Cox regression analysis of postoperative prognostic factors and construction of nomogram prediction model for patients with aortic dissection / 中国综合临床

Objective:To explore the related prognostic factors in patients with aortic dissection (AD) after surgery or interventional therapy, and to construct a multi-factor Cox regression analysis nomogram prediction model.Methods:The clinical data of patients diagnosed with AD in the emergency department of Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University of Shandong Province from January 2019 to December 2021 were collected to analyze retrospectively. The survival time was followed up, the survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method, the difference of survival rate among different Stanford types was tested by Log-Rank test, and Cox regression univariate and multivariate survival analysis was used to screen the prognostic factors. According to the results of multivariate analysis, the death risk nomogram model after AD was established, the differentiation of the model was evaluated by C-index, the accuracy of the model was evaluated by calibration curve, and the clinical benefit of the model was evaluated by decision curve analysis (DCA).Results:A total of 256 patients with AD were included, the mortality rate was 4.45% (37/256), and the overall survival rates at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after operation were 90.23%, 87.50% and 85.55%, respectively. There was no significant difference in postoperative survival rate among AD patients with different Stanford types (χ 2=2.30, P=0.13). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that history of hypertension ( HR=3.791, 95% CI 1.150-12.501, P=0.029), number of branch vessels involved ( HR=1.210, 95% CI 1.029-1.422, P=0.021), preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ( HR=0.936, 95% CI 0.880-0.996, P=0.038) and perioperative complications ( HR=4.024, 95% CI 1.839-8.807, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors in patients with AD. Furthermore, the predictive nomogram model of 3-month, 6-month and 12-month survival rate in patients with AD was constructed, and the C-index was 0.778. The calibration curve indicated that the accuracy of the model was good, and the clinical benefit of the DCA model was good. Conclusions:Hypertension history, the number of branch vessels involved, preoperative LVEF and perioperative complications are independent risk factors of postoperative death in patients with AD. The nomogram prediction model based on the above factors can be used to evaluate the postoperative survival of patients with AD.

Effects of lung recruitment maneuver on postoperative hypoxemia in patients with acute type A aortic dissection / 中国现代医生

@#Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of lung recruitment maneuver(LRM)on postoperative hypoxemia in patients with acute type A aortic dissection(ATAAD).Methods A total of 56 ATAAD patients with postoperative hypoxemia in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from November 2019 to May 2022 were selected and randomly divided into LRM group(n=36)and conventional treatment group(n=20).Patients in conventional treatment group received routine mechanical ventilation on the basis of lung protective ventilation.The patients in LRM group were treated with incremental positive end expiratory pressure(PEEP).Arterial blood gas analysis,respiratory parameters,hemodynamics parameters and serum interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-10 levels were compared between two groups before and after treatment.Results At 12h and 24h after treatment,arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2),oxygenation index(OI),static compliance(Cstat)and dynamic compliance(Cdyn)in two groups were significantly higher than before treatment,the alveolar-arterial gradient of oxygen[PO2(A-a)],respiratory index(RI),peak inspiratory pressure(Ppeak)and plateau pressure(Pplat)were significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05).PaO2,OI,Cstat and Cdyn in LRM group were significantly higher than those in conventional treatment group,PO2(A-a),RI,Ppeak and Pplat were significantly lower than those in conventional treatment group(P<0.05).Systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure decreased and central venous pressure increased during pulmonary reexpansion in LRM group(P<0.05),and all patients returned to baseline level after pulmonary reexpansion.At 12h after treatment,serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion Incremental PEEP can improve oxygenation and lung compliance in patients with hypoxemia after ATAAD surgery,but it has transient effects on hemodynamics,and should be closely monitored during treatment.

