再次心瓣膜置换术105例的临床分析

目的总结人工机械瓣置换术后再次行心瓣膜置换术的临床经验,探讨人工机械瓣置换术后再次心瓣膜置换术的病因、术中技术环节及围术期处理方法。方法自2001年1月至2008年12月共105例人工机械瓣置换术后患者在我中心再次行心脏手术,男59例,女46例;年龄50.2±10.6岁。其中二尖瓣置换术或/+三尖瓣成形术(TVP)31例,主动脉瓣置换或/+TVP 38例,Bentall手术(包括全根置换)11例,二尖瓣+主动脉瓣置换或/+TVP7例,三尖瓣置换术8例,瓣周漏修补术6例,其它手术4例。再次心脏手术距第一次手术时间为3个月~18年(46.3±31.9个月)。术前心功能分级(NYHA)Ⅱ级27例,Ⅲ级53例,Ⅳ级25例。结果手术死亡6例,总病死率5.71%(6/105),其他患者术后心功能均恢复到Ⅰ~Ⅱ级。死亡原因为:术后多器官功能衰竭1例,术前心功能Ⅳ级、术后严重低心排血量1例,术后假性动脉瘤破裂1例,严重脑部并发症导致感染1例,人工瓣膜心内膜炎(PVE)2例。人工机械瓣置换后再次心瓣膜置换术原因为:瓣周漏67例(63.80%),PVE 16例(15.23%),血栓形成14例(13.33%),继发其它瓣膜病变8例。术后随访11~107个月,因心搏骤停、脑出血远期死亡2例。结论机械瓣置换术后有一定的再手术率,其再次心瓣膜置换术的重要原因包括:瓣周漏、人工瓣膜心内膜炎和血栓形成。充分的术前准备、正确手术时机的选择、不同体外循环方法的应用及合理的术中技术环节的应用是手术成功的关键。     

成人小主动脉瓣环患者的心瓣膜置换术

目的总结成人小主动脉瓣环行心瓣膜置换术的临床经验，以提高手术效果。方法对26例成人小主动脉瓣环患者行人工机械瓣膜置换术，单纯主动脉瓣置换17例，二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣膜置换9例。采用Manougnian法主动脉瓣环加宽7例，瓣膜侧倾缝合置换主动脉瓣膜6例，瓣环上主动脉瓣置换13例，在双瓣膜置换中均先置换主动脉瓣后再置换二尖瓣。结果26例患者中无手术死亡，术后随访时间6～48个月（12±3个月），心功能均明显改善（Ⅰ级10例、Ⅱ级16例），无远期死亡。术后主动脉瓣有效瓣口面积指数（EOAI）1．02～1．44cm^2／m^3（〉0．85cm^2／m^3），无瓣膜-患者不匹配现象（PPM）。结论主动脉瓣病变伴小主动脉瓣环的成人患者行心瓣膜置换，选择新型人工瓣膜行瓣环上主动脉瓣置换是理想的选择，瓣膜侧倾缝合是可选择的方法，二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣膜置换时先置换主动脉瓣可降低手术操作难度，大部分患者无需行瓣环扩大术。     

牛心包生物瓣膜的临床应用

目的 报告牛心包生物瓣膜置换治疗瓣膜疾病的临床经验和手术效果.方法 自2003年1月至2005年12月,52例患者接受心瓣膜置换术,其中心功能分级(NYHA)Ⅱ级11例,Ⅲ级34例,Ⅳ级7例,36例患者合并心房颤动;行二尖瓣置换术25例,三尖瓣置换术6例,主动脉瓣置换术13例,肺动脉瓣置换术1例,主动脉瓣加二尖瓣置换术6例,二尖瓣加三尖瓣置换术1例;术后通过电话随访患者恢复情况.结果 住院期间死亡1例,手术死亡率为1.9%(1/52);术后并发呼吸道感染2例,51例患者均顺利康复出院;术后住院时间10.8±3.3 d(6～22 d).术后随访37例,随访时间15d～24个月,随访率72.5%(37/51),心功能均恢复到Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,无1例患者出现出血和栓塞,无再次瓣膜手术.结论 生物瓣膜具有较高的手术安全性,患者的心功能恢复较好,术后出血、栓塞、瓣膜毁损和感染性心内膜炎、再次瓣膜手术的发生率可能较低,具有较好的疗效,患者的生活质量较高.     

