In recent years, the field of cardiovascular surgery has undergone revolutionary changes and made rapid progress in various aspects, bringing more hope and possibilities for the health and well-being of patients. The constant emergence of new technologies brings new opportunities and hope, as well as constant challenges to past concepts. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in cardiovascular surgery in recent years, especially since 2023. It introduces cutting-edge knowledge and technologies in the field of cardiovascular surgery, including lifelong management of aortic valve disease, artificial valves, mitral valves, treatment options for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist, coronary artery surgery, cardiac structural interventions for chronic heart failure, aortic dissection, and comprehensive surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. It also analyzes and explores future development directions in depth, aiming to provide useful references and inspiration for cardiovascular doctors and jointly promote the continuous progress of cardiovascular surgery in China.

In recent years, with the continuous development and increasing maturity of interventional techniques, interventional treatment for congenital heart disease (CHD) has been progressively disseminated to county- and city-level hospitals in China. Concurrently, the standardized management of adult CHD (particularly patent foramen ovale) and the lifelong management of complex CHD are gaining increasing clinical attention, while the emergence of new techniques and products continuously advances the discipline. This article aims to review the new progress made in the field of interventional treatment for congenital heart disease in China during 2024. It specifically reviews and analyzes the following key aspects: (1) annual statistics on interventional closure procedures for CHD; (2) recent insights into patent foramen ovale closure; (3) advances in transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement; (4) interventional treatment and lifelong management strategies for complex CHD; (5) new interventional techniques for acquired heart disease; and (6) the application of artificial intelligence in CHD management. Through the synthesis and discussion of these topics, this article seeks to provide a detailed analysis of the current landscape of interventional treatment for CHD in China and project its future development trends.

Implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has become an essential treatment for end-stage heart failure, and its effect has been continuously improved. In the world, magnetic levitation LVAD has become mainstream and is increasingly used as a destination treatment. China has also entered the era of ventricular assist device. The continuous improvement of the ventricular assist device will further improve the treatment effect. This article reviews the current situation and development trend of LVAD treatment in China and abroad.

Objective:To investigate short-term safety, efficacy and the learning curve of this self-developed novel transcatheter valve repair system (Neonova?) in patients with mitral regurgitation, and explore the role of perioperative echocardiography.Methods:Ten patients who visited the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2021 to March 2022 and met the inclusive criteria were prospectively enrolled. All the patients were at high risk of surgery with moderate to severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Clamps of Neonova? were implanted under guidance of transesophageal echocardiography and digital subtraction angiography. Clinical outcomes, echocardiography indexes and learning curves of this technique were evaluated immediately after intervention, 7 d, 1 month and 3 months post-intervention.Results:The technical success rate was 100% with MR relieved in all patients immediately after intervention. The device and procedural success rates were both 90.0% with 1 patient received surgical replacement at 37 days post-intervention while the others′ reduced to mild (8/9) and moderate (1/9) MR. New York Heart Association class and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire improved significantly (all P<0.001). Mean mitral valve pressure gradient didn′t increase significantly after intervention when compared with that before intervention( P=0.324), and no mitral stenosis was observed. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased significantly ( P=0.008) during follow up.Procedure duration ranged from 60 to 300 (175.8±75.2)minutes. The simple linear regression model between procedure volume and duration showed that procedure duration decreased significantly with the increase of procedure volume ( F=15.857, P=0.004). Conclusions:Neonova? implantation can improve MR severity and clinical symptoms safely and effectively. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography are essential for perioperative management of transcatheter mitral valve repair.

