Predictors of bleeding and thrombotic events among patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer: insights from the ACTION randomized clinical trial.

Therapeutic anticoagulation showed inconsistent results in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and selection of the best patients to use this strategy still a challenge balancing the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic outcomes. The present post-hoc analysis of the ACTION trial evaluated the variables independently associated with both bleeding events (major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding) and the composite outcomes thrombotic events (venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, systemic embolism, or major adverse limb events). Variables were assessed one by one with independent logistic regressions and final models were chosen based on Akaike information criteria. The model for bleeding events showed an area under the curve of 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53 to 0.73), while the model for thrombotic events had an area under the curve of 0.72 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.79). Non-invasive respiratory support was associated with thrombotic but not bleeding events, while invasive ventilation was associated with both outcomes (Odds Ratio of 7.03 [95 CI% 1.95 to 25.18] for thrombotic and 3.14 [95% CI 1.11 to 8.84] for bleeding events). Beyond respiratory support, creatinine level (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.01 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02 for every 1.0 mg/dL) and history of coronary disease (OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.32 to 10.29) were also independently associated to the risk of thrombotic events. Non-invasive respiratory support, history of coronary disease, and creatinine level may help to identify hospitalized COVID-19 patients at higher risk of thrombotic complications.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04394377.

Therapeutic versus prophylactic anticoagulation for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration (ACTION): an open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is associated with a prothrombotic state leading to adverse clinical outcomes. Whether therapeutic anticoagulation improves outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 is unknown. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of therapeutic versus prophylactic anticoagulation in this population. METHODS: We did a pragmatic, open-label (with blinded adjudication), multicentre, randomised, controlled trial, at 31 sites in Brazil. Patients (aged ≥18 years) hospitalised with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration, and who had COVID-19 symptoms for up to 14 days before randomisation, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation. Therapeutic anticoagulation was in-hospital oral rivaroxaban (20 mg or 15 mg daily) for stable patients, or initial subcutaneous enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice per day) or intravenous unfractionated heparin (to achieve a 0·3-0·7 IU/mL anti-Xa concentration) for clinically unstable patients, followed by rivaroxaban to day 30. Prophylactic anticoagulation was standard in-hospital enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin. The primary efficacy outcome was a hierarchical analysis of time to death, duration of hospitalisation, or duration of supplemental oxygen to day 30, analysed with the win ratio method (a ratio >1 reflects a better outcome in the therapeutic anticoagulation group) in the intention-to-treat population. The primary safety outcome was major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding through 30 days. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04394377) and is completed. FINDINGS: From June 24, 2020, to Feb 26, 2021, 3331 patients were screened and 615 were randomly allocated (311 [50%] to the therapeutic anticoagulation group and 304 [50%] to the prophylactic anticoagulation group). 576 (94%) were clinically stable and 39 (6%) clinically unstable. One patient, in the therapeutic group, was lost to follow-up because of withdrawal of consent and was not included in the primary analysis. The primary efficacy outcome was not different between patients assigned therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation, with 28 899 (34·8%) wins in the therapeutic group and 34 288 (41·3%) in the prophylactic group (win ratio 0·86 [95% CI 0·59-1·22], p=0·40). Consistent results were seen in clinically stable and clinically unstable patients. The primary safety outcome of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding occurred in 26 (8%) patients assigned therapeutic anticoagulation and seven (2%) assigned prophylactic anticoagulation (relative risk 3·64 [95% CI 1·61-8·27], p=0·0010). Allergic reaction to the study medication occurred in two (1%) patients in the therapeutic anticoagulation group and three (1%) in the prophylactic anticoagulation group. INTERPRETATION: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration, in-hospital therapeutic anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or enoxaparin followed by rivaroxaban to day 30 did not improve clinical outcomes and increased bleeding compared with prophylactic anticoagulation. Therefore, use of therapeutic-dose rivaroxaban, and other direct oral anticoagulants, should be avoided in these patients in the absence of an evidence-based indication for oral anticoagulation. FUNDING: Coalition COVID-19 Brazil, Bayer SA.