心脏瓣膜病再次手术221例临床分析

目的总结既往有二尖瓣闭式扩张术、瓣膜成形术、瓣周漏及生物瓣失功能等的患者再次瓣膜手术的经验。方法自1998年1月至2005年8月,实施心脏瓣膜病再次手术221例,其中急症手术8例。其中二尖瓣闭式扩张后再狭窄105例,二尖瓣或主动脉瓣成形术后复发性瓣膜病变37例,瓣周漏29例,生物瓣衰败18例,其他瓣膜再发病变11例,人工瓣膜机械功能障碍9例,Ebstein畸形矫治术后三尖瓣关闭不全7例,人工瓣膜心内膜炎5例。再次手术方式包括二尖瓣置换、二尖瓣和主动脉瓣双瓣置换、主动脉瓣置换、三尖瓣置换。两次手术间隔时间1～21年。结果全组术后死亡19例,占8．6％。早期死亡主要原因为术后低心排综合征、恶性心律失常、多脏器功能衰竭与肾功能衰竭,其中急症手术8例中死亡3例,术前心功能Ⅳ级者手术死亡9例,病死率为14．5％（9／62例）。结论瓣膜病再次手术危险因素包括急症手术、术前心功能差、合并其他重要脏器功能不全、体外循环时间和主动脉阻断时间长等。针对这些因素积极防治,可以进一步降低这类患者手术病死率和并发症发生率。     

同期施行冠状动脉旁路移植术与心瓣膜手术

目的　为了提高同期施行冠状动脉旁路移植术 (CABG)与心瓣膜手术的疗效 ,降低死亡率 ,总结手术及围术期处理的经验。　方法　 2 4例患者中 ,二尖瓣病变 11例 ,主动脉瓣病变 3例 ,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣膜病变 10例。 1支冠状动脉病变 1例 ,2支 11例 ,3支 6例 ,另 6例为心瓣膜手术中发现左冠状动脉开口有阻塞 ,急症行 CABG。全组行二尖瓣成形术 2例 ,二尖瓣置换术 9例 ,主动脉瓣置换术 3例 ,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣膜置换术 10例 ;移植 1支血管 7例 ,2支 11例 ,3支 6例。　结果　术后早期 (30天内 )死亡 2例 ,分别死于低心排血量综合征和多器官功能衰竭。随访 2 2例 ,随访时间 8个月～ 7年 ,晚期死亡 1例 ,其余 2 1例心功能明显改善 ,心功能 (NYHA分级 ) 级 15例 , 级 5例 , 级 1例 ,心绞痛消失 7例。　结论　冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病和心脏瓣膜疾病并存时 ,应同期施行CABG和心瓣膜手术 ,彻底纠正心脏病变。术中加强心肌保护 ,尽量缩短心肌缺血时间 ;术后妥善处理心、肾等器官功能衰竭 ,是提高手术疗效的重要措施     

