Left ventricular structural abnormalities in the assessment of diastolic function in the elderly: source of discrepancies between the 2009 and 2016 criteria.

Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is routinely evaluated in echocardiography to support diagnosis, prognostication, and management of heart failure, a condition highly prevalent in elderly patients. Clinical guidelines were published in 2009, and updated in 2016, pursuing to standardize and improve DD categorization. We aimed to assess the concordance of DD between these two documents in an elderly population and to investigate how left ventricular structural abnormalities (LVSA) impact the reclassification. To evaluate this we analyzed the 308 consecutive transthoracic echocardiograms in patients older than 60 years (70.4 ± 7.7 years-old, 59% women) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria out of the 1438 echocardiograms performed in a tertiary hospital. We found that the prevalence of DD was lower according to the 2016 criteria (64% vs. 91%; p < 0.001), with 207 (67.2%) patients changing category, indicating poor agreement between the guidelines (kappa = 0.21). There were 188 (61%) patients with LVSA, which drove most of the reclassifications in 2016 Grade I DD cases. The prevalence of elevated filling pressures by Doppler halved in this elderly population using the updated recommendations (20.9% vs. 39.2%; p < 0.001). In conclusion the prevalence of DD was lower applying the 2016 guidelines, with a poor agreement with 2009 guidelines in all DD grades. The role of LVSA in reclassifications was particularly evident in Grade I DD, while Doppler parameters drove reclassifications among the more severe grades. If not properly addressed, these discrepancies may undermine the reliance on DD as a diagnostic and prognostic tool, particularly in an elderly population at a higher risk of heart failure.

Valor prognóstico do fragmento N-terminal do peptídeo natriurético tipo B em cirurgia não-cardíaca / Prognostic value of perioperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in noncardiac surgery

FUNDAMENTO: Já foi demonstrado o uso do NT-proBNP pré-operatório para prever resultado cardíaco adverso, embora estudos recentes tenham sugerido que a determinação do NT-proBNP pós-operatório possa fornecer um valor adicional em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia não cardíaca. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o valor prognóstico perioperatório do NT-proBNP em pacientes de intermediário e alto risco cardiovascular submetidos à cirurgia não cardíaca. MÉTODOS: Este estudo incluiu prospectivamente 145 pacientes com idade > 45 anos, com pelo menos um fator de risco do Índice de Risco Cardíaco Revisado e submetidos à cirurgia de médio ou alto risco não-cardíaca. Os níveis de NTproBNP foram medidos no pré e pós-operatório. Preditores cardíacos de curto prazo foram avaliados por modelos de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Durante uma mediana de acompanhamento de 29 dias, 17 pacientes (11,7%) apresentaram eventos cardíacos adversos importantes (MACE - 14 infartos do miocárdio não fatais, 2 paradas cardíacas não-fatais e 3 mortes cardíacas). Os níveis ótimos de limiar discriminatório para o NT-proBNP pré e pós-operatório foram 917 e 2962 pg/ mL, respectivamente. O NT-proBNP pré e pós-operatório (OR = 4,7, IC 95%: 1,62-13,73, p = 0,005 e OR 4,5, IC 95%: 1,53-13,16, p = 0,006) foram associados de forma significativa com MACE (eventos cardíacos adversos maiores). O NTproBNP pré-operatório foi significativa e independentemente associado com eventos cardíacos adversos em análise de regressão multivariada (OR ajustado 4,2, IC 95%: 1,38-12,62, p = 0,011). CONCLUSÃO: O NT-proBNP é um importante marcador de curto prazo de eventos cardiovasculares perioperatórios em pacientes de alto risco. Os níveis pós-operatórios foram menos informativos do que os níveis pré-operatórios. Uma única medição de NT-proBNP pré-operatório deve ser considerada na avaliação de risco pré-operatório.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative NT-proBNP has been shown to predict adverse cardiac outcomes, although recent studies suggested that postoperative NT-proBNP determination could provide additional information in patients submitted to noncardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of perioperative NT-proBNP in intermediate and high risk cardiovascular patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled 145 patients aged >45 years, with at least one Revised Cardiac Risk Index risk factor and submitted to intermediate or high risk noncardiac surgery. NT-proBNP levels were measured pre- and postoperatively. Short-term cardiac outcome predictors were evaluated by logistic regression models. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 29 days, 17 patients (11.7%) experienced major adverse cardiac events (MACE- 14 nonfatal myocardial infarctions, 2 nonfatal cardiac arrests and 3 cardiac deaths). The optimum discriminatory threshold levels for pre- and postoperative NT-proBNP were 917 and 2962 pg/mL, respectively. Pre- and postoperative NT-proBNP (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.62-13.73; p=0.005 and OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.53-13.16; p=0.006) were significantly associated with MACE. Preoperative NT-proBNP was significantly and independently associated with adverse cardiac events in multivariate regression analysis (adjusted OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.38-12.62; p=0.011). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP is a powerful short-term marker of perioperative cardiovascular events in high risk patients. Postoperative levels were less informative than preoperative levels. A single preoperative NT-proBNP measurement should be considered in the preoperative risk assessment.

