Aortic Counterpulsation Therapy in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure: Analysis of the TBRIDGE Registry.

BACKGROUND: The use of aortic counterpulsation therapy in advanced heart failure is controversial. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and its impact on 30-day mortality in patients with heart failure. METHODS: Historical prospective, unicentric study to evaluate all patients treated with IABP between August/2008 and July/2013, included in an institutional registry named TBRIDGE (The Brazilian Registry of Intra-aortic balloon pump in Decompensated heart failure - Global Evaluation). We analyzed changes in oxygen central venous saturation (ScvO2), arterial lactate, and use of vasoactive drugs at 48 hours after IABP insertion. The 30-day mortality was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and differences in subgroups were evaluated by the Log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients (mean age 49 ± 14 years) were included. Mean left ventricle ejection fraction was 24 ± 10%, and 30% of patients had Chagas disease. Compared with pre-IABP insertion, we observed an increase in ScvO2 (50.5% vs. 65.5%, p < 0.001) and use of nitroprusside (33.6% vs. 47.5%, p < 0.001), and a decrease in lactate levels (31.4 vs. 16.7 mg/dL, p < 0.001) and use of vasopressors (36.3% vs. 25.6%, p = 0.003) after IABP insertion. Thirty-day survival was 69%, with lower mortality in Chagas disease patients compared without the disease (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: After 48 hours of use, IABP promoted changes in the use of vasoactive drugs, improved tissue perfusion. Chagas etiology was associated with lower 30-day mortality. Aortic counterpulsation therapy is an effective method of circulatory support for patients waiting for heart transplantation.

I guideline for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care -- Brazilian Society of Cardiology: executive summary.

Despite advances related to the prevention and treatment in the past few years, many lives are lost to cardiac arrest and cardiovascular events in general in Brazil every year. Basic Life Support involves cardiovascular emergency treatment mainly in the pre-hospital environment, with emphasis on the early recognition and delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers focused on high-quality thoracic compressions and rapid defibrillation by means of the implementation of public access-to-defibrillation programs. These aspects are of the utmost importance and may make the difference on the patient's outcomes, such as on hospital survival with no permanent neurological damage. Early initiation of the Advanced Cardiology Life Support also plays an essential role by keeping the quality of thoracic compressions; adequate airway management; specific treatment for the different arrest rhythms; defibrillation; and assessment and treatment of the possible causes during all the assistance. More recently, emphasis has been given to post-resuscitation care, with the purpose of reducing mortality by means of early recognition and treatment of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Therapeutic hypothermia has provided significant improvement of neurological damage and should be performed in comatose individuals post-cardiac arrest. For physicians working in the emergency department or intensive care unit, it is extremely important to improve the treatment given to these patients by means of specific training, thus giving them the chance of higher success and of better survival rates.

Terapia do controle da temperatura pós-parada cardiorrespiratório / Temperature control therapy after cardiorespiratory

O processo fisiopatológico secundário à parada cardiorrespiratória (PCR) com retorno da circulação espontânea (RCE), determina a síndrome pós-PCR, com lesão cerebral, disfunção miocárdica e reperfusão, em resposta à isquemia orgânica. A terapia do controle da temperatura (TCT) oferece mecanismos neuroprotetores, limitação da lesão miocárdica e redução da resposta inflamatória sistêmica. Dúvidas existem em relação aos benefícios, início e duração da TCT, porém, há evidências que apoiam a melhora da sobrevida e do prognóstico neurológico em populações selecionadas. Recomenda-se a TCT por 24 horas, com controle da temperatura na faixa de 32 °C a 36 °C para adultos que sobrevivem à PCR extra-hospitalar e permanecem em coma com ritmos iniciais de fibrilação/taquicardia ventricular, o que também é sugerido para os sobreviventes de PCR extra-hospitalar com ritmo inicial não chocável e de PCR intra-hospitalar em qualquer ritmo inicial. O início do resfriamento deve ser feito o mais precocemente possível, depreferência, até 12 horas após o RCE. O controle da temperatura corpórea deve ser incorporado aos cuidados dos pacientes críticos pós-PCR, a fim de reduzir as taxas de mortalidade e de sequelas neurológicas...