2261例二尖瓣及主动脉瓣联合瓣膜置换术临床结果与随访

目的　总结 2 2 6 1例二尖瓣及主动脉瓣联合瓣膜置换术的临床结果与随访。方法　 1977年至 2 0 0 0年间 ,2 2 6 1例病人行二尖瓣及主动脉瓣联合瓣膜置换手术。男 12 0 6例 ,女 10 5 5例。年龄14～ 6 9岁 ,平均 (43 73± 9 2 9)岁。其中风湿性心脏病 2 0 6 2例 ;术前心功能 (NYHA)III～IV级者 136 4例。4 6例为二次瓣膜置换 ,39例同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术。胸部正中纵劈胸骨 2 173例 ,胸部正中部分纵劈胸骨或右侧腋下小切口 88例。全部切除二尖瓣者 1978例 ,保留后瓣者 16 4例 ,保留前瓣者 6例 ,保留全瓣者 91例。 4 99例同期行三尖瓣成形 ,5例同期行三尖瓣置换。共置换人工心脏瓣膜 4 5 2 7枚。结果　手术死亡率为 2 6 5 % ,术后早期并发症发生率为 10 30 %。术后总随访率为 88 80 % ,实际生存率在术后第 5、10、15年时分别为 (95 .76± 0 .70 ) %、(92 .90± 1.6 4 ) %、(74 .32± 16 .6 7) %。结论　二尖瓣及主动脉瓣联合瓣膜置换术是治疗严重联合瓣膜疾病的可靠、有效手段 ,尤其近年手术结果令人鼓舞     

再次心瓣膜置换术25例

目的探讨再次心瓣膜置换术的手术时机、方法及并发症的防治。方法回顾性分析再次心瓣膜置换术25例患者的临床资料，男10例，女15例，年龄25～53岁；其中二尖瓣生物瓣置换术后瓣膜衰坏15例，机械瓣置换术后血栓形成致瓣膜功能障碍4例，人工瓣膜感染性心内膜炎4例，瓣周漏2例。术前心功能Ⅲ级10例，Ⅳ级15例。其中3例机械瓣置换术后血栓形成致急性瓣膜功能障碍和2例生物瓣衰坏合并重度心力衰竭行急诊手术。结果早期死亡3例，死亡率12％，均死于术后低心排血量综合征。术后并发脑气栓及大量渗血各1例。存活22例，随访1～16年，晚期死于右心衰竭1例，并发主动脉瓣和二尖瓣瓣周漏1例。其余患者心功能恢复良好。结论合理选择手术时机，术中加强心肌保护，彻底排除心腔残气及防治出血是提高再次心瓣膜置换术疗效的关键。     

再次与多次心脏瓣膜置换术132例

心脏瓣膜置换术后病人因发生人工瓣膜内源性、外源性功能障碍或并发症 ,以及再发其他瓣膜病变 ,均需行再次瓣膜置换术。现将我们近 10年再次或多次瓣膜置换术病例总结报道如下。资料和方法　 1992年 1月至 2 0 0 1年 12月 ,我们共实施再次与多次心脏瓣膜置换术 132例 ,占同期瓣膜置换术病人的 4 35 %( 132 30 33例 )。其中男 5 9例 ,女 73例 ;年龄 14～ 70岁 ,平均 45岁。术前心功能 (NYHA)II级 16例 ,III级 75例 ,IV级 41例。再次换瓣主要原因与两次手术间隔时间见表 1。其中二尖瓣生物瓣衰败 6 6例 ,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣生物瓣衰败1例 …     