Early Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity Troponin T after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Periprocedural myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may affect the patient's prognosis and may be due to a different set of factors beyond the atherosclerotic plaque instability. Considering the challenges in the diagnosis of myocardial injury after CABG, the aim of this study was to determine the association between postoperative early elevation of high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) and all-cause 30-day mortality after CABG. METHODS: We enrolled 600 consecutive patients who underwent CABG. The hsTnT value was measured immediately before surgery and in the morning of the first postoperative day. RESULTS: The baseline hsTnT was 13 ng/L (7-26 ng/L) and 273 patients (45.7%) had baseline hsTnT above the 99th percentile/upper reference limit (URL) (14 ng/L). The median for hsTnT at first postoperative day was 235 ng/L (152-425 ng/L). We calculated the postoperative hsTnT ratio to URL for each patient, representing the number of times exceeding the URL (hsTnT value divided by 14 ng/L). The multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model revealed that age (years) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.20; p < 0.001) and postoperative hsTnT ratio to URL (per 10-fold increase) (HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.08; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of all-cause 30-day mortality after CABG. CONCLUSION: In our series, age and higher postoperative hsTnT levels were independent and reliable predictors of all-cause 30-day mortality after CABG.

Atorvastatin for high-risk statin-naïve patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: The Lowering the Risk of Operative Complications Using Atorvastatin Loading Dose (LOAD) randomized trial.

Preliminary evidence suggests that statins may prevent major perioperative vascular complications. METHODS: We randomized 648 statin-naïve patients who were scheduled for noncardiac surgery and were at risk for a major vascular complication. Patients were randomized to a loading dose of atorvastatin or placebo (80 mg anytime within 18hours before surgery), followed by a maintenance dose of 40 mg (or placebo), started at least 12hours after the surgery, and then 40 mg/d (or placebo) for 7days. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery, and stroke at 30days. RESULTS: The primary outcome was observed in 54 (16.6%) of 326 patients in the atorvastatin group and 59 (18.7%) of 316 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% CI 0.60-1.26, P=.46). No significant effect was observed on the 30-day secondary outcomes of all-cause mortality (4.3% vs 4.1%, respectively; HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.53-2.47, P=.74), nonfatal myocardial infarction (3.4% vs 4.4%, respectively; HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.35-1.68, P=.50), myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (13.2% vs 16.5%; HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.53-1.19, P=.26), and stroke (0.9% vs 0%, P=.25). CONCLUSION: In contrast to the prior observational and trial data, the LOAD trial has neutral results and did not demonstrate a reduction in major cardiovascular complications after a short-term perioperative course of statin in statin-naïve patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. We demonstrated, however, that a large multicenter blinded perioperative statin trial for high-risk statin-naïve patients is feasible and should be done to definitely establish the efficacy and safety of statin in this patient population.

Cardiac Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Preserved Baseline Renal Function.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a powerful predictor of perioperative outcomes. We evaluated the burden of CSA-AKI in patients with preserved baseline renal function. METHODS: The data of 2,162 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery from January 2005 to December 2020 were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of CSA-AKI and their associations with hospital mortality up to 30 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute kidney injury was 43.0%, and 2.0% of patients required renal replacement therapy. Hospital mortality rate was 5.6% (non-acute kidney injury = 2.0% vs. CSA-AKI = 10.4%, P<0.001), and any degree of CSA-AKI was associated with a significant increase in death rates (stage 1 = 4.3%, stage 2 = 23.9%, stage 3 = 59.7%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age, obesity, left ventricular dysfunction, previous cardiac surgery, and cardiopulmonary bypass duration as predictors of CSA-AKI. Moreover, CSA-AKI was confirmed as independent predictor of hospital mortality for stage 1 (odds ratio, 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 3.51; P=0.013), stage 2 (odds ratio, 9.18; 95% confidence interval, 4.54 to 18.58; P<0.001), and stage 3 (odds ratio, 37.72; 95% confidence interval, 18.87 to 75.40; P<0.001) patients. CONCLUSION: Age, obesity, left ventricular dysfunction, previous cardiac surgery, and cardiopulmonary bypass duration are independent predictors of CSA-AKI in patients with preserved baseline renal function. The development of CSA-AKI is significantly associated with worse outcomes, and there is a dose-response relationship between acute kidney injury stages and hospital mortality.

Implications for Clinical Practice from a Multicenter Survey of Heart Failure Management Centers.

