Redo valve surgery nowadays: what have we learned?

Re-operative valvular surgery is common nowadays. Increased mortality and morbidity are generally associated. Re-operations in cardiac surgery are technically more difficult because of adhesions and a more advanced cardiac status of the patient. Results reported 20 years ago carried a high mortality risk. Experience and technological evolution have produced a substantial reduction in postoperative mortality nowadays. The present review focuses on historical results of redo valve surgery, risks factors for postoperative mortality, technical progress and surgical strategies contributing to better results.     

Cardiac surgery in the Pacific Islands

Background: Rheumatic heart disease constitutes a significant disease burden in under‐resourced communities. Recognition of the devastating impact of rheumatic heart disease has resulted in volunteer cardiac teams from Australasia providing surgical services to regions of need. The primary objective of this study was to compare New Zealand hospitals' volunteer cardiac surgical operative results in Samoa and Fiji with the accepted surgical mortality and morbidity rates for Australasia. Methods: A retrospective review from seven volunteer cardiac surgical trips to Samoa and Fiji from 2003 to 2009 was conducted. Patient data were retrospectively and prospectively collected. Preoperative morbidity and mortality risk were calculated using the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (euroSCORE). Audit data were collated in line with the Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons guidelines. Results: One hundred and three operations were performed over 6 years. EuroSCORE predicted an operative mortality of 3.32%. In‐hospital mortality was 0.97% and post‐discharge mortality was 2.91%, resulting in a 30‐day mortality of 3.88%. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that performing cardiac surgery in Fiji and Samoa is viable and safe. However, the mortality was slightly higher than predicted by euroSCORE. Difficulties exist in predicting mortality rates in patients with rheumatic heart disease from Pacific Island nations as known risk scoring models fail to be disease, ethnically or culturally inclusive. Audit processes and risk model development and assessment are an essential part of this complex surgical charity work and will result in improved patient selection and outcomes.     

Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position

Objective: Recently, there has been an increase in case of repeated open-heart valve surgery and the clinical results of the second surgery are only slightly worse than those of the first surgery. However, clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are rarely reported. Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are discussed in this study.Methods: Between 1995 and 2004, 16 patients underwent third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position under cardiopulmonary bypass. The average age of the 16 patients, 12 females and 4 males, was 56±15 years. Clinical features of the 16 cases were retrospectively analyzed.Results: Mechanical valve nonstructural dysfunction was the most common valve malady, followed by bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. The duration of surgery from skin incision to establishment of the cardiopulmonary bypass was 94±42 minutes. Myocardial ischemia time was 137±38 minutes and extracorporeal circulation time was 212±82 minutes. Early mortality was seen in 1 patient (6.25%) and late mortality was seen in 1 patient.Conclusion: Mechanical valve nonstructural valve dysfunction leads to repeated valve surgery. The clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position are acceptable, and the mid-term survival is excellent.     

Pediatric cardiac anesthesia in the developing world

More children die of congenital heart disease (CHD) in low-income countries and acquired cardiac disease is more frequent. Advances in diagnosis, surgery, perfusion and anesthesia in the developed world have had dramatic results on children's lives, and many forms of CHD can now be safely corrected or palliated. However, in developing countries, for the children who receive cardiac surgery, perioperative mortality and morbidity remain high. Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a specialty in its infancy worldwide, and in developing countries, it is often nonexistent. Visiting 'specialists' as part of medical mission teams often provides anesthesia, but the hope for the future is that local staff will be trained in pediatric cardiac anesthesia and collaborative regional cardiac centers will be the mainstay of care, offering safer surgery to more children.     