4437例瓣膜置换术住院死亡危险因素分析及安贞风险评分系统建立

目的 对4437例心脏瓣膜置换于术病人进行同顺性研究,定量评估住院死亡的危险因素,建立瓣膜置换手术住院死亡风险模型,以及安贞医院瓣膜置换手术风险评分系统.方法 选取安贞医院心脏外科数据库中收录的主动脉瓣置换术病人848例,二尖瓣置换术病人2202例,主动脉瓣、二尖瓣舣瓣膜置换术病人1387例.选取术前.术中33个临床指标作为住院死亡的可能影响因素,利用单因素分析进行筛选,然后利用多因素分析确立3种手术的住院死亡危险因素并建立风险模型.结果经多因素分析,年龄、体表面积、心功能分级、术前肌酐和体外循环时间是主动脉瓣置换术住院死亡的危险因素.心功能分级、术前心衰史、心胸比率、短轴缩短率、病因、左心室收缩末径,体外循环时间和术中1ABP是二尖瓣置换术住院死亡的危险因素.年龄、心功能分级、术前心内膜炎、糖尿病史、既往二尖瓣球囊扩张术,体重指数和体外循环时间是丰动脉瓣、二尖瓣双瓣膜置换术的住院死亡危险因素.ROC曲线下面积分别为主动脉瓣置换术模型0.921(95%CI,0.874～0.967),二尖瓣置换术模型0.859(95%C1,0.813～0.905),主动脉瓣、二尖瓣舣瓣膜置换术模型0.868(95%CI,0.827～0.908).Hosmer-Leme-show检验显示,主动脉瓣置换术模型χ~2=1.463,P=0.993,二尖瓣置换术模型χ~2=8.720,P=0.366,主动脉瓣、二尖瓣双瓣膜置换术模型χ~2=8.134,P=0.420,预计病死率与实际观测病死率差异无统计学意义.结论 3个模型能够定定量评估瓣膜置换术病人住院死亡风险.     

感染性心内膜炎的外科治疗

目的总结感染性心内膜炎(IE)外科治疗的临床经验。方法回顾性分析1998年6月至2005年12月收治的23例IE患者外科手术治疗的临床资料,其中先天性心脏病13例,风湿性心瓣膜病7例,原发性细菌性心内膜炎3例。术前16例行血液细菌培养,阳性7例。术前心功能分级(NYHA)级2例、级12例、级9例。行主动脉瓣置换术4例、二尖瓣置换术4例、主动脉瓣和二尖瓣双瓣膜置换术3例、主动脉瓣、二尖瓣、三尖瓣置换术2例;单纯心内分流修补术8例,主动脉瓣置换加心内分流修补术2例。术后应用足量的敏感抗生素4～6周。结果术后第5d和9d分别死亡2例,其中1例因全身肢端和多器官栓塞、脑出血死亡,1例因心脏骤停死亡。术后20例患者心功能恢复至～级,治愈出院;1例心功能级患者好转出院。术后随访19例,随访时间6个月至7.5年,18例心功能～级,1例心功能级;发生主动脉瓣瓣周漏2例,其中1例于术后3年自愈,1例随访2.6年,无任何自觉症状,心功能级。结论IE经外科手术治疗能取得较好的治疗效果。     

心房纤维颤动的外科治疗

３例采用改良迷宫术探索进行心房纤颤外科治疗获成功。病人术前均为风湿性心脏病，心功能Ⅲ－Ⅳ级，心房纤颤病史３－１０年，左房直径５２－５８ｍｍ，心胸比率０．６４－０．７０。在进行改良迷宫术的同时，２例行二尖瓣替换，１例行双瓣替换及三尖瓣环缩。术后２例自动复跳，１例电击除颤复跳。３例术后早期均为窦性心律。２例术后３年恢复良好，正常心律，心功能Ｉ级；１例术后３个月死于脑血管意外。文中重点介绍了手术方法，提     

先天性心脏病术中心脏瓣膜的保护和矫治

目的 总结先天性心脏病术后因瓣膜功能不全再手术的经验。方法 回顾分析先天性心脏病术后再行瓣膜手术13例患者的临床资料,其中室间隔缺损修补术后8例,部分心内膜垫缺损修补术后3例,法洛四联症和房间隔缺损修补术后各1例。第1次手术时即存在二尖瓣轻～中度关闭不全6例,主动脉瓣关闭不全1例;新出现瓣膜功能异常6例,其中2例因补片漏致三尖瓣关闭不全,2例因前叶腱索断裂致三尖瓣关闭不全,1例因残留右心室流出道狭窄继发三尖瓣关闭不全,1例因伤及主动脉瓣并发二尖瓣和三尖瓣关闭不全。13例中,行二尖瓣置换6例,三尖瓣置换2例,主动脉瓣置换1例,行主动脉瓣置换并二尖瓣、三尖瓣成形1例,三尖瓣成形3例。同时修补残余漏,疏通右心室流出道。结果 术后发生低心排综合征3例。2例术后早期分别死于脑气栓和呼吸循环衰竭。11例术后痊愈出院,随访1～8年,心功能良好。结论 先天性心脏病矫治术中应注意心脏瓣膜的保护,合并的瓣膜功能异常应积极修补,及时地再手术可取得良好效果。     