Prognostic value of perioperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in noncardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative NT-proBNP has been shown to predict adverse cardiac outcomes, although recent studies suggested that postoperative NT-proBNP determination could provide additional information in patients submitted to noncardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of perioperative NT-proBNP in intermediate and high risk cardiovascular patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled 145 patients aged ≥ 45 years, with at least one Revised Cardiac Risk Index risk factor and submitted to intermediate or high risk noncardiac surgery. NT-proBNP levels were measured pre- and postoperatively. Short-term cardiac outcome predictors were evaluated by logistic regression models. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 29 days, 17 patients (11.7%) experienced major adverse cardiac events (MACE- 14 nonfatal myocardial infarctions, 2 nonfatal cardiac arrests and 3 cardiac deaths). The optimum discriminatory threshold levels for pre- and postoperative NT-proBNP were 917 and 2962 pg/mL, respectively. Pre- and postoperative NT-proBNP (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.62-13.73; p=0.005 and OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.53-13.16; p=0.006) were significantly associated with MACE. Preoperative NT-proBNP was significantly and independently associated with adverse cardiac events in multivariate regression analysis (adjusted OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.38-12.62; p=0.011). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP is a powerful short-term marker of perioperative cardiovascular events in high risk patients. Postoperative levels were less informative than preoperative levels. A single preoperative NT-proBNP measurement should be considered in the preoperative risk assessment.

Clinical use of ultrasensitive cardiac troponin I assay in intermediate- and high-risk surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin levels have been reported to add value in the detection of cardiovascular complications in noncardiac surgery. A sensitive cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay could provide more accurate prognostic information. METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled 142 patients with at least one Revised Cardiac Risk Index risk factor who underwent noncardiac surgery. cTnI levels were measured postoperatively. Short-term cardiac outcome predictors were evaluated. RESULTS: cTnI elevation was observed in 47 patients, among whom 14 were diagnosed as having myocardial infarction (MI). After 30 days, 16 patients had major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Excluding patients with a final diagnosis of MI, predictors of cTnI elevation included dialysis, history of heart failure, transoperative major bleeding, and elevated levels of pre- and postoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Maximal cTnI values showed the highest sensitivity (94%), specificity (75%), and overall accuracy (AUC 0.89; 95% CI 0.80-0.98) for postoperative MACE. Postoperative cTnI peak level (OR 9.4; 95% CI 2.3-39.2) and a preoperative NT-proBNP level ≥917 pg/mL (OR 3.47; 95% CI 1.05-11.6) were independent risk factors for MACE. CONCLUSIONS: cTnI was shown to be an independent prognostic factor for cardiac outcomes and should be considered as a component of perioperative risk assessment.

Diagnóstico e manejo das lesões ortopédicas em pacientes politraumatizados / Diagnosis and management of orthopedic lesions in polytrauma patients

Concluído o atendimento inicial com a realização das manobras básicas preconizadas pelo ATLS® (Advanced Trauma Life Support), o manejo das fraturas expostas figura entre as prioridades no atendimento inicial ortopédico em politraumatizados. Lavagem abundante, desbridamento adequado, profilaxia antitetânica e antibioticoterapia intravenosa precoce e de amplo espectro são fundamentais para o adequado manejo das mesmas. Fraturas da pelve e do quadril, francamente relacionadas a traumas de alta energia, são as únicas que, por estarem ligadas a grandes sangramentos retroperitoniais, podem levar ao óbito logo após o trauma, configurando emergências traumatológicas. As fraturas em membro inferior apresentam alta morbidade, sendo as de tíbia as consideradas mais frequentes dentre as expostas e em ossos longos. Embora as de fêmur se apresentem com menor frequência, acabam por deixar sequelas mais importantes. Diferentemente destas, as fraturas de escápula, clavícula, rádio e ulna podem receber um manejo simples de redução e contenção, requerendo apenas em casos particulares de intervenções cirúrgicas. A avaliação radiológica no politraumatizado jamais deve interromper as manobras de reanimação. Duas incidências radiográficas ortogonais costumam ser suficientes para a visualização de lesões ortopédicas. Outros exames normalmente ficam reservados para um segundo tempo do atendimento na avaliação de estruturas e lesões de maior complexidade.

Following performance of basic procedures recommended by ATLS® (Advanced Trauma Life Support), the management of open fractures is a priority in the early orthopedic management of polytrauma patients. Thorough washing, adequate debridement, tetanus prophylaxis and early, broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy are key elements for the adequate management of these lesions. Pelvic and hip fractures usually result from high-energy trauma and are the only ones that may lead to death soon after the traumatic event, because of the possibility of major retroperitoneal bleeding; these cases should therefore be considered as orthopedic emergencies. Lower limb fractures present high morbidity, and tibial fractures are the most frequent ones among open fractures affecting long bones. Femoral fractures, although less frequent, usually have important sequelae. On the other hand, scapular, clavicle, radial and ulnar fractures can be easily managed by reduction and immobilization, rarely requiring surgical intervention. The radiological assessment of polytrauma patients should never interrupt ressuscitation procedures. Two orthogonal radiographic projections are usually enough for the analysis of orthopedic lesions. Additional exams are usually reserved for a second stage, during the assessment of structures and lesions of higher complexity.