Our country has made great progress in the surgical treatment of congenital heart disease, but after entering the new era, congenital cardiac surgery also presents some new features and trends. The quality of data of Guangdong congenital heart defects monitoring network was recognized by international organizations. We analyzed the data of the incidence of congenital heart disease, the rate of surgical treatment, the mortality of surgical procedures and the quality of surgical treatment in Guangdong province from Guangdong congenital heart defects monitoring network, and then accurately understood the development characteristics of congenital cardiac surgery. It is very helpful to clarify the regional status of congenital cardiac surgery, which is conducive to the development of a more reasonable surgical strategy for congenital heart disease, and finally promote the further development of congenital cardiac surgery in China.
This review provides an overview of prenatal interventional treatments for fetal congenital heart disease (CHD), with a particular focus on the latest advancements in fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) and fetal pulmonary valvuloplasty (FPV). FAV aims to improve left heart hemodynamics, prevent hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), and promote biventricular circulation. FPV seeks to improve the natural history of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) and critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum (CPS/IVS), alleviate right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and promote biventricular circulation. This article discusses patient selection, technical details, risk assessment, and clinical outcomes for these procedures, highlighting the challenges in current research, including the lack of standardized patient selection criteria and long-term prognostic studies. Additionally, it emphasizes the opportunities and challenges of fetal cardiac intervention (FCI) development in China and proposes recommendations for future improvements and research directions.
In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) technology has been more and more widely used in the auxiliary diagnosis and treatment of structural heart disease (SHD), and is also an important basis for the application of other technologies such as artificial intelligence. However, there are still some problems to be solved in the clinical application of 3D technology. In this paper, the application of 3D technology in SHD field is reviewed, and the future development of 3D technology is prospected.
Objective To examine the influence of hormonal fluctuations on the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from fertile women diagnosed with congenital heart disease at the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, between January 1, 2015, and July 30, 2019. Initially, patients were categorized into groups based on serum progesterone levels: a low progesterone group (n=31) and a high progesterone group (n=153). Furthermore, based on serum estrogen levels, they were divided into a low estrogen group (n=10), a medium estrogen group (n=32), and a high estrogen group (n=118) for comparative analysis. A control group (n=24) consisted of patients who received progesterone injections before their menstrual period. Results We finally included 184 patients. The patients’ average age was 27.6±5.7 years, with 142 (77.17%) presenting with complex congenital heart conditions. There were statistically significant differences in total postoperative standard thoracic drainage volume and postoperative albumin level between the high and low progesterone groups (P<0.05), while other perioperative outcome indicators showed no statistical differences (P>0.05). Among the different serum estrogen level groups, there were statistically significant differences in postoperative blood urea nitrogen levels, total postoperative standard thoracic drainage volume, and hospital stay (P<0.05), while other perioperative outcome indicators showed no statistical differences (P>0.05). ConclusionConsidering the overall clinical significance, the physiological changes in sex hormone levels appear to have a negligible effect on the perioperative outcomes of fertile women with congenital heart disease.
