Pediatric valve replacement, 15 years experience in Oman

Background Despite improving surgical techniques, treatment of heart valve disease in children remains controversial. Somatic growth and adequate anticoagulation are of concern when children undergo valve replacement. We conducted this study to evaluate the performance of valves in this age group. Methods 42 children under the age of 13 years who underwent valve replacement were included in this study. Totally, 50 valves were implanted in 42 patients: 48 were mechanical prostheses, two were bioprosthetic both in pulmonary position. 37 (74%) valves were implanted in mitral position, 10 (20%) in aortic position, 1 (2%) in tricuspid position and 2 (4%) in pulmonary position. Preoperatively, 14 (33,3%) patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV, while 27 (64.2%) were in NYHA class III. Results There were 2 (4.7%) hospital deaths and 2 (4.7%) late deaths while 2 (4.7%) patients were lost to follow up. The mean follow up period was 9.4 yrs. 35 (83.3%) patients are in NYHA Class I and free of all medications except warfarin. 3 (7.1%) patients have undergone 5 successful pregnancies. The median INR was 2.23. Major thrombo-embolic episode occurred in 1 (2.3%) patient. Conclusions In view of the problems of sizing, anticoagulation and need for re-operation at an early age, there is a reluctance to replace valves in children. This study shows that despite these problems, valve replacement can be undertaken safely and successfully in children, when repair has failed or not technically feasible.     

NEW DEVICE TO PERFORM COAGULATION AND IRRIGATION SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION USING AN INSULATION‐TIPPED ELECTROSURGICAL KNIFE

Background: Although bleeding is an unavoidable complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), endoscopic hemostasis using an insulation‐tipped electrosurgical knife (IT) knife is impossible because an insulator is mounted at the tip of the knife. We have developed a new type of hood which could perform both coagulation and irrigation simultaneously. Methods: Our new device was fabricated by drilling a side hole in the cap portion of a conventional transparent hood followed by attaching a machined papillotomy knife to the exterior surface of the hole. Results: Our new hood was useful for hemorrhage during ESD using IT knife. Conclusions: With this method, endoscopic hemostasis using IT knife is easy, as hemostatic procedure can be performed under irrigation and coagulation using conventional endoscopy.     

Factors influencing the variations of ejection fraction during exercise in chronic aortic regurgitation

The influence of left ventricular volume variations and regurgitant fraction variations upon left ventricular ejection fraction, during exercise was examined using equilibrium radionuclide angiography in patients suffering from aortic regurgitation. Ejection fraction (EF), regurgitant fraction (RF), end diastolic volume (EDV) and end systolic volume (ESV) variations from rest to peak exercise were determined in 44 patients suffering from chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) and in 8 healthy volunteers (C). In C, EF increased (+0.10±0.03, P<0.01) and ESV decreased significantly (-23%±12%, P<0.01) RF and EDV did not vary significantly. In AR patients, EF, EDV and ESV did not vary significantly because of important scattering of individual values. Changes in EF and ESV were inversely correlated (r=-0.79, P<0.01) and RF decreased significantly (-0.12±0.10, P<0.01). Volumes and EF changes during exercise occurred in three different ways. In a 1st subgroup of 7 patients, EF increased (+0.09±0.03, P<0.05) in conjunction with a reduction of ESV (-24%±12%, P<0.05) without a significant change in EDV. In a 2nd group of 22 patients. EF decreased (-0.04±0.07, P<0.01) in association with an increase in ESV (+17%±16%, P<0.01) and no change in EDV. In a 3rd subgroup of 15 patients, EF decreased (-0.02±0.06, P<0.01) despite a reduction in ESV (-7%±6%, P<0.01) because of a dramatic EDV decrease (-10%±6%, P<0.05). In this subgroup, changes in EF were inversely correlated with changes in ESV (r=-0.55, P<0.01) and positively related to EDV variations (r=0.42, P=0.02). EDV related to EDV variations (r=0.42, P=0.02). EDV changes were weakly, but significantly, correlated to RF decrease (r=0.39, P<0.05). We conclude that changes in left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation are significantly related in some patients to changes in ventricular loading conditions as well as contractile state. Therefore, a correct interpretation of EF changes during exercise requires the simultaneous determination of changes in LV volumes.Abbreviations EDV end diastolic volume - EF ejection fraction - ESV end systolic volume - LV left ventricle - RV right ventricle     

434例肺癌淋巴结转移及其廓清的临床研究

目的：研究肺癌淋巴结转移的方式与规律，以探讨肺癌淋巴结合理的手术廓清范围。方法：对434例肺癌患者施行手术并予淋巴结廓清，回顾性分析病理证实的转移淋巴结的分布情况。结果：手术共清除2198组淋巴结，病理证实有癌细胞转移的749组。淋巴结转移率T1期为16．5％，T2期33．5％，T3期35．6％，T4期52．3％，T1期和T4期的组间有显著性差异（P＜0．01）。上叶肺癌上纵膈与下纵膈淋巴结转移有显著差异。左上叶肺癌第5组淋巴结有30．6％转移，左下叶和右中、下叶肺癌第7组淋巴结有26．5％转移。结论：除T1期肺癌淋巴结转移仅限于区域性上纵膈或下纵膈外，总体上，上叶肺癌以上纵膈淋巴结转移居多，而中、下叶肺癌则上、下纵膈均可发生淋巴结转移。左上叶肺癌第5组淋巴结转移和中、下叶肺癌第7组淋巴结转移是上、下纵膈之间淋巴结扩大转移的信号。原发肺癌除T1期可仅行区域性上纵膈或下纵膈淋巴结清扫外，均应行系统性肺门和上下纵膈淋巴结廓清。     

