Rarity of invasiveness in right-sided infective endocarditis

Objective

The rarity of invasiveness of right-sided infective endocarditis (IE) compared with left-sided has not been well recognized and evaluated. Thus, we compared invasiveness of right- versus left-sided IE in surgically treated patients.

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。     

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.     

Infective endocarditis with congenital heart disease

From 1988 to 2005, seven patients were operated at our hospital because of infectious endocarditis (IE) with congenital heart disease (CHD). Underlying CHD included ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 4 (2 previous operations with residual region), atrial septal defect (ASD) in 2 and bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) in 1. No cases had preventive antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures. We could confirm bacteria origin from blood culture in all cases, but two patients had operations without gaining control of the infection. VSD or ASD closure and valve surgery were performed in four patients. One patient had a VSD closure, two patients had valve surgery. There were no operative or hospital deaths and there were no recurrences of IE during the study period. We successfully treated IE with CHD by enough debridement of the infective focus of IE, and valve surgery. It is important for patients with CHD to have preventive antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures.     

Valve replacement in the right side of the heart in children: long-term follow-up

Twenty-five patients (16 male, 9 female) underwent right-sided valve replacement (10 pulmonary valve replacement, 14 tricuspid valve replacement, 3 tricuspid plus pulmonary valve replacement, and 2 replacements of a single atrioventricular valve) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center from June 1977 to December 1986. Twenty-one patients (84%) are long-term survivors with 2,035 months follow-up (range, 41 to 143 months; mean, 96.9 months). Twenty-three Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthetic valves, one Ionescu-Shiley bioprosthetic valve, and nine St. Jude Medical valves were inserted. Follow-up of 17 patients with a Carpentier-Edwards valve ranged from 5 years 9 months to 11 years 9 months (mean, 8 years 11 months). To date there has been one reoperation after 3 years 4 months in this group. One patient who received an Ionescu-Shiley bioprosthesis required re-replacement at 20 months after operation. Three of 4 patients who received St. Jude mechanical valves and are long-term survivors have required replacement after 36 to 56 months. We conclude that the Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthetic valve is a viable option in the right side of the heart in the young age group when annular size is adequate to accommodate an appropriate bioprosthesis.     

风湿性心脏病左心瓣膜置换术后晚期重度三尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的 探讨风湿性心脏病(风心病)左心瓣膜置换术后晚期重度三尖瓣关闭不全(TR)的发生机制、手术指征、手术方法和疗效.方法 风心病左心瓣膜置换术后5～16年出现重度TR病人37例,均有不同程度的右心衰竭表现,左室射血分数(LVE)0.52±0.05,肺动脉收缩压(37.6±7.8)mm Hg.经右胸前外侧切口或正中切口再次手术行三尖瓣置换(TVR)25例,改良DeVega环缩术4例,带环成形术8例.结果 术后住院死亡4例,其中死于呼吸衰竭2例、多脏器功能衰竭和肾功能衰竭各1例.随访2个月～10年,死于右心衰竭3例,严重心律失常1例;生存的25例临床症状均有明显改善.结论 左心瓣膜置换术后晚期重度TR与肺动脉高压持续存在、风湿性三尖瓣病变、初次未作三尖瓣环缩术或方法不确实等有密切关系.左心功能良好、右室收缩功能无严重损害,无严重肺动脉高压是再次手术的指征,并主张尽早行TR纠正术.保留全瓣结构行三尖瓣置换有助于提高手术疗效.影响术后长期疗效仍是右室收缩功能.     