The secondary pathophysiological process to cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), determines the post-cardiorespiratory arrest syndrome with brain injury, myocardial reperfusion and dysfunction in response to systemic ischemia. The temperature control therapy (TCT) provides neuroprotective mechanisms, limitation of myocardial injury and reduction of systemic inflammatory response. There are still some questions regarding the benefits, timing and duration of TCT, however, there is evidence supporting improved survival and neurological outcome in selected populations. TCT is recommended for 24 hours, with temperature control in the range of 32 to 36 °C for comatose adults who survive after out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest with initial rates of fibrillation/ ventricular tachycardia, which is also suggested for extra-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest survivors with early pace not shockable and intra-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest in any initial rate. The beginning of the cooling should be done as early as possible, ideally up to12 hours after ROSC. The control of body temperature should be incorporated into the careof the post-CRA critically ill patients in order to reduce mortality and neurological sequelae...

Atualização no manejo clínico do choque cardiogênico / Update on clinical management of cardiogenic shock

O choque cardiogênico é uma síndrome clínica caracterizada por hipoperfusão tecidual secundária à disfunção cardíaca, na ausência de hipovolemia. A etiologia principal é o infarto agudo do miocárdio com falência de ventrículo esquerdo, embora existam outras causas relevantes, como complicações mecânicas do infarto, miocardites, evolução de cardiomiopatias, valvopatias agudas não isquêmicas e cardiomiopatia induzida pelo estresse, por exemplo. Apesar dos avanços terapêuticos, persiste como uma afecção de elevada mortalidade e sua incidência não se modificou significativamente nas últimas décadas. A instalação do choque em pacientes com síndromes coronarianasagudas ocorre mais frequentemente após a internação hospitalar, ressaltandoa importância da identificação de preditores e da monitorização de sinais precoces de hipoperfusão tecidual para pronta intervenção. O diagnóstico é essencialmente clínico e alguns exames subsidiários, como eletrocardiograma, marcadores de necrose miocárdica,ecocardiograma e cineangiocoronariografia, que são importantes para a definição da etiologia, estratificação da gravidade e do prognóstico. O manejo adequado dos pacientes requer avaliação dos parâmetros de macro e micro-hemodinâmica. Os principais objetivos terapêuticos incluem a restauração precoce da perfusão tecidual sistêmica ea recuperação da função ventricular. O tratamento inclui medidas gerais para pacientes com choque como ajuste de volemia e adequação da perfusão tecidual com uso de inotrópicos, vasopressores e dispositivos de assistência ventricular, além de medidasespecíficas, direcionadas para a etiologia do choque, como a revascularização precoce nas síndromes coronarianas agudas...

Cardiogenic shock is a clinical syndrome characterized by tissue hypoperfusionsecondary to cardiac dysfunction, in the absence of hypovolemia. Left ventricular failure complicating acute myocardial infarction is the main cause, although other relevant causes include mechanical complications of infarction, myocarditis, progression of cardiomyopathies, acute non-ischemic valvular heart disease, and stress-induced cardiomyopathies, for example. Despite therapeutic advances, it persists as a condition of high mortality, and its incidence has not changed significantly in the last decades.The onset of cardiogenic shock in patients with acute coronary syndromes frequently occurs after hospital admission, reinforcing the importance of identifying predictors and monitoring early signs of tissue hypoperfusion for prompt intervention. The diagnosisis essentially clinical plus some additional tests such as electrocardiogram, myocardial necrosis markers, echocardiogram, and coronary angiography, which are important fordefining the etiology, stratification of severity and prognosis. Proper management of patients requires assessment of macro- and micro-hemodynamic parameters. The maintherapeutic goals include early restoration of tissue perfusion and recovery of ventricular function. Treatment includes general medical care for patients with shock as optimizingvolemia and adjusting of tissue perfusion with inotropic agents, vasopressors and ventricular assist devices, as well as specific interventions focused on the shock etiology, like early revascularization in acute coronary syndromes...

