Abstract:Objective To investigate the safety of left atrial appendage occlusion by silk thread ligation during mitral valve replacement in patients with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation, and to evaluate its effectiveness for prevention of cerebral embolism. Methods From April 2012 to March 2014, 129 patients with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation underwent mitral valve replacement and left atrial appendage occlusion by ligation using two silk threads from the outside of the heart (ligation group). The control group included 129 patients without ligation of left atrial appendage over the same period. The indexes related to the operation, and the incidence of postoperative complications and cerebral embolism during the follow-up period were compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference in the operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, clamp time, Intensive Care Unit stay time or the postoperative hospitalization time between both groups. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate or the incidence of postoperative complications including thoracotomy for hemostasis, low cardiac output syndrome, acute renal failure, pulmonary infection and sternal wound dehiscence between the two groups. No cerebral embolism occurred in the ligation group during the follow-up of (23.6 ± 11.3) months in all the 127 patients, but 5 patients suffered from cerebral embolism in the control group during the follow-up of (22.9 ± 12.1) months in 126 patients, the difference was significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions Left atrial appendage occlusion by silk thread ligation during mitral valve replacement is simple and safe for patients with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation, and can reduce the incidence of cerebral embolism.