Reoperations in valvular heart disease

Background Reoperations for valvular heart disease are associated with a higher overall mortality than the primary operations. In this retrospective analysis, we present our experience of reoperative valvular heart surgery over a period of 25 years. Methods From January 1975 to July 2000, 13039 operations were performed for valvular heart disease. Of these 665 were reoperations. The mean age of the patients at the primary operation was 24.0±10.2 years (range: 8 to 65 years) and at re-operation was 35.6±11.6 years (range: 9 to 65 years) with an interval of 9.4±2.2 years (range: 0.2 to 25 years) between the 2 procedures. Four hundred and forty reoperations were performed following a previous closed mitral valvotomy and procedures included, redo closed mitral valvotomy (n=28), mitral valve replacement (n=30), open mitral commissurotomy (n=51), mitral valve repair (n=9), homograft mitral valve replacement (n=2), double valve replacement (n=47), aortic valve replacement (n=2) and homograft aortic valve replacement plus open mitral commissurotomy (n=l). Eighty six patients underwent reoperations following mitral valve replacement. Valve thrombosis (n=50) and endocarditis (n=10) were principle causes of reoperation. Forty three patients required reoperation following failed mitral valve repair, 19 following open mitral commissurotomy and 8 following homograft mitral valve replacement. Sixty five patients underwent reoperation following aortic valve operations: prosthetic aortic valve replacement in 43, homograft aortic valve replacement in 5, aortic valve repair in 10, and Ross procedure in 7. Results Majority of patients were operated through midsternotomy. Aortic cannulation was possible in all but 4 patients in whom femoral artery cannulation was required. Operative mortality following reoperations was 7.5% (n=50). Peri-operative bleeding, low cardiac output and infective endocarditis were major causes of operative deaths. Other post-operative complications included cerebrovascular accident (n=3), acute renal failure (n=10) and jaundice (n=25). Fifteen patients developed significant wound infection. Conclusions Patients undergoing operation for valvular heart disease frequently require reoperation. Reoperative valvular heart surgery is safe and can be undertaken with acceptable mortality and morbidity.     

二尖瓣主动脉瓣三尖瓣同时置换治疗重症风湿性瓣膜病

目的　总结二尖瓣主动脉瓣三尖瓣同期置换治疗重症风湿性心脏瓣膜病的手术疗效。方法　 1999年 6月至 2 0 0 1年 6月 94 1例病人进行瓣膜置换术 ,其中 2 4例同期进行二尖瓣、三尖瓣和主动脉瓣置换 ,占瓣膜置换病人的 2 5 5 %。 2 4例病人中女 17例 ,男 7例 ;年龄 18～ 5 9岁 ,平均 36岁 ;体重 37～ 5 6kg。其中 8例曾行二尖瓣闭式扩张术、11例合并左房血栓、16例病人合并有肝肿大 (肋下 2～ 8cm)和下肢水肿、8例合并有腹水。X线胸片示心胸比率为 0 6 6～ 0 91。超声检查示三尖瓣均有严重反流 ,反流面积为 4 2～ 34 0cm2 ,平均 (16 8± 9 3)cm2 。术前心功能III级 9例 ,VI级 15例。 6例病人因药物不能控制心衰而行急诊换瓣手术。结果　死亡 1例 ,死亡率为 4 2 %。术后 1周、3、6个月复查超声心动图示各心腔内径较术前明显缩小。出院者均得到随访 ,随访时间 2 0～ 36个月 ,平均 2 6 4个月。术后心功能I～II级2 0例 ,III级 4例。术后 3～ 12个月复查超声心动图未见机械瓣功能障碍及血栓形成。结论　对于联合瓣膜病变 ,三尖瓣有严重器质性病变的病人 ,在进行二尖瓣主动脉瓣置换的同时进行三尖瓣置换 ,有利于术后右心功能的恢复 ,能更好地改善心脏的血流动力学特性 ,改善心功能 ,并有利于术后病人的康     

More than ten years' follow-up of the Hancock porcine bioprosthesis in Japan.

