[Correlations between respiratory function tests and hemodynamic studies in the decision of pneumonectomy]. / Correlación entre las pruebas de función respiratoria y el estudio hemodinámico para la decisión de neumonectomía.

We report a prospective study of 50 patients with chronic pulmonary pathology of diverse etiology and various grades of abnormality in Pulmonary mechanics and blood gases. In all patients we performed pulmonary function test and hemodynamic study with a Dotter-Lucas catheter with and without unilateral occlusion of pulmonary artery, at rest and during exercise. Our objective was to define if one or more parameters of routine pulmonary function test could allow us to predict the condition of pulmonary circulation, and therefore identify those patients at risk of pulmonary hypertension in whom pneumonectomy could be contraindicated and in this way avoid cardiac catheterization. We did not find any correlation between the grade of abnormality in pulmonary mechanics and the severity of pulmonary hypertension. On the other hand, all patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, that precluded pneumonectomy, had severe hypoxemia (PaO2 less than 50 mmHg); patients with moderate hypoxemia (PaO2 50-57 mmHg) had pulmonary hypertension of diverse grade, that could preclude or not, pneumonectomy. We conclude that this group of patients need to be catheterized to evaluate the indication of pneumonectomy.

[Pulmonary thromboembolism in children]. / Tromboembolia pulmonar en niños.

We report our experience with five children with pulmonary embolism and infarction. Two with congenital heart disease, one with rheumatic cardiopathy and two with a previously healthy cardiopulmonary system. The risk factors, clinical behavior and ECG were similar to those in adults. In chest roentgenogram we found pulmonary infarction with cavitations in three patients because of a delayed diagnosis. All patients had hypoxemia and hypocapnia, and diagnosis was made on the basis of segmentary or larger defects in perfusion gammagraphy. In just one case we obtained V/Q gammagraphy and pulmonary angiography. In one case we confirmed the clinical diagnosis by autopsy. We conclude that it is very important to keep this diagnosis in mind in all children with respiratory failure.

[Silent myocardial ischemia: a problem in diagnosis and treatment]. / Isquemia miocárdica silenciosa: un problema de diagnóstico y tratamiento.

We tried to establish the incidence of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) in the general population and also in patients with recognised ischemic heart disease. For this, purpose 2, 375 stress tests (ST) with Bruce protocol were reviewed, 364 were positive and those patients were divided in two groups: group I with SMI during the ST and group II with myocardial ischemia and angina during the ST. Coronary risk factors ergometric behaviour and angiographic factors were analysed. Group I had 263 patients with SMI (71%). Group II had 111 patients with ischemia and angina (29%) P less than 0.05; 90 patients had diabetes mellitus in group I and 19 in group II P less than 0.05. A previous myocardial infarction was registered in 157 patients from group I and 55 from group II P less than 0.05. The remaining coronary risks factors, ergometrics variables and significance and number of diseased coronary vessels were similar in both groups. We conclude that SMI is a frequent event in patients with ischemic heart disease. It represents probably the most frequent event in this disease. Previous myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SMI. The ST and Holter monitoring are dependable procedures for the identification of SMI and should be always performed specially in patients with high coronary risk factors. Once detecting SMI a therapeutic plan should be considered for medical, angioplastic or surgical procedures even in asymptomatic patients.

[Early tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in the treatment of pulmonary edema secondary to ischemic heart disease]. / Intubación traqueal temprana y ventilación mecánica para el tratamiento del edema pulmonar secundario a cardiopatía isquémica.

Forty patients with overt pulmonary edema secondary to ischemic heart disease were treated in the emergency room with iv ouabain and furosemide; 20 patients in Group A received sublingual nifedipine before undergoing early tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation with 100% FiO2 during 15 min. and then 50% FiO2; 20 patients in Group B received iv aminophylline, rotating tourniquets and IPPB by mask with 60% FiO2. All patients in Group A were extubated after 66 +/- 10.8 min. in the emergency room; 7 in Group B improved but 13 had to undergo tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Upon arrival at the ICCU all had a Swan-Ganz catheter installed and received comparable therapy for ischemic heart disease. Statistically significant differences in favor of patients in Group A as compared to the 7 improved in B were seen in heart rate, arrhythmias, diastolic blood pressure, mean and wedge pulmonary pressures, systemic resistances, arterial pH and PaO2; when compared to the 13 patients undergoing late tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, parameters were more or less similar but improvement appeared later and extubation took place after 1.94 +/- 1.24 days (P less than 0.05). Three patients in Group B died in the emergency room, 3 in Group A and 4 in B died in the ICCU (P less than 0.01). Early tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in patients with overt pulmonary edema secondary to ischemic heart disease produce better results due to early improvement in pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics and should be considered in all such patients arriving at the emergency room.

[Radiologic characteristics of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in the elderly]. / Características radiológicas del edema pulmonar cardiogénico en el anciano.

