Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries are the trend in the future. Among them, robotic cardiac surgery is the latest iteration with several key-hole incision, 3-dimentional visualization, and articulated instrumentation of 7 degree of ergonomic freedom for those complex procedures in the heart. In particular, robotic mitral valve surgery, as well as coronary artery bypass grafting, has evolved over the last decade and become the preferred method at certain specialized centers worldwide because of excellent results. Other cardiac procedures are in various stages of evolution. Stepwise innovation of robotic technology will continue to make robotic operations simpler, more efficient, and less invasive, which will encourage more surgeons to take up this technology and extend the benefits of robotic surgery to a larger patient population.
Objective To develop and compare the predictive performance of five machine learning models for adverse postoperative outcomes in cardiac surgery patients, and to identify key decision factors through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretability analysis. Methods A retrospective collection of perioperative data (including demographic information, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative indicators) with 88 variables was conducted from adult cardiac surgery patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University in 2023. Adverse postoperative outcomes were defined as the occurrence of acute kidney injury and/or in-hospital mortality during the postoperative hospitalization period following cardiac surgery. Patients were divided into an adverse outcome group and a favorable outcome group based on the presence of adverse postoperative outcomes. After screening feature variables using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression method, five machine learning models were constructed: eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and generalized linear model (GLM). The dataset was randomly divided into a training set and a test set at a 7 : 3 ratio using stratified sampling, with postoperative outcome as the stratification factor. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, decision curve analysis, and F1 Score. The SHAP method was applied to analyze feature contribution. Results A total of 639 patients were included, comprising 395 males and 244 females, with a median age of 62 (55, 69) years. The adverse outcome group consisted of 191 patients, while the favorable outcome group included 448 patients, resulting in an adverse postoperative outcome incidence of 29.9%. Univariate analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups for any variables (P>0.05). Using LASSO regression, 16 feature variables were selected (including cardiopulmonary bypass support time, blood glucose on postoperative day 3, creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, systemic inflammatory response index, etc.), and five machine learning models (GLM, RF, GBM, LightGBM, XGBoost) were constructed. Evaluation results demonstrated that the XGBoost model exhibited the best predictive performance on both the training set (n=447) and test set (n=192), with area under the curve values of 0.761 [95%CI (0.719, 0.800) ] and 0.759 [95%CI (0.692, 0.818) ], respectively. It also significantly outperformed other models in positive predictive value, and balanced accuracy in the test set. Decision curve analysis further confirmed its clinical utility across various risk thresholds. SHAP analysis indicated that variables such as cardiopulmonary bypass support time, blood glucose on postoperative day 3, creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, and inflammatory markers (SIRI, NLR, CAR) had high contributions to the prediction. Conclusion The XGBoost model effectively predicts adverse postoperative outcomes in cardiac surgery patients. Clinically, attention should be focused on cardiopulmonary bypass support time, postoperative blood glucose control, and monitoring of inflammatory levels to improve patient prognosis.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience of totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery for ventricular septal defect.MethodsClinical data of 449 patients undergoing totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery for ventricular septal defect from May 2008 to December 2018 in Shanghai Yodak Cardiothoracic Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 232 male and 217 female patients, aged from 3 to 55 years with a mean age of 17.3±11.2 years.ResultsAll the operations were completed successfully. Mean operative time was 2.4±0.3 h. The mean extracorporeal circulation time and aortic cross-clamp time was 64.2±11.6 min and 28.4±10.7 min, respectively. Mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit stay was 6.9±3.8 h and 20.5±5.6 h, respectively. Postoperation drainage quantity was 213.1±117.2 mL. The hospital stay was 6.9±1.3 d. Intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in 11 patients (2.4%), including 1 patient of intraoperative reoperation, 3 patients of reoperation for bleeding, 3 patients of the incision infection, 2 patients of small residual shunt, 1 patient of right femoral artery incision stenosis complicated by thromboembolism and 1 patient of right pleural cavity pneumothorax. The mean follow-up time was 72.2±33.9 months. During the period, there was no reoperation, but 2 patients of ventricular septal defect small residual shunt, 1 patient of mild-moderate mitral valve and 1 patient of mild-moderate aortic valve incompetence, respectively. During the period, heart function of the patients was NYHAⅠ-Ⅱ.ConclusionTotally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery for ventricular septal defect is a safe and effective treatment, with few serious complications, fast recovery for patients and good short to medium-term outcomes.