腔镜不停跳术对左心瓣膜置换术后远期三尖瓣重度反流疗效分析

目的 总结左侧心脏瓣膜置换术后远期出现孤立性重度三尖瓣关闭不全患者的腔镜辅助不停跳三尖瓣手术治疗经验。方法 11例心脏瓣膜疾病患者行左心瓣置换术后远期发生重度三尖瓣关闭不全并右心衰竭,8例出现心脏恶病质综合征及肝肾功能不全,予行再次三尖瓣手术,包括人工瓣环成形术2例,行三尖瓣置换术9例,其中置换生物瓣5例,双在叶机械瓣4例;在腔镜辅助下行心脏不停跳再次手术5例,常规再次心脏停搏手术6例。结果 2例围术期死亡,均为停跳组瓣膜置换病人。术后心包引流液量心脏不停跳组明显少于停跳组（P<0.05）。停跳组术后严重低心排血量综合征4例,不停跳组1例。两组术后1月复查超声心动图,右心房、室均明显缩小,三尖瓣无或少量反流,两组间无明显差异。获长期随访5例、随访时间25~86月、心功能Ⅱ级3例、Ⅲ级2例。结论 左心瓣膜置换术后远期孤立性重度三尖瓣关闭不全合并右心衰的再次手术死亡率高、合理掌握手术指征、手术时机、积极开展微创不停跳手术和良好的围术期治疗是手术成功的关键。对于终末期病例,手术死亡率高,应积极开展针对右心系统的心脏超声及磁共振检测指标,综合评估手术风险,常规换瓣手术指征需慎重,必要时可考虑微创经皮导管瓣膜植入术。     

Predictors of postoperative mortality after mitral valve repair: Analysis of a series of 164 patients

Background.?Mitral valve repair (MVR) has been shown to achieve good long-term results. However, this procedure is associated with relevant immediate postoperative mortality. The aim of this study is to identify those preoperative variables associated with an increased risk of 30-d postoperative death.

Methods.?One hundred and sixty-four patients underwent MVR at our institution from January 1993 to December 2000.

Results.?Eleven patients (6.7%) died during the immediate postoperative outcome, a median of 14 d after surgery (range, 1–29 d). One patient (1.3%) out of 80 who underwent MVR as lone procedure died on postoperative day 14 of cardiac tamponade. The mortality rate in those who underwent MVR associated with other procedures was 11.9%. Multivariable analysis (154 patients included in the analysis) showed that patients’ age (p=0.006, for an increase of 10 units: OR 4.33, 95% CI 1.53–12.27), history of prior cardiac surgery (p=0.006, OR 118.56, 95% CI 4.03–3491.14) and NYHA functional class (p=0.011, OR 5.66, 95% CI 1.49–21.49) were significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative death. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve showed that patients’ age had an area under the curve of 0.762 (95% CI 0.622–0.901, p=0.004), its best cut-off value being 65 years (mortality, 13.4% vs 2.1%, p=0.008, sensitivity 81.8%, specificity 62.1%, accuracy 63.4%). None of the patients older than 65 and with a history of prior cardiac surgery survived the operation.

Conclusions.?MVR is associated with a relevant 30-d mortality risk in patients older than 65 years, with advanced NYHA functional class and a history of prior cardiac surgery.     

Is it possible to improve the accuracy of EuroSCORE?

Objective: We derived a new risk-scoring method by modifying some of the risk factors included in the EuroSCORE algorithm. Methods: This study includes 3613 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the Vaasa Central Hospital, Finland. The EuroSCORE variables, along with modified age classes (<60 years, 60–69.9 years, 70–79.9 years and ≥80 years), eGFR-based chronic kidney disease classes (classes 1–2, class 3 and classes 4–5) and the number of cardiac procedures, were entered into the regression analysis. Results: An additive risk score was calculated according to the results of logistic regression by adding the risk of the following variables: patients’ age classes (0, 2, 4 and 6 points), female (2 points), pulmonary disease (3 points), extracardiac arteriopathy (2 points), neurological dysfunction (4 points), redo surgery (3 points), critical preoperative status (8 points), left ventricular ejection fraction (>50%: 0; 30–50%: 2 and <30%: 3 points), thoracic aortic surgery (8 points), postinfarct septal rupture (9 points), chronic kidney disease classes (0, 3 and 6 points), number of procedures (1: 0; 2: 2 and 3 or more: 7 points). The modified score had a better area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (additive: 0.867; logistic: 0.873) than the EuroSCORE (additive: 0.835; logistic: 0.840) in predicting 30-day postoperative mortality. The modified score, but not EuroSCORE, correctly estimated the 30-day postoperative mortality. Conclusion: EuroSCORE still performs well in identifying high-risk patients, but significantly overestimates the immediate postoperative mortality. This study shows that the score's accuracy and clinical relevance can be significantly improved by modifying a few of its variables. This institutionally derived risk-scoring method represents a modification and simplification of the EuroSCORE and, likely, it would provide a more realistic estimation of the mortality risk after adult cardiac surgery.     

