ObjectiveTo explore whether nesiritide (recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, rh-BNP) could be used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension. MethodsA 34-year-old female patient with severe symptomatic idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension was reported, who was refractory to routine therapies, including prostacyclin. Therapy with continuous nesiritide infusion resulted in significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and an improvement in dyspnea. The relevant literature was reviewed. ResultsThe clinical symptoms of this patient relieved significantly after nesiritide therapy. Literature review showed that nesiritide could increase the production of nitrogen oxides and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the body, so as to dilate the vessels which were shrunk due to hypoxia and low down the pulmonary vascular resistance. ConclusionNesiritide is useful to treat severe pulmonary artery hypertension, and combination with phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors may be a brand new therapy of value.
Objective To explore the application value of artificial intelligence (AI) pulmonary artery assisted diagnosis software for suspected pulmonary embolism patients. Methods The data of 199 patients who were clinically suspected of pulmonary embolism and underwent pulmonary artery CT angiography (CTA) from June 2016 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Images of pulmonary artery CTA diagnosed by radiologists with different experiences and judged by senior radiologists were compared with the analysis results of AI assisted diagnostic software for pulmonary artery CTA, to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of this software and low, medium, and senior radiologists for pulmonary embolism. The agreement of pulmonary embolism based on pulmonary artery CTA between the AI software and radiologists with different experiences was evaluated using Kappa test. Results The agreement of the AI software and the evaluation of pulmonary embolism lesions by senior radiologists based on pulmonary artery CTA was high (Kappa=0.913, P<0.001), while the diagnostic results of pulmonary artery CTA AI software was good after judged by senior radiologists based on pulmonary artery CTA (Kappa=0.755, P<0.001). Conclusions The AI software based on pulmonary artery CTA diagnosis of pulmonary embolism has good consistency with diagnostic images of radilogists, and can save a lot of reconstruction and diagnostic time. It has the value of daily diagnosis work and worthy of clinical promotion.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application value of simple artery occlusion (SAO) in revealing intersegmental planes during thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from February 2022 to December 2023. Patients were divided into a conventional group and a SAO group based on the method used to reveal the intersegmental plane during surgery. The two groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative drainage volume, time to intubation, postoperative pulmonary air leakage, and conversion to open thoracotomy rate. ResultsA total of 318 patients were included. There were 181 patients in the conventional group, including 86 males and 95 females, with an average age (53.35±9.20) years, and there were 137 patients in the SAO group, including 58 males and 79 females, with an average age (55.26±11.46) years. There were no statistical differences in general patient information between the two groups (P>0.05). The SAO group had less intraoperative blood loss [MD=17.568, 95%CI (9.968, 25.168), P<0.001] and postoperative drainage volume [MD=275.587, 95%CI (188.999, 362.175), P<0.001], shorter drainage tube duration [MD=1.000, 95%CI (1.000, 2.000), P<0.001] and operation time [MD=20.709, 95%CI (16.258, 25.159), P<0.001]. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary air leakage complications in the SAO group was lower than that in the conventional group [RR=0.361, 95%CI (0.181, 0.722), P=0.003]. ConclusionSAO can reduce surgical difficulty, shorten operation time, decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary air leakage, and enhance the safety of anatomical pulmonary segmentectomy, making it worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Objective To investigate the impact of three kinds of palliative operation on the body and growth of pulmonary artery in patients with congenital heart diseases of diminutive pulmonary blood. Methods Clinical data was reviewed in 28 cases of congenital heart diseases with diminutive pulmonary blood who had been performed cavopulmonary connection （n = 9）, systemic-pulmonary shunt （n = 8 ）, and palliative reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract （n=11）. The period between re-hospitalized and the first was 5-54 months （19.07±10. 06 months ）. Hematocrit （HCT）, hemoglobin （Hb）, percutaneous oxygen saturation （SpO2）, body surface area （BSA）, and pulmonary artery index （PAI） etc. were observed both before palliation and before the second operation. Results After the second hospitalization, there were 7 cases of death from hemorrhage, failure of circulation and extracorporeal circulation accident etc. The time of respirator, intensive care unit and total amount of dopamine in patients of palliative reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract were longer and more than those in patients of cavopulmonary connection （P〈0. 05）. HCT, Hb before the second operation were decreased than thoes before palliative operations in all patients, SpO2, BSA and PAI increased significantly （P 〈 0. 01 ）. Before the second operation, BSA of patients with cavopulmonary connection, BSA and PAI of patients with systemic-pulmonary shunt, SpO2, BSA and PAI of patients with palliative reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract were increased than those before palliative operations（P〈0. 01）. HCT of palliative reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract was decreased（P〈0. 