Custo Direto do Tratamento do Acidente Vascular Cerebral Isquêmico na Perspectiva de um Hospital Público Terciário (Direct Cost of Treating Ischemic Stroke From the Perspective of a Tertiary Public Hospital).

OBJECTIVES: To measure the direct cost of treating acute ischemic stroke (IS) from the perspective of a public hospital in Brazil (HCFMB) and compare it with the reimbursement by the Unified Health System (SUS), through the Procedure Table Management System, Medicines, Orthoses/Prostheses and Special Materials of the Unified Health System (SIGTAP). METHODS: We performed a micro-costing study; four scenarios were evaluated: standard (1); alteplase (2); alteplase and mechanical thrombectomy (3); mechanical thrombectomy (4). Based on the number of patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke in 2019, hospital cost, and SUS billing were calculated for each scenario. Hospital costs were adjusted for inflation using CCEMG-EPPI-Centre Cost Converter. RESULTS: In 2019, 258 patients were hospitalized due to IS, 89.5% in scenario 1, 8% in scenario 2, 1.5% in scenario 3, 1% in scenario 4. From the hospital's perspective, the cost per patient was estimated at R$7780.13, R$15 741.23, R$28 988.49, R$25 739.79, for scenarios 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The reimbursement by SIGTAP was estimated at R$3079.87, R$5417.21, R$10 901.92, R$10 286.28, respectively. If thrombectomy had been included in the SIGTAP, the last two values would be R$25 393.34 and R$24 248.89. CONCLUSIONS: The hospital cost of treating acute IS in 2019 was estimated at R$2 295 209, the SUS reimbursement at R$889 391.54. With the inclusion of thrombectomy at SIGTAP, this reimbursement would be R$975 282.44, and the loss in the cost of HCFMB per patient in relation to reimbursement by the SUS is greater in scenarios without this procedure.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: Pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Cardiac dysfunction among cirrhotic patients has long been recognized in the medical community. While it was originally believed to be a direct result of alcohol toxicity, in the last 30 years cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) has been described as a syndrome characterized by chronic cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients in the absence of known cardiac disease, regardless of the etiology of cirrhosis. CCM occurs in about 60% of patients with cirrhosis and plays a critical role in disease progression and treatment outcomes. Due to its predominantly asymptomatic course, diagnosing CCM is challenging and requires a high index of suspicion and a multiparametric approach. Patients with CCM usually present with the following triad: impaired myocardial contractile response to exercise, inadequate ventricular relaxation, and electrophysiological abnormalities (notably prolonged QT interval). In recent years, research in this area has grown expeditiously and a new set of diagnostic criteria has been developed by the Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy Consortium, to properly identify patients with CCM. Nevertheless, CCM is still largely unknown among clinicians, and a major part of its pathophysiology and treatment is yet to be understood. In the present work, we aim to compile and summarize the available data on the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CCM.

Sex-related differences in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A Portuguese multicenter national registry analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Sex differences among patients with acute myocardial infarctions remain a matter of debate. Inequalities in presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are frequently observed, contributing to a worse prognosis in women. The aim of this study was to investigate sex-related differences in Portuguese ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of STEMI patients included in the Portuguese Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes, between October 2010 and 2022. The two co-primary endpoints were in-hospital and one-year mortality. RESULTS: A total of 14470 STEMI patients were studied. Women were underrepresented with 3721 individuals (25.7%). They were significantly older (70 vs. 62 years, p<0.001), with higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, and underwent less frequently coronary angiography (84.4% vs. 88.5%, p<0.001) and guideline-directed medical therapy (e.g., aspirin 92.5% vs. 95.4%, beta blockers 79.2% vs. 83%, p<0.001). Furthermore, they experienced more complications, such as congestive heart failure (23.4% vs. 14.6%), ischemic stroke (47% vs. 40%), and in-hospital mortality (8.5% vs. 4.1%) (p<0.001 for all comparisons). Similarly, they presented higher one-year mortality (11.5% vs. 6.3%, p<0.001). However, after a multivariate analysis testing significant clinical variables, female sex remained an independent predictor for in-hospital (odds ratio=1.633; 95% CI [1.065-2.504]; p=0.025), but not for one-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis reveals sex-related disparities in Portuguese STEMI patients. Despite limitations inherent to registry-based analysis, women were significantly older, with increased cardiovascular risk, less treated, and with higher in-hospital mortality. These disparities should be a concern for clinicians to further improve outcomes and move toward equitable medical care.