联合二瓣化和改良Kay成形术处理左心瓣膜手术患者三尖瓣瓣环扩张的初步疗效观察

目的观察用联合二瓣化和改良Kay成形术处理左心瓣膜手术患者三尖瓣瓣环扩张的临床结果。方法回顾性分析2010年1月至2011年5月华西医院158例伴有三尖瓣瓣环扩张(三尖瓣瓣环径/体表面积≥21 mm/m2)的左心瓣膜手术患者应用联合二瓣化和改良Kay成形术处理三尖瓣的临床资料,其中男27例,女131例;年龄17～74(45.9±10.4)岁,心房颤动92例,窦性心律66例。三尖瓣反流(TR)程度根据超声心动图评价分为0～5级。结果 158例患者均康复出院。体外循环时间54～273(100.8±30.5)min,升主动脉阻断时间25～162(64.5±22.0)min,阻断期间最低食管温度26.3～34.1(28.5±1.1)℃。术后随访3～19(11.0±5.0)个月。手术前、后三尖瓣反流程度差异有统计学意义(2.2±1.3 vs.0.4±0.8,P<0.05)。与术前相比,患者术后右心房内径、右心室内径及左心房内径明显缩小,手术前、后右心房内径、右心室内径及左心房内径之间的差异有统计学意义[(56.5±11.1)mm vs.(47.5±8.9)mm,P<0.05;(22.4±4.4)mm vs(.20.1±3.3)mm,P<0.05;(62.8±20.1)mm vs(.51.9±14.1)mm,P<0.05]。随访期间有中度以上TR 5例(3.2%,5/158),其中中度TR 4例,中-重度TR 1例。患者手术前、后左心室射血分数的变化不明显(60.4%±7.9%vs.59.6%±8.2%,P>0.05)。结论以三尖瓣瓣环径/体表面积≥21 mm/m2作为左心瓣膜手术患者三尖瓣成形手术指征较为合理。应用联合二瓣化和改良Kay成形术处理三尖瓣防止伴有三尖瓣瓣环扩张的患者术后TR的残留或加重是有效的。     

先心病并发细菌性心内膜炎的外科治疗

对１８例先天性心脏畸形并发细菌性心内膜炎病人进行直视心脏手术，其中１３例在感染控制后手术，５例于感染活动期行限期或急症手术。感染病灶主要在左心系统者５例，其中３例主动脉瓣叶破坏行瓣膜替换，２例二尖瓣大瓣腱索断裂行腱索移植和瓣环成形。病灶主要在右心系统者１３例，剔除或切除病变组织和赘生物并行三尖瓣修复５例，带单瓣人工血管片加宽右室流出道１例。所有先天性心脏畸形均同期处理。手术死亡１例，死亡率５．６％。本组资料表明：先心病并发细菌性心内膜炎者感染病灶多在右心系统，常伴肺部感染，应积极控制感染和尽早手术，于彻底清除病灶同时矫治先天性心脏畸形；对损毁瓣膜尽可能采用修复术。术后选用抗生素的种类和疗程应根据不同病情而区别对待。     

Surgical implications of juxtaposed atrial appendages and the associated anomalies.

Juxtaposition of the atrial appendages (JAA) is an uncommon anomaly of the heart that is frequently associated with other cardiac abnormalities, such as transposition of the great arteries and tricuspid atresia. We encountered 7 patients with JAA from July 1984 to July 1989 at National Taiwan University Hospital. The JAA was right-sided in 1 patient and left-sided in 6. The patients' ages ranged from 10 months to 12 years. The cardiac anomalies in the patient with right JAA were double-outlet right ventricle and ventricular septal defect, which was repaired with a patch. Of the 6 patients with left JAA, 5 had transposition of the great arteries, and in 3 of them obstructive tricuspid lesions (tricuspid stenosis in 1, tricuspid atresia in 2) were noted. Three patients with left JAA and normal tricuspid valve underwent total correction (one Senning operation and two Rastelli operations). The other 3 patients with tricuspid obstruction underwent total cavopulmonary connection (2) and Fontan operation (1). We concluded that, first, left JAA was more frequently seen and associated with more morbid anatomy than right JAA. Second, if left JAA is discovered in planning biventricular repair for transposition of the great arteries, the tricuspid valve should be inspected carefully to rule out tricuspid obstruction.     

Infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve

Infective endocarditis (IE) usually involves the left-sided valves, and IE involving the tricuspid valve (TV) is rare, often developing in intravenous drug users (IDU). We present a case of a 32-year-old male, an intravenous drug abuser (IDA), who presented with nonspecific septic symptoms, and was treated with TV conserving surgery. Pathological examination confirmed tissue destruction, friable thrombotic vegetations, and microorganisms in the leaflet tissue.     

Infective endocarditis with congenital heart disease

From 1988 to 2005, seven patients were operated at our hospital because of infectious endocarditis (IE) with congenital heart disease (CHD). Underlying CHD included ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 4 (2 previous operations with residual region), atrial septal defect (ASD) in 2 and bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) in 1. No cases had preventive antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures. We could confirm bacteria origin from blood culture in all cases, but two patients had operations without gaining control of the infection. VSD or ASD closure and valve surgery were performed in four patients. One patient had a VSD closure, two patients had valve surgery. There were no operative or hospital deaths and there were no recurrences of IE during the study period. We successfully treated IE with CHD by enough debridement of the infective focus of IE, and valve surgery. It is important for patients with CHD to have preventive antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures.     