From February 1975 through October 1981, 256 Hancock porcine bioprostheses (Johnson & Johnson Cardiovascular, King of Prussia, Pa.) (60 aortic, 169 mitral, and 27 pulmonary/tricuspid position) were implanted in 220 patients (104 male and 116 female, aged 9 to 67 years; mean 43.3) at Kyushu University Hospital in Japan. The procedures include 41 aortic valve replacements, 121 mitral valve replacements, 4 pulmonary valve replacements, 6 tricuspid valve replacements, and 48 combined valve replacements (31 aortic plus mitral, 13 mitral plus tricuspid, and 4 aortic plus mitral plus tricuspid). Hospital mortality was 6.4%. Follow-up was 98% during 8 to 14 (mean 10.5) years. Cumulative follow-up was 1836 patient-years and 2078 valve-years. At 10 years the overall actuarial survival rate, including hospital morality, was 70% +/- 3%, and freedom from valve-related mortality with sudden death was 87% +/- 3%. More than half of the current survivors required no anticoagulant therapy. Freedom from thromboembolism or anticoagulant-related hemorrhage (or both) and prosthetic valve endocarditis was common. Freedom from structural valve failure and reoperation declined more than 9 years after replacement of left-sided heart valves but not after replacement of right-sided heart valves. Sixty-seven patients underwent 68 repeat operations, and there were four deaths (5.9%). The rate of freedom from overall valve-related complications at 10 years was 62% +/- 8% for aortic valve replacement, 53% +/- 5% for mitral valve replacement, 80% +/- 13% for pulmonary/tricuspid valve replacement, and 42% +/- 9% for combined valve replacement. There was a significant difference between pulmonary/tricuspid valve replacement and combined valve replacement (p less than 0.05). The Hancock bioprosthesis is suitable for the replacement of valves in the right side of the heart but not for combined valve replacement.     

Heart valve replacement with the Sorin tilting-disc prosthesis. A 10-year experience.

From 1978 to 1988, 697 patients with a mean age of 48 +/- 11 years (range 5 to 75 years) received a Sorin tilting-disc prosthesis; 358 had had aortic valve replacement, 247 mitral valve replacement, and 92 mitral and aortic valve replacement. Operative mortality rates were 7.8%, 11.3%, and 10.8%, respectively, in the three groups. Cumulative duration of follow-up is 1650 patient-years for aortic valve replacement (maximum follow-up 11.4 years), 963 patient-years for mitral valve replacement (maximum follow-up 9.9 years) and 328 patient-years for mitral and aortic valve replacement (maximum follow-up 9.4 years). Actuarial survival at 9 years is 72% +/- 4% after mitral valve replacement, 70% +/- 3% after aortic valve replacement, and 50% +/- 12% after mitral and aortic valve replacement, and actuarial freedom from valve-related deaths is 97% +/- 2% after mitral valve replacement, 92% +/- 2% after aortic valve replacement, and 62% +/- 15% after mitral and aortic valve replacement. Thromboembolic events occurred in 21 patients with aortic valve replacement (1.3% +/- 0.2%/pt-yr), in 12 with mitral valve replacement (1.2% +/- 0.3% pt-yr), and in seven with mitral and aortic valve replacement (2.1% +/- 0.8%), with one case of prosthetic thrombosis in each group; actuarial freedom from thromboembolism at 9 years is 92% +/- 3% after mitral valve replacement, 91% +/- 3% after aortic valve replacement, and 74% +/- 16% after mitral and aortic valve replacement. Anticoagulant-related hemorrhage was observed in 15 patients after aortic valve replacement (0.9% +/- 0.2%/pt-yr), in 9 after mitral valve replacement (0.9% +/- 0.3%/pt-yr), and in 6 with mitral and aortic valve replacement (0.9% +/- 0.5%/pt-yr); actuarial freedom from this complication at 9 years is 94% +/- 2% after aortic valve replacement, 91% +/- 4% after mitral valve replacement, and 68% +/- 16% after mitral and aortic valve replacement. Actuarial freedom from reoperation at 9 years is 97% +/- 2% after mitral and aortic valve replacement, 92% +/- 4% after mitral valve replacement, and 89% +/- 3% after aortic valve replacement, with no cases of mechanical fracture. The Sorin valve has shown a satisfactory long-term overall performance, comparable with other mechanical prostheses, and an excellent durability that renders it a reliable heart valve substitute for the mitral and aortic positions.     