The evolution of management of type B aortic dissection in a series of 100 consecutive cases in a tertiary center.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Management of aortic dissection is rapidly evolving. The present study aims to assess paradigm shifts in type B aortic dissection (TBAD) treatment modalities and their outcomes according to clinical presentation and type of treatment. We also aim to assess the impact of endovascular technology in TBAD management in order to define organizational strategies to provide an integrated cardiovascular approach. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review with descriptive analysis of the last 100 consecutive patients with TBAD admitted to the Vascular Surgery Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte over a 16-year period. Results were stratified according to treatment modality and stage of the disease. The study was further divided into two time periods, 2003-2010 and 2011-2019, respectively before and after the introduction of a dedicated endovascular program for aortic dissections. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients (83% male; mean age 60 years) were included, of whom 59 were admitted in the acute stage (50.8% with complicated dissections). The other 41 patients were admitted for chronic dissections, most of them for surgical treatment of aneurysmal degeneration. Temporal analysis demonstrated an increase in the number of patients operated for aortic dissection, mainly due to an increase in chronic patients (33.3% in 2003-2010 vs. 64.4% in 2011-2019) and a clear shift toward endovascular treatment from 2015 onward. Overall in-hospital mortality was 14% and was significantly higher in the chronic phase (acute 5.1% vs. chronic 26.8%; OR 5.30, 95% CI 1.71-16.39; p=0.003) and in patients with aneurysmal degeneration, regardless of the temporal phase. Only one death was recorded in the endovascular group. CONCLUSION: Management of TABD carried an overall mortality of 14% during a 16-year period, but the appropriate use of endovascular technology has substantially reduced in-hospital mortality.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries: Etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is responsible for 10% of myocardial infarctions. Previously, patients were thought to have good prognosis, but evidence-based management and treatment strategies were scarce. Today, researchers and physicians recognize MINOCA as a condition with non-trivial mortality and morbidity. Therapeutic strategies are highly dependent on the underlying disease mechanism in each patient. However, to reach a diagnosis of MINOCA, a multimodal approach is required and, even with an optimal work-up, the cause remains unknown in 8-25% of patients. Research has been growing and position papers from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology have been published, and MINOCA has been included in the more recent ESC guidelines on myocardial infarction. Nonetheless, some clinicians still assume that the absence of coronary obstruction excludes the possibility of acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, in the present paper, we aim to compile and present the available data on the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of MINOCA.

Septic cardiomyopathy: A narrative review.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome of suspected or documented infectious origin, whose outcome is multiorgan failure. Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD), present in more than 50% of septic patients, is characterized by (i) left ventricular (LV) dilatation with normal or low filling pressure, (ii) right and/or LV (systolic and/or diastolic) dysfunction and (iii) reversibility. Since the first definition proposed by Parker et al. in 1984, attempts have been made to define SIMD. Many parameters are used to assess cardiac function in septic patients, sometimes making it more difficult to measure due to the intrinsic hemodynamical changes in this condition. Nevertheless, with advanced echocardiographic techniques, such as speckle tracking analysis, it is possible to diagnose and assess systolic and diastolic dysfunction, even in the earliest stages of sepsis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging brings new insights into the reversibility of this condition. Many uncertainties still remain regarding the mechanisms, characteristics, treatment and even prognosis of this condition. There are also inconsistent conclusions from studies, therefore this review attempts to summarize our current knowledge of SIMD.