Acute Aortic Dissection Type A in Younger Patients (< 60 Years Old) - Does Full Arch Replacement Provide Benefits Compared to Limited Approach?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute aortic dissection Stanford type A (AADA) is a surgical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although surgical management has improved, the optimal therapy is a matter of debate. Different surgical strategies have been proposed for patients under 60 years old. This paper evaluates the postoperative outcome and the need for secondary aortic operation after a limited surgical approach (proximal arch replacement) vs. extended arch repair. Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2018, 530 patients received surgical treatment for AADA at our hospital; 182 were under 60 years old and were enrolled in this study - Group A (n=68), limited arch repair (proximal arch replacement), and group B (n=114), extended arch repair (> proximal arch replacement). Results: More pericardial tamponade (P=0.005) and preoperative mechanical resuscitation (P=0.014) were seen in Group A. More need for renal replacement therapy (P=0.047) was seen in the full arch group. Mechanical ventilation time (P=0.022) and intensive care unit stay (P<0.001) were shorter in the limited repair group. Thirty-day mortality was comparable (P=0.117). New onset of postoperative stroke was comparable (Group A four patients [5.9%] vs. Group B 15 patients [13.2%]; P=0.120). Long-term follow-up did not differ significantly for secondary aortic surgery. Conclusion: Even though young patients received only limited arch repair, the outcome was comparable. Full-arch replacement was not beneficial in the long-time follow-up. A limited approach is justified in the cohort of young AADA patients. Exemptions, like known Marfan syndrome and the presence of an intimal tear in the arch, should be considered.

Acute dissection of a syphilitic saccular aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch in a hypertensive patient - a rare phenomenon

ABSTRACT We report the case of a 77-year-old male who suffered from hypertension and died suddenly. At autopsy, he was found to have hypertensive cardiomegaly and a dissecting syphilitic saccular aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch with tamponade. Chronic aortic regurgitation, which is often seen in syphilitic aortitis, produces an additive effect to the concentric left ventricular hypertrophy seen in hypertension.

Prompt recognition of renal malperfusion in type B aortic dissection and the prognosis after endovascular therapy / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To analyze the imaging characteristics of Stanford B aortic dissection in aortic CT angiography, in order to explore the possible related factors of aortic dissection combined with renal malperfusion and to analyze the morphological changes in each involved vessel after TEVAR.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2019, totally 148 patients of Stanford B aortic dissection underwent TEVAR in our hospital. The preoperative aortic CTA was analyzed, and all cases complicated with renal malperfusion were determined according to the clinical manifestation, laboratory examination and imaging results. The differences of morphological features between the patients with and without renal malperfusion and the possible correlative factors were analyzed.The different ischemic types of the involved renal arteries were analyzed, and the morphological changes of the involved vessels before and after the operation of TEVAR were compared.Results:The logistic regression analysis showed that the concave configuration of the tear at the renal artery level was the independent risk factor for renal malperfusion (right kidney OR=5.319, P=0.032; left kidney OR=12.879, P=0.007). The diameter of renal artery was the independent protective factor for renal malperfusion (right kidney OR=0.464, P=0.018; left kidney OR=0.685, P=0.016). Compared with preoperative CTA, the diameter of the involved renal artery was significantly enlarged after TEVAR, no matter which type of ischemia. Most of the dynamic ischemia (15/16) was improved after TEVAR; while static and mixed ischemia only partially improved after TEVAR (static 22/36, mixed 11/19) . Conclusion:The concave configuration of the renal artery level, and the diameter of renal artery are associated with renal malperfusion.The malperfusion can be improved in most cases of dynamic ischemia type vessels, while only can be partially improved in static and mixed types vessles.

Prediction model for the risk of postoperative death in patients with acute type A aortic dissection / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:Using different machine learning methods to construct and screen the best prediction model for predicting the risk of death within 30 days after surgery in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.Methods:Five hundred and twenty-one patients with acute type A aortic dissection who underwent surgery between 2015 and 2022 were included, after collecting their perioperative date and screening them, 329 patients were retained. two different groups of predictor variables were generated by using Lasso regression and principal component analysis, after that, logistic regression, support vector machine algorithm, random forest algorithm, gradient boosting algorithm, and super learning algorithm were used to develop prediction models for the risk of death within 30 days after surgery. Finally, we compare the models and select the best one. Results:The AUC values for all models rangrd from 0.791-0.959. The model using Lasso regression to determine the predictor variables and built by the super learning algorithm had the best prediction with an AUC value of 0.959. Conclusion:The super learning algorithm better than other algorithms in predicting death within 30 days after acute type A aortic dissection.

