Prognostic impact of bundle branch block after acute coronary syndrome. Does it matter if it is left of right?

BACKGROUND: In previous guidelines, acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with new or presumably new left bundle branch block (LBBB) were an indication for reperfusion treatment, preferably with primary angioplasty. Recent guidelines also included the presence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) in this recommendation. It was our objective to evaluate in a population of patients with ACS the differential impact of RBBB and LBBB in prognosis. METHODS: Consecutive patients included prospectively in a single-centre registry of ACS were included in the study. Patients were analyzed according to baseline ECG characteristics (normal QRS, LBBB or RBBB). Primary outcome was all-cause mortality at one-year follow-up. We used Cox-proportional hazards models to assess the predictive value for the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 3990 patients were included in, with a mean age of 64 (13) years, 72% males, 3.4% with LBBB and 4.3% with RBBB. Patients with BBB were older, with more previous history of myocardial infarction and coronary revascularization and higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (except smoking). Medical treatment was similar but they were less often submitted to angioplasty. In univariate analysis, BBB patients had worst outcome (Log-rank, p < 0.001), but similar in LBBB and RBBB (Log-rank, p = 0.597). In multivariate analysis, only RBBB (HR 1.66, 95%CI 1.14-2.40, p = 0.007) is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BBB have worst outcome after an ACS, particularly with RBBB. For that reason, we should pay special attention and treat these patients as aggressively as patients with normal QRS duration or LBBB.

What is the role of beta-blockers in a contemporary treatment cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome? A propensity-score matching analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The evidence for beta-blocker use in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly in those with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, dates from the late 1990s. We aimed to assess the role of beta-blockers in a contemporary population of patients with ACS. METHODS: Propensity-score matching (1:2) was performed for the use of beta-blockers in a population of consecutive patients admitted to our department with ACS. After matching, 1520 patients were analyzed. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the impact of beta-blocker use on the primary outcome (one-year all-cause mortality). RESULTS: Patients who did not receive beta-blockers were less aggressively treated with other pharmacological and invasive interventions and had higher one-year mortality (20.3% vs. 7.5%). Beta-blocker use was an independent predictor of mortality, with a significant relative risk reduction of 56%. The other independent predictors were age, diabetes, LV dysfunction, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and creatinine on admission. The impact of beta-blockers was significant for all classes of LV function, including patients with normal or mildly reduced ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary ACS population, we confirmed the benefits of beta-blocker use after ACS, including in patients with normal or mildly to moderately impaired LV function.

The smoker's paradox in acute coronary syndrome: Is it real?

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is associated with atherosclerotic disease, but there is controversy about its protective nature after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of smoking on the presentation, treatment and outcome of ACS. METHODS: We analyzed all consecutive patients with ACS in a single center between 2005 and 2014. Current smokers and never-smokers were compared. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and of a composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for cardiovascular causes, angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2727 patients were included, 41.7% current smokers and 58.3% never-smokers. Current smokers were younger, more often male, had fewer comorbidities, a typical clinical presentation, lower heart rate, systolic blood pressure, Killip class, BNP/NT-pro-BNP and creatinine, better left ventricular systolic function and less severe coronary anatomy. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was more common in current smokers. Current smokers received more evidence-based treatments and had less in-hospital complications, in-hospital mortality and adverse outcomes at one year. More frequent percutaneous coronary intervention at one year was noted in current smokers. Smoking was not an independent predictor of outcome when the multivariate model was fully adjusted for baseline characteristics. CONCLUSION: The smoker's paradox was not observed in this population, since all differences in outcome were explained by smokers' more benign baseline characteristics.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and spontaneous rupture of spleen.

Pathological or spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but well-recognised complication of haematological malignancies. The authors present a clinical report of a 78-year-old woman with known clinical history of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and atrial fibrillation under anticoagulation with apixaban which has spontaneous splenic rupture. Pathological examination revealed lymph node and splenic infiltration due to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The diagnosis of splenic rupture must be considered in all patients with haematological malignancies who experience acute abdomen. Given the severity, it requires a correct and timely diagnosis.

Complete atrioventricular block in acute coronary syndrome: prevalence, characterisation and implication on outcome.

