Risk of complications after a non-ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction in a Latin-American cohort: An application of the ACTION ICU score.

BACKGROUND: European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTEMI) recommend Intensive Care Unit (ICU) surveillance during the first 24-48 h. Interestingly, the in-hospital mortality of NSTEMI patients has consistently decreased, giving some patients the option to be managed in general hospital wards. The ACTION ICU score has been proposed to identify high-risk patients with NSTEMI and guide the selective risk-based need for ICU care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the ACTION ICU score to predict patients' risk of developing complications requiring ICU care in a Latin-American cohort with NSTEMI. METHODS: We applied the ACTION ICU score in a retrospective cohort. A composite primary outcome included: cardiorespiratory arrest, shock, high-grade atrio-ventricular block, respiratory failure, stroke, or death. The predictive performance of this model was estimated with a conditional multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 1,062 patients with NSTEMI, the primary outcome was present in 75 patients (7.1%), and 1,019 (96%) were admitted to ICU. The most common event was respiratory failure (4.0%), followed by cardiogenic shock (3.7%), and cardiac arrest (1.7%). The presence of heart failure signs or symptoms had the highest association with the primary outcome (OR:2.16; 95%CI:1.61-2.92). The best cut-off point for this population was 3 (complications risk: 4.0%, SEN:96%, SP:15.4%, NPV:98.1%, PPV:7.9%). CONCLUSION: The ACTION ICU score may be a promising tool to identify the need for ICU care in Latin-American patients with NSTEMI. Furthermore, additional research is needed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this strategy.

Diagnostic challenge presented by right atrial mass: A report of two cases.

Right atrial masses raised pose 3 major possibilities including tumors, thrombi, or vegetations. We present 2 cases: first, a 34-year-old male with no medical history, who presented with dyspnea, pleuritic pain, and fever; and the second, 65-year-old male with similar symptoms and a history of a left renal carcinoma. Both patients had right atrial masses found on a transthoracic echocardiogram. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and an 18 FDG-PET were necessary finding thrombi in the first patient; and tumoral thrombi in the second one. A multimodality imaging approach to right atrial masses is essential for proper diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making.

MitraClip® as bridging strategy for heart transplantation in Chagas cardiomyopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage heart failure, suffering from severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, are not eligible for heart transplant due to high mortality risk and primary graft dysfunction. Severe PH may be favoured by functional severe mitral regurgitation, which is present in many cardiopathies like end-stage Chagasic cardiomyopathy. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a young man with end-stage heart failure secondary to Chagas cardiomyopathy with severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and severe PH. The patient received percutaneous correction with MitraClip® system reducing PH and making him a suitable candidate for heart transplant. DISCUSSION: In patients with advanced heart failure, FMR, and severe PH, optimal treatment according to current guide lines is recommended. MitraClip® therapy appears to be safe and effective for control of severe PH as a bridge measure for cardiac transplantation.

Correlation between videothoracoscopy and biopsy in patients with pleural effusion and suspected tuberculosis in a high complexity military hospital / Correlación entre videotoracoscopia y biopsia en pacientes con derrame pleural y sospecha de tuberculosis en Hospital Militar de alta complejidad

Background: In the diagnostic process of pleural tuberculosis, the findings from video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) can be highly suggestive for the diagnosis of infection. Methods: We reviewed VATS records between the years 2012 to 2016 of patients over 16 years of age with pleural effusion and suspected pleural tuberculosis. Symptoms, macroscopic and chemical characteristics of the fluid, surgical descriptions and visual diagnosis of the surgeon were recorded and were compared with the histopathology. Results: 106 patients were selected, most of them men (71.7%), of whom approximately half were active military (51.3%). The predominant symptoms were dyspnea, pleuritic pain, fever and evolution time greater than 15 days (94.3%, 80.2%, 50% and 46,2%, respectively). These symptoms, in turn, were present more frequently in pleural tuberculosis patients than in non-tuberculosis patients. The fluid was mostly turbid yellow (44%) and lymphocytic cellularity exudate (77.4%). The VATS findings in patients with confirmed TBC included nodules (96.9%), adhesions (87.5%) and thickening (78.1%). The diagnosis made by the surgeon in relation to the histopathological diagnosis showed a sensitivity of 88.6% and a specificity of 98.4%. Conclusion: There are highly suggestive characteristics of the macroscopic report of VATS that would allow a quicker diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis.