A nomogram prediction model for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:This study was conducted to investigate the independent risk factors for predicting the occurrence of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection(TAAD), and to construct a nomogram model for predicting the occurrence of TAAD.Methods:The clinical data of patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for TAAD admitted to Tianjin Chest Hospital from June 2016 to December 2021 and healthy people examined by the physical examination center of Tianjin Chest Hospital during the same period were retrospectively collected, and the independent risk factors for TAAD were predicted by propensity matching analysis. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the variables with statistical differences, and a nomogram model was constructed to predict the occurrence of TAAD disease according to the screened risk factors. Results:A total of 148 patients in the TAAD group and 5 690 patients in the control group were collected. After bias matching analysis, 148 pairs were successfully matched. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed on the matching results. The results showed that hypertension(HBP), diabetes mellitus(T2DM), Lp(a), very low density lipoprotein(VLDL) and apolipoprotein A1/B(ApoA1/B) were independent risk factors for the development of TAAD. HBP, Lp(a) and ApoA1/B were pathogenic factors( OR 7.267, 1.010 and 2.199, P<0.05, respectively), while T2DM and VLDL were protective factors( OR 0.173 and 0.139, P<0.05). Based on the independent risk factors obtained by multi-factor Logistic regression analysis, a nomogram model of TAAD incidence was constructed. The area under ROC curve( AUC) for predicting the onset of TAAD was 81.6%(95% CI: 0.766-0.863), and the internal calibration curve was close to the standard curve. Conclusion:This model has a good degree of differentiation and calibration, which is helpful for clinicians to guide healthy people to prevent the occurrence of TAAD and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of TAAD.

Research progress on aortic root repair by modified sandwich technique for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection has the characteristics of acute onset, severe condition and high mortality. Once making a definite diagnosis, surgical treatment is needed as soon as possible. It is difficult for cardiac surgeons to treat the acute aortic dissection involving the aortic sinus, which is an important risk factor for death. Improving the surgical treatment for the aortic sinus can be a key to improving the prognosis. In this review, we will introduce the modified sandwich technique for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection and the prognosis, and summarize the experiences of different modified sandwich techniques. However, there is still no unified standardized technique in aortic root repair, and there is a lack of large studies with long-term follow-up, so it is necessary to further improve the aortic root repair techniques.

Risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding after type A aortic dissection surgery: A retrospective cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients with type A aortic dissection, and further discuss its prevention and treatment. Methods The clinical data of patients with type A aortic dissection admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from 2017 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a GIB group and a non-GIB group based on the presence of GIB after surgery. The variables with statistical differences between two groups in univariate analysis were included into a multivariate logistic regression model to analyze the risk factors for postoperative GIB in patients with type A aortic dissection. Results There were 18 patients in the GIB group including 12 males and 6 females, aged 60.11±10.63 years, while 511 patients in the non-GIB group including 384 males and 127 females, aged 49.81±12.88 years. In the univariate analysis, there were statistical differences in age, preoperative percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2)<95%, intraoperative circulatory arrest time, postoperative low cardiac output syndrome, ventilator withdrawal time>72 hours, postoperative FiO2≥50%, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) rate, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) rate, infection rate, length of hospital stay and ICU stay, and in-hospital mortality (all P<0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, preoperative SpO2<95% (OR=10.845, 95%CI 2.038-57.703), ventilator withdrawal time>72 hours (OR=0.004, 95%CI 0.001-0.016), CRRT (OR=6.822, 95%CI 1.778-26.171) were risk factors for postoperative GIB in patients (P≤0.005). In the intra-group analysis of GIB, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) accounted for 38.9% (7/18) and was the main disease type for postoperative GIB in patients with type A aortic dissection. Conclusion In addition to patients with entrapment involving the superior mesenteric artery who are prone to postoperative GIB, preoperative SpO2<95%, ventilator withdrawal time>72 hours, and CRRT are independent risk factors for postoperative GIB in patients with type A aortic dissection. NOMI is a major disease category for GIB, and timely diagnosis and aggressive treatment are effective ways to reduce mortality. Awareness of its risk factors and treatment are also ways to reduce its incidence.