Tricuspid valvulectomy without replacement. Twenty years' experience

Since September 1970, we have operated on 55 patients with intractable right-sided endocarditis. All patients were addicted to heroin. Fifty-three underwent tricuspid valvulectomy without replacement and in addition two had pulmonic valve excision. Twenty-four patients (49%) returned to their drug addiction. Six patients (11%) required prosthetic heart valve insertion 2 days to 13 years later for medically refractory right-sided heart failure, and four of these died. Overall, 16 patients (29%) died, six (11%) within 45 days after the tricuspid valvulectomy. One (2%) of these deaths was related to the operation and five were due to uncontrollable infection. Ten (18%) deaths occurred 9 months to 13 years after the tricuspid valvulectomy. Nine were due to drug addiction and one to progressive right ventricular failure 2 months after prosthetic heart valve insertion and 10 years after the initial valve removal. Of the 39 patients who are alive, 37 (67%) have not required prosthetic heart valve insertion. From our observations we reached the following conclusions: (1) Drug addiction is a recurrent and lethal disease. Among these patients, tricuspid valvulectomy without replacement is the operation of choice for the management of intractable right-sided endocarditis; (2) after tricuspid valvulectomy without replacement, only six of 55 patients (11%) had required prosthetic heart valve insertion to control medically refractory right-sided heart failure; (3) in a small percentage of patients the absence of the tricuspid valve may lead to severe and permanent impairment of right ventricular function.     

Right-sided bacterial endocarditis. New concepts in the treatment of the uncontrollable infection

Our experience with 25 patients with right-sided bacterial endocarditis is described; 23 were heroin addicts. The clinical manifestations of right-sided endocarditis are primarily related to septic pulmonary embolism.When the infection was due to gram-positive cocci, antibiotics always cured the patient. However, if the infection was due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to therapy, excision of the infected tricuspid or tricuspid and pulmonary valves without prosthetic replacement effected a cure. Nine out of 10 long-term survivors treated in this manner have had no significant hemodynamic difficulties.Antibiotic therapy must be limited to six weeks or less, because if the infection persists beyond this period it may also spread to the left side of the heart, where valve excision without replacement is impossible.     

60例感染性心内膜炎的临床诊断与外科治疗

目的总结感染性心内膜炎的临床诊断和外科治疗经验。方法回顾分析2000年1月～2006年8月在我院接受手术治疗的60例感染性心内膜炎患者的临床资料,其中男46例,女14例;年龄9～58岁,平均年龄34.3岁。术前血培养60例,阳性25例(41.7%),其中链球菌12例,葡萄球菌6例,其他细菌7例。超声心动图提示有心内膜赘生物或瓣膜穿孔42例,其中累及二尖瓣9例,主动脉瓣26例,二尖瓣主动脉瓣同时受累6例,三尖瓣1例。合并原发心脏疾病28例,其中先天性心脏病16例,风湿性心脏病9例,二尖瓣脱垂3例。对60例患者全程采用大剂量敏感抗生素治疗。择期手术55例,急诊手术5例。手术中清除所有感染灶,同期矫治心内畸形16例,行心瓣膜置换术41例,三尖瓣修复成形术1例。结果术后早期死亡3例。随访51例(89.5%),随访时间5～71个月,无心内膜炎复发,心功能恢复至级38例,级13例。结论早期诊断,掌握适当的手术时机,联合内科治疗和外科手术,可取得较好的治疗效果。     

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.     

A study of isolated tricuspid valve surgery late after left heart valve operation

Management of severe tricuspid regurgitation late after left heart valve operation is controversial. There has been reluctance to the operation due to the high risk of repeat operation, coexistent right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. We investigated 6 cases of isolated tricuspid valve surgery (tricuspid valve replacement: 2, tricuspid valve plasty: 4) late after left heart valve operation. Before operation, these patients showed poor general condition (4 cases were NYHA III or IV) but good left ventricular function [mean ejection fraction (EF) 66 +/- 9.6%]. Hospital mortality was 0% and the mean mid-term actual event-free survival over 2 +/- 1.8 years was 80%. Most of patients demonstrated NYHA I and improvement of hepatomegaly after operation. There were many complications in 2 cases that had been performed previous operation more than 20 years before. In summary, the patient who complained symptoms due to right heart ventricular failure and showed good left ventricular function after left heart valve surgery should be considered to undergo tricuspid valve operation before the occurrence of other complications.     