Long-term Results of Primary Stent Placement to Treat Infrarenal Aortic Stenosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and the long-term results of primary stent placement for localized distal aortic occlusive disease. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 1998 to July 2005 17 patients (14 female and 3 men, mean age 57 years (39-80)) were treated for intermittent claudication. Five of these patients underwent additional endovascular treatment of focal iliac lesions. RESULTS: Technical success defined as residual stenosis of less than 50% or a trans-stenotic systolic pressure gradient <10% was achieved in 14 of 17 (82%) patients. Major complications included dissection at the puncture site in one patient and thrombosis of additional iliac stents in another patient. Both of these complications were successfully treated. During a mean follow-up of 27 months (range 1-86), four patients had recurrence of symptoms due to in-stent restenoses (n=2), femoral (n=1) or iliac occlusion (n=1), respectively. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, primary aortic hemodynamic patency was 83% at 3 years. Secondary aortic hemodynamic patency was 100%. The primary clinical patency was 68% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: Primary stent placement for distal aortic stenoses is an alternative to surgical treatment because of its high patency and relatively low complication rates.     

Fatal thromboembolic complications following assault in a subject with an abdominal aortic aneurysm

A 62-year-old male with no significant medical history developed thromboembolic complications in the lower limbs shortly after an assault which involved punching and kicking to the trunk. Laparotomy revealed intra-abdominal injuries and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Death from multi-organ failure and sepsis occurred 9 days post-injury. The discussion concentrates on blunt force trauma to the abdominal aorta, specifically on causation, mechanisms of injury and complications.     

复杂主动脉病变的腔内血管外科治疗

目的 探讨复杂主动脉病变的腔内血管外科治疗方法。方法 对21例合并有内脏动脉缺血等复杂的主动脉病变,双球管定位下经锁骨上动脉到股动脉交换导丝以确保真腔内植入带膜支架,对真腔完全被假腔压闭的患者采取真腔内加压推进以通过导丝,用超长带膜支架来封堵大破口治疗夹层合并巨大假性动脉瘤形成,对夹层合并腹主动脉瘤患者采取血管腔内技术联合开腹手术等方法。结果 术后内漏3例,其中2例7 d后停止,1例漏血持续存在。3例主动脉创伤术后完全康复,余18例复杂主动脉夹层术后即时造影示瘘口已被完整覆盖,假腔无血漏入,内脏动脉等恢复真腔供血。18例中6例合并肠管缺血,3例合并肾动脉缺血,3例肠管缺血、肾动脉缺血,2例腹主动脉真腔完全被假腔压迫,以及2例合并下肢缺血术后均逐渐恢复,无脏器及肢体缺血坏死发生。2例合并腹主动脉瘤夹层行支架型人工血管封闭夹层破口后行开腹手术切除腹主动脉瘤、人工血管置换。16例随访5～36个月,平均22.3月,1例内漏持续存在,但假腔未继续加大,其余患者存活良好。结论 对复杂的主动脉病变的治疗,通过对腔内血管外科技术进行改进,并适当结合传统手术方法,使某些过去被认为不能够治疗的复杂主动脉病变可得以成功治疗。     

室间隔夹层瘤的超声诊断(附4例报告)

目的 总结室间隔夹层瘤的超声心动图诊断及临床应用价值。方法1985～2005年超声诊断罕见的室间隔夹层瘤4例。超声主要取左室长轴、四腔心、五腔心、大动脉短轴及非标准切面，观察主动脉窦的形态及结构：如扩张窦瘤的大小、窦壁厚度、窦瘤破口的部位、窦瘤破口与室间隔之间的关系，主动脉窦瘤与室间隔夹层瘤之间交通口的大小，测量形成室间隔夹层瘤的大小及夹层瘤左、右室面的厚度，结合彩色多普勒观察心动周期夹层瘤与主动脉窦瘤血流动态变化，频谱多普勒测量窦瘤与室间隔夹层瘤之间的血流速度。结果4例室间隔夹层瘤均为主动脉右窦破人室间隔基底段，且均行手术治疗证实超声诊断。结论超声心动图对室间隔夹层瘤可直接做出诊断，超声诊断价值在于早发现、早诊断、及早治疗，并可为外科选择手术方式提供重要的有价值的依据。     

经颞部骨膜下剥离面中部提紧术

目的探讨一种经颞部矫正面中部老化征象的简单而有效的方法。方法经颞部头皮切口在颞浅筋膜和颞深筋膜间剥离,下达颧弓,内达眶外侧缘。在颧弓上约2cm,平行颧弓切开颞深筋膜浅层约3cm,在颞深筋膜浅层下剥离至颧弓上缘进入骨膜下剥离。松解面中部。将已充分活动的面中部全层组织上提,缝合固定于颞深筋膜表面。结果自2000年以来,临床应用21例,术后效果满意,外观自然,无并发症发生。结论本方法具有手术时间短,剥离层次深,耳前无切口,术后恢复快,效果自然,维持时间长的优点。选择合适的病例,能获得满意的效果。     

主动脉瘤的CT诊断

目的:探讨螺旋CT血管造影在主动脉瘤中的诊断价值。方法:24例主动脉瘤患者行多层螺旋CT(MSCTA)血管造影并进行二维和三维图像重组,重组方法包括多平面重组(MPR),容积重组(VR),表面遮盖成像(SSD),最大密度投影(MIP)。结果:真性主动脉瘤6例,主动脉夹层动脉瘤17例,1例假性动脉瘤。多种重组图像与轴位图像相结合能清晰地显示动脉瘤的解剖细节及其与周围器官的空间解剖关系。结论:MSCTA对主动脉瘤有较高的临床诊断价值。