Two-stage retrograde hybrid repair in the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of two-stage retrograde hybrid repair for acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome. Methods From May 2019 to December 2022, the patients presented with acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome treated in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University were enrolled. After preoperative evaluation, all patients underwent priority emergency interventional surgery to improve distal malperfusion, and then underwent two-stage hybrid surgery to repair proximal aortic lesions. The perioperative clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. Results Five patients were collected, including 4 males and 1 female, with a median age of 58 years. The main manifestations were lower limb ischemia and renal insufficiency in 3 patients, and poor intestinal perfusion in 2 patients. All patients were given priority to interventional surgery to implant graft stents or bare stents and necessary branch artery intervention, and then successfully performed two-stage hybrid surgery, including type Ⅰhybrid surgery for 2 patients, type Ⅱ hybrid surgery for 1 patient and type Ⅲ hybrid surgery for the other 2 patients, with a success rate of 100.0%. All patients were discharged successfully, and the function of the organs with poor perfusion returned to normal. Only 1 patient recovered to grade 4 muscle strength of the diseased lower limbs upon discharge. No adverse events such as amputation, exploratory laparotomy and intestinal resection or long-term hemodialysis occurred. Conclusion The application of two-stage retrograde hybrid repair in the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome is safe and effective, and is helpful to improve the perioperative survival rate, and clinical outcomes of such patients.

Hemodynamic study of personalized Stanford type B aortic dissection based on computational fluid dynamics / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To establish a personalized Stanford type B aortic dissection numerical simulation model, and using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation to obtain the hemodynamic behavior and law of the type B aortic dissection at different stages of development. Methods Based on the theory of three-dimensional model reconstruction, we used CT images of a patient with type B aortic dissection in the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, relevant medical image processing software to reconstruct a personalized aortic three-dimensional model, and CFD to reconstruct the model which was simulated in fluid mechanics. Results The three-dimensional reconstruction model could intuitively observe the changing trend of the false cavity at different stages of the dissection development. Through fluid mechanics simulation, the blood flow rate, pressure, wall shear stress, vascular wall Von Mises stress and other parameters at different stages of the dissection development were obtained. Conclusion The hemodynamic behavior and law of relevant parameters in the development stage of aortic dissection are analyzed. The combination of the values of relevant parameters and clinical medical detection and diagnosis can well predict the development of the disease, and finally provide more theories and methods for the scientific diagnosis of aortic dissection.

Risk factors and preventive strategies of postoperative delirium in 209 patients with Stanford B aortic dissection: A retrospective cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To investigate the risk factors and prevention strategies of postoperative delirium in Stanford B aortic dissection. Methods Clinical data of the patients diagnosed with Stanford B aortic dissection and undergoing endovascular aortic repair from January 2020 to August 2021 in our department were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into a non-delirium group and a delirium group according to the presence of postoperative delirium. The risk factors for postoperative delirium after Stanford type B aortic dissection and the protective effect of dexmedetomidine on delirium were analyzed. Results A total of 659 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection were enrolled, including 540 males and 119 females with a median age of 58.00 (41.00, 75.00) years. There were 450 patients in the non-delirium group, and 209 patients in the delirium group. There was no statistical difference in gender, body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking and drinking history, cholesterol triglyceride level, or creatinine glomerular filtration rate (P＞0.05). Age was an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium in Stanford type B aortic dissection (OR=1.392, 95%CI 1.008-1.923, P=0.044). Moreover, whether dexmedetomidine was used or not had no effect on the duration of postoperative delirium (χ2=4.662, P=0.588). Conclusion Age is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium in patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection. The incidence of postoperative delirium in young patients is lower than that in the patients with middle and elderly age, and it may be of reference value to prevent postoperative delirium. Dexmedetomidine has no significant effect on controlling the duration of postoperative delirium.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for post-aortic surgery: A retrospective study in a single center / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To describe the outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients after aortic surgery and to summarize the experience. Methods The clinical data of patients who received ECMO support after aortic surgery in Fuwai Hospital from 2009 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who received an aortic dissection surgery were allocated into a dissection group, and the other patients were allocated into a non-dissection group. The in-hospital and follow-up survival rates were compared between the two groups, and the causes of death were analyzed. Results A total of 22 patients were enrolled, including 17 patients in the dissection group [13 males and 4 females, with a median age of 54 (46, 61) years] and 5 patients in the non-dissection group [3 males and 2 females, with a median age of 51 (41, 65) years]. There was no statistical difference in the age and gender between the two groups (P>0.05). The in-hospital survival rate (11.8% vs. 100.0%, P=0.001) and follow-up survival rate (11.8% vs. 80.0%, P=0.009) of the patients in the dissection group were significantly lower than those in the non-dissection group. The causes of death in the dissection group included massive bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation (3 patients), ventricular thrombosis (1 patient), irreversible brain injury (2 patients), visceral malperfusion syndrome (4 patients) and irreversible heart failure (5 patients). Conclusion ECMO after aortic dissection surgery is associated with high mortality, which is related to the pathological features of aortic dissection and severely disrupted coagulation system after the surgery. For these patients, strict indication selection and optimal management strategy are important.

