A comparative study on the effects of thoracotomy and totally thoracoscopic surgery on coronary artery fistula complicated with coronary artery ectasia

Objective: To compare the effects of thoracotomy and total thoracoscopic surgery on coronary artery fistulae complicated with ectasia.

Methods: Forty-six patients with coronary artery fistulae complicated with ectasia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group (n=23) which were given totally thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy respectively. Both groups were followed up.

Results: All patients survived the surgeries and were discharged from the hospital. The treatment group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss, earlier postoperative ambulation and shorter postoperative hospitalization stay more than those of the control group (P<0.05). The two groups had similar plasm cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels one day before and after surgery. These levels peaked on the postoperative 3rd day, but those of the treatment group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The two groups had similar left and right atrial diameters as well as left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs) before surgery, but the treatment group had significantly higher postoperative LVEF (P<0.05) as well as significantly smaller left and right atrial diameters in the postoperative 1st and 3rd months (P<0.05). The treatment group was significantly less prone to postoperative complications such as chest pain, atelectasis and pulmonary infection than the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Total thoracoscopic surgery promoted the recovery of coronary artery fistulae complicated with ectasia, improved cardiac remodeling and cardiac function, and alleviated stress reaction, with well-proved safety.