Expert perspectives on strategic factors for the management and prevention of heart failure in Portugal.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart failure (HF) has significant morbidity and mortality, and its prevalence will continue to increase in the future. This unfavorable evolution requires reflection as well as recommendations and decisions based on expert critical and strategic appraisal. METHODS: In the Acceleration on Heart Failure Empowerment and Awareness - the Portuguese Challenge (ATHENA-PT) study, a range of strategic factors that represent the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities (SWOT) of HF in Portugal were established. These factors were assessed quantitatively by experts, to create a final SWOT matrix for the management and prevention of HF in Portugal and to outline recommendations. RESULTS: For HF management, the panel emphasized the following strategic recommendations: (i) reimbursement of natriuretic peptides testing in primary healthcare; (ii) reimbursement of Doppler assessment in echocardiographic studies and promotion of detailed information in reports; (iii) intervention to improve the prognosis of patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction; (iv) ensuring effective healthcare transition between hospital and ambulatory units, using checklists/protocols; and (v) reinforcement and commitment to the training of primary health physicians and to the cardiac rehabilitation of patients. For the prevention of HF, the following recommendations/proposals were proposed: (i) campaigns to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors; (ii) promotion of physical exercise and healthy eating; and (iii) avoidance of therapeutic inertia in the management of risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The acknowledgment of various strategic factors and their prioritization by experts made it possible to create and reinforce a range of new strategic recommendations for the management and prevention of HF.

conTemporary reflectiOns regarding heart failure manaGEmenT - How to ovERcome the PorTuguese barriers (TOGETHER-PT).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that is a significant burden in hospitalisations, morbidity, and mortality. Although a significant effort has been made to better understand its consequences and current barriers in its management, there are still several gaps to address. The present work aimed to identify the views of a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals on HF awareness and literacy, diagnosis, treatment and organization of care, identifying current challenges and providing insights into the future. METHODS: A steering committee was established, including members of the Heart Failure Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (GEIC-SPC), the Heart Failure Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEIC-SPMI) and the Cardiovascular Study Group (GEsDCard) of the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF). This steering committee produced a 16-statement questionnaire regarding different HF domains that was answered to by a diversified group of 152 cardiologists, internists, general practitioners, and nurses with an interest or dedicated to HF using a five-level Likert scale. Full agreement was defined as ≥80% of level 5 (fully agree) responses. RESULTS: Globally, consensus was achieved in all but one of the 16 statements. Full agreement was registered in seven statements, namely 3 of 4 statements for patient education and HF awareness and 2 in 4 statements of both HF diagnosis and healthcare organization, with proportions of fully agree responses ranging from 82.9% to 96.7%. None of the HF treatment statements registered full agreement but 3 of 4 achieved ≥80% of level 4 (agree) responses. CONCLUSION: This document aims to be a call-to-action to improve HF patients' quality of life and prognosis, by promoting a change in HF care in Portugal.

Blueprint for developing an effective pulmonary embolism response network.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal. It is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death after stroke and myocardial infarction. However, the management of acute PE remains poorly standardized, and there is a lack of access to mechanical reperfusion when indicated. METHODS AND RESULTS: This working group analyzed the current clinical guidelines for the use of percutaneous catheter-directed treatment in this setting and proposed a standardized approach for severe forms of acute PE. This document also proposes a methodology for the coordination of regional resources in order to create an effective PE response network, based on the hub-and-spoke organization design. CONCLUSION: This model can be applied at the regional level, but it is desirable to extend it to the national level.

Aortic annulus rupture with fistula to the right ventricle following aortic valve replacement with a sutureless valve: A surgical complication with a percutaneous solution.

With the development of interventional procedures, iatrogenic aorto-right ventricular fistulae are increasingly reported. They may follow surgical aortic valve replacement or percutaneous aortic valve implantation, leading to high morbidity. Traditionally, treatment of fistulae was based on surgical repair, but with advances in endovascular technologies, more emphasis is now placed on percutaneous closure. We report the case of a 78-year-old patient with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement with a Perceval sutureless valve. One month later, he presented with symptoms and signs of heart failure. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of a aorto-right ventricular fistula. The fistula was successfully closed percutaneously with an Amplatzer Vascular Plug II, in an intracardiac echocardiography-guided procedure. Aorto-right ventricular fistula is a rare finding after surgical aortic valve replacement and to our knowledge it has never been associated with sutureless aortic valve replacement. A percutaneous procedure with an appropriately selected device may be encouraged because of the high morbidity and mortality of redo open-heart surgery. To minimize the risk of a second general anesthesia, the use of intracardiac echocardiography to guide the percutaneous procedure is feasible and safe.