Objective To evaluate the impact of an integrated management mode of prenatal diagnosis-postnatal treatment for congenital heart disease (CHD) on perioperative and long-term outcomes of the arterial switch operation (ASO), and to analyze the efficacy of ASO over six years in a single center. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 183 children who underwent ASO at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2024. The cohort included 106 patients (57.9%) of transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA/IVS), 61 patients (33.3%) of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect (TGA/VSD), and 16 patients (8.7%) of taussig-bing anomaly (TBA). Perioperative indicators were compared between 91 patients in the prenatal-postnatal integrated management group (an integrated group) and 92 patients in the traditional management group (a non-integrated group). Long-term survival and reoperation rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Results The overall perioperative mortality rate was 4.9% (9/183), showing a downward trend year by year. The primary cause of perioperative mortality was low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), which occurred in 12 patients (6.6% incidence) with a mortality rate of 75%. The integrated group had a higher proportion of males (89% vs. 72.8%, P<0.05) and lower body weight [3.13 (2.75, 3.35) vs. 3.30 (3.00, 3.67), P<0.05] compared to the non-integrated group. The age at surgery was significantly earlier in the integrated group [7 (3, 10) vs. 14 (9, 48), P<0.05], and all children in the Integrated Group underwent ASO within the optimal surgical window (100% vs. 82.6%, P<0.05). Intraoperatively, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time [173 (150, 207) vs. 186 (159, 237), P<0.05] and aortic cross-clamp (ACC) time [100 (90, 117) vs. 116 (97, 142), P<0.05] were significantly shorter in the integrated group. although the integrated group had longer postoperative mechanical ventilation time [145 (98, 214) vs. 116 (77, 147), P<0.05] and higher 48-hour maximum vasoactive inotropic score (VISmax) [15 (10, 21) vs. 12 (8, 16), P<0.05], there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of severe complications (LCOS, NEC, ECMO) or mortality rate (3.3% vs. 6.5%, P=0.51) between the two groups, despite earlier surgical intervention and a higher proportion of critically ill cases in the integrated group. The length of hospital stay in the emergency surgery group was significantly shorter than that in the elective surgery group [20 (15, 28) vs. 25 (21, 30), P<0.05], suggesting that early surgery may be of potential benefit. A total of 163 patients were successfully followed up for a median of 4.7 years, with a 5-year survival rate of 95.1% and a freedom from reintervention survival rate of 95.1%. There were no late deaths, and the most common postoperative complication was pulmonary artery stenosis. Conclusion The integrated management model allowed critically ill children with lower body weights to safely undergo surgery, significantly optimizing the timing of surgery and shortening intraoperative times. The long-term risk of reoperation after ASO is primarily concentrated on pulmonary artery stenosis, necessitating long-term follow-up and monitoring.
Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.
Objective To comprehensively analyze the clinical outcomes of total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in the treatment of functional single ventricle combined with heterotaxy syndrome (HS). MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients with functional single ventricle and HS who underwent TCPC (a HS group) in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between 2004 and 2021. The analysis focused on postoperative complications, long-term survival rates, and identifying factors associated with patient survival. Early and late postoperative outcomes were compared with matched non-HS patients (a non-HS group). Results Before propensity score matching, 55 patients were collected in the HS group, including 42 males and 13 females, with a median age of 6.0 (4.2, 11.8) years and a median weight of 17.0 (14.2, 28.8) kg. Among the patients, there were 53 patients of right atrial isomerism and 2 patients of left atrial isomerism. Eight patients underwent TCPC in one stage. TCPC procedures included extracardiac conduit (n=39), intracardiac-extracardiac conduit (n=14), and direct cavopulmonary connection (n=2). Postoperative complications included infections in 27 patients, liver function damage in 19 patients, and acute kidney injury in 11 patients. There were 5 early deaths. The median follow-up time was 94.7 (64.3, 129.8) months. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were 87.2%, 85.3%, and 74.3%, respectively. After propensity score matching, there were 45 patients in the HS group and 81 patients in the non-HS group. Compared to the non-HS group, those with HS had longer surgical and mechanical ventilation time, higher infection rates (P<0.05), and a 12.9% lower 10-year survival rate. