Impact of bicuspid aortic valve or tricuspid aortic valve on hemodynamics and left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To compare the impact of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) on hemodynamics and left ventricular reverse remodeling after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent TAVR in our hospital from January 2019 to March 2021. Patients were divided into BAV group and TAV group according to aortic contrast-enhanced CT. Each patient was followed up by N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiography at four time points, namely before TAVR, 24 hours, 1 month and 6 months after TAVR. Echocardiographic data, including mean pressure gradient (MPG), aortic valve area (AVA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle mass (LVM) and LV mass index (LVMi) were evaluated. Results: A total of 41 patients were included. The age was (75.0±8.6) years, and male patients accounted for 53.7%. There were 19 BAV patients and 22 TAV patients in this cohort. All patients undergoing TAVR using a self-expandable prosthesis Venus-A valve. MPG was (54.16±21.22) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before TAVR, (21.11±9.04) mmHg at 24 hours after TAVR, (18.84±7.37) mmHg at 1 month after TAVR, (17.68±6.04) mmHg at 6 months after TAVR in BAV group. LVEF was (50.42±13.30)% before TAVR, (53.84±10.59)% at 24 hours after TAVR, (55.68±8.71)% at 1 month after TAVR and (57.42±7.78)% at 6 months after TAVR in BAV group. MPG and LVEF substantially improved at each time point after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05) in BAV group. MPG in TAV group improved at each time point after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). LVMi was (164.13±49.53), (156.37±39.11), (146.65±38.84) and (134.13±39.83) g/m2 at the 4 time points and the value was significantly reduced at 1 and 6 months post TAVR compared to preoperative level(both P<0.05). LVEF in the TAV group remained unchanged at 24 hours after operation, but it was improved at 1 month and 6 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). LVMi in TAV group substantially improved at each time point after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). NT-proBNP in both two groups improved after operation, at 1 month and 6 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). MPG in TAV group improved better than in BAV group during the postoperative follow-up (24 hours after TAVR: (11.68±5.09) mmHg vs. (21.11±9.04) mmHg, P<0.001, 1 month after TAVR: (10.82±3.71) mmHg vs. (18.84±7.37) mmHg, P<0.001, 6 months after TAVR: (12.36±4.42) mmHg vs. (17.68±6.04) mmHg, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in NT-proBNP between BAV group and TAV group at each time point after operation (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in paravalvular regurgitation and second prosthesis implantation between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: AS patients with BAV or TAV experience hemodynamic improvement and obvious left ventricular reverse remodeling after TAVR, and the therapeutic effects of TAVR are similar between BAV and TAV AS patients in the short-term post TAVR.

Short-term postoperative GnRH analogue or danazol treatment after conservative surgery for stage III or IV endometriosis before ovarian stimulation: a prospective, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of short-term use of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue for 3 months before ovarian stimulation in patients with stage III and IV endometriosis after conservative surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Eleven patients were randomly selected to receive intramuscular injections of GnRH analogue, leuprolide acetate (3.75 mg), every 28 days, or 400 mg danazol orally 2 times per day for 3 months before ovarian stimulation after conservative laparoscopic or laparotomy surgeryfor stage III and IV symptomatic endometriosis (group 1), as compared with 30 patients who had received no postoperative treatment with GnRH analogue or danazol but underwent ovarian stimulation immediately after thefirst menses within 3 months postoperatively (group 2). RESULTS: Although the number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos per cycle were significantly higher in group 1, the pregnancy rate per cycle in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2 (18% vs. 20%). The cumulative pregnancy rate at 12 months was 54.5% and 56.7% in group 1 and group 2, respectively. With regard to recurrence of disease after 24 months of follow-up, group 2 had a statistically significantly higher recurrence rate (13.3%) than did group 1 (0%). CONCLUSION: Short-term use of GnRH analogue before ovarian stimulation in women with stage III or IV endometriosis confers no definite benefits on pregnancy rates per cycle when compared with patients who received ovarian stimulation within 3 months after conservative surgery.

Spontaneous fetal heart rate deceleration: an ominous sign for fetal outcome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish the prognostic import of spontaneous fetal heart-rate deceleration, a sign of fetal distress. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 169 patients with fetal heart-rate deceleration treated at Shin-Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital from 1 January 1998 to 24 November 2000. Reviewed variables included type of fetal heart-rate irregularity (including early, variable, late, and spontaneous variants), neonatal outcome, Doppler results, gestational age and weight at birth, and amniotic fluid index. RESULTS: The spontaneous form of fetal heart-rate deceleration was determined for 11 of the 169 patients (6.5%) diagnosed with fetal heart-rate deceleration, with a 5-min Apgar score below 7 observed for 5 (45.5%) of these subjects, and neonatal complications for 9 (81.8%). Mean gestational age was 32.2+/-3.8 weeks; mean birth weight was 1,560+/-723.9 g. Spontaneous deceleration has a sensitivity of 29%, specificity of 99%, positive predictive value of 81.8%, and negative predictive value of 86.1%. CONCLUSION: Although of the different fetal heart-rate deceleration types the spontaneous variant has the lowest incidence rate, the complication and mortality rates are highest and it is also associated with lower birth weight and higher incidence of pre-term labor. Failure of the fetus to cope with the compromised placental flow and uterine compression resulting from oligohydramnios may be fundamental to the etiology of spontaneous fetal-heart rate deceleration. Once diagnosed, Doppler ultrasound may be used to assess placental-vessel flow. Emergency treatment may be mandatory if deterioration is noted.

Uterine rupture in an unscarred uterus after application of fundal pressure. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of an unscarred uterus is rare, with a reported incidence of 1 in 8,000-15,000 pregnancies. We report a case occurring during labor. CASE: A 33-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 0, abortion 2, was admitted at 40 weeks' gestation with ruptured membranes. Fundal pressure was applied during delivery due to maternal exhaustion. Uterine rupture was diagnosed from palpation of the fetal extremities coupled with a decreased fetal heartbeat. A 6-cm transverse laceration was discovered over the lower uterine segment during emergency cesarean section. The uterus was sutured. There were no further complications, and the postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous rupture of the unscarred uterus during labor is rare, with only one case recorded at our institution over a 10-year period. Risk factors include weakness of the uterine muscle and the application of fundal pressure. Early detection and immediate surgical intervention are the mainstays of management.