Clinical application history of prosthetic heart valves has been over five decades, and mechanical heart valves have satisfactory clinical outcomes for surgical treatment of valvular heart disease. The development history of mechanical heart valves experienced from the first generation of ball valves and caged disc valves to the second generation of single tilting disc valve, and to the third generation of bileaflet valves. In 1960， ball valve was first used for heart valve replacement in abroad. In 1963， China-made ball valve was also produced and used in clinical practice. In 1969， the second generation of single tilting disc valve was developed in abroad. In 1978， China-made single tilting disc valve was produced and widely used in clinical practice with satisfactory clinical outcomes. Since 1980 when it was first produced， bileaflet valve has taken the place of above 2 types of valves for its excellent performance, and become the mainstream product all over the world. Currently, the development of China-made bileaflet valves has lagged behind， and domestic mechanical heart valve market has almost been monopolized by foreign bileaflet valve products. Therefore, the development of ideal China-made mechanical heart valve deserves further research.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate early clinical outcomes and short-term follow-up results of CL-V bileaflet prosthesis. Methods From April 2004 to May 2010， 38 patients with valvular heart diseases underwent mechanical heart valve replacement. Eighteen patients received CL-V bileaflet valve replacement （CL group） including 8 males and 10 females with their mean age of （47.4±6.2）years and mean body weight of （64.7±11.9） kg. Preoperatively，15 patients were in New York Heart Association （NYHA） classⅢ， and 2 patients were in NYHA classⅣ. Mitral valve replacement （MVR） was performed in 16 patients， mitral and aortic valve replacement（DVR） in 2 patients. A total of 20 CL-V bileaflet prostheses were implanted. Twenty patients received St. Jude bileaflet valve replacement （SJM group）including 9 males and 11 females with their mean age of （49.7±7.6） years and mean body weight of （66.1±11.1） kg. Preoperatively， 15 patients were in NYHA classⅢ， and 3 patients were in NYHA classⅣ. MVR was performed in 17 patients，aortic valve replacement （AVR） in 1 patient， and DVR in 2 patients. A total of 22 St. Jude bileaflet prostheses were implanted. Clinical outcomes， hear function， hemodynamics and blood compatibility were measured on the 7th postoperative day and 6 months during follow-up and compared between the two groups. Results There was no early mortality （＜30 d） or postoperative complication in either group. Follow-up rate was 100% and the mean follow-up duration was 19.8 （6-61）months. At 6 months after surgery， those patients who were preoperatively in NYHA classⅢ orⅣall improved to classⅠ orⅡ. In CL group， cardiothoracic ratio was 0.51±0.05， left atrium diameter （44.5±7.8） mm， left ventricular end diastolic diameter （LVEDD，46.6±4.1） mm， LVEF 65.3%±7.7%，and LVFS 35.0%±7.1%. In SJM group， cardiothoracic ratio was 0.51±0.06， left atrium diameter （45.8±9.6） mm， LVEDD （46.2±9.8） mm， LVEF 64.1%±9.0%，and LVFS 34.9%±4.7%， which were not statistically different from those parameters of CL group respectively （P＞0.05）. At 6 months after surgery， transthoracic echocardiography was used to compare hemodynamics of bileaflet prostheses with same size 27 mm in the two groups. Prosthetic transvalvular gradient was （5.1±0.9）mm Hg in CL group and （5.8±0.8） mm Hg in SJM group， and effective orifice area was （2.3±0.3）cm2 in CL group and（2.5±0.2）cm2 in SJM group，which were not statistically significant between the two groups （P＞0.05） respectively. In both groups， the level ofhemoglobin， lactate dehydrogenase and platelet at 6 months postoperatively were all within normal range and not statistically from those respective preoperative parameters（P＞0.05）. Hemolytic reaction and hemolytic anemia were not found. During early and short-term follow-up， there was no thromboembolic complications or anticoagulation-related severe bleeding events in the two groups with same anticoagulation intensity target （target INR value 1.5 to 2.5）. Conclusion Early clinical outcomes and short-term follow-up results of CL-V bileaflet prostheses are similar to those of St. Jude bileaflet prostheses. Postoperative patients have good clinical outcomes， hemodynamics and blood compatibility. Patients’ heart function significantly improve during short-term follow-up without valve-related complication. Mid-term and Long-term follow-up are further needed to demonstrate its good performance.