The radiologic appearance of atypical cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) is presented in 10 cases admitted from 1983 to 1985, with age ranges from 74 to 89, and with diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, with myocardial infarction in 50% of them. Clinically they had asthenia, adynamia and anorexia in 80%, cough and weight loss in 50%. All of them had tachycardia, pulmonary rales and 50% pericardial rub. ECG showed in 80% anterior subepicardial ischemia, 60% posteroinferior subepicardial ischemia, 60% bifascicular block, and 50% left anterior fascicular block. Chest films were interpreted at first as pulmonary fibrosis in 90% of the cases with superior lobe involvement in 50%. Heart enlargement was present in 50%. A chronic lung disease was disclosed on clinical and pulmonary physiological grounds. It is concluded that asthenia, adynamia and anorexia were atypical manifestations of heart failure in the elderly. Silent myocardial infarction was observed in half of our patients and it was complicated with pericardial involvement in 50%. Irregular distribution of fluids in pulmonary edema was attributed to anatomic changes in elder lung. These atypical behaviour of pulmonary edema, has been misinterpreted on radiologic basis with pulmonary infection, tumours, metastasis or fibrosis. Those radiologic changes disappeared or improved in 72 hrs. with treatment of left ventricular failure.

[Electric cardioversion in the emergency service. Experience in 1000 cases]. / Cardioversión eléctrica en el servicio de urgencias. Experiencia de 1000 casos.

We describe our experience with 1000 electric cardioversions performed at the emergency ward in the Hospital of Cardiology y Neumology, National Medical Center I.M.S.S. The objectives are: 1. Report our experience. 2. Investigate if digitalis treatment should be discontinued before the procedure. 3. Determine if all patients should be on anticoagulant therapy for elective cardioversion. 4. Indicate the optimal anesthetic drug with minimal side effects. A therapeutic procedure was performed in 73% of our cases and an elective one in the remaining 27%. Patients were grouped as ischemic heart disease 26%, rheumatic heart disease 24%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 14%, systemic hypertensive heart disease 13%, without clinical heart disease 6%, preexcitation syndrome 6%, adult congenital heart disease 4%, with implanted pacemaker 2%, pregnancy 2% and diverse myocardial diseases 2%. As a cardiac arrhythmias atrial fibrillation was the main cause 45%. Atrial flutter represented 25%, atrial paroxysmal tachycardia was 21% and ventricular tachycardia 9%. A cardioversion was performed in 43% of patients under digitalis treatment at therapeutic levels, without complications. Atrial flutter reverted to sinus rhythm in 98% of the procedures, and atrial fibrillation in 97%. Elective cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation was achieved with energies of 200 joules in 82% of the procedures (P less than 0.001) and in atrial flutter with 100 joules in 89% of the cases (P less than 0.001). The most frequent complications were atrial and junctional premature beats in 41% of the cases. We consider this procedure a safe one, effective at the energy levels described, with no need for discontinuation of digitalis therapy, with no mandatory previous anticoagulant therapy, and with no contraindications on pregnancy or implanted pacemakers.

[Massive pulmonary thromboembolism with left axis deviation and low voltage]. / Tromboembolia pulmonar masiva con desviación del eje eléctrico a la izquierda y bajo voltaje.

The classic electrocardiographic abnormalities observed in massive or submassive thromboembolism in the absence of preexistent cardiac or pulmonary disease are: S1Q3T3 pattern, right axis deviation, "pulmonary" P wave, ST segment depression or elevation, subepicardic ischemia and transient right bundle branch block. Left axis deviation due to pulmonary embolism was first described in 1949; this same finding and the presence of low voltage of the frontal plane owed to pulmonary embolism has been reported occasionally in the last decades, but it has had little diffusion. We report on a patient with no prior cardiac or pulmonary disease who suffered massive pulmonary thromboembolism. Electrocardiographically left axis deviation and low voltage of the horizontal plane attributed to pulmonary thromboembolism was observed. The mechanisms that originate this electrocardiographic changes in pulmonary embolism are unknown. Since the electrocardiogram is aspecific method for the diagnosis of this disorder, and the presence of the mentioned changes originate a greater difficulty in the diagnosis; we consider is important to publish it.

[Use of echocardiography in the diagnosis of atrial myxoma]. / La utilidad de la ecocardiografía en el diagnostico del mixoma auricular.

The experience at the National Institute of Cardiology with atrial myxoma from 1944 to 1980 is presented; twelve patients were diagnosed, 8 females and 4 males, their age varied from 14 to 66 years. The tumor was inside the left atrium (LA) in 10 patients and in the right atrium (RA) in two. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery or postmortem study. The symptoms and physical examination simulated mitral stenosis in the cases with myxoma of the LA, and pulmonary stenosis and Ebstein's anomaly in the two cases with RA myxoma. Symptoms of atrioventricular occlusion or embolic accident occurred by 5 patients and 3 of them died. The tumor was a postmortem discovery in the first cases, the next ones were an operatory surprise and the last ones were diagnosed by echocardiography. The advent of this technic has been definitive, all 7 patients studied by this method were diagnosed; in one the catheterism was interpreted as mitral stenosis and in other, during this procedure, cardiac arrest developed. The surgical removal of the tumor was successful in the nine patients that were operated. A correct and early diagnosis as well as an urgent surgical approach are necessary. With echocardiographic demonstration of the tumor, one patient died while he was waiting for surgical treatment.