ObjectiveTo explore the natural changes of procalcitonin (PCT) in the early period after pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsA prospective and observational study was done on patients below 3 years of age, who underwent cardiac surgery involving CPB, with the risk adjustment of congenital heart surgery (RACHS) score of 2 to 5 and free from active preoperative infection or inflammatory disease. Blood samples for measurement of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) were taken before surgery and daily for 7 days in postoperative period. Infections and complications within 7 days after operation were investigated. According to the presence or absence of infection and complications within 7 days after operation, the enrolled children were divided into an infection+complications group, a simple infection group, a simple complication group, and a normal group.Results Finally, 429 children with PICU stay≥ 4 days were enrolled, including 268 males and 161 females, with a median age of 8.0 (0.7, 26.0) months. There were 145 children in the simple infection group, 38 children in the simple complication group, 230 children in the normal group and 16 children in the infection+complications group. The levels of PCT, CRP and WBC were significantly higher after CPB. CRP and WBC peaked on the second postoperative day (POD) and remained higher than normal until POD7. PCT peaked on POD1 and would generally decrease to normal on POD5 if without infection and complications. Age, body weight, RACHS scores, the duration of CPB and aortic cross-clamping time were correlated with PCT level. There was a statistical difference in PCT concentration between the simple infection group and the normal group on POD 3-7 (P<0.01) and a statistical difference between the simple complication group and the normal group on POD 1-7 (P<0.01). A statistical difference was found between the simple infection group and the simple complication group in PCT on POD 1-5 (P<0.05).ConclusionWBC, CRP and PCT significantly increase after CPB in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. The factors influencing PCT concentration include age, weight, RACHS scores, CPB and aortic cross-clamping time, infection and complications.
ObjectiveTo explore effectiveness and safety of bioabsorbable anti-adhesive pericardial substitute (GM042) to eliminate pericardial adhesion. MethodsEighty patients who were expected to undergo multistage cardiac surgery in three years were randomly divided into a trial group (40 patients) and a control group (40 patients). The mean age of the patients in the trial group was 1.79±1.72 years and 1.63±1.52 years in the control group. Finally, 73 patients were included with 36 patients (13 females and 23 males) in the trial group and 37 patients (20 males and 17 females) in the control group. The trial group used GM042 to fill the pericardium defect at the first surgery while the control group didn't. The manipuility, safety, and the anti-adhesive role of GM042 were evaluated. ResultsThere was no significant difference in clinical indexes between at first surgery and six months after surgery in the trial group. There was no significant adverse event correlated to GM042. GM042 presented fine maneuverability during surgery. The adhesive score of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Adhesion score, pericardiac thickening, calcification, and visibility of heart surface structures were better in the trial group than those in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionGM042 presented anti-adhesion effect and safety in cardiac surgery. Therefore, it's applicable to patients requiring re-operation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of anesthesia regime (volatile or intravenous anesthetics) with the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsThe electronic medical records of 194 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital, Sichuan University between September 2018 and February 2019 were reviewed, including 92 males and 102 females with an average age of 53 years. The patients were classified into a volatile group (n=94) or a total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group (n=100) according to anesthesia regimen during surgery (including CPB). The primary outcome was the incidence of PPCs within first 7 d after surgery. Secondary outcomes included incidence of reintubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the incidence of PPCs between the two groups (RR=1.020, 95%CI 0.763-1.363, P=0.896), with an incidence of 48.9% in the volatile group and 48.0% in the TIVA group. Secondary outcomes were also found no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionNo association of anesthesia regimen with the incidence of PPCs is found in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under CPB.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of dexmedetomidine in perioperative management of on-pump cardiac surgery. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through a systematic literature search of PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Database (up to December 2016). RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. Results Sixteen studies with 1 432 patients were included. Dexmedetomidine significantly decreased the risk of postoperative delirium (RR=0.28, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.44, P<0.000 01) and postoperative atrial fibrillation (RR=0.65, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.98, P=0.04) compared with the controls. The duration of intubation (RR=–1.96, 95% CI –2.07 to –1.86, P<0.000 01), length of ICU stay (RR=–0.49, 95% CI –0.74, –0.24, P=0.000 1) and hospital stay (RR=–1.24, 95% CI –2.26 to –0.22, P=0.02) in the dexmedetomidine group were significantly shorter than those of the control group. In addition, dexmedetomidine was shown to improve the score of the the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (RR=0.88, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.35, P=0.000 2) compared to the control group. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can reduce the complications after cardiac surgery, which is safe and effective. However, more studies with good methodologic quality and large samples are still needed to make further assessment.
