Objective To evaluate long-term outcomes of surgical closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and combined surgical radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods A total of consecutive 15 patients with ASD undergoing surgical closure of ASD and combined surgical radiofrequency ablation in our department between March 2003 and April 2015. There were 7 males and 8 females at an average age of 47.1±10.8 years ranging from 16 to 62 years. Retrospective analysis and follow-up were performed to evaluate long-term success rate freedom from AF after surgery. Results All patients recovered and discharged, and no patient suffered death or stroke. The duration of follow-up was from 3 to 136 months for all patients. Success rate freedom from AF at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years was 81.3%, 75.0%, 68.8% and 61.1%, respectively. During follow-up, there was no death or stroke. One patient required permanent pacemaker implantation. Conclusion Concomitant surgical closure of ASD and biatrial radiofrequency ablation is safe and effetive with better long-term outcomes. It is necessary to perform the two procedures together for ASD patients.
Objective To investigate the mid- to long-term follow-up results of ascending aorta (AAO)-descending thoracic aorta (DTA) bypass grafting via median sternotomy incision for the treatment of complex aortic arch coarctation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with complex aortic arch coarctation who underwent AAO-DTA bypass grafting via median sternotomy incision at the First Affiliated Hospital of Tsinghua University from August 2004 to May 2017. ResultsA total of 7 patients were enrolled, including 4 males and 3 females, aged (13.3±4.6) years, and weighted (40.2±12.2) kg. Six (85.7%) patients had concomitant upper limb hypertension. Four patients were aortic arch coarctation combined with intracardiac malformations, two were post-operative restenosis, and 1 was post-operative restenosis combined with intracardiac malformation. All patients underwent surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. There were no perioperative deaths or major complications. The pre-operative upper-lower limb pressure difference was (51.4±13.5) mm Hg, which decreased to (2.9±2.7) mm Hg post-operatively (P<0.01). The follow-up period was (14.9±5.9) years. There were no long-term deaths or artificial graft-related complications. Except for one patient who still had mild hypertension, the blood pressure of the remaining patients returned to normal. Conclusion AAO-DTA bypass grafting via median sternotomy incision for the treatment of complex aortic arch coarctation can effectively reduce upper limb blood pressure and the upper-lower limb arterial pressure difference, has fewer complications, and demonstrates satisfactory mid- to long-term efficacy.