OBJECTIVES: This observational, cross-sectional study based aimed to test whether heart failure (HF)-disease management program (DMP) components are influencing care and clinical decision-making in Brazil. METHODS: The survey respondents were cardiologists recommended by experts in the field and invited to participate in the survey via printed form or email. The survey consisted of 29 questions addressing site demographics, public versus private infrastructure, HF baseline data of patients, clinical management of HF, performance indicators, and perceptions about HF treatment. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 98 centers (58% public and 42% private practice) distributed across Brazil. Public HF-DMPs compared to private HF-DMP were associated with a higher percentage of HF-DMP-dedicated services (79% vs 24%; OR: 12, 95% CI: 94-34), multidisciplinary HF (MHF)-DMP [84% vs 65%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-8), HF educational programs (49% vs 18%; OR: 4; 95% CI: 1-2), written instructions before hospital discharge (83% vs 76%; OR: 1; 95% CI: 0-5), rehabilitation (69% vs 39%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-9), monitoring (44% vs 29%; OR: 2; 95% CI: 1-5), guideline-directed medical therapy-HF use (94% vs 85%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 0-15), and less B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) dosage (73% vs 88%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-9), and key performance indicators (37% vs 60%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-7). In comparison to non- MHF-DMP, MHF-DMP was associated with more educational initiatives (42% vs 6%; OR: 12; 95% CI: 1-97), written instructions (83% vs 68%; OR: 2: 95% CI: 1-7), rehabilitation (69% vs 17%; OR: 11; 95% CI: 3-44), monitoring (47% vs 6%; OR: 14; 95% CI: 2-115), GDMT-HF (92% vs 83%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 0-15). In addition, there were less use of BNP as a biomarker (70% vs 84%; OR: 2; 95% CI: 1-8) and key performance indicators (35% vs 51%; OR: 2; 95% CI: 91,6) in the non-MHF group. Physicians considered changing or introducing new medications mostly when patients were hospitalized or when observing worsening disease and/or symptoms. Adherence to drug treatment and non-drug treatment factors were the greatest medical problems associated with HF treatment. CONCLUSION: HF-DMPs are highly heterogeneous. New strategies for HF care should consider the present study highlights and clinical decision-making processes to improve HF patient care.

Cardiac Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Preserved Baseline Renal Function

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a powerful predictor of perioperative outcomes. We evaluated the burden of CSA-AKI in patients with preserved baseline renal function. Methods: The data of 2,162 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery from January 2005 to December 2020 were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of CSA-AKI and their associations with hospital mortality up to 30 days. Results: The prevalence of acute kidney injury was 43.0%, and 2.0% of patients required renal replacement therapy. Hospital mortality rate was 5.6% (non-acute kidney injury = 2.0% vs. CSA-AKI = 10.4%, P<0.001), and any degree of CSA-AKI was associated with a significant increase in death rates (stage 1 = 4.3%, stage 2 = 23.9%, stage 3 = 59.7%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age, obesity, left ventricular dysfunction, previous cardiac surgery, and cardiopulmonary bypass duration as predictors of CSA-AKI. Moreover, CSA-AKI was confirmed as independent predictor of hospital mortality for stage 1 (odds ratio, 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 3.51; P=0.013), stage 2 (odds ratio, 9.18; 95% confidence interval, 4.54 to 18.58; P<0.001), and stage 3 (odds ratio, 37.72; 95% confidence interval, 18.87 to 75.40; P<0.001) patients. Conclusion: Age, obesity, left ventricular dysfunction, previous cardiac surgery, and cardiopulmonary bypass duration are independent predictors of CSA-AKI in patients with preserved baseline renal function. The development of CSA-AKI is significantly associated with worse outcomes, and there is a dose-response relationship between acute kidney injury stages and hospital mortality.

[Inflammatory markers of atherosclerotic plaque stabilization after acute coronary event--temporal trends]. / Análise de marcadores de estabilização da placa aterosclerótica após evento coronariano agudo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the length of time required for atherosclerotic plaque stabilization in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), using inflammatory markers. METHODS: In this prospective study, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, factor VIIIc, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were measured on admission, at discharge, and three and six months post-discharge in 40 patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) and 40 healthy subjects. RESULTS: C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher on admission and at discharge, but not at three and six months post-discharge, compared with the control group. Fibrinogen levels remained unchanged, except at six months, when they were significantly lower than in the control group. Factor VIII-c did not differ from that of the control group on admission, but it was significantly higher at discharge, with no differences at three and six months. Interleukin-6 levels were significantly higher than in the control group in all time points. However, they declined significantly between discharge and three months. In no time point was TNF-alpha significantly different from that of the control group. Only IL-6 correlated significantly and independently with future cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: With respect to CRP and factor VIIIc, plaque stabilization is suggested in up to three months; IL-6 analysis suggests stabilization as from the third month, although it remained higher than that of the control group for up to six months. Only IL-6 showed prognostic value for further events within a year.

