Intraoperative "Kounis syndrome" that improved electrocardiography changes and hemodynamic situation afteradministering nitroglycerine / Síndrome de Kounis intraoperatória com melhoria das alterações eletrocardiográficas e da situação hemodinâmica após a administração de nitroglicerina / Síndrome de Kounis intraoperatorio con mejoría de las alteraciones electrocardiográficas y de la situación hemodinámica después de la administración de nitroglicerina

A 58-year-old female without cardiovascular risk factors, was going to be operated to repair the rotator cuff. Induction and interscalene brachial plexus block were uneventful, but after her placement for surgery the patient started with severe bronchospasm, hypotension, cutaneous allergic reaction and ST elevation on the electrocardiogram. An anaphylactic shock was suspected and treated but until the perfusion of nitroglycerina was started no electrocardiographic changes resolved. After necessary diagnostic test the final diagnosis was variant I of Kounis syndrome due to cefazolin and rocuronium. Ephinephrine is the cornerstone of treatment for anaphylaxis but should we use it if the anaphylactic reaction is also accompanied by myocardial ischemia? The answer is that we should not use it because myocardial ischemia in this syndrome is caused by vasospasm, so it would be more useful drugs such as nitroglycerin. But what if we do not know if it is a Kounis syndrome or not? In this article we report our experience that maybe could help you in a similar situation.

Paciente do sexo feminino, 58 anos, sem fator de risco cardiovascular, submetida a cirurgia para reparação do manguito rotador. A indução do bloqueio do plexo braquial interescalênico foi feita sem intercorrência, mas, após seu posicionamento para a cirurgia, a paciente apresentou broncoespasmo grave, hipotensão, reação alérgica cutânea e elevação do segmento ST ao eletrocardiograma. Houve suspeita de choque anafilático que foi tratado, mas até que a perfusão de nitroglicerina fosse iniciada não houve resolução das alterações eletrocardiográficas. Após teste diagnóstico necessário, o diagnóstico final foi de variante tipo I da síndrome de Kounis por causa de cefazolina e rocurônio. Epinefrina é a base sólida do tratamento para anafilaxia, mas devemos usá-la se a reação anafilática também for acompanhada de isquemia miocárdica? A resposta é que não devemos usá-la, porque a isquemia miocárdica nessa síndrome é causada por vasoespasmo; portanto, drogas como a nitroglicerina seriam mais úteis. Porém, e quando não sabemos se é ou não uma síndrome de Kounis? Neste artigo relatamos nossa experiência que, talvez, possa ajudar em uma situação similar.

Paciente del sexo femenino, 58 años de edad, sin factor de riesgo cardiovascular, sometida a cirugía para la reparación del manguito rotador. La inducción del bloqueo del plexo braquial interescalénico fue realizada sin intercurrencias, pero después de su posicionamiento para la cirugía, la paciente presentó broncoespasmo grave, hipotensión, reacción alérgica cutánea y elevación del segmento ST al electrocardiograma. Hubo sospecha de choque anafiláctico que fue tratado, pero hasta que la perfusión de nitroglicerina se iniciase no hubo resolución de las alteraciones electrocardiográficas. Después del test diagnóstico necesario, el diagnóstico final fue de variante tipo i del síndrome de Kounis debido a la cefazolina y al rocuronio. La epinefrina es la base sólida del tratamiento para la anafilaxia, pero ¿debemos usarla si la reacción anafiláctica también viene seguida de isquemia miocárdica? La respuesta es que no debemos usarla porque la isquemia miocárdica en ese síndrome está causada por el vasoespasmo; por tanto, fármacos como la nitroglicerina serían más útiles. Sin embargo, ¿y cuando no sabemos si es o no un síndrome de Kounis? En este artículo, relatamos nuestra experiencia que, tal vez, pueda ayudarle a usted a hacer frente a una situación similar.

Impacto de la longitud del introductor en procedimientos coronarios transradiales: estudio clínico randomizado analítico / Impact of introducer length in transradial coronary interventions: a clinical randomized study

Objetivos: El objetivo principal del estudio fue conocer el impacto de la longitud del introductor en la aparición de vasoespasmo radial en pacientes sometidos a cateterización coronaria. Los objetivos secundarios fueron conocer la relación entre la longitud y dolor al retirarlo, tiempo de procedimiento, radiación y analizar los factores de riesgo sugeridos para espasmo radial. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio clínico randomizado analítico de 99 pacientes con indicación de cateterización coronaria. Se randomizaron a dos grupos y se les realizó el procedimiento con diferentes longitudes de introductor (25cm y 10cm), ambos con cubierta hidrofílica. Se registró el tiempo de procedimiento, dosis de radiación, radioscopia, dolor al retirar el introductor y vasoespasmo radial. Resultados: En el total de pacientes el procedimiento fue exitoso. Del total de pacientes, en 12 se observó espasmo radial, encontrándose una menor incidencia de vasoespasmo (18,75 por ciento vs 5,88 por ciento, p = 0,005) y menor dolor al retirar el introductor (43,75 por ciento vs 21,57 por ciento, p = 0,018) en pacientes con introductor corto. No se observaron diferencias entre ambos grupos en relación a los otros factores. Diabetes y género femenino se mostraron como predictores independientes de vasoespasmo radial en pacientes sometidos a procedimientos coronarios transradiales. Conclusiones: El uso de un introductor corto disminuye la incidencia de vasoespasmo radial y dolor al retirar el introductor durante procedimientos coronarios transradiales.

