Background: As increasing evidence showed the efficacy of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion in reducing the stroke risks in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation(AF), we design this study to quantify the effect of surgical LAA occlusion (SLAAO) for patients with valvular diseases and with or without AF. Methods: The current study will be implemented in two parts: Part 1 (AF study) is a prospective longitudinal study with a plan to consecutively register 2032 patients diagnosed with valvular diseases and AF and receiving cardiovascular surgeries. SLAAO will be performed at the individual surgeon’s preference. We centrally conducted a one-year follow-up on stroke, systemic arterial embolism, and all-cause mortality. Part 2 (non AF study) is a single-blinded, multicenter, randomized controlled trial with the purpose to evaluate the efficacy of SLAAO to reduce one-year embolism events in patients with valvular diseases, without AF, and receiving cardiovascular surgeries. 2118 patients will be randomized 1:1 to the intervention or control arm using a central randomization system. Results: The primary outcome is a composition of newly occurred ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) with positive neuroimaging or systemic arterial embolism, and cardiovascular mortality during one-year follow-up. Conclusion: The trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy of SLAAO to reduce embolism events one year after mitral or aortic surgeries, and this paper presents the prospective study protocol. It provides details of patient randomization, follow-up, methods of analysis of the material, and publication plan.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of rupture size on surgical outcomes of ventricular septal rupture. Methods: During a 15-year period, from Jan 2006 to Dec 2020, 112 patients underwent repairs of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture. Data were collected on clinical, angiographic, and echocardiographic findings; operative procedures; early morbidity and mortality; and survival time. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors of 30-day mortality. Results: Thirty-day mortality was 7.1% for the whole cohort. The mean survival time estimate was 147.2 (95% Cl 135.6-158.9) months, with a 3-year survival rate of 91.2% and a 5-year survival rate of 89.0%. Multivariable analysis regarded rupture enlargement gradient as an independent risk factor of 30-day mortality. The ROC curve indicated that rupture enlargement gradient predicted 30-day mortality with high accuracy. Conclusions: Delayed surgery could be considered for patients who respond well to aggressive treatment. Rupture enlargement gradient is an independent risk factor for postoperative 30-days morality of delayed VSR repair and has good predictive power for the prognosis of VSR patients.