Aortic Counterpulsation Therapy in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure: Analysis of the TBRIDGE Registry / Terapia de Contrapulsação Aórtica em Pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca Avançada: Análise do Registro TBRIDGE

Abstract Background: The use of aortic counterpulsation therapy in advanced heart failure is controversial. Objectives: To evaluate the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and its impact on 30-day mortality in patients with heart failure. Methods: Historical prospective, unicentric study to evaluate all patients treated with IABP betwen August/2008 and July/2013, included in an institutional registry named TBRIDGE (The Brazilian Registry of Intra-aortic balloon pump in Decompensated heart failure - Global Evaluation). We analyzed changes in oxygen central venous saturation (ScvO2), arterial lactate, and use of vasoactive drugs at 48 hours after IABP insertion. The 30-day mortality was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and diferences in subgroups were evaluated by the Log-rank test. Results: A total of 223 patients (mean age 49 ± 14 years) were included. Mean left ventricle ejection fraction was 24 ± 10%, and 30% of patients had Chagas disease. Compared with pre-IABP insertion, we observed an increase in ScvO2 (50.5% vs. 65.5%, p < 0.001) and use of nitroprusside (33.6% vs. 47.5%, p < 0.001), and a decrease in lactate levels (31.4 vs. 16.7 mg/dL, p < 0.001) and use of vasopressors (36.3% vs. 25.6%, p = 0.003) after IABP insertion. Thirty-day survival was 69%, with lower mortality in Chagas disease patients compared without the disease (p = 0.008). Conclusion: After 48 hours of use, IABP promoted changes in the use of vasoactive drugs, improved tissue perfusion. Chagas etiology was associated with lower 30-day mortality. Aortic counterpulsation therapy is an effective method of circulatory support for patients waiting for heart transplantation.

Resumo Fundamento: A utilização da terapia de contrapulsação aórtica na insuficiência cardíaca avançada é controversa. Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito hemodinâmico e metabólico do balão intra-aórtico (BIA) e seu impacto sobre a mortalidade em 30 dias em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo histórico, unicêntrico, avaliando todos os pacientes tratados com BIA entre agosto/2008 e julho/2013, incluídos em registro institucional denominado TBRIDGE (The Brazilian Registry of Intra-aortic balloon pump in Decompensated heart failure - Global Evaluation). Analisaram-se variações na saturação venosa central de oxigênio (SVO2), lactato arterial e uso de fármacos vasoativos 48 horas após instalação do dispositivo. A mortalidade em 30 dias foi estimada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier e diferenças entre subgrupos foram avaliadas pelo teste de Log-rank. Resultados: Foram incluídos 223 pacientes com idade média de 49 ± 14 anos, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo média de 24 ± 10%, sendo 30% acometidos por Doença de Chagas. Em comparação à pré-instalação do BIA, após a instalação, houve aumento da SVO2 (51% vs. 66%, p < 0,001) e no uso de nitroprussiato (34% vs. 48%, p < 0,001), além de redução do lactato (31 vs. 17 mg/dL, p < 0,001) e no uso de vasopressores (36% vs. 26%, p = 0,003). A sobrevida em 30 dias foi de 69%, com menor mortalidade nos pacientes chagásicos comparativamente aos não chagásicos (p = 0,008). Conclusão: Nas primeiras 48 horas de utilização, o BIA promoveu mudança no uso de fármacos vasoativos e melhora da perfusão tecidual. A etiologia chagásica associou-se a menor mortalidade em 30 dias. A terapia de contrapulsação aórtica mostrou-se opção eficaz de suporte circulatório em pacientes candidatos a transplante cardíaco.

