-moderate). The minimally invasive surgery was performed via left parasternal thoracotomy through the second or third intercostal space. The peripheral perfusion was performed with femoral arterial and venous cannulation. After aortic cross-clamp (ACC), subarterial VSD was performed with direct suture of patch closure through an incision on the root of pulmonary artery. Results    All patients successfully underwent surgical repair (patch closure, n=15; direct suture, n=6) of subarterial VSD through left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 45-68 (57.1±6.3) min. The ACC time was 23-40 (32.6±4.7) min. The postoperative ventilation time was 5-9 (6.3±1.3) h, postoperative in-hospital time was 5-8 (5.7±1.0) d and drainage volume was 33-105 (57.5±17.7) mL in postoperative 24 h. No death, residual VSD shunt, atrioventricular block, wound infection or thoracic deformity occurred during the perioperation or follow-up. Only one patient still had trivial aortic valve regurgitation. Conclusion    Left anterior minimally invasive thoracotomy could be safely and effectively applied to surgical repair of subarterial VSD in children, with satisfactory early- and mid-term outcomes.

Objective: To summarize the safety and effect of modified surgery for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM) with concomitantly significant mitral regurgitation(MR) through a single transaortic approach. Methods: From January 2008 to June 2018, 93 patients with HOCM and significant MR underwent modified Morrow procedure and edge-to-edge mitral valvuloplasty through a single transaortic approach. Preoperative left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient(LVOTPG) was 51-199 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Preoperative interventricular septum thickness(IVST) was 17-30 mm. All patients had significant MR with SAM phenomenon. The modified Morrow procedure and edge-to-edge mitral valvuloplasty through a single transaortic approach was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic crossclamp. Results: All patients successfully underwent the surgery of modified Morrow procedure and edge-to-edge mitral valvuloplasty through a single transaortic approach. No early death and interventricular septal perforation were occurred. In the early postoperative period, two patient(2.15%) received permanent pacemaker implantation due to the complete atrial-ventricular block. At discharge, postoperative LVOTPG(7-31 mmHg) and IVST(11-19 mm) were significantly decreased compared with the preoperative values(P<0.05). All patients had none or trivial MR. The mitral valve pressure gradient(MVPG) was 0-6 mmHg. SAM phenomenon disappeared in all patients. At a mean follow-up of(40.53±27.11) months, no patient had significant residual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. All patients had none or trivial MR. No SAM phenomenon occurred. Conclusion Modified surgery of Morrow procedure and edge-to-edge mitral valvuloplasty through a single transaortic approach could be safely and effectively applied for patients with HOCM and concomitantly significant MR.

Objective    To investigate the results of emergent aortic arch replacement using moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest and unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA+UACP). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 146 patients who underwent emergent aortic arch replacement using MHCA+UACP in our institution from January 2008 to June 2018. There were 111 males and 35 females aged 60.3±7.2 years. According to different surgical approaches, patients were divided into two groups: a total arch replacement (TAR) group (n=104) and a semi arch replacement (SAR) group (n=42). Right axillary artery was cannulated for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cerebral perfusion. Core temperature at the onset of MHCA was 23.4±1.4 ℃. UACP was initiated at 18-22 ℃ with the flow of 5-10 ml/(kg·min). Flow was adjusted to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure of 50–60 mm Hg. Results    CPB time was 235.0±42.0 min. Aortic clamp time was 154.0±29.0 min. Circulatory arrest (CA) time was 48.1±13.0 min. The CPB time and CA time of the TAR group were longer than those of SAR group. Overall mortality rate was 9.6%. Complications included permanent neurological dysfunction (PND), temporary neurological dysfunction (TND), acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis and delayed extubation (mechanical ventilation time > 72 hours). Overall incidence of PND and TND was 2.7% and 6.8%, respectively. The incidence of AKI requiring dialysis was 4.1%. The incidence of delayed extubation was 21.9%. No difference of mortality rate or incidence of complications was found between the two groups. The average follow-up was 63.0±33.1 months. The 5-year survival rate was 72.6% in the TAR group and 85.5% in the SAR group. Conclusion    Emergent aortic arch replacement using MHCA+UACP can be accomplished with excellent results.

