Objective To investigate the correlation between the left atrial hydrodynamic change and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Methods According to cardiac rhythm before operation, 49 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis accompanying chronic AF were divided into two groups,group A: AF, 25 cases; group B: sinus rhythm, 24 cases. Control group : 29 healthy volunteers were examined. By using echocardiography, left atrial hydrodynamics were tested, and repeated 6-8 months after the operation. Results Left atrial stress (LAS), left atriala area (LAA) and left atrial volume(LAV) in group A after operation was much lower than before operation, LAS after operation in group B was also lower than before operation(Plt;0.01). Before operation, LAS in group A was significantly lower than that in group B, LAA and LAVwere larger. After operation, LAA and LAV in group A were significantly larger than those in group B(Plt;0.01). LAS, LAA and LAV in group A and group B before and after operation were higher than those in control group. Conclusion Left atrial hydrodynamic enviroment in patients with mitral stenosis has not reached normal even after valve replacement, LAS may be an important factor of causing AF.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical presentations and radiological characteristics of pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation. MethodsClinical and radiological data of 2 patients with pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation were retrospectively analyzed and literatures were reviewed. ResultsBoth patients had undergone circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. The symptoms appeared approximately 2 months after the operation. The major symptoms were cough, hemoptysis, exacerbation of dyspnea and chest pain. Both patients were misdiagnosed as other diseases such as pneumonia in other hospitals, and the anti-infection therapy was invalid. Both CT scans showed parenchymal exudative consolidation with varying degrees of interstitial septal thickening and small nodules. Both patients were confirmed as pulmonary vein stenosis by CT angiography. Literature review identified 21 cases of pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. The main clinical features are hemoptysis, chest pain, shortness of breath and cough. The most common features of thoracic radiological imaging are consolidation, groud-glass attenuation, pleural effusion and interstitial septal thickening. ConclusionsIf a patient presents with hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain or other clinical manifestations after ablation therapy and image findings show parenchymal exudative consolidation with interstitial septal thickening and multiple small nodules, the possibility of pulmonary vein stenosis should be considered. Contrast-enhanced CT combined with pulmonary vein imaging technology can clearly show the opening diameter of each pulmonary vein and its branches, so it is an important non-invasive examination method for the evaluation and diagnosis of pulmonary vein stenosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of fibrinogen and classical markers of collagen metabolism [carboxy-terminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen (PICP) and carboxy-terminal cross-linked peptide of type Ⅰ collagen (ICTP)] in peripheral blood and pericardial drainage after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or heart valve replacement (VR), and to evaluate their relationship with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery. MethodsPatients who underwent CABG and/or VR in the Heart Center of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from March to June 2021 were included. Peripheral blood and pericardial drainage fluid samples were collected before surgery and at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery to detect PICP, ICTP and fibrinogen levels, and preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative confounding factors were also collected. PICP, ICTP and fibrinogen levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsA total of 26 patients with 125 blood samples and 78 drainage samples were collected. There were 18 males and 8 females with an average age of 64.04±7.27 years. The incidence rate of POAF was 34.6%. Among the factors, the fibrinogen level in pericardial drainage showed two peaks within 48 h after operation (0 hand 24 h after operation) in the POAF group, while it showed a continuous downward trend in the sinus rhythm (SR) group, and the change trend of fibrinogen in pericardial drainage was significantly different over time between the two groups (P=0.022). Fibrinogen in blood, PICP and ICTP in blood and drainage showed an overall decreasing trend, and their trends over time were not significantly different between the two groups of patients (P>0.05). Univariate analysis showed that fibrinogen at 24 h and 48 h after pericardial drainage, fibrinogen in preoperative blood, PICP immediately after surgery and right atrial long axis diameter were significantly higher or longer in the POAF group than those in the SR group. Multiple regression showed that fibrinogen≥11.47 ng/mL in pericardial drainage 24 h after surgery (OR=14.911, 95%CI 1.371-162.122, P=0.026), right atrial long axis diameter≥46 mm (OR=10.801, 95%CI 1.011-115.391, P=0.049) were independent predictors of POAF. ConclusionThis study finds the regularity of changes in fibrinogen and collagen metabolic markers after CABG and/or VR surgery, and to find that fibrinogen in pericardial drainage 24 h after surgery is a potential novel and predictive factor for POAF. The results provide a new idea for exploring the mechanism of POAF, and provide a research basis for the accurate prediction and prevention of clinical POAF.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and breast cancer are common diseases with high incidence, which can be promoted and maintained by a wide range of regulatory factors (changes of hormone secretion, chronic inflammation, dysfunctions in autonomic nervous system, coagulation system and endothelia). There may be a consistent pathophysiological link between the increased incidence of breast cancer and AF, which is currently seldomly reported. The development process of these two diseases are complex, and the occurrence of breast cancer may increase the incidence of AF. In this paper, we reviewed the relationship between breast cancer and AF based on the latest reports.
Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmia. Cardiac mapping technology, an important method to study the electrophysiological mechanism of atrial fibrillation, can determine the abnormal origin and record the distribution and transmission way of these atrial electrical signals. This technology offers a new way for research the electrophysiological mechanism of atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study is to review the research progress of cardiac mapping in the electrophysiological mechanism of atrial fibrillation and clinical application.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect and experience of monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency ablation for organic heart disease with atrial fibrillation under the open heart surgery. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 305 patients with organic heart disease such as atrial fibrillation underwent the open heart surgery in Changle People's Hospital and Shanghai Renji Hospital between December 2004 year and December 2013 year. There were 188 male and 117 female patients at age of 38 to 81 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency ablation used. There were 128 patients in a monopolar group, 165 patients in a bipolar group, and 12 patients in a combined group with monopolar radiofrequency ablation plus bipolar radiofrequency ablation. ResultTwo patients died after operation. There were 249 patients (81.6%) with sinus rhythm after operation. Sinus rhythm was restored 78.9% in the monopolar group compared with 83.6% in the bipolar group with a statistical difference (P>0.05). We followed up the patients for 3 to 85 (38.2±15.4) months after operation. There were no statistical differences in sinus rhythm rates after following-up 0.5 year (80.5% vs. 83.9%, P>0.05), 1 year (78.4% vs. 83.3%, P>0.05), 2 years (76.5% vs. 81.1%, P>0.05), and 5 years(73.8% vs. 77.1%, P>0.05). ConclusionMonopolar or bipolar radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation with open heart surgery is an effective method, especially in long-term effect. There was no significant difference between the monopolar group and the bipolar group in effect. Bipolar radiofrequency ablation can reduce the ablation time.
Objective To formulate an evidence-based treatment plan for a patient with ischemic stroke accompanied by hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2006), SUMsearch (January 1980 to December 2006) and PubMed (January 1980 to December 2006) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses about the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy for ischemic stroke coupled with atrial fibrillation, and blood pressure lowering therapy for ischemic stroke coupled with hypertension. We evaluated the validity, reliability and feasibility of each study to identify the current best evidence. Results Four guidelines, 3 SRs and 6 RCTs were included. The evidence showed that low-intensity anticoagulant therapy was safe and effective for this patient, and that rapid blood pressure lowering therapy was not suitable for acute ischemic stroke. According to the current evidence, as well as the patient’s clinical condition and preference, low-intensity warfarin was given with a target INR (international normalized ratio) of 2.0. During convalescence, he was given oral fosinopril and indapamide. His symptoms were relieved after two weeks of treatment, and follow-up at one month indicated that this plan was suitable for the patient. Conclusions Anticoagulant therapy is still preferred for acute ischemic stroke accompanied by hypertension and atrial fibrillation. The current evidence suggests that warfarin is superior to other anticoagulants. The target INR should be adjusted individually, especially in old patients. The maintenance of a low INR level, if necessary, could maximise utility and minimise the risk of hemorrhage. Aspirin is recommended when anticoagulants cannot be tolerated. Intensive blood pressure lowering therapy is not reasonable for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Antihypertensive drugs like ACEI and low-dose diuretics may be chosen during convalescence.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the use of machine learning algorithms for the prediction and characterization of cardiac thrombosis in patients with valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation. MethodsThis article collected data of patients with valvular disease and atrial fibrillation from West China Hospital of Sichuan University and its branches from 2016 to 2021. From a total of 2 515 patients who underwent valve surgery, 886 patients with valvular disease and atrial fibrillation were included in the study, including 545 (61.5%) males and 341 (38.5%) females, with a mean age of 55.62±9.26 years, and 192 patients had intraoperatively confirmed cardiac thrombosis. We used five supervised machine learning algorithms to predict thrombosis in patients. Based on the clinical data of the patients (33 features after feature screening), the 10-fold nested cross-validation method was used to evaluate the predictive effect of the model through evaluation indicators such as area under the curve, F1 score and Matthews correlation coefficient. Finally, the SHAP interpretation method was used to interpret the model, and the characteristics of the model were analyzed using a patient as an example. ResultsThe final experiment showed that the random forest classifier had the best comprehensive evaluation indicators, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.748±0.043, and the accuracy rate reached 79.2%. Interpretation and analysis of the model showed that factors such as stroke volume, peak mitral E-wave velocity and tricuspid pressure gradient were important factors influencing the prediction. ConclusionThe random forest model achieves the best predictive performance and is expected to be used by clinicians as an aided decision-making tool for screening high-embolic risk patients with valvular atrial fibrillation.