Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain Predicts Low-Cardiac- Output Syndrome After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Preserved and Mid-range Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze whether right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWSL) could be a predictor of low-cardiac-output syndrome (LCOS) after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a third level university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 75 patients with severe aortic stenosis and LVEF ≥40% who underwent SAVR. The primary outcome was the occurrence of LCOS, and secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, hospital stay, or vasoplegic syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided into two groups (LCOS and no LCOS), and RVFWSL was analyzed to determine whether it is a predictor for LCOS. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve also was constructed, and the best cutoff value to predict LCOS was found. Furthermore, the reproducibility of RVFWSL measurements was evaluated. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of LCOS was 20% in the present study's cohort. After multivariate analysis, cross-clamp time (odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.11; p = 0.002) and RVFWSL (odds ratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.87; p = 0.015) were the only predictors of LCOS. However, RVFWSL did not show association with secondary outcomes (p > 0.05 for all). The area under the curve of RVFWSL to predict LCOS was 0.75, and the best cutoff value was -17.3%, with a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 61.7%. CONCLUSIONS: RVFWSL seems to be a predictor of LCOS in patients with severe aortic stenosis and LVEF ≥40% undergoing SAVR. RVFWSL less than -17.3% may identify patients at increased risk for LCOS.

Echocardiographic diagnosis and follow-up for ALCAPA syndrome treated with the Takeuchi procedure.

We present the case of an 18-year-old man with aborted sudden cardiac death. His initial echocardiogram suggested an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Diagnosis was confirmed with coronary angiography. He underwent Takeuchi procedure and fully recovered. A two-year follow-up echocardiogram showed a moderate supravalvular pulmonary stenosis related to the transpulmonary baffle. The presence of extensive collateral circulation should raise suspicion of ALCAPA. Postoperative surveillance in this group of patients needs to be oriented in finding complications such as supravalvular pulmonary stenosis, aortic and pulmonary valve insufficiency, and baffle obstruction and leaks.

Right ventricular free wall strain predicts functional capacity in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

To investigate the role of right ventricular free wall strain (RVFWSL) to predict low functional capacity in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). We prospectively enrolled 33 patients with rTOF with moderate to severe PR who underwent rest and peak exercise echocardiography on a semisupine cycloergometer. Conventional function and strain imaging parameters of both ventricles were measured. Patients performing < 7 METS were defined to have low functional capacity. Logistic regression was used to identify parameters associated with low functional capacity. Eleven patients (33.3%) had low functional capacity. These patients were shorter (height 155 ± 7 vs 163 ± 9 cm, p = 0.023), more frequently female (27.3 vs 72.7%, p = 0.024) and had history of Blalock-Taussig shunt (45.5 vs 9.1%, p = 0.027). On multivariate analysis RVFWSL was the only predictor of low functional capacity OR 1.39 (CI 95%, 1.06-1.83., p = 0.018) per % change. A RVFWSL < 17% (absolute value) had an AUC of 0.785, sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 77.3% to predict low functional capacity. Right ventricular free wall strain is an independent predictor of low functional capacity in repaired tetralogy of Fallot with moderate to severe PR. A value < 17% might be useful in deciding when to perform pulmonary valve replacement, when functional capacity cannot be objectively measured.

Reanimación cardiopulmonar: manejo de las H y las T / Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, approach of "H & T" / Ressucitação cardiopulmonar: tratamento das H e T

Resumen: Existen distintas opciones de programas de entrenamiento en las que se enseñan a los profesionales de la salud las destrezas necesarias para llevar a cabo reanimación cardiopulmonar avanzada; uno de los más conocidos es el curso ACLS, impartido por la Asociación Americana del Corazón. Uno de los temas abordados en este programa es el manejo de las causas que pueden desencadenar un paro cardiorrespiratorio (particularmente en ritmos no desfibrilables) y la importancia de iniciar un manejo simultáneo durante las maniobras de reanimación cardiopulmonar. El objetivo del presente artículo es hacer una revisión minuciosa acerca de cuándo sospechar, cómo diagnosticar y cómo tratar cada una de las causas de asistolia y actividad eléctrica sin pulso (AESP). Se abordará el análisis que se debe realizar antes, durante y después de un paro cardiorrespiratorio. Además, se hará mención de la utilidad de la ultrasonografía o ecocardiografía de emergencia en el entorno de esta emergencia.