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified asplenia was a risk factor for mortality (HR=8.98, 95%CI 1.86-43.34, P=0.006). ConclusionCompared to non-HS patients, patients with HS have lower survival rates after TCPC, and asplenia is an independent risk factor for the survival of these patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and safety of totally endoscopic transmitral myectomy (TETM) for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), comparing with traditional sternotomy modified Morrow procedure (SMMP).MethodsThirty-eight patients with HOCM who needed surgical intervention were selected from our hospital in 2019, including 14 males and 24 females, with an average age of 56 (44-68) years. According to the operation method, they were divided into a TETM group (n=18) and a SMMP group (n=20). Appropriate patients were screened by propensity matching scores. Finally, the clinical data of two matched groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsThere was no death, septal perforation, residual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction or third degree atrioventricular block in either group. After propensity score matching, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in the ICU length of stay (41.5±5.0 h vs. 53.0±24.0 h, P=0.620), ventilation time (19.5±9.2 h vs. 38.0±24.0 h, P=0.463), cardiopulmonary bypass time (190.7±45.6 min vs. 156.0±70.7 min, P=0.627), aortic cross-clamp time (100.1±25.3 min vs. 94.5±57.3 min, P =0.915), left ventricular outflow tract gradient (17.0±1.4 mm Hg vs. 5.0±0.5 mm Hg, P=0.053), left atrial anterior and posterior diameter (37.0±1.3 mm vs. 40.0±0.7 mm, P=0.090), interventricular septum thickness (12.5±0.7 mm vs. 13.0±1.4 mm, P=0.712), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (10.0±1.4 mm vs. 10.5±2.1 mm, P=0.811), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (43.5±3.5 mm vs. 46.0±4.2 mm, P=0.589), and mitral regurgitation (1.0±0.2 vs. 0.7±0.5, P=0.500). The follow-up time was 6±3 months, and no death occurred. In the TETM group, one patient underwent mitral valvuloplasty again three months after surgery because of a tear in the A3 region of mitral valve..ConclusionTETM is a safe and effective procedure that can well expose the interventricular septum at the basal & middle obstruction site and effectively eliminate the mitral regurgitation associated with systolic anterior motion syndrome caused by left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
Objective To analyze the long-term outcome of modified Morrow surgery (interventricular septal cardiomyectomy) in the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in children. Methods The clinical data of the children with HOCM (aged≤14 years) who underwent modified Morrow surgery from January 2010 to August 2022 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including changes in hospitalization status, perioperative period, and long-term 15-lead electrocardiogram and echocardiography. Results A total of 29 patients were collected, including 22 males and 7 females, aged 10.00 (5.00, 12.00) years. Five (17.9%) patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ. Ventricular septal cardiomyectomy was performed in all patients. All 29 patients survived and their cardiac function recovered after operation. Before discharge, right bundle branch block was observed in 2 patients and left bundle branch block in 6 patients. After surgery, in the left ventricular septal cardiomyectomy, the left atrial diameter decreased (P＜0.001), left ventricular end-systolic diameter increased (P=0.009), the peak pressure gradient of left ventricular outflow tract decreased (P＜0.001), and the thickness of ventricular septum decreased (P＜0.001). The systolic anterior motion of mitral valve disappeared and mitral regurgitent jet area decreased (P＜0.001). The flow velocity and peak pressure gradient of right ventricular outflow tract also decreased in the patients who underwent right ventricular septal cardiomyectomy. The average follow-up of the patients was 69.03±10.60 months. All the patients survived with their NYHA cardiac function grading Ⅰ or Ⅱ. No new-onset arrythmia event was found. Echocardiography indicated that the peak pressure gradient of the left ventricular outflow tract remained low (P<0.001). Moderate mitral regurgitation occurred in 2 patients, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with moderate mitral regurgitation occurred in 1 patient after simple right ventricular septal cardiomyectomy. Conclusion Right ventricular or biventricular obstruction is frequent in the children with HOCM and they usually have more symptoms before surgery. Modified Morrow surgery can effectively relieve outflow tract obstruction and improve their cardiac function. The long-term outcome is satisfactory. However, the posterior wall of the left ventricle remains hypertrophic. Also, there is an increased risk of a conduction block.
Objective To analyze the aortic development in patients with mild coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) after isolated VSD repair and to explore the risk factors affecting postoperative aortic development. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 4231 patients who underwent VSD repair at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2018 to August 2023. Patients with mild CoA were selected as the study subjects. Based on whether CoA progressed postoperatively, patients were divided into a progression group and a non-progression group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and a logistic regression model was established to analyze the factors affecting postoperative aortic development. Results A total of 231 patients were included, with 142 males and 89 females, and a median age of 223 (105, 635) days. Among the 231 patients, 30 showed varying degrees of mild CoA progression during postoperative follow-up, with an incidence rate of 13.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher preoperative pulmonary artery pressure [OR=2.053, 95%CI (1.095, 3.850), P=0.025] and larger VSD [OR=20.200, 95%CI (1.614, 254.440), P=0.020] were risk factors for postoperative CoA progression. Conclusion Most patients with mild CoA and VSD exhibited varying degrees of catch-up growth in the aorta postoperatively. Higher preoperative pulmonary artery pressure and larger VSD size are influencing factors for postoperative CoA progression, necessitating more cautious surgical strategies and closer follow-up for this subset of patients.