Safety of helicopter transport in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) systems of care have reduced inter-hospital transfer times and facilitated timely reperfusion goals. Helicopters may be an option when land transportation is not feasible; however, the safety of air transport in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a factor to consider. OBJETIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of helicopter transport for patients with ACS. METHODS: Prospective, observational, and descriptive study including patients diagnosed with ACS within the STEMI network of a metropolitan city transferred by helicopter to a large cardiovascular center to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of air-travel-related complications defined as IV dislodgement, hypoxia, arrhythmia, angina, anxiety, bleeding, and hypothermia. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were included in the study; the mean age was 54 years and 84.9% were male. The most frequent diagnosis was STEMI after successful fibrinolysis (51.8%), followed by STEMI with failed fibrinolysis (23.7%) and non-reperfused STEMI (9.4%). Five patients (4.7%) developed at least one complication: IV dislodgement (1.8%) and hypoxemia (1.8%) in two patients and an episode of angina during flight (0.9%). A flight altitude of > 10,000 ft was not associated with complications. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that helicopter transportation is safe in patients undergoing acute coronary syndrome, despite the altitude of a metropolitan area.

ANTECEDENTES: Los sistemas de atención de IAMCEST han reducido los tiempos de transferencia interhospitalaria y han facilitado las metas de reperfusión oportuna. Los helicópteros pueden ser una opción cuando el transporte terrestre no es factible; sin embargo, la seguridad del transporte aéreo en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo (SICA) es un factor a considerar. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la seguridad del transporte en helicóptero para pacientes con SICA. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo, observacional, descriptivo. Se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de SICA dentro de la red IAMCEST en metrópolis extensa, trasladados en helicóptero a un centro cardiovascular. El resultado primario del estudio fue la incidencia de complicaciones relacionadas con los viajes aéreos definidas cómo desalojo de catéter intravenoso, hipoxia, arritmia, angina, ansiedad, sangrado e hipotermia. RESULTADOS: Total de 106 pacientes; la edad media fue de 54 años y 84,9% eran hombres. La altitud media de vuelo fue de 10,100 pies y la distancia media de vuelo fue de 50,0 km. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue IAMCEST tras fibrinolisis exitosa (51,8%), seguido de IAMCEST con fibrinolisis fallida (23,7%). Cinco pacientes (4,7%) desarrollaron una complicación: desalojo IV (1,8%) e hipoxemia (1,8%) en dos pacientes y un episodio de angina durante el vuelo (0,9%). Una altitud de vuelo mayor de 10,000 pies no se asoció a complicaciones. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que el transporte en helicóptero es seguro en pacientes con SICA, incluso en altitudes > 10,000 pies.

Coronary Artery Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: What Do the Facts Say?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect any organ with a predisposition for women of reproductive age. It is related to a higher risk of cardiovascular events, increasing it up to 50 times in young people, and 30% of deaths are attributed to coronary artery disease. The risk of developing cardiovascular disease in SLE is related not only to traditional cardiovascular risks factors such as advanced age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes but also to disease-specific factors, such as degree of activity, autoantibodies, organ damage, and treatment. Accelerated atherosclerosis is one of the main contributors to pathogenesis. Manifestations range from angina to acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. Markers have been studied for the detection of subclinical disease and stratification of these patients, as well as different treatment options to improve the cardiovascular prognosis of the disease.

[¿Cómo tratar la hipertensión arterial sistémica? Estrategias de tratamiento actuales]. / How to treat hypertension? Current management strategies

Hypertension is a disease that affects almost half of the population. Its complex pathophysiology, mainly affecting the renal, hormonal, cardiovascular and neurological systems, has allowed us to have different pharmacological strategies to treat each of these systems and thus regulate blood pressure. The American Heart Association in 2017, the European Society of Cardiology in 2018, and the American Society of Hypertension in 2020 published their recommendations for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of arterial hypertension. The definition of normal blood pressure or hypertension varies according to each guideline. Recommendations on lifestyle and pharmacological therapy are very similar in the guidelines. They recommend blockers of the renin-angiotensin system, calcium antagonists and thiazides, and only in selected cases the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist or beta-blockers.

La hipertensión arterial sistémica es una enfermedad que afecta casi a la mitad de la población. Su compleja fisiopatología, que afecta principalmente a los sistemas renal, hormonal, cardiovascular y neurológico, ha permitido tener diferentes estrategias farmacológicas para tratar cada uno de esos sistemas y así regular la tensión arterial. La American Heart Association en el 2017, la European Society of Cardiology en el 2018 y, por último, la International Society of Hypertension en el 2020, publicaron recomendaciones para el diagnóstico, monitoreo y tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial. La definición de tensión arterial normal o hipertensión varía de acuerdo con cada guía. Las recomendaciones en los cambios del estilo de vida son muy similares, al igual que el tratamiento farmacológico mediante inhibidores del sistema renina-angiotensina, antagonistas de canales de calcio y diuréticos tiazídicos y solo en casos seleccionados el uso de antagonistas de la aldosterona o betabloqueadores.