Aim: Radial artery spasm producing severe pain is the most common complication of trans-radial approach for coronary artery catheterization. It remains unclear whether the length of the introducer is related to this complication. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of introducer length on radial artery spasm and, also, to identify variables associated to this complication. Methods and results: 99 patients were randomized to receive either a long (25 cm) or a short (10 cm) introducer for coronary catheterization. Both types of introducer were hydrophilic coated. The procedure was successful in all subjects. Radial artery spasm developed in 12 patients, 18.8 percent of those receiving a long introducer vs 5.9 percent of those receiving the short one (p=0.005). Corresponding values for sheath retrieval pain were 21.6 per cent and 43.8 per cent, respectively (p=0.018). No between-group difference was observed in radiation dose, radioscopy time and total procedure time. Diabetes and female gender were predictors of radial artery spasm. Conclusion: Use of a shorter hydrophilic coated introducer resulted in a lesser incidence of radial artery spasm and associated pain, during coronary catheterization.

Histomorphometric and sympathetic innervation of the human internal thoracic artery

INTRODUCTION: Internal thoracic artery (ITA) is an established arterial graft for the coronary artery by-pass surgery. Special micro-anatomical features of the ITA wall may protect it from age related pathological changes. One of the complications seen after coronary artery bypass grafting is vasospasm. Sympathetic nerves may be involved in vasospasm. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the sympathetic innervation of the internal thoracic artery and to assess the effect of aging on this artery by histomorphometry. METHOD: Fifty-four human internal thoracic artery samples were collected from 27 cadavers (19 male and 8 female) with ages of 19 to 83 years. Samples were divided into three age groups: G1, 19-40 years; G2, 41-60 years; G3, >61 years. Sections (thickness 5 mm) of each sample were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Verhoeff-Van Gieson stains. Five of fifty-four samples were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining. RESULTS: The thickness of the tunica intima was found to be constant in all age groups, whereas the thickness of the tunica media decreased in proportion to age. Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining showed numerous elastic laminae in the tunica media. Significant differences (p<0.0001) in the number of elastic laminae were found between G1 with G2 cadavers, between G2 and G3 cadavers and between G3 and G1 cadavers. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining demonstrated sympathetic fibers, located mainly in the tunica adventitia and the adventitia-media border. The sympathetic nerve fiber area and sympathetic index were found to be 0.0016 mm² and 0.012, respectively. DISCUSSION: Histology of the ITA showed features of the elastic artery. This may be associated with lower incidence of Atherosclerosis or intimal hyperplasia in ITA samples even in elderly cases. Low sympathetic index (0.012) of ITA may be associated with fewer incidences of sympathetic nervous systems problems (vasospasm) of the ITA. CONCLUSION: Sympathetic ...

Espasmo coronariano no pós-operatório de cirurgia de revacularização do miocárdio sem circulação extracorpórea: Diagnóstico e manejo / Coronary-artery spasm after coronary artery bypass graft surgery without extracorporeal circulation: Diagnostic and management

O espasmo de artérias coronárias no perioperatório de cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio é uma complicação grave, com elevada mortalidade. Paciente de 51 anos submetido à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio sem circulação extracorpórea. Apresentou no 1ºdia de pós-operatório (PO) alteração enzimática e supradesnivelamento do segmento ST, evoluindo, em seguida, em fibrilação ventricular, com reanimação cardiopulmonar com sucesso. Cateterismo cardíaco demonstrou espasmo importante de todas as artérias coronárias e da anastomose entre artéria torácica interna esquerda com artéria interventricular anterior. Utilizados vasodilatadores intracoronarianos e intra-enxerto, com restabelecimento de seus calibres usuais, imediata melhora clínica e estabilidade hemodinâmica. Com evolução satisfatória, o paciente recebeu alta hospitalar no 13º PO.

Coronary artery spasm in perioperative of coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a serious complication, with high rate mortality. Patient 51 years-old submitted to coronary artery bypass graft surgery without Extracorporeal Circulation. The patient evolved in 1st post operative (PO) day with enzymatic alteration and ST-elevation, developing soon afterwards in ventricular fibrillation, defibrillation with success. Cardiac catheterization showed important spasm of all coronary arteries and anastomosis between the left internal thoracic artery and the left anterior interventricular artery. Intracoronary Vasodilators and intra-graft, with re-establishment of their usual and immediate calibers to improve clinic and Hemodynamic stability was used. Satisfactory evolution, discharged at 13rd PO day.

DC cardioversion and coronary artery spasm.

Marked ST segment elevation which occurred following DC shock given for conversion of lone atrial fibrillation in a 55 years old male is reported. This was possibly coronary artery spasm induced by direct current and adds one more complication to the many already described.