[Consensus document of the Mexican Society of Cardiology for post-COVID-19 cardiovascular clinical follow-up]. / Consenso de la Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología para el seguimiento clínico cardiovascular post-COVID-19.

Background: The cardiovascular sequelae by the SARS-COV-2 infection is prevalent in a significant portion of the recovered patients from the acute presentation of the SARS-COV-2. Actually, the clinic cardiac control of the post-acute COVID syndrome has been working out without a well-established protocol, making the appropriate diagnosis of the cardiac diseases produced by the different damage mechanisms from COVID-19. Objectives: Standardize cardiovascular care and the follow up of COVID-19 survivors in the function on disease severity and identify patients who develop SPC-19A for timely care. Materials and methods: Through an extensive bibliographic review, this article has the purpose of provide the necessary information to make possible the early diagnosis and following of the cardiac complications that has been recorded trough the months after the acute disease from COVID-19.

Antecedentes: Las secuelas cardiovasculares ocasionadas por la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) son frecuentes en una importante proporción de los pacientes recuperados del cuadro agudo de la enfermedad. Hasta el día de hoy el seguimiento cardiológico del síndrome agudo post-COVID-19 (SPC-19A) se ha realizado de forma heterogénea y sin directrices que permitan al clínico identificar oportunamente los cambios que preceden a enfermedades cardiológicas derivadas de los distintos mecanismos de daño inducidos por COVID-19. Objetivos: Estandarizar la atención y seguimiento cardiovascular de los supervivientes de COVID-19 en función de la gravedad de la enfermedad e identificar a los pacientes que desarrollen SPC-19A para su atención oportuna. Material y métodos: Mediante una revisión extensa de bibliografía, este documento tiene la intención de unificar y proporcionar la información necesaria para diagnosticar y dar seguimiento a las complicaciones cardiacas que se han documentado en los meses posteriores a la resolución de la COVID-19 aguda.

[Evaluation of the antithrombotic strategy in low thrombotic risk patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis]. / Evaluación de la estrategia de terapia antitrombótica posterior al cambio valvular aórtico con válvulas biológicas en pacientes de bajo riesgo trombótico.

According to current guidelines, in patients without additional risk factors who have undergone aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis, anticoagulation in the first 3 months after surgery is still a matter of debate. According to current evidence, aspirin in low doses is a reasonable alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA). A comparison is made between the incidence of thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications in patients with low thrombotic risk who underwent aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis in the National Institute of Cardiology of Ignacio Chávez of Mexico. The hypothesis: aspirin as monotherapy has a beneficial effect compared to VKA. The studied patients were the low thrombotic risk patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis in the National Institute of Cardiology of Ignacio Chávez of Mexico from 2011 to 2015. The groups studied were: aspirin only, VKA only, and the combination of VKA plus aspirin. The patients were retrospectively followed-up for 12 months, and the thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications were documented. Of the 231 patients included in the study, only one patient in the VKA only group presented with a haemorrhagic complication. No thrombotic complications were observed. In the present study no thrombotic complications were observed in patients who did not receive anticoagulation in the first 3 months after an aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis after a follow up period of 12 months. This suggests that the use of aspirin only is safe during this period.

Michael E. DeBakey: reformer of cardiovascular surgery.

In cardiac medicine, Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey is the undisputed pioneer of this century, maybe even in history. The design of the ventricular assist device (VAD), the Dacron-created artificial blood vessel and his many other firsts revolutionized heart surgery (specifically aortic surgery) forever. In fact, his contributions were enormous and left and amazing legacy. DeBakey was known to have a temper and that he was a very difficult surgeon to work with. However, even his critics could not deny the impact he had on the world of medicine. In his early nineties, he still practiced surgery. DeBakey was a man that accomplished all he set out to do and died on early July 2008.