Heart valve replacement in children

Twenty children with heart valve disease were operated upon and underwent heart valve replacement between 1965 and 1968. Thirteen were girls and seven boys. At the time of operation their ages ranged from 3 to 16 years. All the patients were in classes III or IV prior to operation. Three children suffered from congenital valvular lesions and 17 from rheumatic lesions. In each patient left and/or right heart catheterization and angiographic studies were performed. Six patients underwent aortic valve replacement, 11 mitral, 1 tricuspid, and 2 double valve replacement. Mitral annuloplasty was performed in addition to aortic valve replacement in two patients, and tricuspid annuloplasty in addition to mitral valve replacement in another patient. In 19 patients a prosthetic valve was used and in one an aortic heterograft (pig). Two patients died in the early postoperative period (10%), and two later, two and nine months after surgery (10%). Postoperative thromboembolism occurred in four patients (20%). All have completely recovered. All the surviving 16 patients have been followed for a period of one to four and a half years and all showed significant clinical improvement; all children of school age have returned to school and/or other normal actitivies. The overall result has been encouraging and might justify a more aggressive approach in the management of valvular diseases in this specific group of patients.     

Increased morbidity and mortality in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome undergoing valve replacement surgery

OBJECTIVE: Heart valve abnormalities are commonly found in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome but experience with valve replacement in such patients is limited. We analyzed the results of valve replacement in patients with this condition at our institution. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2002, 10 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (8 women, 2 men; aged 38-73 years, mean 49 years) with severe mitral valve disease (n = 7), aortic valve disease (n = 2), or combined mitral-aortic disease (n = 1) underwent valve replacement. We reviewed retrospectively their clinical data, operative and postoperative courses, and the long-term results. Pathological reassessment was performed in all cases. RESULTS: Procedures performed included mitral valve replacement in 7 patients, aortic valve replacement in 2 patients, and combined aortic valve replacement plus mitral valve replacement in 1 patient. In addition, 2 patients underwent tricuspid annuloplasty. The immediate mortality was 20% (2 patients). Major complications occurred in 2 other cases. During a follow-up period of up to 8 years, 2 patients required repeat operation for valve-related complications (1 death). An additional patient died of cardiac causes 13 months after surgery. One patient had major thromboembolic events 3 and 10 months after the operation. The late outcome was uneventful in only 4 patients. CONCLUSION: Valve replacement in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome may carry significant early and late mortality and morbidity, particularly when such patients are referred with advanced valvular heart disease.     

Acceleration of aortic regurgitation due to localized aortic dissection; report of a case

We successfully treated a patient with accelerated aortic regurgitation due to localized aortic dissection with mitral regurgitation causing congestive heart failure. A 58-year-old female, who had suffered from aortic regurgitation for more than 10 years, had acute heart failure due to acceleration of aortic regurgitation. The surgical findings showed prolapse of the aortic valve due to localized dissection in the sinus of Valsalva. We performed a Bentall operation and a mitral valve replacement, with a favorable outcome. The postoperative course was uneventful.