Surgical management of multivalvular heart disease

Background This study of patients with multivalvular lesions was undertaken to assess optimal surgical management and identify risk factors for prognosis. Methods Five hundred and twenty one patients underwent valve repair or replacement surgery between January’90 and December’98. Mean age was 30.19±12.2 years and 342 were males. All patients had dyspnoea on exertion, 467 (89.6%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III and 47 (9.0%) were in Class IV. Congestive Heart Failure in 67 (12.3%) and prior cardiac procedure in 66 (12.2%) were other risk factors. The valves affected were mitral and aortic in 483 (Group 1), mitral and tricuspid in 43 (Group II) and mitral, aortic and tricuspid in 40 (Group III) patients. Surgical procedures included, several different combinations using repair or replacement with prosthetic or biological substitutes. Results Operative mortality was 9.8% (51 patients). Follow up (1 to 108 months, mean 45 months) was 94% complete. Late mortality occurred in 48 patients (10.4%). Causes included, left ventricular dysfunction (n=21), valve thrombosis (n=10) and, endocarditis (n=8). Freedom from late events was 50.7±8.5% at 9 years. At their last visit 40 patients were in Class IV, 18 were in Class III, 59 in Class II and the remaining in Class I (NYHA). Conclusions Important predictors of early mortality were NYHA Class IV, congestive heart failure, tricuspid valve disease and prior cardiac surgery. Left ventricular dysfunction was an important determinant of late outcome.     

5066例瓣膜手术的围术期临床回顾

目的回顾分析安贞医院1993～2004年5066例心脏瓣膜手术围术期资料，探讨我国瓣膜外科围术期临床特点。方法利用自行研发的心外科专业数据库，将所有病例资料依据手术种类、心脏大小、心功能及EF值变化、手术相关数据（体外循环时间、主动脉阻断时间、呼吸机带管时间、ICU时间、术后住院并发症）、病死率、并发症分布等进行分组，应用t检验和X^2检验来比较各组间的差异。结果全组手术后围术期并发症发生率为18．2％，总病死率4．6％。统计显示，病人平均年龄逐年升高；风湿性心脏病仍是病因的构成主体，但近5年来退行性病变、黏液性病变比例明显增加；围术期病死率近年来已稳定在3％～4％。结论瓣膜外科年龄构成有明显的上升趋势；围术期应针对老年病人特点进行管理；EF值在不同病理改变的瓣膜病中，对围术期病死率的影响意义并不相同；应重视瓣膜成形技术的开展；应加强对专业数据库系统的开发和应用。     

300例小儿心脏直视手术的体会

目的本文报告300例小儿心脏直视手术体会。方法对我科1982年5月～2004年12月300例小儿心脏直视手术的疗效进行回顾性分析。结果术后并发症包括有心律失常105例,肺部感染32例,心包积液5例,低心排15例,低血钾37例,喉头水肿4例。全组死亡12例,总死亡率为4%。死亡原因:肺部感染5例,低心排综合征3例,急性肾功能衰竭2例,Ⅲ°房室传导阻滞1例,败血症1例。其余均治愈出院。结论小儿心脏直视手术较成人复杂,手术后的呼吸管理、肺动脉高压的早期处理、及时纠正心律失常是降低死亡率的关键。     

