Aortic root dilatation may alter the dimensions of the valve leaflets

Objective: Valve-sparing surgery can be used in patients with dilated aortic roots and aortic insufficiency (AI) but has not become a common practice, in part because the spared valve may be incompetent. Our goal was to study how the dimensions of the aortic root and leaflets have changed in such patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with dilated aortic root and AI were examined by transesophageal echocardiography. The annulus diameter, sinotubular junction (STJ) diameter, sinus height, leaflet free-edge length, and leaflet height were measured. Correlations among these dimensions and with the AI grades were explored. Measurements were also made in 19 normal human aortic valves from silicone molds. Results: There was no evident change in the average diameter of the annulus between the normal valves and those in the dilated aortic roots. The STJ diameter was obviously increased in the dilated aortic roots; the aortic sinuses also appeared to be taller and the leaflets larger than normal. The leaflet free-edge length, the leaflet height, and the sinus height were found to increase with the dilated STJ diameter. The degree of AI was not found to correlate well with any of the dimensions measured. Conclusions: The dimensions of the leaflets may change parallel to aortic root dilatation with AI. Therefore, during valve sparing, it may be necessary to correct both the dilatation of the root and the leaflet free-edge length to achieve a competent valve.     

Is There an Advantage to Repairing Infected Mitral Valves?

Background. The therapy for native mitral valve endocarditis is in evolution. Antibiotics have significantly improved survival rates, but patients with complications of endocarditis may require surgical treatment.

Methods. Between January 1985 and December 1995, 146 patients underwent surgical therapy (repair or replacement) for native mitral valve endocarditis. All patients had documented bacterial endocarditis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine predictors of hospital death, long-term event-free survival, and probability of repair. Patients were evaluated in three groups: all patients, patients with acute endocarditis, and patients with chronic endocarditis.

Results. There were ten hospital deaths (6.8%). Patients undergoing repair had a lower hospital mortality rate (p = 0.008) then those having replacement. Event-free survival was improved after mitral valve repair in the overall group (p = 0.02) and in the group with healed (chronic) endocarditis (p = 0.05). Although the acute endocarditis group demonstrated an improved event-free survival rate after mitral valve repair versus replacement (74% versus 20% at 6 years), this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions. We conclude that mitral valve repair is preferable to mitral valve replacement when possible, in patients with complications of endocarditis, as repair results in a lower hospital mortality and an improved long-term survival.     

The efficacy of fluconazole in treating prosthetic valve endocarditis caused byCandida glabrata: Report of a case

A case of active prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (PVE) due toCandida glabrata was successfully treated by the systemic administration of fluconazole. A 66-year-old Japanese man with infective endocarditis of unknown etiology underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement to treat severe aortic and mitral regurgitation associated with multiple organ failure. Postsurgical cultures of arterial blood were repeatedly positive forC. glabrata, and therefore fluconazole was administered either intravenously or orally at a dose of 400 mg/day for 46 days. During that time the signs of inflammation including fever such as an elevated white blood cell count and the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) all improved while the blood cultures became negative. Fluconazole is thus considered to be effective in treating PVE caused byC. glabrata. When administering this treatment, it is also important to monitor the patient's renal and liver function.     

人工心脏瓣膜感染性心内膜炎临床分析

目的　探讨人工心脏瓣膜感染性心内膜炎 (PVE)的临床特征 ,提高PVE的诊治水平。方法　通过分析 2 6例PVE的临床表现 ,分析其治疗和预后情况。结果　PVE临床不少见 ,发热是最常见的临床表现 ( 92 .3 % ) ,其次是贫血 ( 88.5% ) ,栓塞 ( 2 6.9% )。血培养和超声心动图是诊断PVE的重要手段 ,阳性率分别为 46.2 %和 73 .1%。早期PVE较晚期PVE预后差、死亡率高 ,分别为 66.7%、3 3 .3 %。主张早期、大剂量、长疗程的抗生素治疗 ,早期手术治疗可改善预后。本组病人总死亡率 3 4 .7% ,死亡原因 :心力衰竭 ( 77.8% )、栓塞 ( 2 2 .2 % )。结论　PVE预后差、死亡率高 ,应早期预防、早期诊断、早期治疗     

A new respiratory valve system for measuring oxygen uptake during swimming

We describe a new respiratory valve system with minimal dead space, which allows measurement of ventilation and oxygen uptake during swimming. The device offers considerable advantages in efficiency and accuracy over current equipment, and can be used in conjunction either with a miniaturized telemetry system for oxygen uptake measurement or with a conventional system. The valve has a low airflow resistance, a small dead space (15 ml), and an electrically operating, closed-circuit pump to remove excess water from the expiratory tube. The external form and the buoyancy of the valve have been hydrostatically and hydrodynamically designed to reduce drag and to ensure a correct mass in the water. To obtain this result a very sophisticated material, carbon fibre, has been utilized. Our studies showed that this respiratory system is ideal for obtaining valid and reliable values of oxygen uptake during swimming, even at high speed and in endurance swimming tests.     