32例感染性心内膜炎治疗的临床分析

目的探讨左心IE与右心IE两者临床表现及治疗上的差异。方法对中山大学第二附属医院2000年1月～2004年12月住院的32例IE病人分成左心IE组、右心IE组进行回顾性对照分析。结果左心IE中内科治疗15例,其中治愈4例;外科治疗10例并全部治愈,其中行瓣膜置换术9例,瓣膜修复整形术1例;右心IE中内科治疗2例,其中治愈1例;外科治疗5例,其中行三尖瓣置换术4例,三尖瓣膜修复整形术1例;手术治疗5例中治愈4例,1例因术后多器官功能障碍综合症死亡。结论右心IE与左心IE临床表现不同,突出表现在肺部病变:右心IE表现为急性肺炎或肺栓塞的临床症状;左心IE表现为瓣膜功能障碍。对于IE瓣膜病变的手术方式应根据瓣膜损坏程度来决定,左心IE以瓣膜置换为主,右心IE尽量争取瓣膜修复整形。     

Early surgical results in the treatment of endomyocardial fibrosis. A Brazilian cooperative study

This report summarizes the surgical experience and early results obtained at four surgical centers in the northeast and south of Brazil. From December 1977 to September 1986, 95 operations were performed on 93 patients, ages 11-59. Bilateral lesions occurred in 42 patients, right lesions in 39, and left lesions in 12. Ventricular decortication and removal of thrombi were performed in all. In right-sided lesions, the tricuspid valve was substituted by a bioprosthesis in 34 cases, and substituted by a tilting disk valve in 1 case. In 4 patients, the valve could be preserved. The left-sided lesions led to valve substition by a bioprosthesis in 11 cases, and preservation of the valve in 1. The bilateral lesions needed bioprosthesis in the mitral position in 37 patients, and a disk valve in 2. In these 39 instances, the valvular procedure was insertion of a tricuspid bioprosthesis. Three tricuspid and three mitral plasties were performed. The overall mortality was 20% (26.2% for bilateral lesions, 14.6% for the right-sided lesions, and 20% for the left-sided lesions). The main cause of death was low cardiac output. Aside from a variable degree of right and left ventricular failure, many other non-fatal complications clouded the postoperative course. Complete AV blocks occurred in 10 cases, with the need for permanent pacing in 7 survivors. The mortality and morbidity in the present series is in keeping with the results reported in current literature. Regarding the advanced stage of their patients' disease, the authors agree with the recommendation for earlier surgical intervention.     

Atrioventricular septal defect with balanced ventricles and malaligned atrial septum: double-outlet right atrium. Report of two cases

An unusual form of atrioventricular septal defect was found at operation. The anatomy was that of a primum atrial septal defect with deviation of the atrial septum to the left. Thus from the right atrium both right and left atrioventricular valves could be seen. The left-sided valve was tricuspid. Repair was achieved by closure of the septal commissure of the left-sided valve ("cleft"), excision of the lower part of the atrial septum, and insertion of a pericardial patch. The lower part of the patch was sutured between the left and right atrioventricular valves. A specimen with similar anatomy is also described.     

Technik der Trikuspidalklappenrekonstruktion

Malformations of the tricuspid valve are less commonly observed than diseases of the valves of the left ventricle. In particular, for a long time little attention was paid to the mostly secondary tricuspid valve regurgitation and the general opinion was that the secondary tricuspid valve insufficiency would be automatically improved by correction of the left ventricular pathology. After experiences from cardiac surgery of congenital defects and the long-term practice to completely or extensively resect the tricuspid valve in drug addicts with endocarditis, the assumption developed that the heart can adequately function without this valve. This line of thought was supported by the functionality of the Fontan circulation with passive perfusion without the function of the right ventricle and right ventricular valves; however, the processing of long-term results showed that most of these patients develop a relevant right heart decompensation. Currently, particular attention is paid to the “prophylactic” correction of the tricuspid valve during other cardiac surgery interventions because the number of postoperatively developing or aggravating secondary tricuspid valve regurgitations is considerable with an underlying left ventricular or pulmonary pathology. Particular problems are the technique and the indications for tricuspid valve reconstruction by high-grade impairment of right ventricular function.