Risk factors for postoperative delirium after Stanford type A aortic dissection : A systematic review and meta-analysis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To systematically evaluate the risk factors for postoperative delirium after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Methods We searched the CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang data, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, The Cochrane Library database from inception to September 2022. Case-control studies, and cohort studies on risk factors for postoperative delirium after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection were collected to identify studies about the risk factors for postoperative delirium after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Quality of the included studies was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software and Stata 15.0 software. Results A total of 21 studies were included involving 3385 patients. The NOS score was 7-8 points. The results of meta-analysis showed that age (MD=2.58, 95%CI 1.44 to 3.72, P＜0.000 01), male (OR=1.33, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.59, P=0.001), drinking history (OR=1.45, 95%CI 1.04 to 2.04, P=0.03), diabetes history (OR=1.44, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.85, P=0.005), preoperative leukocytes (MD=1.17, 95%CI 0.57 to 1.77), P=0.000 1), operation time (MD=21.82, 95%CI 5.84 to 37.80, P=0.007), deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) time (MD=3.02, 95%CI 1.04 to 5.01, P=0.003), aortic occlusion time (MD=8.94, 95%CI 2.91 to 14.97, P=0.004), cardiopulmonary bypass time (MD=13.92, 95%CI 5.92 to 21.91, P=0.0006), ICU stay (MD=2.77, 95%CI 1.55 to 3.99, P＜0.000 01), hospital stay (MD=3.46, 95%CI 2.03 to 4.89, P＜0.0001), APACHEⅡ score (MD=2.76, 95%CI 1.59 to 3.93, P＜0.000 01), ventilation support time (MD=6.10, 95%CI 3.48 to 8.72, P＜0.000 01), hypoxemia (OR=2.32, 95%CI 1.40 to 3.82, P=0.001), the minimum postoperative oxygenation index (MD=−79.52, 95%CI −125.80 to −33.24, P=0.000 8), blood oxygen saturation (MD=−3.50, 95%CI −4.49 to −2.51, P＜0.000 01), postoperative hemoglobin (MD=−6.35, 95%CI −9.21 to −3.50, P＜0.000 1), postoperative blood lactate (MD=0.45, 95%CI 0.15 to 0.75, P=0.004), postoperative electrolyte abnormalities (OR=5.94, 95%CI 3.50 to 10.09, P＜0.000 01), acute kidney injury (OR=1.92, 95%CI 1.34 to 2.75, P=0.000 4) and postoperative body temperature (MD=0.79, 95%CI 0.69 to 0.88, P＜0.000 01) were associated with postoperative delirium after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Conclusion The current evidence shows that age, male, drinking history, diabetes history, operation time, DHCA time, aortic occlusion time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, ICU stay, hospital stay, APACHEⅡ score, ventilation support time, hypoxemia and postoperative body temperature are risk factors for the postoperative delirium after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Oxygenation index, oxygen saturation, and hemoglobin number are protective factors for delirium after Stanford type A aortic dissection.

