Risk factors for postoperative recurrence of cardiac myxoma and the clinical managements: a report of 5 cases in one center and review of literature / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recurrence or metastasis of myxomas is not rare and can lead to malignancy. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for postoperative cardiac myxoma recurrence and to summarize its clinical characteristics, treatments and classification.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 5 patients with recurrent cardiac myxoma were retrospectively analyzed and our clinical experience was summarized. Moreover, the relevant literatures were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the five cases of primary myxomas were derived from atypical positions. One patient had early distant metastasis, one had family history, and two suffered malignant recurrence. The recurrence interval was (2.30 ± 2.16) years and the recurrent tumors were all found in different chambers from those of the corresponding primary tumors. Re-operation was performed after recurrence. One patient died of heart failure after malignant recurrence, and the other 4 cases had satisfactory therapeutic outcomes after re-operations. Our experience advocated a clinical classification of "typical" and "atypical" cardiac myxoma, the typical myxomas referred to the tumors locating at the left atria, with single pedicle, rooted at or around the fossa ovalis, involving no genetic causes, and the atypical myxomas included the familial tumors, tumors stemming from multiple chambers, rooted in abnormal positions of the left atrium, with evident genetic mutation, or with malignant tendency.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Postoperative follow-up is of vital importance for patients with myxomas characterized by multi-chamber distribution, early distant metastasis, atypical origin, and family history. Once recurs, re-operation is necessary and should be performed immediately.</p>

Reoperative valve replacement in patients undergoing cardiac reoperation: a report of 104 cases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review the experience of reoperative valve replacement for 104 patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2002 to December 2009, 104 patients underwent heart valve replacement in reoperations, accounting for 2.92% of the total patient population (3557 cases) who had valve replacement during this period. In this group, 53 male and 51 female patients were included with a median age of 46 years (ranged from 13 to 72 years). The reasons of reoperation included 28 cases suffered from another valve lesion after valve replacement, 10 cases suffered from valve lesion after mitral valvuloplasty, 19 cases suffered from perivalvular leakage after valve replacement, 18 cases suffered from valve lesion after previous correction of congenital heart defect, 7 cases suffered from bioprosthetic valve decline, 10 cases suffered from prosthetic valve endocarditis, 9 cases suffered from dysfunction of machine valve, and 3 cases suffered from other causes. The re-operations were mitral and aortic valve replacement in 2 cases, mitral valve replacement in 59 cases, aortic valve replacement in 24 cases, tricuspid valve replacement in 16 cases, and Bentall's operation in 3 cases. The interval from first operation to next operation was 1 month-19 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 8 early deaths from heart failure, renal failure and multiple organ failure (early mortality 7.69%). Major complications were intraoperative hemorrhage in 2 cases, re-exploration for mediastinal bleeding in 2 cases and sternotomy surgical site infection in 1 case. Complete follow-up (3 months-7 years and 2 months) was available for all patients. Two patients died, one patient died of intracranial hemorrhage, and another cause was unknown.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Satisfactory short-term and long-term results can be obtained in reoperative valve replacement with appropriate timing of operation control, satisfactory myocardial protection, accurate surgical procedure and suitable perioperative treatment.</p>

Effect of external stents on prevention of intimal hyperplasia in a canine vein graft model / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>External stents have been used to reduce intimal hyperplasia of vein grafts. The aim of the present study was to define the size of an external stent appropriate for a particular graft by comparing vein grafts with different sizes of external stents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A series of paired trials was performed to compare femoral vein grafts with different sizes of external stents, where 30 modeled canines were equally divided into three groups: 6-mm external stent vs non-stent control, 4-mm vs 6-mm external stent, and 4-mm vs 8-mm external stent. At day 3 after operation, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was done to observe blood flow in the lumen. Four weeks later, CDFI was re-checked and the veins were harvested, stained and measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All grafts were patent without formation of thrombosis. External stents significantly reduced intimal thickness of the vein grafts with a 6-mm external stent compared with the vein grafts without external stents (P < 0.05). The vein grafts with the 4-mm external stent had similar intimal, medial and adventitial thicknesses compared with those with the 6-mm external stent and the 8-mm external stent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>External stents can reduce intimal hyperplasia of vein grafts. Stents of different diameters exert the similar effect on prevention of intimal hyperplasia.</p>