Hemolysis after mitral valve replacement with mechanical valve prostheses

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated effects of type, size, and orientation of mechanical mitral valve prostheses on hemolysis. METHODS: Subjects were 84 patients who had undergone mitral valve replacement. Lactate dehydrogenase was mainly used as a marker of hemolysis and was measured before surgery, 1 month after surgery, and in the late postoperative period. RESULTS: Valves used included 16 Medtronic-Hall, 32 St. Jude Medical, and 36 CarboMedics valves. Medtronic-Hall valves caused less hemolysis than St. Jude Medical or CarboMedics valves in the late postoperative period. This resulted because hemolysis due to Medtronic-Hall valves was more severe 1 month after surgery than in the late postoperative period and because hemolysis due to St. Jude Medical or CarboMedics valves was more severe in the late postoperative period than 1 month after surgery. One reason for this finding is that cardiac output was greater in the late postoperative period than 1 month after surgery, making regurgitation through the pivots of bileaflet valves more severe. The orifice area and the orientation of prostheses did not affect hemolysis. CONCLUSION: St. Jude Medical or CarboMedics valves caused more severe hemolysis than Medtronic-Hall valves in the late postoperative period.     

Enlargement of the narrow aortic root: Fear of what?

Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) associated with aortic valve replacement, especially of aortic stenosis, is a common problem. Severe PPM is known to increase perioperative morbidity and mortality and to negatively affect late survival. Surgical enlargement of the narrow aortic root enlargement (ARE) is now increasingly accepted as a method of facilitating implantation of a larger valve prosthesis, hence decreasing the risk of PPM. There are diagnostic methods and tables that help to predict the risk of this complication and assist in the planning of the surgery. Still, many surgeons are afraid or reluctant to perform ARE because of potential technical complications of a procedure perceived to increase the complexity of the surgery. However, these procedures have been proven safe and effective, and are at the reach of almost any cardiac surgeon, including less experienced ones. In addition, there are modifications to the techniques that make them even simpler and more reproducible.     

老年患者主动脉瓣置换术临床研究

目的探讨老年心脏瓣膜病患者施行主动脉瓣手术的临床效果。方法连续选择81例,年龄>60岁的主动脉瓣手术患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。建立logistic回归模型,分析围术期各个相关因素对于治疗效果的影响。结果早期死亡8例,病死率为9.88%。再次手术、心功能NYHA分级、体外循环时间长是影响患者术后死亡的危险因素。术后发生并发症31例,主要包括:低心排出量综合征、多脏器功能不全综合征、肺部感染、急性肾衰竭、术后呼吸功能不全。结论对症状严重而并发症少的老年心脏瓣膜病患者进行主动脉瓣手术是安全、有效的。     

Perioperative cardiac complications

Perioperative cardiac complications have an increasing impact on morbidity and mortality as more patients with cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities are requiring major surgery. This article provides updates on cardiac risk prediction via risk assessment tools and perioperative biomarkers, perioperative cardiac risk reduction strategies, and the management of cardiac complications, including myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), acute heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.     

Mortality as an outcome measure following cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in the current era

Mortality following cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease is rare in the current times. In this review article, we explore current mortality rates, factors associated with mortality, and pitfalls in the use of mortality as a measure for assessing outcomes following congenital heart surgery.     

合并恶液质的风湿性心脏瓣膜病的外科治疗

目的　总结风湿性心脏瓣膜病合并心源性恶液质病人的围手术期治疗经验。方法　回顾性分析近 6年 42例心脏恶液质瓣膜患者的围手术期治疗。结果　术后早期死亡 4例( 9 .5 2 % ) ,2 0例术后出现并发症 ,3 8例患者出院时肝脾明显缩小 ,食欲好转 ,血红蛋白、血浆蛋白及肝、肾功能正常。随访 10个月～ 6年 ,心功能恢复至Ⅰ级 2 4例 ,Ⅱ级 14例。结论　充分的术前准备、围术期营养支持 ,正确地选择好手术时机 ,加强术中处理 ,积极治疗术后并发症是提高手术疗效的关键。     

Tricuspid valve diseases: Interventions on the forgotten heart valve

Over the past few decades, the tricuspid valve (TV) interventions have been relatively lower compared to other cardiac valvular disease in terms of pathophysiology and management, especially regarding surgical intervention and therapy. However, recent crucial advances in assessment and management of the TV disease have resulted in a renewed interest in the “forgotten valve.” The medical treatment aims to cure the underlying disease and address the presentation of the right heart failure. Surgical interventions have proven to yield good outcomes for those for whom surgery is indicated. For those who are not suitable for surgery, transcatheter surgery may prove to be a suitable replacement. Best practice with regard to surgical techniques is still in question due to limited data. This has been slowing the introduction of transcatheter interventions into common practical guidelines. The aim of this literature review is to discuss new insights on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and interventions of TV disease, highlighting the surgical management and emerging transcatheter therapies. In addition, this review will provide an overview of the current state of the literature surrounding TV interventions and providing suggestions for future directives.     