Objective     To explore the technique of performing minimally invasive Cox Maze Ⅳ procedure by bipolar clamp through right lateral minithoracotomy for atrial septal defect (ASD) combined with atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults. Methods     Thirty-five patients (21 males, 14 females with age ranging from 45 to 73 years) with ASD and persistent or long-standing persistent AF received minimally invasive Cox Maze Ⅳ procedure and ASD closure from August 2012 to April 2016 at Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital. Diameter of left atrium ranged from 39 to 60 mm and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) ranged from 48% to 62%. Diameter of ASD ranged from 20 to 35 mm. Cox-maze Ⅳ procedure was performed through right minithoracotomy entirely by bipolar radiofrequency clamp. Then, mitral or tricuspid valvuloplasty and surgical ASD closure was performed through right minithoracotomy.   Results     All patients successfully underwent this minimally invasive surgery. No patient needed conversion to sternotomy. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 120.1±14.1 min. The mean aortic cross-clamp time was 79.5±12.2 min. There was no early death or pacemaker implantation perioperatively. The average length of hospital stay was 10.1±2.7 d. At a mean follow-up of 22.8±12.2 months, sinus rhythm was restored in 32 patients (32/35, 91.4%). Cumulative maintenance of normal sinus rhythm without AF recurrence at 2 years postoperatively was 89.1%±6.0%. Conclusion     The minimally invasive Cox Maze Ⅳprocedure performed by bipolar clamp through right minithoracotomy is safe, feasible, and effective for adult patients with ASD combined with AF.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes achieved by using left internal mammary artery(LIMA) to radial artery (RA) total arterial composite grafts in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) for patients with multiple vessel disease.Methods From January 2009 to September 2015, 39 patients(24 males) with multiple vessel disease underwent MIDCAB with LIMA-RA total arterial composite grafts without cardiopulmonary bypass in our hospital .MIDCAB was performed through a left anterior minithoracotomy .Results All patients successfully underwent MIDCAB with LIMA-RA total arterial composite grafts.No patient required to convert to strenotomy during the surgery.Mean operation time was(176.1 ± 14.1)min.Revascularization was performed for 2 target vessels in 11 cases, 3 target vessels in 25 cases and 4 target vessels in 3 cases.Mean postoperative ventilation time was(21.9 ±27.9) h.Mean ICU time was(2.8 ±2.1) days, and mean postoper-ative inhosptial time was(11.2 ±3.3)days.There was no early death in perioperation.At a follow-up of 6 to 86 months[aver-age(27.5 ±18.0) months], one patient died.The overall survival at 2 years postoperatively was(96.0 ±3.9)%.The paten-cy rate of LIMA was 100%.The overall patency rate of RA grafts at 2 years postoperatively was(91.8 ±4.0)%.Conclusion MIDCAB with LIMA-RA total arterial composite grafts is a safe and effective procedure with favorable early and mid-term out-comes for patients with multiple vessel disease .

Objective    To investigate the perioperative change and the predictive value of myoglobin, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in non-coronary cardiac surgery. Methods    The clinical data of 77 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for non-coronary lesions in the Shanghai Xinhua Hospital from March 2016 to November 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, including 37 males and 40 females with a median age of 2 years. There were simple congenital heart diseases in 45 patients, complicated congenital heart diseases in 10, and heart valve diseases in 22. The levels of myoglobin, CK-MB and cTnI were collected at the first postoperative day. The ventilation duration and the length of ICU stay were recorded. The recovery condition was accessed by senior surgeons. Results    The myoglobin, CK-MB and cTnI concentrations increased at the first postoperative day, and cTnI increased most significantly. The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that these changes were only related to cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time (P<0.001). The high cTnI level was associated with prolonged ventilation duration and length of ICU stay. Fourteen patients (18.2%) did not recovered well, and their cTnI level was significantly higher than that of well-recovered patients (16.8±16.7 ng/ml vs. 5.1±4.4 ng/ml, P<0.001). The cTnI cutoff value of 5.33 ng/ml could predict whether patients had good postoperative recovery (area under the receiver operating characteristic  curve=0.862, P<0.001), and the predictive value of cTnI was superior to that of myoglobin and CK-MB. Conclusion    The increase levels of myoglobin, CK-MB and cTnI post non-coronary cardiac surgery are associated with prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time. cTnI on postoperative 24 h may predict good recovery, and it is a useful biomarker.