I diretriz de ressuscitação cardiopulmonar e cuidados cardiovasculares de emergência da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia: resumo executivo / I guideline for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care - Brazilian Society of Cardiology: executive summary

Apesar de avanços nos últimos anos relacionados à prevenção e a tratamento, muitas são as vidas perdidas anualmente no Brasil relacionado à parada cardíaca e a eventos cardiovasculares em geral. O Suporte Básico de Vida envolve o atendimento às emergências cardiovasculares principalmente em ambiente pré-hospitalar, enfatizando reconhecimento e realização precoces das manobras de ressuscitação cardiopulmonar com foco na realização de compressões torácicas de boa qualidade, assim como na rápida desfibrilação, por meio da implementação dos programas de acesso público à desfibrilação. Esses aspectos são de fundamental importância e podem fazer diferença no desfecho dos casos como sobrevida hospitalar sem sequelas neurológicas. O início precoce do Suporte Avançado de Vida em Cardiologia também possui papel essencial, mantendo, durante todo o atendimento, a qualidade das compressões torácicas, adequado manejo da via aérea, tratamento específico dos diferentes ritmos de parada, desfibrilação, avaliação e tratamento das possíveis causas. Mais recentemente dá-se ênfase a cuidados pós-ressuscitação, visando reduzir a mortalidade por meio do reconhecimento precoce e tratamento da síndrome pós-parada cardíaca. A hipotermia terapêutica tem demonstrado melhora significativa da lesão neurológica e deve ser realizada em indivíduos comatosos pós-parada cardíaca. Para os médicos que trabalham na emergência ou unidade de terapia intensiva é de grande importância o aperfeiçoamento no tratamento desses pacientes por meio de treinamentos específicos, possibilitando maiores chances de sucesso e maior sobrevida.

Despite advances related to the prevention and treatment in the past few years, many lives are lost to cardiac arrest and cardiovascular events in general in Brazil every year. Basic Life Support involves cardiovascular emergency treatment mainly in the pre-hospital environment, with emphasis on the early recognition and delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers focused on high-quality thoracic compressions and rapid defibrillation by means of the implementation of public access-to-defibrillation programs. These aspects are of the utmost importance and may make the difference on the patient's outcomes, such as on hospital survival with no permanent neurological damage. Early initiation of the Advanced Cardiology Life Support also plays an essential role by keeping the quality of thoracic compressions; adequate airway management; specific treatment for the different arrest rhythms; defibrillation; and assessment and treatment of the possible causes during all the assistance. More recently, emphasis has been given to post-resuscitation care, with the purpose of reducing mortality by means of early recognition and treatment of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Therapeutic hypothermia has provided significant improvement of neurological damage and should be performed in comatose individuals post-cardiac arrest. For physicians working in the emergency department or intensive care unit, it is extremely important to improve the treatment given to these patients by means of specific training, thus giving them the chance of higher success and of better survival rates.

Reduction in cardiovascular events after vascular surgery with atorvastatin: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was performed to analyze the effect of atorvastatin compared with placebo on the occurrence of a 6-month composite of cardiovascular events after vascular surgery. Cardiovascular complications are the most important cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing vascular surgery. Statin therapy may reduce perioperative cardiac events through stabilization of coronary plaques. METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg atorvastatin or placebo once a day for 45 days, irrespective of their serum cholesterol concentration. Vascular surgery was performed on average 30 days after randomization, and patients were prospectively followed up over 6 months. The cardiovascular events studied were death from cardiac cause, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and stroke. RESULTS: Fifty patients received atorvastatin, and 50 received placebo. During the 6-month follow-up primary end points occurred in 17 patients, 4 in the atorvastatin group and 13 in the placebo group. The incidence of cardiac events was more than three times higher with placebo (26.0%) compared with atorvastatin (8.0%; P =.031). The risk for an event was compared between the groups with the Kaplan-Meier method, as event-free survival after vascular surgery. Patients given atorvastatin exhibited a significant decrease in the rate of cardiac events, compared with the placebo group, within 6 months after vascular surgery (P =.018). CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with atorvastatin significantly reduces the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events after vascular surgery.