Abstract: There are different training programs that teach health professionals the skills needed to perform advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation; one of the best known is the ACLS course, taught by the American Heart Association. One of the topics in this course is the handling of the causes that can trigger a cardiac arrest (particularly in non-shockable rhythms), and the importance of initiating simultaneous management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The aim of this article is to review thoroughly when to suspect, how to diagnose and how to treat each of the causes of asystole and pulseless electrical activity. We will tackle the analysis that has to be performed before, during and after cardiac arrest. In addition, we will review the usefulness of emergency ultrasound or echocardiography in this emergency scenario.

Resumo: Existem diversas opções de programas de treinamento que ensinam os profissionais da saúde as habilidades necessárias para executar a ressuscitação cardiopulmonar avançada, entre eles um dos mais conhecidos é o curso ACLS ensinado pela American Heart Association. Um dos temas abordados neste programa é o tratamento das causas que podem provocar uma parada cardíaca (particularmente em ritmos não chocáveis) e a importância de iniciar um tratamento simultâneo durante a ressuscitação cardiopulmonar. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma revisão completa sobre quando suspeitar, como diagnosticar e como tratar cada uma das causas de assistolia e atividade elétrica sem pulso. Se abordará a análise que deve ser feita dos acontecimentos antes, durante e depois da parada cardíaca. Além disso, será feita menção sobre a utilidade da ultra-sonografia ou ecocardiografia neste ambiente de emergência.

Excessive Weight and Obesity Are Associated to Intra-Ventricular Asynchrony: Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Excessive weight and obesity (EwO) are independent factors in the development of heart failure; they lead to a state of myocardiopathy via inflammatory and hormonal mechanisms. If excessively accumulated, epicardial fat favors a proinflammatory state. Ventricular asynchrony is a marker of heart failure progression and has been poorly studied in EwO. The objective was evaluate the relation between epicardial fat, body mass index (BMI) and mechanical synchrony measured by echocardiography, in healthy individuals with EwO. METHODS: We included 55 healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, 17 had a BMI < 25 kg/m(2) (30.9%) and 38 had a BMI > 25 kg/m(2) (EwO group) (69.09%), anthropometric measurements, transthoracic echocardiogram and synchrony evaluation were obtained. RESULTS: Left atrial volume, telediastolic and telesystolic left ventricular volumes and the baseline volume of the right ventricle were greater in the EwO group (20 mL/m(2) vs. 15 mL/m(2), p = 0.001; 106 mL vs. 82 mL, p = 0.0149 vs. 32 mL, p = 0.001 and 34 mm vs. 31 mm, p = 0.02, respectively). The Yu index also correlated with epicardial fat, r = 0.53, p < 0.01, whereby the greater the amount of epicardial fat, the greater the dispersion timing of ventricular activation. The systolic synchrony index also correlated with the BMI, p = 0.01. CONCLUSION: Mechanical intraventricular asynchrony is associated to EwO and the amount of epicardial fat; hence, asynchrony may be one more factor leading to heart failure in EwO individuals.

[Aortic valve calcification evaluated by echocardiography associated with baseline conduction abnormalities as a predictor for pacemaker placement after aortic valve replacement]. / La extension de la calcificación aórtica evaluada mediante ecocardiografia asociada a trastornos de la conducción como predictors de marcapasos dedinitivos en el postoperatorio de cambio valvular aórtico.

INTRODUCTION: Aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis may be complicated by complete atrioventricular block (CAVB), requiring a permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. Predicting this complication could help to plan the surgical. OBJECTIVE: Determine whether electrocardiography and echocardiography are useful methods for predicting the need for PPM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational and transversal study was performed. An echocardiography based semi-quantitative classification was implemented to graduate the extent of calcification of the aortic valve. RESULTS: We included 95 patients; 10 of them required PPM implantation (10.52%). In the pre-surgical basal electrocardiogram we observed that 90% of patients that required PPM had conduction abnormalities as opposed to only 24.7% in the other group, p = 0.001. A 1st and 2nd degree AV block (AVB 1 and 2) was identified in 8 patients that subsequently needed PPM (80%) vs. 5 patients (5.9%), in the group that did not required it, p = 0.001.OR 41.7, IC 95% 6.5-68. We found a grade 3 calcification extent in 80% of patients who required PPM implant compared with only 17.6% of patients in the other group, p = 0.04, OR 4.8, IC 95% 0.76-29. The AVB 1 and 2 were the single predictor in multivariate analysis but the calcification 3 + AVB 1 and 2, increased sensibility. CONCLUISON: In patients with aortic stenosis in whom aortic valve replacement was performed, identifying AVB 1 and 2 on the basal electrocardiogram is a useful tool in order to identify requirement of PPM. The grade 3 of calcification extent increased the sensibility of this prediction.