Objective To introduce a new type of bileaflet mechanical prosthetic heart valve （GK bileaflet valve）and evaluate clinically the early hemodynamic effect and short term follow-up after its replacement. Methods Sixty-one patients with heart valve diseases were operated upon. The mitral valve replacement was performed in 34 patients, aortic valve replacement in 16 patients and double valve replacement in 11 patients. A total of 72 GK bileaflet mechanical valves were implanted, 45 in mitral position, and 27 in aortic position. Blood consistency and hemodynamics were monitored. Follow-up was carried out routinely to check whether there were some valve-related complications. Results There was no early mortality （〈30 d）. Only one patient died of trauma 2 months after the operation. Follow-up was 100% and extended 1 to 2. 5 years. Without valve-related complications all patients had lived for more than 1 to 2.5 years. In 98% （60/61） of survivors heart functional performance had improved to New York Heart Association class Ⅰ or Ⅱ . Conclusion Early clinical results and short term follow up demonstrate that GK bileaflet prosthetic heart valve exhibits excellent hemodynamic properties, satisfied blood consistency and a low incidence of valve-related complications. Midterm and long-term results should be observed further.
Abstract: Objective To summarize the clinical experience of 13 patients of tricuspid valve replacement and to investigate the indication and method. Methods From January 1994 to December 2005, the clinical datum of the thirteen patients suffering from tricuspid valve disease were reviewed, including rheumatic heart disease 6 cases, congenital heart disease 3 cases, infective endocarditis 3 cases and right ventricular tumor 1 case. All the cases underwent tricuspid valve replacement. Results Two reoperative rheumatic heart disease patients died early after operation and their cardiac function was New York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅳ before operation. The followup interval was 3 months to 12 years in 11 cases. There were 2 late death, one died of recurrence of infective endocarditis, and another died of the recurrence of the tumor. One Ebstein anomaly case’s NYHA functional recovered to class Ⅲ, eight cases’s recovered to NYHA classⅠ-Ⅱ. Conclusion The tricuspid valve disease may be a secondary lesion from many causes. Indication of tricuspid valve replacement must be strictly commanded. The late results of tricuspid valve mechanical prostheses replacement is satisfactory.
Abstract: Objective To evaluate myocardial protection effect of different myocardial protective strategies for patients undergoing double valve replacement （DVR） . Methods From Jun. 2005 to Dec. 2005, 32 patients with predominant aortic valve stenosis undergoing DVR in Xinqiao Hospital were included in this study. These patients were randomly divided into four groups with 8 patients in each group： （1） antegrade perfusion group：Cold-blood cardioplegia was delivered antegradely through aortic root, and mitral valve replacement （MVR）was performed. Then cold-blood cardioplegia was delivered antegradely through left and right coronary ostia, and aortic valve replacement （AVR） was performed； （2）retrograde perfusion group：Cold-blood cardioplegia was delivered retrogradely and intermittently through coronary sinus, and DVR was performed； （3）antegrade＋retrograde perfusion group：The route of cold-blood cardioplegic infusion was antegrade during MVR procedure first and then retrograde during AVR procedure；and （4）beating heart group：Oxygenated blood from cardiopulmonary bypass machine was delivered retrogradely and continuously through coronary sinus, and DVR was performed with beating heart. Early clinical outcomes were observed. Serum cardiac troponin I （cTnI） was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Serum creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB） and myocardial lactic acid release rate were measured by Hitachi7150 Automatic Chemistry Analyzer. Myocardial mitochondria malondialdehyde （MDA） level was measured through thiobarbituric acid reagent species analysis. Results All the 32 patients survived their surgery and were discharged successfully. Myocardial lactic acid release rate at 80 min after aortic cross-clamping, serum cTnI and CK-MB on the first postoperative day, myocardial mitochondria MDA levels of beating heart group were 13.59%±6.27%,（1.17±0.25） ng/ml, （56.43±16.50） U/L and（2.18±1.23） nmol/（ng.prot）respectively, all significantly lower than those of retrograde perfusion group ［（33.49%±8.29%, （1.82±0.58 ）ng/ml, （78.31±21.27） U/L （5.07±2.35） nmol/（ng.prot），P＜0.05］ and antegrade＋retrograde perfusion group［20.87%±7.22%, （1.49±0.23） ng/ml,（66.67±19.13） U/L,（4.34±1.73） nmol/（ng.prot），P＜0.05］, but not statistically different from those of antegrade perfusion group ［18.83%±5.97%, （1.41±0.32） ng/ml, （63.21±37.52） U/L, （3.46±1.62） nmol/ （ng.prot），P＞0.05］. Conclusion All the four myocardial protective strategies are effective myocardial protection methods for DVR patients. Continuous retrograde perfusion with beating heart and intermittent antegrade perfusion can provide better myocardial protection, and therefore are preferred for DVR patients. The combination of antegrade and retrograde perfusion is easy to administer and does not negatively influence surgical procedures. Retrograde perfusion is also effective as it takes only a short time.