PURPOSE: The aim was to characterise acute coronary syndrome patients with complete atrioventricular block and to assess the effect on outcome. METHODS: Patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome were divided according to the presence of complete atrioventricular block: group 1, with complete atrioventricular block; group 2, without complete atrioventricular block. Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic characteristics and prognosis during one year follow-up were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Among 4799 acute coronary syndrome patients admitted during the study period, 91 (1.9%) presented with complete atrioventricular block. At presentation, group 1 patients presented with lower systolic blood pressure, higher Killip class and incidence of syncope. In group 1, 86.8% presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and inferior STEMI was verified in 79.1% of patients in group 1 compared with 21.9% in group 2 ( P<0.001). Right ventricular myocardial infarction was more frequent in group 1 (3.3% vs. 0.2%; P<0.001). Among patients who underwent fibrinolysis complete atrioventricular block was observed in 7.3% in contrast to 2.5% in patients submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention ( P<0.001). During hospitalisation group 1 had worse outcomes, with a higher incidence of cardiogenic shock (33.0% vs. 4.5%; P<0.001), ventricular arrhythmias (17.6% vs. 3.6%; P<0.001) and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (25.3% vs. 5.1%; P<0.001). After a propensity score analysis, in a multivariate regression model, complete atrioventricular block was an independent predictor of hospital mortality (odds ratio 3.671; P=0.045). There was no significant difference in mortality at one-year follow-up between the study groups. CONCLUSION: Complete atrioventricular block conferred a worse outcome during hospitalisation, including a higher incidence of cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmias and death.

A rash decision. The hazards of the wrongful use of adrenaline.

Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and should be addressed urgently. Its treatment is not without side effects and an accurate diagnosis must be made to prevent potential harm by the wrongful use of medication. A 46-year-old woman with hypertension treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) presented to the emergency department with non-pitting oedema of the face and limbs. A hasty diagnosis of anaphylaxis was made and intravenous adrenaline administered. The patient developed a myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery spasm that required invasive intervention. The initial clinical picture was resolved when the ACEI was discontinued unmasking a case of ACEI-induced angioedema. The correct differentiation of these two apparently similar clinical entities is of utmost importance in the management of emergency department patients.

HIV and coronary disease - When secondary prevention is insufficient. / VIH e doença coronária ­ quando a prevenção secundária é insuficiente.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has created a new paradigm for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but their increased risk for coronary disease is well documented. We present the case of a 57-year-old man, co-infected with HIV-2 and hepatitis B virus, adequately controlled and with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, who was admitted with non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography performed on day four of hospital stay documented two-vessel disease (mid segment of the right coronary artery [RCA, 90% stenosis] and the first marginal). Two drug-eluting stents were successfully implanted. The patient was discharged under dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg/day and clopidogrel 75 mg/day) and standard coronary artery disease medication. He was admitted to the emergency room four hours after discharge with chest pain radiating to the left arm and inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was diagnosed. Coronary angiography was performed within one hour and documented thrombosis of both stents. Optical coherence tomography revealed good apposition of the stent in the RCA, with intrastent thrombus. Angioplasty was performed, with a good outcome. The acute stent thrombosis might be explained by the thrombotic potential of HIV infection and diabetes. There are no specific guidelines regarding HAART in secondary prevention of acute coronary syndromes. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for optimal management of these patients.

Metástase óssea como forma de apresentação de carcinoma hepatocelular / Bone metastasis as the presenting symptom of hepatocellular carcinoma

O carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) é o tumor maligno primário do fígado mais frequente, apresentando na maioria das vezes em doentes cirróticos. O espectro de apresentação é muito variado e as manifestações clínicas dependem da fase evolutiva da doença. A progressão local e sistémica do carcinoma hepatocelular é frequente e as metástases ósseas não são incomuns. Apesar de as metástases ósseas serem uma forma de apresentação rara de carcinoma hepatocelular, por vezes estas precedem as manifestações hepáticas pelo que o carcinoma hepatocelular deve ser incluído no diagnóstico diferencial de lesões ósseas osteolíticas. Os autores apresentam um caso clínico e uma breve revisão teórica, pela sua raridade e importância clínica, sublinhando a importância do diagnóstico diferencial de carcinoma hepatocelular um doente previamente assintomático, sem doença hepática conhecida anteriormente, com um fractura patológica...

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary malignancy of the liver, presenting most often in cirrhotic patients. The spectrum of presentation is very varied and clinical manifestations depend on the phase of the disease. The local and systemic progression of hepatocellular carcinoma is frequent and bone metastases are not uncommon. Although bone metastases are a rare form of presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma, sometimes they precede hepatic manifestations and that's way hepatocellular carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic bone lesions. The authors present a case report and a brief literature review, due to its rarity and clinical importance, stressing the importance of the differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in a previously healthy patient without previously known liver disease, with a pathological fracture...

[Acute respiratory distress syndrome: case series, two years at an intensive care unit]. / Síndrome de Dificuldade Respiratória Aguda: Casuística de Dois Anos numa Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos.