ObjectiveTo analyze the safety and efficacy of vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) in cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsA total of 180 patients from 3 centers between November 17, 2017 and October 1, 2018 were enrolled and randomly assigned to a VAVD group and a gravity drainage (GD) group by 1∶1 ratio. During the open-heart surgery under CPB, the VAVD group completely relied on VAVD, and the GD group used conventional GD. The primary endpoint was arterial flow before CPB, 15 min after aortic cross-clamping and rewarming to 36 °C of nasopharyngeal temperature. The secondary endpoints included hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, blood product transfusion, etc. The safety endpoint was free hemoglobin concentration, etc.ResultsThe full analysis set contained 175 patients, 87 in the VAVD group and 88 in the GD group. Patients in the VAVD group were aged 52.8±12.0 years, and males accounted for 55.2%; patients in the GD group were aged 51.4±12.1 years, and males accounted for 59.1%. The demographic characteristics between the two groups were not statistically different. Compared to the GD group, the VAVD group could provide comparable arterial flow in CPB [average of 3 time points, 2.37±0.22 L/(min·m2) vs. 2.41±0.25 L/(min·m2), P=0.271], while not elevating free hemoglobin concentration.ConclusionVAVD can provide enough venous drainage, while not elevating free hemoglobin concentration or damaging blood.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of intraoperative ventilation modes with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in adult patients undergoing selective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsThe clinical data of 604 patients who underwent selective cardiac surgical procedures under CPB in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University from June to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 293 males and 311 females with an average age of 52.0±13.0 years. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the ventilation modes, including a pressure-controlled ventilation-volume guarantee (PCV-VG) group (n=201), a pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) group (n=200) and a volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) group (n=203). The association between intraoperative ventilation modes and PPCs (defined as composite of pneumonia, respiratory failure, atelectasis, pleural effusion and pneumothorax within 7 days after surgery) was analyzed using modified poisson regression. ResultsThe PPCs were found in a total of 246 (40.7%) patients, including 86 (42.8%) in the PCV-VG group, 75 (37.5%) in the PCV group and 85 (41.9%) in the VCV group. In the multivariable analysis, there was no statistical difference in PPCs risk associated with the use of either PCV-VG mode (aRR=0.951, 95%CI 0.749-1.209, P=0.683) or PCV mode (aRR= 0.827, 95%CI 0.645-1.060, P=0.133) compared with VCV mode. ConclusionAmong adults receiving selective cardiac surgery, PPCs risk does not differ significantly by using different intraoperative ventilation modes.
Objective To analyze the mid-term results of surgical treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 22 PVE patients operated in our institution from January 2006 to June 2016. There were 14 males and 8 females, aged 31-62 (49.6±11.8) years. PVE occurred following single valve replacements in 20 patients, including aortic valve replacements in 12 and mitral valve replacements in 8. Two patients suffered PVE after multi-valve replacement, which was aortic and mitral valves. Mechanical valves were used in all patients. Early PVE (<1 year after valve implantation) was detected in 10 patients, and late PVE (>1 year after valve implantation) in 12 patients. Blood culture was negative in 6 patients. Fifteen patients underwent emergent or urgent surgery (within one week after definite diagnosis) and 7 elective surgery. Paravalvular abscess was detected in 12 patients and repaired bovine pericardium. Results Three patients (13.6%) died postoperatively in hospital, among whom two died of multiple systemic organ failure, and the other died of cerebral hemorrhage. Main postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome in 5 patients (22.7%), renal dysfunction in 6 (27.3%), respiratory failure in 5 (22.7%) and pulmonary infection in 4 (18.2%). During the follow-up of 6-120 (53.6±20.8) months, 2 deaths were observed in the middle term, including one sudden death and the other of cerebral infarction. No recurrent infection or valve-related surgery was observed during the follow-up. The survival rate was 86.4% in 1 year and 70.4% in 5 years. Conclusion PVE is a very severe disease with high mortality. Early surgical treatment and complete removal of infectious tissues have preferable early- and mid-term results.