05）. Conclusion This results suggests that pulmonary blood of patients with congenital heart diseases of diminutive pulmonary blood can be increased, development of pulmonary arteries can be improved efficiently by systemic-pulmonary shunt and palliative reconstruction of right ventricle outflow tract, but it can not be found in cavopulmonary connection patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the predictive value of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) on autonomic nerve excitation in patients with valvular disease, so as to provide reference for the formulation of clinical intervention plans. Methods The clinical data of patients with valvular disease who received surgical treatment in the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from August 28, 2020 to February 3, 2021 were prospectively collected. According to the standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN) of the heart rate variability (HRV) of the long-range dynamic electrocardiogram (ECG) 7 days before the operation, the patients were divided into three groups: a sympathetic dominant (SE) group (SDNN≤50 ms), a balance group (50 ms<SDNN<100 ms) and a parasympathetic dominant (PSE) group (SDNN≥100 ms). The correlation between the changes of echocardiographic indexes and autonomic nerve excitation among the groups and the predictive values were analyzed. Results A total of 186 patients were enrolled, including 108 males and 78 females aged 55.92±11.99 years. There were 26 patients in the SE group, 104 patients in the balance group, and 56 patients in the PSE group. The left anteroposterior diameter (LAD), left ventricular end diastolic inner diameter, ratio of peak E to peak A of mitral valve (Em/Am), left ventricular end diastolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume and SPAP in the SE group were higher than those in the balance group (P<0.05), while peak A of tricuspid valve (At) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were lower than those in the balance group (P<0.05). The LAD and Em/Am in the balance group were significantly higher than those in the PSE group (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that patients in the SE group had lower At (right atrial systolic function declines), lower LVEF and higher SPAP than those in the balance group (P=0.04, 0.04 and 0.00). When HRV increased and parasympathetic nerve was excited in patients with valvular disease, Em/Am decreased (left atrial function and/or left ventricular diastolic function declined) with a normal LAD. Pearson analysis showed that there was a linear negative correlation between SPAP and SDNN, with a coefficient of −0.348, indicating that the higher SPAP, the lower HRV and the more excited sympathetic nerve. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that when SPAP≥45.50 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), the sensitivity and specificity of sympathetic excitation in patients with valvular disease were 84.60% and 63.70%, respectively. ConclusionParasympathetic excitation is an early manifestation of the disease, often accompanied by decreased left atrial function and/or left ventricular diastolic function. Sympathetic nerve excitation can be accompanied by the increase of SPAP and the decrease of left ventricular and right atrial systolic function. SPAP has a unique predictive value for the prediction of autonomic nerve excitation in patients with valvular disease.
Objective To confirm the changes of pulmonary artery pressure, neo pulmonary artery stenosis and reoperation in children with unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (UAPA) undergoing pulmonary artery reconstruction. Methods The clinical data of the infants with UAPA undergoing pulmonary artery reconstruction in our hospital from February 19, 2019 to April 15, 2021 were analyzed. Changes in pulmonary artery pressure, neo pulmonary artery stenosis and reoperation were followed up. Results Finally 5 patients were collected, including 4 males and 1 female. The operation age ranged from 13 days to 2.7 years. Cardiac contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed in all children, and 2 patients underwent pulmonary vein wedge angiography to confirm the diagnosis and preoperative evaluation. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography and intraoperative direct pulmonary arterial pressure measurement indicated that all 5 children had pulmonary hypertension, with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 31.3±16.0 mm Hg. Pulmonary arterial pressure decreased immediately after pulmonary artery reconstruction to 16.8±4.2 mm Hg. The mean follow-up time was 18.9±4.7 months. All 5 patients survived during the follow-up period, and 1 patient had neo pulmonary artery stenosis or even occlusion and was re-operated. Conclusion Pulmonary artery reconstruction can effectively alleviate the pulmonary hypertension in children with UAPA. The patency of the neo pulmonary artery should be closely followed up after surgery, and re-pulmonary angioplasty should be performed if necessary.
Abstract： Objective To summarize our experience of surgical treatment for anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery in infants and children. Methods From March 2005 to May 2010，11 patients with anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery and other concomitant congenital cardiovascular malformations underwent surgical repair in Xijing Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University．The mean age of the patients was 11.5 months with a range from 2 months to 36 months．Their mean body weight was 7.1 kg with a range from 4 to 13 kg. Seven patients had anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta, and four patients had anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta. All the eleven patients had other concomitant intracardiac anomalies or vascular malformations as well as pulmonary hypertension, and underwent one stage surgical repair via median sternotomy under hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass. Results Their operation time was 169 - 293 （231±55） min, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 87-210 （138±47） min, and aortic-clamping time was 45-133 （86±28） min. There was one postoperative death who had low cardiac output syndrome after repair for tetralogy of Fallot and anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery. The overall postoperative mortality was 9.1％. Postoperative echocardiography of all the surviving patients showed their left and right pulmonary artery origined from the right ventricle and pulmonary artery with satisfactory malformation correction but no residual shunt and pulmonary stenosis . All the surviving ten patients were followed up with a follow-up rate of 100% and mean follow-up time of 13.5 months with a range from 3 to 32 months. Their echocardiography during follow-up showed that there was no pulmonary stenosis in all the patients, and pulmonary blood pressure significantly decreased in 9 patients. Conclusion Patients with anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery should undergo surgical repair as early as possible with satisfactory short-term outcomes in infants and children. For elder patients with irreversible pulmonary hypertension, the choice of surgical treatment should be more cautious. During the surgery, the anomalous pulmonary artery and ascending aorta should be dissociated fully, and transection of the ascending aorta is helpful to get a satisfactory operating field view for the surgeon. Repairing aortic defect with autologous pulmonary arterial patch can effectively avoid the occurrence of postoperative aortic aneurysm.
Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy and mid-term outcomes of reimplantation of anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), and to evaluate whether concomitant management of mitral regurgitation (MR) during ALCAPA repair is needed. Methods Between March 2005 and March 2015, 52 consecutive patients (20 males and 32 females with a median age of 10 months ranging 2-193 months) underwent reimplantation of ALCAPA at Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. There were 14 males and 21 females with a mean age of 35.4±42.8 months not receiving mitral valvuloplasty (a Non-MVP group), and 6 males and 11 females with a mean age of 13.5±11.0 months receiving mitral valvuloplasty (a MVP group). In order to facilitate the analysis, degree of MR was graded by number: 0.0=none, 1.0=trivial, 2.0=mild, 2.5=mild-moderate, 3.0=moderate, 3.5=moderate-severe and 4.0=severe. Results The left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) demonstrated significant improvement between preoperation and discharge (28.6%±9.6% vs. 32.1%±10.1%, P=0.023; 38.4±5.6 mm vs. 30.5±5.7 mm, P<0.001), and there was also significant improvement in the mean MR grade between preoperation and discharge (2.9±1.2,vs. 2.4±1.2, P=0.001). There were 4 in-hospital deaths (7.7%). The median follow-up was 21.0 months (ranging 1.5-111.0 months). Three patients (5.8%) were lost to follow-up, 1 patient required reoperation for mitral valve replacement and there was no death during follow-up. Significant improvement was seen in LVFS between discharge and final follow-up (32.1%±10.1% vs. 38.0%±6.0%, P=0.001); however, there was no significant difference in the degree of MR between discharge and final follow-up (2.4±1.2 vs. 2.3±1.2, P=0.541). There was no significant difference in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, mechanical ventilation time or hospital stay between the two groups. Conclusion Creation of a dual coronary system with reimplantation of the left coronary artery results in complete recovery of left ventricular function. However, concomitant management of MR during ALCAPA repair remains controversial. Concomitant mitral valve repair for ALCAPA patients with moderate-severe and severe MR is helpful to early function recovery of mitral valve.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feature of the angulation between left pulmonary artery (LPA) and main pulmonary artery (MPA) and its relationship to pulmonary artery development in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).MethodsA total of 101 TOF patients in West China Hospital from 2014 to 2018 were enrolled in a TOF group, including 62 males and 39 females, aged 6.8 (0.3-45.8) years, and another 20 patients without basic cardiac diseases at the same stage were enrolled in a control group, including 10 males and 10 females, aged 6.9 (0.3-54.0) years. Diameters of LPA, right pulmonary artery (RPA) and MPA, the angulation between LPA and MPA (MPA-LPA), McGoon ratio, and Nakata index were measured and compared between the two groups. The relationship between the above data and MPA-LPA angulation was also analyzed.ResultsThe average MPA-LPA angulation was smaller in the TOF group than that in the control group (113.63° vs. 128.45°, P=0.001 8). The MPA Z score was also smaller in the TOF group than that in the control group (0.46 vs. 2.75, P=0.000 4). No relationship was found by correlation analysis between the MPA-LPA angulation and MPA Z score or LPA Z score in the control group (P=0.239 6, 0.114 7) and the TOF group (P=0.759 3, 0.242 7). The McGoon ratios (2.22±0.72, 2.43±0.94, P=0.340 0) and Nakata index (359.3±294.24, 395.52±329.31, P=0.650 0) were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionThe angulation of LPA-MPA and MPA Z score are smaller in the TOF group than those in the control group. There is no relationship between MPA-LPA angulation and pulmonary artery diameters. The LPA-MPA angulation should not be considered as an influence factor for LPA development and trans-annular patch surgery.
All four patients were female, with an average age of 28.8 days and an average weight of 3.64 kg. Only case 4 was born prematurely at 34 W+5 and was treated conservatively until 71 days to complete operation. All the others completed primary corrective surgery in the neonatal period, and all survived after operation. Two different surgical techniques were used to repair the aortic-pulmonary window and the aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery, including 1 case using the aortic internal baffle technique and another 3 cases underwent replantation of the right pulmonary artery (1 case was reconstructed in situ, and the other 2 cases were reconstructed by moving the right pulmonary artery in the anterior of aorta). Case 2 who received aortic internal baffle technique underwent two reoperation because of right pulmonary artery stenosis. While, right pulmonary artery of cases 3 and 4 developed well after being reconstructed the right pulmonary artery anterior translocation. After the diagnosis of Berry syndrome through cardiac color ultrasound and CT angiography, a primary surgical radical treatment should be performed as soon as possible at an experienced pediatric cardiac center. Although the surgery is high-risk and complex, it is safe and effective.