INTRODUCTION: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome has a significant incidence and mortality at Intensive Care Units. Therefore, more studies are necessary in order to develop new effective therapeutic strategies. The authors have proposed themselves to characterize Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit for 2 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an observational retrospective study of the patients filling the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome criteria from the American-European Consensus Conference on ARDS, being excluded those non invasively ventilated. Demographic data, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome etiology, comorbidities, Gravity Indices, PaO2/FiO2, ventilator modalities and programmation, pulmonary compliance, days of invasive mechanical ventilation, corticosteroids use, rescue therapies, complications, days at Intensive Care Unit and obits were searched for and were submitted to statistic description and analysis. RESULTS: A 40 patients sample was obtained, with a median age of 72.5 years (interquartile range = 22) and a female:male ratio of ≈1:1.86. Fifty five percent of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome cases had pulmonary etiology. The mean minimal PaO2/FiO2 was 88 mmHg (CI 95%: 78.5-97.6). The mean maximal applied PEEP was 12.4 cmH2O (Standard Deviation 4.12) and the mean maximal used tidal volume was 8.2 mL/ Kg ideal body weight (CI 95%: 7.7-8.6). The median invasive mechanical ventilation days was 10. Forty seven and one half percent of the patients had been administered corticosteroids and 52.5% had been submitted to recruitment maneuvers. The most frequent complication was Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (20%). The median Intensive Care Unit stay was 10.7 days (interquartile range 10.85). The fatality rate was 60%. The probability of the favorable outcome 'non-death in Intensive Care Unit' was 4.4x superior for patients who were administered corticosteroids and 11x superior for patients < 65 years old. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is associated with long hospitalization and significant mortality. New prospective studies will be necessary to endorse the potential benefit of steroid therapy and to identify the subgroups of patients that warrant its use.

Introdução: A Síndrome de Dificuldade Respiratória Aguda apresenta incidência e mortalidade significativas em Cuidados Intensivos, justificando estudos adicionais, nomeadamente para definição de novas abordagens terapêuticas. Os autores propuseram-se caracterizaros casos duma Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos em dois anos.Material e Métodos: Procedeu-se a um estudo observacional retrospectivo dos casos admitidos numa Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos, cumprindo os critérios diagnósticos da American-European Consensus Conference on ARDS, tendo sido excluídos os não ventilados invasivamente. Pesquisados e submetidos a tratamento estatístico: dados demográficos, etiologia do Síndrome de Dificuldade Respiratória Aguda, comorbilidades, Índices de Gravidade, PaO2/FiO2, modalidades e parâmetros ventilatórios, compliance pulmonar, dias de ventilação mecânica invasiva, corticoterapia, terapêuticas de resgate, complicações, duração do internamento, óbitos.Resultados: Obtiveram-se 40 doentes, com uma mediana de 72,5 anos (amplitude interquartil 22) e um ratio feminino:masculino ≈1:1,86. Cinquenta e cinco por cento dos Síndrome de Dificuldade Respiratória Aguda tiveram etiologia pulmonar. A média do PaO2/ FiO2 mínimo foi 88mm Hg (IC 95%: 78,5-97,6). A média da PEEP máxima aplicada foi 12,4 cmH2O (Desvio Padrão 4,12) e a médiado Volume Corrente máximo utilizado foi 8,2 mL/Kg peso ideal (IC 95%: 7,7-8,6). A mediana dos dias de ventilação mecânica invasiva foi 10. Em 47,5% dos doentes foram administrados corticóides. Em 52,5% foi executado recrutamento alveolar. A complicação mais frequente foi a Pneumonia Associada a Ventilação (20%). A mediana da duração do internamento foi 10,7 dias (amplitude interquartil10,85). Faleceram 60% dos doentes. A probabilidade de outcome favorável 'não óbito na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos' foi 4,4x superior nos doentes sob corticoterapia e 11x superior nos doentes com idade < 65 anos.Discussão e Conclusões: A Síndrome de Dificuldade Respiratória Aguda associa-se a internamentos prolongados e significativa mortalidade. Novos estudos prospectivos serão necessários para confirmar o benefício dos corticóides, bem como identificar o/(s) subgrupo/(s) de doentes que mais justificam a sua utilização.

Acute myocardial infarction associated with anomalous origin of coronary arteries (a rare case of origin of the left coronary artery from the ostium of the right coronary artery).

Origin of the left coronary artery from the ostium or proximal segment of the right coronary artery (single coronary artery) is a rare congenital anomaly (0.03 to 0.4%) and an unusual angiographic finding (0.6 to 1.3%). The most common congenital anomaly is separate origin of the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery from the left coronary sinus. The second most common anomaly is the origin of the circumflex artery from the right coronary sinus. We present a patient with acute inferior myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, in whom it was not possible to perform catheterization of the left coronary artery because of the absence of the ostium of the left coronary sinus. Multislice computed tomography of the coronary arteries was the tool that enabled us to visualize the origin and course of the left coronary artery.