Choque cardiogênico: avaliação clínico-laboratorial e estratégia medicamentosa / Cardiogenic shock: clinical-laboratorial and therapeutic evaluation

O choque cardiogênico é uma síndrome clínica caracterizada por hiperfluxo tecidual secundária à disfunção cardíaca, na ausência de hipovolemia. A etiologia principal é o infarto agudo do miocárdio com falência de ventrículo esquerdo, embora existam outras causas relevantes, como complicações mecânicas do infarto, miocardites, evolução de cardiomiopatias, valvopatias agudas não isquêmicas e cardiomiopatia induzida pelo estresse, por exemplo. Apesar dos avanços terapêuticos, persiste como uma condição de elevada mortalidade e sua incidência não se modificou significativamente nas últimas décadas. A instalação do choque em pacientes com síndromes coronárias agudas ocorre mais frequentemente após a admissão hospitalar, ressaltando a importância da identificação de preditores e da monitorização de sinais precoces de hipoperfusão incidual para pronta intervenção. O diagnóstico é essencialmente clínico e alguns exames subsidiários, como eletrocardiograma, marcadores de necrose miocárdica, ecocardiograma e cineangiocoronariografia, são importantes para a definição da etiologia, estratificação da gravidade e do prognóstico. O manejo adequado dos pacientes requer avaliação dos parâmetros de macro e micro-hemodinâmica. Os principais objetivos terapêuticos incluem a restauração precoce da perfusão tecidual sistêmica e a recuperação da função ventricular. O tratamento inclui medidas gerais para pacientes com choque como ajuste de volemia e adequação da perfusão tecidual com uso de inotrópicos, vasodilatadores e dispositivos de assistência ventricular, além de medidas específicas, direcionadas para etiologia do choque, como a resvascularização precoce nas síndromes coronárias agudas.

Cardiogenic shock is a clinical syndrome characterized by systemic hypoperfusion secondary to cardiac dysfunction, in the absence of hypovolemia. Left ventricular failure complicating massive acute myocardial infarction persists as the most common etiology, although other relevant causes include mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction, acute myocarditis, non-ischemic valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies progression and stress induced cardiomyopathies. Despite therapeutic advances the incidence of cardiogenic shock persists almost the same as in the last decades and mortality rate remains very high. the onset of cardiogenic shock, in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes, frequently accurs after hospital admission, reinforcing the importance of identifying predictors and monitoring early stages of systemic hypoperfusion for early intervention. The diagnosis is established by findings. Diagnostic tests like electrocardiogram, cardiac biomakers, echocardiogram, and coronary angiography, in specific scenarios, can be helpful to confirm the diagnosis, define the etiology, stratify the risk, and provide prognostic information.

Hyperlipidemia related to the use of HIV-protease inhibitors: natural history and results of treatment with fenofibrate

Hyperlipidemia has been frequently recorded as a side effect of treating HIV patients with protease inhibitors (PI). This study was initiated to analyze the modifications on blood lipids in HIV-patients receiving PI and the safety and efficacy of the treatment with fenofibrate. Total (TC) and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and CD(4)(+) T-cell counts were measured in 30 HAART-naive patients (Group I) before and after PI introduction. In a second phase of the study, the effects of fenofibrate on lipids, CPK, CD(4)(+), and viral load were determined in 13 patients (Group II) with elevated TC or TG. In Group I, 60 of the patients showed TC or TG elevations. Average increments of 31 and 146 in TC and TG respectively (p<0.0006 and p<0.0001) were observed. In Group II, fenofibrate treatment was associated with decrements of 6.6 (TC) and 45.7 (TG) (p=0.07 and 0.0002) and no modifications on CPK, CD(4)(+), and viral load. In conclusion, hyperlipidemia is common during the treatment of HIV with protease inhibitors, and fenofibrate appears to be an effective and safe choice for its treatment.