Background Mitral valve replacement with the total leaflet preservation technique can yield good results; however, its development is limited by patient-valve mismatch. Therefore, we compared the efficacies of the modified total leaflet preservation technique, posterior leaflet preservation technique, and no leaflet preservation technique in mitral valve replacement. Methods Clinical records and echocardiographic data of 180 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral valve disease between 2009 and 2017 were analysed retrospectively to summarise the operative experience and short-term (six months) results. The patients were divided into three groups: group A ( n = 62), treated with the modified total leaflet preservation technique; group B ( n = 80), treated with the posterior leaflet preservation technique; and group C ( n = 38), treated with the no leaflet preservation technique. Results No significant difference in the preoperative clinical data was noted between the groups ( p > 0.05). The clamp and recovery times of group A were longer ( p < 0.05) and shorter ( p < 0.05), respectively, than those of groups B and C. The postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction of group A were significantly better than those of groups B and C. The incidence of low cardiac output syndrome in group A was lower than that in group C ( p < 0.05). There was no postoperative left ventricular posterior wall rupture or mechanical valve dysfunction in group A. Conclusions The short-term results of the modified total leaflet preservation technique were better than those of the other techniques. This technique is also suitable for patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis.

Background A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke (CS), and interventional therapy for PFO can reduce the recurrence rate of CS. However, interventional therapies are primarily guided by X-ray imaging, and data on regular post-surgical follow-up with the transthoracic ultrasound foaming test (UFT) are rare. Thus, this study aimed to assess the short-term (12 months) results of PFO occlusion guided by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the results of regular UFTs. Methods Clinical records, echocardiographic data, and UFT results of 75 patients who underwent interventional therapy for PFO and CS were retrospectively analysed. The patients were grouped according to their preoperative UFT results: group A (n = 21), small volume of right-to-left shunts; group B (n = 22), moderate volume of right-to-left shunts; and group C (n = 32), large volume of right-to-left shunts. All patients were treated with an Amplatzer occluder under TEE guidance. UFT follow-up was conducted regularly until 12 months after surgery. Results No significant differences in preoperative data, length of hospital stay, or operative time were noted between the groups (p > 0.05). The length of the PFO and diameter of the occluder differed between the groups as follows: group A = group B < group C (p < 0.001). Notably, 1 patient in group C developed recurrent stroke 11 months postoperatively, and 2 patients in group C developed atrial arrhythmia, which improved after 3 months of antiarrhythmic treatment. However, 19 patients still had positive UFT results 12 months postoperatively. Furthermore, the positive UFT rate 12 months postoperatively differed between the groups as follows: group A = group B < group C (p < 0.05). A preoperative large-volume shunt was negatively associated with a negative UFT rate 12 months postoperatively (OR = 0.255, 95% CI: 0.104–0.625). Conclusions In patients with PFO and CS, interventional therapy guided by TEE could lead to satisfactory short-term (12 months) outcomes. Although the positive UFT rate gradually decreased, some patients still had positive UFT results 12 months postoperatively. Preoperatively, a large volume of right-to-left shunts and a longer PFO were the two risk factors for positive UFT results postoperatively. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between postoperative positive UFT results and stroke recurrence.

Background Bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) grafting has a good long-term survival rate and graft patency rate, but it is only recommended in young patients due to its high technical requirements and high incidence of sternal complications. Previous studies indicated that BIMA grafting has a significant benefit in patients aged 50–59 years, but this benefit does not extend to patients aged > 60 years. Thus, this study was designed to analyse the immediate artery graft function, short-term (3 months) results, and experience in preventing sternal complications for BIMA grafting in elderly patients (60–75 years old). Methods Clinical records and echocardiographic and coronary artery computed tomography angiography data of 155 patients who underwent BIMA grafting for coronary artery disease between 2015 and 2017 in our hospital were analysed retrospectively to summarise the operative experience and short-term (3 months) results. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 95), aged < 60 years and Group B (n = 60), aged 60–75 years. The operation time, aortic clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time of these two groups were compared to analyse the operation difficulty and the flow and pulsatility index were compared to analyse the immediate artery graft function. The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of these two groups were compared to analyse heart function. Results There were no significant differences in the operation time, aortic clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time as well as the flow and pulsatility index between these two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of sternal wound complications, graft occlusion, and other common complications 3 months post-BIMA grafting between these two groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in LVEDD and LVEF between the groups 3 months post-operation (P > 0.05). Conclusions BIMA grafting was safe and effective for older patients (60–75 years). Similar to younger patients (< 60 years), BIMA grafting in elderly patients (60–75 years) can also achieve a satisfactory short-term (3 months) result. Thus, advanced age (60–75 years) should not be a contraindication for BIMA grafting.

Background The efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation exercise training for patients after lung cancer resection has been controversial. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation on the incidence of complications and mortality in patients after lung cancer resection. Methods Search English databases PubMed, EMBASE, Medline to obtain literature. The literature compared the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation exercise training intervention or not on the efficacy of patients after lung cancer resection, and the outcomes included postoperative complications and mortality. The quality of the included literature was assessed according to the Cochrane risk of bias assessment work. The chi-square test was used to test for heterogeneity. When there is heterogeneity, a random effect model is used; when there is no heterogeneity, a fixed effect model is used. Results A total of 9 prospective clinical studies (comprising 1,338 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. Among the patients, there were 571 cases in the rehabilitation group and 767 cases in the control group. The incidence of postoperative complications in the rehabilitation group was lower than that in the control group. The odds ratio (OR) value was 0.66 and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.47–0.94 (P=0.02). There was no heterogeneity among studies and no publication bias. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in the rehabilitation group was lower than that in the control group, OR =0.33 (95% CI: 0.22–0.50) (P<0.00001). There was no heterogeneity among studies and no publication bias. There was no significant difference in postoperative mortality between the 2 groups (OR =0.77; 95% CI: 0.26–2.30; P=0.65). There was no heterogeneity among studies and no publication bias. Discussion Implementing pulmonary rehabilitation significantly reduced postoperative complications and the risk of pulmonary complications in lung cancer patients, but had no significant effect on mortality. Pulmonary rehabilitation exercise training is recommended for patients undergoing lung cancer resection.