With the rapid and in-depth development of interventional treatment of structural heart disease, the instrument treatment of heart failure (heart failure) will become the main way of heart failure treatment in the future. There are a large number of patients with heart failure. Due to different etiology, pathogenesis, course of disease and individual differences, it is sometimes difficult to achieve satisfactory results in medical treatment. The treatment of heart failure based on instruments or equipment provides the dawn of survival for patients who are ineffective in medical treatment. In recent years, the research and development and clinical application of various heart failure devices have mushroomed, but their effectiveness, safety and practicality still need to be verified by strict clinical trials and evidence-based medical evidence. This article briefly reviews the main progress and development prospects of instrument therapy for heart failure in recent years.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe, progressive disease leading to right ventricular failure and finally death. Lung transplantation is recommended for PAH patients who do not respond to targeted drug combination therapy or World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) Ⅲ or Ⅳ. However, only 3% of PAH patients can recieve the lung transplantation. A novel implantable interatrial shunt device (ISD) can create a relatively fixed right-to-left shunt established by balloon atrial septostomy (BAS). The device may decompress the right sided chambers, facilitate left heart filling, improve organ perfusion and reduce the likelihood of syncope, acute pulmonary hypertensive crisis and death. The systemic oxygen transport improves despite hypoxemia. Implantation is simple, feasible and safe, and the X-ray time and operation time are short. There is no severe complication or thrombosis during the mid-term follow-up of the clinical studies and the device remained patent. The syncope symptoms, six-minute walk distance, cardiac index and systemic oxygen transport improve significantly in the patients. ISD may be currently the last alternative treatment to improve symptoms and prolong survival in currently drug-resistant patients with severe PAH.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of the domestic D-Shant device for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) using echocardiography.Methods:Twenty-four CHF patients who were treated with domestic D-Shant device in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from September 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled in the study. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)/ left atrial pressure (LAP), right atrial pressure (RAP), pulmonary artery pressure, interatrial septal gradient pressure, cardiac index and pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) were measured before and after implantation using right heart catheterization.Left atrial end-diastolic area index (LAEDAI), left atrial end-diastolic volume index (LAEDVI), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right atrial end-diastolic diameter, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular tractional area change (RVFAC), device shunt aperture, velocity and pressure, together with mitral and tricuspid regurgitation severity were measured using echocardiography before, and 1 month as well as 3 months after D-Shant device implantation. Clinical data were collected and analyzed including 6-minute walking test (6MWT), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the relation between the changes in PCWP/LAP as well as echocardiographic parameters before and 3 months after implantation and NYHA classification. Binary Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive factors of NYHA classification improvement at 3-month follow-up after D-Shant device implantation.Results:①D-Shant devices were successfully implanted in all patients. ②Compared with preoperative values, invasive PCWP/LAP systolic, diastolic and mean pressures, transatrial septal gradient, and pulmonary systolic, diastolic and mean pressures decreased significantly after implantation(all P<0.001); Qp/Qs increased significantly after implantation( P<0.001). ③Compared with preoperative values, TAPSE, RVFAC and pulmonary artery flow velocity increased at 1 month after implantation(all P<0.05), whereas a significant reduction in mitral regurgitation grade, and an increase in LVEF and pulmonary artery flow velocity at 3 months after implantation(all P<0.05). Right atrial end-diastolic diameter, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter, LAEDAI, LAEDVI, LVEDVI, LVESVI, ratio of early to late diastolic peak velocities of mitral inflow(E/A), systolic peak velocity of mitral annulus at septal site(S′), ratio of early diastolic peak velocity of mitral inflow to diastolic peak velocity of mitral annulus(E/e′), pulmonary artery diameter, inferior vena cava diameter and degree of tricuspid regurgitation did not change among before, and 1 month as well as 3 months after implantation. There were no significant changes in the device shunt aperture, velocity and pressure between 1 month and 3 months after implantation(all P>0.05). ④The significant improvements in NYHA classification, KCCQ scores and 6MWT were observed at 1 and 3 months after implantation compared with preoperative values (all P<0.01). ⑤NYHA classification at 3 months after implantation was correlated with LVEF pre-post, PCWP/LAP pre-post, TAPSE pre-post and RVFAC pre-post ( rs=0.738, -0.730, 0.738, 0.723; all P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that LVEF pre-post was an independent predictor for NYHA classification improvement at 3 months after implantation ( OR=0.687, 95% CI=0.475-0.992, P=0.045) . Conclusions:Domestic D-Shant device can effectively improve the cardiac function and clinical symptoms in patients with CHF. Echocardiography is a feasible and effective method to evaluate the benefits of domestic D-Shant device for the treatment of CHF.

Objective: To review the current status and progress of sterilization and preservation for allograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods: The related literature about the sterilization and preservation of allografts in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was extensively reviewed and summarized. Results: There are many sterilization methods for allografts, the most commonly used method is γ-ray irradiation, but the optimal irradiation dose is still unclear. Electron beam irradiation is also available, but excessive dose is harmful to graft shaping. A combined sterilization method combining physics and chemistry methods is still being explored. Cryopreservation is the most commonly used method of preservation. In order to reduce the influence of crystals, the principle of "slow cooling and rapid rewarming" should be adhered to as far as possible. Conclusion: The processing methods of allograft can affect the effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The clinical doctors should consider the sterilization and preservation methods in practice.

Objective To study on the evaluation of haemodynamics in the normal and pulmonary hypertensive mouse hearts using pressure volume loops measured by electric catheter.Methods Compared the difference in haemodynamics between mice exposed to chronic hypoxia for 10 days,which causes hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (experimental group,n =8),and mice raised under normal atmospheric pressure (control group,n =8).The right carotid artery was cannulated with a 1.2 F catheter and advanced into the ascending aorta,then punctured towards the right ventricular apex.A 1.2 F admittance pressure-volume catheter was introduced using a 20-gauge needle to obtain the pressure-volume measurements and calculate hemodynamic parameters.Results There were no significant differences in average by weight,ratio of right atrial weight to body weight,left atrial weight/body weight,left ventricular free wall and septum weight/body weight between the 2 groups(all P ＞ 0.05).The ratio of right rentricle/left rentricle and septum weight as well as right rentricular weight/body weight was increased in the experimental group and of significant difference when compared to the control.The mice in in the experimental group had a 61％ mean decrease in cardiac output,a 55％ decrease in ejection fraction,and a 63％ decrease in ventricular compliance(P ＜0.05).The increase in dP/dtmax-EDVand PRSWfound in the experimental group reflected significant increase in myocardial contractility.Increase in Ees was observed but without significant difference as compared to the control.Ea significantly increased in the experimental group resulting in significant decrease in Ees/Ea from (0.71 ±0.27) to (0.35 ±0.17) (P＜ 0.005).Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining RV pressure-volume measurements in mice using electric catheter.These measurements provide insight into right ventricular-pulmonary artery interactions in healthy and diseased conditions.