Surgical treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To retrospectively analyze the surgical treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting, and to explore the surgical techniques and surgical indications. Methods    Clinical data of 1 246 consecutive patients who underwent operations on Stanford type A aortic dissection from April 2016 to July 2019 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting were enrolled. Results    Finally 19 patients were collected, including 16 males and 3 females with an average age of 54±7 years ranging from 35 to 66 years. There were 11 patients in acute phase, 15 patients with AC (DeBakey Ⅰ) type and 4 patients with AS (DeBakey Ⅱ) type. In AC type, there were 10 patients receiving Sun's surgery and 5 patients partial arch replacement. Meanwhile, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 7 patients and mitral valve replacement in 1 patient. Stents were removed from the right coronary artery in 4 patients. In this group, 1 patient died of multiple organ failure in hospital after operation combined with malperfusion of viscera. Eighteen patients recovered after treatment and were discharged from hospital. The patients were followed up for 30 (18-56) months. One patient underwent aortic pseudoaneurysm resection, one thoracic endovascular aortic repair, one emergency percutaneous coronary intervention due to left main artery stent occlusion, and one underwent femoral artery bypass due to iliac artery occlusion. Conclusion    Iatrogenic aortic dissection has a high probability of coronary artery bypass grafting at the same time in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting. Complicated type A aortic dissection after percutaneous coronary intervention should be treated with surgery aggressively.

Efficacy of prone positioning ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome after acute Stanford type A aortic dissection surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To explore the efficacy of prone positioning ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (STAAD) surgery. Methods     From November 2019 to September 2021, patients with ARDS who was placed prone position after STAAD surgery in the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University were collected. Data such as the changes of blood gas, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic indexes before and after prone positioning, complications and prognosis were collected for statistical analysis. Results    A total of 264 STAAD patients had surgical treatment, of whom 40 patients with postoperative ARDS were placed prone position. There were 37 males and 3 females with an average age of 49.88±11.46 years. The oxygen partial pressure, oxygenation index and peripheral blood oxygen saturation 4 hours and 12 hours after the prone positioning, and 2 hours and 6 hours after the end of the prone positioning were significantly improved compared with those before prone positioning ventilation (P<0.05). The oxygenation index 2 hours after the end of prone positioning which was less than 131.42 mm Hg, indicated that the patient might need ventilation two or more times of prone position. Conclusion     Prone position ventilation for patients with moderate to severe ARDS after STAAD surgery is a safe and effective way to improve the oxygenation.

Establishment of a rat model with aortic dissection induced by β-aminopropionitrile combined with angiotensin Ⅱ / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the optimal administration combination of β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang-Ⅱ) in the establishment of SD rat aortic dissection (AD) model and the related complications. Methods    Forty-two three-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: a group A (0.25% BAPN), a group B (0.40% BAPN), a group C (0.80% BAPN), a group D [1 g/(kg·d) BAPN], a group E [1 g/(kg·d) BAPN+ 1 μg/(kg·min) saline], a group F [1 g/(kg·d) BAPN+1 μg/(kg·min) Ang-Ⅱ] and a group G (control group). There were 6 rats in each group. The intervention period was 4 weeks (groups E and F were 4 weeks+5 days). Rats were dissected immediately if they died during the experiment. After the intervention, the surviving rats were sacrificed by pentobarbital sodium, and the whole aorta was separated and retained. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the changes of aorta from the pathological morphology. Results    There was no statistical difference in the survival rate among the groups after 4 weeks of BAPN intervention (P>0.05). After 5 days of mini-osmotic pumps implantation, the survival rate of rats was higher in the group E than that in the group F (P=0.008), and the incidence of AD in the group E was lower than that in the group F (P=0.001). BAPN could affect the food and water intake of rats. After BAPN intervention for 4 weeks, the body weight of rats in the group G was higher than those in the intervention groups (P<0.05). BAPN combined with Ang-Ⅱ could make the aortic intima thick, elastic fiber breakage, arrangement disorder, and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats, which conformed to the pathological and morphological changes of AD. BAPN could also affect mental state and gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion    The combination of BAPN [1 g/(kg·d)] and Ang-Ⅱ [1 μg/(kg·min)] can stably establish AD model in rats, which will provide a stable carrier for further study of the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of AD. However, the complications in this process are an unstable factor. How to balance the influence of BAPN on other tissues and organs in the process of AD model establishment remains to be further studied.