Implications for clinical practice from a multicenter survey of heart failure management centers

OBJECTIVES: This observational, cross-sectional study based aimed to test whether heart failure (HF)-disease management program (DMP) components are influencing care and clinical decision-making in Brazil. METHODS: The survey respondents were cardiologists recommended by experts in the field and invited to participate in the survey via printed form or email. The survey consisted of 29 questions addressing site demographics, public versus private infrastructure, HF baseline data of patients, clinical management of HF, performance indicators, and perceptions about HF treatment. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 98 centers (58% public and 42% private practice) distributed across Brazil. Public HF-DMPs compared to private HF-DMP were associated with a higher percentage of HF-DMP-dedicated services (79% vs 24%; OR: 12, 95% CI: 94-34), multidisciplinary HF (MHF)-DMP [84% vs 65%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-8), HF educational programs (49% vs 18%; OR: 4; 95% CI: 1-2), written instructions before hospital discharge (83% vs 76%; OR: 1; 95% CI: 0-5), rehabilitation (69% vs 39%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-9), monitoring (44% vs 29%; OR: 2; 95% CI: 1-5), guideline-directed medical therapy-HF use (94% vs 85%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 0-15), and less B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) dosage (73% vs 88%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-9), and key performance indicators (37% vs 60%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 1-7). In comparison to non- MHF-DMP, MHF-DMP was associated with more educational initiatives (42% vs 6%; OR: 12; 95% CI: 1-97), written instructions (83% vs 68%; OR: 2: 95% CI: 1-7), rehabilitation (69% vs 17%; OR: 11; 95% CI: 3-44), monitoring (47% vs 6%; OR: 14; 95% CI: 2-115), GDMT-HF (92% vs 83%; OR: 3; 95% CI: 0-15). In addition, there were less use of BNP as a biomarker (70% vs 84%; OR: 2; 95% CI: 1-8) and key performance indicators (35% vs 51%; OR: 2; 95% CI: 91,6) in the non-MHF group. Physicians considered changing or introducing new medications mostly when patients were hospitalized or when observing worsening disease and/or symptoms. Adherence to drug treatment and non-drug treatment factors were the greatest medical problems associated with HF treatment. CONCLUSION: HF-DMPs are highly heterogeneous. New strategies for HF care should consider the present study highlights and clinical decision-making processes to improve HF patient care.

[Positive troponin T in a chagasic patient with sustained ventricular tachycardia and no obstructive lesions on cine coronary angiography]. / Troponina T positiva em paciente chagásico com taquicardia ventricular sustentada e cinecoronariografia sem lesões obstrutivas.

The assessment and stratification of patients with chest pain in the emergency unit may indicate the appropriate therapy for each patient based on the probability of the presence of acute coronary artery disease and on the risk of its major cardiac events. That assessment is based on the triplet: clinical setting, electrocardiographic findings, and markers of myocardial lesion. We report the case of a 58-year-old male chagasic patient admitted to the emergency unit due to chest pain and palpitations, with an electrocardiogram showing sustained ventricular tachycardia and positive troponin measurement (0.99 ng/mL). The patient underwent cine coronary angiography, which evidenced no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Prospective evaluation comparing the effects of enalapril and losartan in left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have compared angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with heart failure, but there are few data about the effect of these drugs regarding left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients with first anterior wall myocardial infarction within 24 hours of evolution were randomized to receive enalapril (as much as 20 mg; mean, 14.6 mg), or losartan (as much as 50 mg; mean, 48 mg). Left ventricular ejection fraction and ventricular volumes were analyzed in 2 serial radionuclide ventriculograpies, carried out within 4 days after the infarction (mean, 97.4 +/- 114.2 hours) and after 6 months (mean, 177.7 +/- 16.7 days). Ventriculographies were analyzed by a single blinded observer. Mainly because of the unexpected large SD values obtained, the power of the study to demonstrate equivalence between the groups was only 15.7%. RESULTS: The differences obtained between the first and the second ventriculographies, for the enalapril and losartan groups, were: for left ventricular ejection fraction, -0.4% +/- 6.6% versus -1.1% +/- 5.9% (P =. 67; 95% CI, 2.77-4.23); for final systolic volume, 0.07 +/- 7.7 mL/m(2) versus -0.2 +/- 6.1mL/m(2) (P =. 85; 95% CI, -3.57-4.26); for final diastolic volume -0.7 +/- 12.1 mL/m(2) versus -3.6 - 9.9 mL/m(2) (P =. 34; 95% CI, -3.22-9.17). CONCLUSION: This study, although underpowered, suggests that neither enalapril nor losartan was superior as compared with each other for left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction; however, powerful evidence of equivalence was not provided.