Antecedentes: Los hallazgos de toracoscopia asistida por video (VATS) durante el diagnostico de tuberculosis pleural, que son altamente sugestivos de la infección han sido poco descritos. Metodos: Se revisaron los registros de VATS entre los años 2012 a 2016 of de pacientes mayores de 16 años con efusión pleural y sospechosos de etiología tuberculosa. Se analizaron los síntomas, las características macroscópicas y bioquímicas del líquido, la descripción quirúrgica y el diagnostico visual y se compararon con los resultados de la histopatologia. Resultados: Se estudiaron los registros de 106 pacientes, la mayoría fueron sexo masculino (71.7%), y aproximadamente la mitad en servicio militar activo (51.3%). Los síntomas predominantes fueron disnea, dolor pleuritico, fiebre y tiempo de evolución mayor a 15 días (94.3%, 80.2%, 50% y 46,2%, respectivamente). Estos sintomas a su vez fueron más frecuentes en tuberculosis pleural que en no tuberculosis. El liquido fue más amarillo turbio (44%) y con exudado de tipo linfocitario (77.4%). Los hallazgos de VATS en pacientes con tuberculosis confirmada incluyeron nodulos (96.9%), adhesiones (87.5%) y engrosamiento (78.1%). El diagnóstico hecho por el cirujano con relación al histopatológico, tuvo una sensibilidad de 88.6% y una especificidad de 98.4%. Conclusion: Existen características en el VATS altamente sugestivas de tuberculosis pleural.

Compromiso pulmonar en la enfermedad hepática: una actualización / Pulmonary commitment in hepatic disease: uma atualização / Compromisso pulmonar na doença hepática

La enfermedad Hepática es una causa importante de morbilidad y Mortalidad en el mundo; asociada a compromiso orgánico múltiple. En el pulmón, tres condiciones clínicas han sido descritas; estos cuadros Incluyen, el Síndrome Hepatopulmonar (SHP), que obedece a un trastorno de la oxigenación por dilatación de la vasculatura pulmonar. La hipertensión portopulmonar (HPP), mediada por desequilibrio entre agentes vasodilatadores y vasoconstrictores que conducen a un aumento de la presión media de la arteria pulmonar y por último el Hidrotórax Hepático (HH), que es la condición menos prevalente, se fundamenta principalmente en anomalías anatómicas del diafragma, con o sin relación a la presencia de ascitis. La presencia SHP o HPP es predictor independiente de mortalidad, resaltando su importancia en la elegibilidad de pacientes para trasplante hepático ortotópico como medida curativa.

Liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world; it is associated with multiple organ involvement. In the lung, three clinical conditions are described; these conditions include, Hepatopulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which is due to a oxygenation defect by the development of pulmonary vascular dilatation. Portopulmonary (HPP) hypertension, it's mediated by an imbalance between vasodilator and vasoconstrictor agents leading to an increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure and finally the Hydrothorax Liver (HH), that is the least prevalent condition, it's based on anatomical diaphragm abnormalities, with or without ascites. The presence of SHP or HPP is an independent predictor of mortality, highlighting its importance in the eligibility of patients for orthotopic liver transplantation as a curative measure.

A doença hepatica é uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade no mundo; está associado ao compromisso de vários órgãos. No pulmão, três condições clínicas são descritas; estas condições incluem, Síndrome Hepatopulmonar (HPS), que é devido a um defeito de oxigenação do dilatação vascular pulmonar. A hipertensão portopulmonar (HPP), é mediada por um desequilíbrio entre vasodilatadores e agentes vasoconstritores, levando a um aumento da pressão arterial média da artéria pulmonar e, finalmente, ao hidrotorax hepatico (HH), essa é a condição menos prevalente, é baseada em anormalidades anatômicas do diafragma, com ou sem ascite. A presença de SHP ou HPP é um preditor independente de mortalidade, destacando sua importância na elegibilidade de pacientes para transplante de hepatico como medida curativa.