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke (CS), and interventional therapy for PFO can reduce the recurrence rate of CS. However, interventional therapies are primarily guided by X-ray imaging, and data on regular postsurgical follow-up with the transthoracic ultrasound foaming test (UFT) is rare. Thus, this study aimed to assess the short-term (12 months) results of PFO occlusion guided by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the results of regular UFTs.Methods: Clinical records, echocardiographic data, and UFT results of 75 patients who underwent interventional therapy for PFO and CS were retrospectively analysed. The patients were grouped according to their preoperative UFT results: group A (n=21), small volume of right-to-left shunts; group B (n=22), moderate volume of right-to-left shunts; and group C (n=32), large volume of right-to-left shunts. All patients were treated with an Amplatzer occluder under TEE guidance. UFT follow-up was conducted regularly until 12 months after surgery.Results: No significant differences in preoperative data, length of hospital stay, or operative time were noted between the groups (p>0.05). The length of the PFO and diameter of the occluder differed between the groups as follows: group A=group B<group C (p<0.001). One patient in group C developed recurrent stroke 11 months postoperatively. Two patients in group C developed atrial arrhythmia, which improved after 3 months of antiarrhythmic treatment. However, 19 patients still had positive UFT results 12 months postoperatively. Furthermore, the positive UFT rate 12 months postoperatively differed between the groups as follows: group A=group B<group C (p<0.05). A preoperative large-volume shunt was negatively associated with a negative UFT rate 12 months postoperatively (RR=0.255, p=0.003).Conclusions: In patients with PFO and CS, interventional therapy guided by TEE could lead to satisfactory short-term (12 months) outcomes. Although the positive UFT rate in our study gradually decreased, some patients still had positive UFT results 12 months postoperatively. Preoperatively, a large volume of right-to-left shunts and a longer PFO were two risk factors for positive UFT results postoperatively. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between positive UFT results postoperatively and stroke recurrence.

Background Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke (CS), and interventional therapy for PFO can reduce the recurrence rate of CS. However, interventional therapies are primarily guided by X-ray imaging, and regular postsurgical follow-up with transthoracic ultrasound foaming test (UFT) is rarely performed. Thus, this study aimed to assess the short-term (1 year) results of PFO occlusion guided by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the results of regular UFTs. Methods Clinical records, echocardiographic data, and UFT results of 27 patients who underwent interventional therapy for PFO and CS were retrospectively analysed. The patients were grouped according to their preoperative UFT results: group A (n = 4), small volume of right-to-left shunts; group B (n = 8), moderate volume of right-to-left shunts; and group C (n = 15), large volume of right-to-left shunts. All patients were treated using an Amplatzer occluder under TEE guidance. UFT follow-up was conducted regularly until 1 year post-surgery. Results No significant differences in preoperative clinical data, echocardiographic data, or operative time were noted between the groups (P > 0.05). The length of the PFO and the diameter of the occluder differed between the groups as follows: group A = group B < group C (p < 0.05). One year postoperatively, there was no stroke recurrence. Two patients in group C developed atrial arrhythmia, which improved after 3 months of antiarrhythmic treatment. The positive UFT rate gradually decreased postoperatively, and 50% of patients still had a positive UFT 11.75 months after surgery. The positive UFT rate 1 year postoperatively differed between the groups as follows: group A = group B < group C (p = 0.010). A preoperative large-volume shunt was negatively associated with a negative UFT rate 1 year postoperatively (b=-2.118, RR = 0.120, p = 0.002). Conclusion In patients with PFO and CS, interventional therapy guided by TEE led to excellent short-term (1 year) outcomes. The positive UFT rate gradually decreased within 1 year of surgery. Preoperatively, a large volume of right-to-left shunts and large occluders were two risk factors for positive UFT results after surgery. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between positive UTF results postoperatively and stroke recurrence.

Background: This study aimed to assess the short-term (12 months) results of PFO occlusion guided by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the results of regular transthoracic ultrasound foaming test (UFT). Methods: Data of 75 patients who underwent interventional therapy for PFO and CS were retrospectively analysed. The patients were grouped according to their preoperative UFT results: group A, small volume of right-to-left shunts; group B, moderate volume of right-to-left shunts; and group C, large volume of right-to-left shunts. All patients were treated with an Amplatzer occluder under TEE guidance. UFT follow-up was conducted regularly until 12 months after surgery. Results: No remarkable differences in preoperative data, length of hospital stay, or operative time were noted between the groups. Length of the PFO and diameter of the occluder differed between the groups: group A=group Bp<0.001). One patient in group C developed recurrent stroke 11 months postoperatively. Two patients in group C developed atrial arrhythmia, which improved after 3 months of antiarrhythmic treatment. However, 19 patients still had positive UFT results 12 months postoperatively. Furthermore, the positive UFT rate 12 months postoperatively differed between the groups: group A=group Bp<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with PFO and CS, interventional therapy guided by TEE could lead to satisfactory short-term (12 months) outcomes. A longer PFO and preoperative large-volume shunt were negatively associated with a negative UFT rate 12 months postoperatively. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between positive UFT results postoperatively and stroke recurrence.