Regional disparities in mortality after ischemic heart disease in a Brazilian state from 2006 to 2010.

BACKGROUND: High technology in the field of interventional cardiology applied in tertiary hospitals has brought enormous benefits in the treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, IHD mortality rates remain high. We analyzed the relationship between IHD mortality rate and the socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic conditions in 399 cities in Parana state, Brazil, from 2006 to 2010. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and evaluated through Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis. GeoDa™ was used to analyze 29.351 deaths across 399 cities. We found a positive spatial autocorrelation regarding IHD mortality (I = 0.5913, p = 0.001). There was a significant positive association between each of three socioeconomic and demographic indicators and IHD mortality rate: Population Elderly Index (I = 0.3436), Illiteracy Rate (I = 0.1873) and City Development Index (I = 0.0900). In addition, two indicators presented significant negative association with IHD mortality rate: Adjusted Population Size (I = -0.1216) and Gross Domestic Product (I = -0.0864). We also found a positive association between IHD mortality rates and the geographic distances between patients' city of residence and their corresponding regional referral centers in interventional cardiology (I = 0.3368). Cities located within Regional Health Units with Reference Interventional Cardiology Center presented a significantly lower average specific mortality rate by IHD. The high mortality rate by IHD within the Regional Health Units was not restricted to socioeconomic and demographic variables, but dependent on the distance between each city and their reference interventional cardiology center. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that geographic factors play a significant role in IHD mortality within cities. These findings have important policy implications regarding the geographic distribution of cardiac health care networks in Latin America and in other emerging countries.

Bone marrow cell injection for chronic myocardial ischemia: the past and the future.

Intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection is currently being investigated as a new therapeutic option for the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia. Experimental studies and early phase clinical trials established a favorable safety profile of this approach and suggested that bone marrow cell injection was associated with clinical and functional improvements. Recently, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection was associated with beneficial effects on myocardial perfusion and anginal symptoms. However, the mechanisms by which bone marrow cells may improve myocardial perfusion are only partially understood, and several issues remain to be addressed. This review aims to provide a summary of the current experience with bone marrow cell therapy as a novel treatment option for patients with chronic myocardial ischemia. Therefore, the most frequently used cell types will be reviewed along with the mechanisms through which bone marrow cells may improve myocardial perfusion and function. In addition, possible routes of delivery are compared, and the results of currently available experimental and clinical studies are discussed.

[Cleft lobe sign. A curious clinical sign or an ischemic heart disease marker?]. / Signo del lóbulo hendido, curiosidad clínica o marcador de cardiopatía isquémica?

The majority of studies have demonstrated a correlation between diagonal earlobe creases sign with coronary artery disease and atheroscleosis. Diagonal earlobe creases run from the lower pole of the external meatus, diagonally backwards to the edge of the lobe at approximately 45. The objective of this paper is review the evidence related to this interesting clinical sign.

History of surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease--pre-'coronary bypass grafting' era.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To review the various concepts, surgical experiments, and actual procedures performed for the treatment of ischemic heart disease, which eventually led to the evolution of direct coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: References were collected from original articles and through pubmed search. RESULTS: Various concepts and procedures were introduced, all with the aim of increasing myocardial blood flow and relief of angina. These included creation of vascular adhesions, denervation, thyroidectomies, using other organs for providing blood supply, and intramyocardial implantation of bleeding systemic arteries. CONCLUSION: Historically various innovative concepts existed and a variety of procedures were performed for treating ischemic myocardium, with variable results. These procedures continued till the evolution of direct coronary artery bypass grafting.

Aneurismectomia de ventrículo esquerdo com o coração batendo ininterruptamente: resultados imediatos / Left ventricular aneurysmectomy with continuous beating heart: early results

OBJETIVO: O índice médio de mortalidade operatória na aneurismectomia de ventrículo esquerdo é de 15 por cento. Formas de proteção miocárdica especificamente para este procedimento têm sido pouco discutidas. Este trabalho tem por finalidade a avaliação dos resultados imediatos do tratamento cirúrgico do aneurisma da parede anterior de ventrículo esquerdo, sob circulação extracorpórea, com o coração batendo ininterruptamente. MÉTODO: Análise retrospectiva de 34 prontuários de pacientes submetidos a aneurismectomia anterior, associada ou não à revascularização do miocárdio, no período de janeiro de 1997 a maio de 2005. Foram avaliados 20 doentes do sexo masculino e 14 do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 52 anos (28 a 76 anos). Todos os pacientes foram operados sob circulação extracorpórea em normotermia, sem pinçamento aórtico, mantendo-se o coração batendo o tempo todo. Foram analisados: mortalidade perioperatória, complicações tromboembólicas, tempo de circulação extracorpórea, tempo de assistência ventilatória invasiva e permanência na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI). RESULTADOS: Não houve mortalidade perioperatória. Não observamos complicações tromboembólicas. O tempo de circulação extracorpórea foi, em média, de 85min (25-150min). O tempo de assistência ventilatória invasiva foi, em média, de 18h (8-96h) e de permanência na UTI, 3,1 dias (2- 14 dias). CONCLUSAO: A manutenção dos batimentos cardíacos pela tática de não pinçamento aórtico para proteção miocárdica constitui-se num método eficiente e seguro para aneurismectomia de parede anterior de ventrículo esquerdo.