双频谱指数在心脏瓣膜置换术中的观察

目的应用脑电双频谱指数(BIS)监测常规经验麻醉下瓣膜置换术病人的麻醉深度(意识水平),观察BIS在伤害性刺激时的变化.方法选择30例瓣膜置换术病人,采用芬太尼、咪唑安定、哌库溴铵及心血管活性药物对病人实施麻醉;术中监测并有专人分别记录入室(基础值)、诱导后、插管后、切皮后、锯胸骨时、缝胸骨时及术毕BIS和MAP,HR各参数值,观察不同阶段各参数的变化.结果诱导后各参数均明显降低,虽然切皮后、锯胸骨及缝胸骨等强刺激后MAP和HR未见统计学意义的显著改变,但BIS却显著增高(P＜0.01);全部病人锯胸骨时BIS均在60(67.28±8.97)以上,缝胸骨时63(68.46±8.70)以上,而无1例低于50者.结论该组瓣膜置换术病人麻醉偏浅,尤以锯胸骨、缝胸骨及术毕等时段为甚,表现为BIS值偏高,有知晓发生;知晓可发生在临床认为满意的麻醉中;应用BIS监测,可更加合理地评价麻醉深度.     

彩色多普勒超声图指导风湿性心脏病二尖瓣狭窄球囊扩张术91例

目的：应用彩色多普勒超声心动图指导经皮二尖瓣球囊成形术(PBMV)治疗风湿性二尖瓣狭窄的价值、方法：运用彩超对行PBMV的患进行术前术后检查，观察二尖瓣钙化程度及部位、开口形状、瓣口面积、二尖瓣返流(MR)程度、瓣下病变、左房左室大小、左房有无血栓．结果：91例PBMV术后患中，术后MR72例，其中MR新出现19例，MR加重8例、与术前对比，术后二尖瓣开放幅度、二尖瓣口面积、二尖瓣跨瓣压、二尖瓣压差半降时间较术前有明显改善趋势，左房内径、肺动脉内径较术前有缩小趋势．同时，术后左房压、右室压及肺动脉压也有下降趋势。结论：彩超能明确PBMV治疗二尖瓣狭窄的效果。影响：PBMV效果的因素较多，但二尖瓣钙化的程度、部位和瓣膜形态较为重要。     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Analysis of the Systolic Pattern of the Anterior Mitral Leaflet in Patients with Flat Chest

Transesophageal echocardiography was conducted to determine the systolic pattern of the anterior mitral leaflet in patients with flat chest, and to differentiate it from that associated with mitral valve prolapse. The fronto-sagittal index (an index of chest flattening) was determined in 50 subjects using chest radiographs, and was used to classify them into a flat chest group (index < 0.38, n = 28) and a normal chest group (index ≥ 0.38, n = 22). We then used transesophageal echocardiography to examine the anterior leaflet in these subjects. A significant positive correlation was observed between the fronto-sagittal index and the short-to long-axis diameter ratio of the left ventricle in all patients. These parameters, and the left atrial dimension were lower in the flat than the normal chest group. The clear zone area of the anterior leaflet during mid-to late-systole was significantly larger in the flat chest group. However, no intergroup differences existed in the rough zone area of the anterior leaflet or in the middle scallop area of the posterior leaflet. Mitral regurgitation was observed in 20 and 12 subjects in the flat and normal chest groups, respectively. The maximum mitral regurgitant area did not differ between the two groups. The clear zone area of the anterior leaflet increased significantly following inhalation of amyl nitrite in 22 subjects of both groups, but the other areas did not increase. The mitral regurgitant area decreased or disappeared after amyl nitrite at a similar rate in each group. Thus, the decrease in the antero-posterior dimension of the thorax in subjects with flat chest affects the systolic pattern of the clear zone of the anterior leaflet more than that of the rough zone of the anterior leaflet or the posterior leaflet. This systolic pattern in such patients differs from that associated with mitral valve prolapse.     

抑肽酶对瓣膜置换术患者心肌粘附分子表达及细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨抑肽酶对二尖瓣置换术患者围体外循环（CPB）期心肌细胞及心肌血管内皮细胞上细胞间粘附分子-1（ICAM-1）、血管细胞粘附分子-1（VCAM-1）表达及心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法择期二尖瓣置换术患者30例,年龄24～59岁,体重46～73 kg,心功能分级Ⅱ级或Ⅲ级,随机分为2组（n=15）：对照组和抑肽酶组,抑肽酶组于CPB转机前,预充液中加入抑肽酶300万KIU,对照组则给予等容量生理盐水,分别于CPB前和CPB停止时取右心房心肌组织标本,采用免疫组织化学SP法染色,检测心肌细胞和心肌血管内皮细胞上ICAM-1、VCAM-1的表达,采用病理图像分析系统对ICAM-1、VCAM-1表达的灰度值作定量分析,采用TUNEL法检测凋亡心肌细胞。结果抑肽酶组CPB停止时ICAM-1、VCAM-1的表达低于对照组（P〈0.01）;2组CPB停止时心肌细胞凋亡指数较CPB前增高（P〈0.05）,抑肽酶组CPB停止时心肌细胞凋亡指数低于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论预充液中加入抑肽酶300万KIU可抑制二尖瓣置换术患者CPB期间心肌细胞和心肌血管内皮细胞ICAM-1、VCAM-1的表达及心肌细胞的凋亡。     

Accessory atrioventricular pathway, supra-, and infrahisian conduction impaired due to mitral annulus calcification

Disorders of conduction occurring simultaneously in both normal and accessory pathways of patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome have only rarely been observed. To our knowledge this is the first report of impaired conduction in both pathways in WPW syndrome due to mitral annulus calcification (MAC). This case of WPW syndrome type A presented the following conduction abnormalities: (1) right bundle-branch block; (2) transient second-degree AV block with prolonged PR interval of the conducted beats; (3) during electrophysiological study, induction of tachycardia, dependent (phase 3) second-degree AV block, and occasionally conduction of two consecutive beats, the second showing an increased H-V interval (from 25 to 60 ms) and left bundle-branch block (LBBB) pattern, due to (4) infrahisian conduction abnormality.