Acute Aortic Regurgitation due to Aortic Dissection Limited to the Sinus of Valsalva, Which Was Found at the Time of Surgery: a Case Report / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Aortic dissection is one cause of acute aortic regurgitation, and transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography are useful for diagnosis. We report a case of intraoperatively discovered acute aortic regurgitation caused by aortic dissection limited to the sinus of Valsalva. The patient was a 71-year-old man who regularly visited his local doctor for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. He visited the doctor with a week-long history of cough and dyspnea, and was referred to our hospital due to acute congestive heart failure. We diagnosed severe acute aortic regurgitation as the cause of the heart failure, but the aortic root dissection was not detected by transthoracic echocardiography or plain computed tomography. Since his heart failure progressively worsened even with intensive medical therapy, urgent surgery was decided on the 6th day after hospitalization. Intraoperatively, we noted that the aortic dissection was limited to the sinus of Valsalva, and had induced aortic regurgitation due to dissected and separated aortic commissure. We changed the surgical procedure from aortic valve replacement to the Bentall procedure (Piehler method). Postoperatively, the patient was intubated for 7 days and stayed in the ICU for 14 days due to treatment for pneumothorax and organizing pneumonia. He was successfully transferred to a rehabilitation hospital on the 35th postoperative day. Acute aortic regurgitation caused by aortic dissection limited to the sinus of Valsalva is rare, so we report the case based on literature reviews and as a heart team.

A Case of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection with Malperfusion of the LMT with a History of Open-Heart Surgery / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 75-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with sudden onset of chest and back pain. She showed ventricular fibrillation during transportation and shock vitals on arrival at the hospital. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST segment elevation in aVR, and emergency coronary angiography (CAG) was performed. CAG revealed malperfusion of the left main coronary artery (LMT) due to type A aortic dissection. Emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed and coronary revascularization was achieved. Strict blood pressure management was performed in the intensive care unit. She underwent ascending aortic replacement two days after onset of the disease. Although she required long-term postoperative ventilator management, she did not develop low output syndrome (LOS). In this case, emergency PCI minimized myocardial ischemia, and LOS could have been avoided by waiting for circulation to recover and then performing surgery.

Acute Aortic Dissection Managed with Nafamostat for Heparin Resistance in the Presence of DOAC Reversal Agent: a Case Report / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

The patient, a female in her 60s, was under anticoagulant therapy with direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for persistent atrial fibrillation. She suddenly presented with chest pain, prompting her emergency admission to our medical facility. Subsequently, she received a diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (Stanford A) and was referred to our department for urgent surgical intervention. The administration of Andexanet Alfa was initiated in the emergency department due to the markedly elevated risk of life-threatening hemorrhage associated with DOAC medications. Surgery was approached through a median sternotomy, and 20,000 units of unfractionated heparin were administered intravenously during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) preparation. However, the activated clotting time (ACT) exhibited suboptimal extension at 181 s (pre-heparin ACT: 124 s), necessitating supplementary heparin infusion. This resulted in the cumulative administration of 80,000 U of heparin before achieving an ACT exceeding 400 s. Suspecting heparin resistance, we maintained an ACT greater than 400 s during CPB through the continuous administration of nafamostat within the CPB circuit. Subsequently, we performed graft replacement of the ascending aorta, weaning from the CPB was smooth, hemostasis was good, and the operation was completed. The patient's postoperative recovery remained uneventful, leading to her discharge on the 11th day following the surgery. Notably, there were no instances of major bleeding or thromboembolic events during her hospitalization. Preoperative oral DOAC therapy presents a critical and potentially life-threatening concern due to its association with heightened intraoperative and postoperative bleeding risks. Currently, a Factor Xa inhibitor reversal agent, Andexanet Alfa (Ondexa®)，is available and expected to contribute to the treatment of critical bleeding in patients taking DOAC. However, further research is warranted to accumulate knowledge regarding its efficacy and optimal utilization. In this case, we present an instance of acute aortic dissection with heparin resistance following the preoperative administration of a DOAC antagonist, contributing to the existing literature on this matter.