Acute kidney injury based on KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) criteria in patients with elevated baseline serum creatinine undergoing cardiac surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperatively elevated serum creatinine (SCr) is considered an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to apply the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification for acute kidney injury in a population of patients with preoperatively elevated serum creatinine who underwent cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve surgery) and to evaluate the acute worsening of renal function as a predictor of 30-day mortality. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study that included patients from the Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Demographics, type of surgery, laboratory data and pre, peri and postoperative data were obtained from a prospectively collected database. From January 2003 to June 2013, 2,878 patients underwent cardiac surgery, either coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve surgery, at the Hospital de Base of São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Out of those, 918 showed elevated preoperative serum creatinine, with SCr > 1.30 mg/dL for men and > 1.00 mg/dL for women. Five hundred and forty nine patients (60%) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and 369 patients (40%) undergoing cardiac valve surgery. A Multivariate Cox Proportional Hazard Model (stepwise) was used to assess the relationship between AKI and mortality at 30 days. RESULTS: Out of the 918 patients studied, 391 (43%) had postoperative AKI: 318 (35%) had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 1, 27 (2.9%) had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 2, and 46 (5.0%) had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 3. Patients in every stage of acute kidney injury showed progressive increase in EuroSCORE values, 30-day mortality rates, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, and intensive care length of stay. Among patients classified as Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 3, 76% required dialysis with a 30-day mortality of 66%. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that the hazard ratio for 30-day mortality was 4.8 for Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 1 patients, 13.5 for Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 2 patients, and 20.8 for Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 3 patients (P<0.001 for all). Subgroup analyses (coronary artery bypass grafting and cardiac valve surgery) had similar results. CONCLUSION: In this population, acute kidney injury based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria was a powerful predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with elevated preoperative serum creatinine who underwent cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve surgery).

Surgical treatment for infective endocarditis and hospital mortality in a Brazilian single-center.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated patients underwent cardiac valve surgery in the presence of infective endocarditis in an attempt to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality. METHODS: We evaluated 837 consecutive patients underwent cardiac valve surgery from January 2003 to May 2010 in a tertiary hospital in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The study group comprised patients who underwent intervention in the presence of infective endocarditis and was compared to the control group (without infective endocarditis), evaluating perioperative clinical outcomes and 30-day all cause mortality. RESULTS: In our series, 64 patients (8%) underwent cardiac valve surgery in the presence of infective endocarditis, and 37.5% of them had surgical intervention in multiple valves. The study group had prolonged ICU length of stay (16%), greater need for dialysis (9%) and higher 30-day mortality (17%) compared to the control group (7%, P=0.020; 2%, P=0.002 and 9%, P=0.038; respectively). In a Cox regression analysis, age (P = 0.007), acute kidney injury (P = 0.004), dialysis (P = 0.026), redo surgery (P = 0.026), re-exploration for bleeding (P = 0.013), tracheal reintubation (P <0.001) and type I neurological injury (P <0.001) were identified as independent predictors for death. Although the manifestation of infective endocarditis influenced on mortality in univariate analysis, multivariate Cox regression analysis did not confirm such variable as an independent predictor of death. CONCLUSION: Age and perioperative complications stand out as predictors of hospital mortality in Brazilian population. Cardiac valve surgery in the presence of active infective endocarditis was not confirmed itself as an independent predictor of 30-day mortality.

Effects of the use of mechanical ventilation weaning protocol in the Coronary Care Unit: randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare mechanical ventilation weaning based on a protocol using the spontaneous breathing trial against mechanical ventilation weaning without a standardized protocol in heart patients. METHODS: Prospective, open, randomized study. In 2006, 36 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for over 24 hours were randomized into two groups: control group - eighteen patients whose mechanical ventilation weaning was performed according to the different procedures adopted by the multidisciplinary team; and experimental group - eighteen patients weaned according to previously established protocol. RESULTS: Control group patients started the weaning process sooner than experimental group patients (74.7 ± 14.7 hours vs. 185.7 ± 22.9 hours, P=0.0004). However, after the experimental group patients were ready for weaning, the extubation was carried out more rapidly than in the control group (149.1 ± 3.6 min vs. 4179.1 ± 927.8 min, P < 0.0001) with significantly lower reintubation rates (16.7% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The use of a specific protocol based on the spontaneous breathing trial for mechanical ventilation weaning in heart patients had better outcomes than weaning carried out without a standardized protocol, with shorter weaning times and lower reintubation rates.