Reconstructive surgery for mitral and tricuspid valves —Principles and personal experience

We have experienced 246 cases of reconstructive surgery for mitral and tricuspid valves, with 17 deaths in the immediate post-operative period or during follow-up. This gives an overall mortality rate of 6.9 per cent whereas in 72 cases of mitral valve reconstruction we recorded only 2 deaths i.e. a mortality rate of 2.7 per cent although the post-operative period remains relatively short. Thus, we feel fully justified in pursuing our conservative surgery program, especially for younger patients who, given their superior myocardial state, can lead a fuller life after mitral reconstruction than after mitral replacement. It is our conviction that mitral and tricuspid valve reconstruction should not be overlooked and that prior to resection and replacement, the surgeon and the team should pause and scrupulously examine the valvular components with a view to conservative surgery. For certain lesions, reconstruction can be carried out rapidly and reliably. The mortality rate is not higher than conventional cardiac surgery and the patient’s long term prognosis is considerably improved.     

心脏瓣膜手术后并发透析依赖的急性肾功能衰竭的危险因素

目的 探讨心脏瓣膜手术后并发透析依赖的急性肾功能衰竭(acute renal failure requiringdialysis,ARF-D)的危险因素.方法 回顾性分析2005年1月至2008年12月心脏瓣膜手术、年龄≥18岁、术前血肌酐＜300 μmol/L的病例资料.术后30天内并发ARF-D者为病例组,共55例.随机抽取同期未并发ARF-D的220例作为对照组.采用单因素分析及多因素Logistic回归探讨并发ARF-D的危险因素.结果 心脏瓣膜术后ARF-D发生率为1.78%,早期病死率65.5%.Logistic回归分析结果显示年龄、二次手术、术前血肌酐、心功能(NYHA)Ⅳ级、术后低心排血量综合征为心脏瓣膜术后并发ARF-D的独立危险因素.病例组与对照组相比,监护室停留时间、术后住院时间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 年龄、二次手术、术前血肌酐、心功能Ⅳ级、术后低心排血量综合征为心脏瓣膜术后并发ARF-D的独立危险因素.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the risk factors for the postoperative acute renal failure requiring dialysis (ARF-D)after heart valve surgery. Methods Adult patients (age≤18 years) underwent valve surgery with preoperative serum creatinine ＜300 μmol/L were included between January 2005 and December 2008. Fifty patients developed ARF-D within 30 days postoperatively (ARF-D group). While random 220 patients had the same operation without ARF-D served as the control group. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify risk factors of ARF-D after valve surgery.Results The incidence of ARF-D was 1.78%, and the early mortality rate was 65.5%. Multivariate analysis identified the following independent risk factors of ARF-D: age, previous cardiac surgery, preoperative serum creatinine, NYHA class Ⅳ,and low cardiac output syndrome. ARF-D group had a longer hospital stay and ICU stay than that of the control group ( P ＜0.001 ). Conclusion Conclusion ARF-D had a higher mortality rate and longer hospital stay following heart valve surgery.Age, previous cardiac surgery, preoperative serum creatinine, NYHA class Ⅳ, and low cardiac output syndrome were the independent risk factors of ARF-D after heart valve surgery.     

Superior Biatrial Septotomy and Beating Heart Approach for Aortic and Mitral Valve Replacement in a Patient with Refractory Cardiac Failure

Time-consuming and complex cardiac surgery remains a challenge in patients with impaired ventricular function and consequently necessary prolonged cardioplegic arrest may jeopardize a fragile myocardial status. The case is reported of a 63-year-old male patient with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and history of refractory cardiac failure who successfully underwent a beating heart aortic and mitral valve replacement through a superior biatrial septotomy. Technical considerations and advantages related to this specific surgical access combined with a beating heart approach are discussed.