Acute kidney injury based on KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) criteria in patients with elevated baseline serum creatinine undergoing cardiac surgery / Lesão renal aguda baseada nos critérios KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) em pacientes com creatinina sérica elevada submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca

Introduction: Preoperatively elevated serum creatinine (SCr) is considered an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to apply the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification for acute kidney injury in a population of patients with preoperatively elevated serum creatinine who underwent cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve surgery) and to evaluate the acute worsening of renal function as a predictor of 30-day mortality. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study that included patients from the Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Demographics, type of surgery, laboratory data and pre, peri and postoperative data were obtained from a prospectively collected database. From January 2003 to June 2013, 2,878 patients underwent cardiac surgery, either coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve surgery, at the Hospital de Base of São José do Rio Preto Medical School. Out of those, 918 showed elevated preoperative serum creatinine, with SCr > 1.30 mg/dL for men and > 1.00 mg/dL for women. Five hundred and forty nine patients (60%) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and 369 patients (40%) undergoing cardiac valve surgery. A Multivariate Cox Proportional Hazard Model (stepwise) was used to assess the relationship between AKI and mortality at 30 days. Results: Out of the 918 patients studied, 391 (43%) had postoperative AKI: 318 (35%) had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 1, 27 (2.9%) had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 2, and 46 (5.0%) had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes stage 3. Patients in every stage of acute kidney injury showed progressive increase in EuroSCORE values, 30-day mortality ratescardiopulmonary bypass duration, and intensive care length of stay. Among patients classified ...

Introdução: Creatinina sérica (CSr) elevada no período pré-operatório é considerada um fator de risco independente para morbidade e mortalidade em cirurgia cardíaca. Avaliar o impacto da lesão renal aguda pelos critérios Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes como preditor de mortalidade em 30 dias em pacientes submetidos à revascularização miocárdica ou cirurgia valvar com creatinina sérica pré-operatória elevada. Métodos: Este foi um estudo retrospectivo de centro único que incluiu pacientes da Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos em Pós-operatório de Cirurgia Cardíaca do Hospital de Base, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto. Dados demográficos, tipos de cirurgia, dados laboratoriais e informações pré, peri e pós-operatórias foram obtidos a partir de uma coleta prospectiva de banco de dados. Foram considerados 2878 pacientes consecutivamente submetidos à revascularização miocárdica ou cirurgia valvar no período de janeiro de 2003 a junho de 2013. Destes, 918 indivíduos apresentavam creatinina sérica alterada no pré-operatório (CrS > 1.30 mg/dL para homens e > 1.00 mg/dL para mulheres), compreendendo 549 pacientes (60%) submetidos à revascularização miocárdica e 369 pacientes (40%) submetidos à cirurgia valvar. O modelo de riscos proporcionais de Cox foi utilizado para avaliar a relação entre lesão renal aguda e mortalidade em 30 dias. Resultados: Nesta casuística, 391 pacientes (43%) apresentaram lesão renal aguda no pós-operatório, sendo 318 (35%) Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes estágio 1, 27 (2,9%) Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes estágio 2 e 46 (5,0%) Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes estágio 3. EuroSCORE, mortalidade em 30 ...

Prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in different forms of coronary disease.

BACKGROUND: Several infectious agents have been investigated since the association between atherosclerosis and infection was demonstrated; however, the results of these studies are contradictory. OBJECTIVE: To test the association between serum titers of anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma antibodies in different forms of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six patients were divided in 4 groups: ACS with ST-segment elevation (32 patients), ACS without ST-segment elevation (30 patients), chronic coronary artery disease (30 patients) and blood donors without known coronary disease (34 patients--control group). In the two first groups, serum samples were collected at hospital admission (first 24 hours of hospitalization) and after a 6-month follow-up. In the other two groups, only a basal sample was collected. Anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma antibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence in all samples. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the basal sample and the one measured after a 6-month follow-up in patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation for Chlamydia (650+/-115.7 versus 307+/-47.5, p=0.0001) as well as Mycoplasma (36.5+/-5.0 versus 21.5+/-3.5, p=0.0004). The groups with ACS had higher anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma serum antibody levels in the basal measurement, when compared to the patients with chronic coronary disease and the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present study showed an association between the serum titers of anti-Chlamydia and anti-Mycoplasma antibodies in the acute phase of patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction.