Heart failure surgery in Brazil.

Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil as in other western countries. The authors review the experience with heart transplantation in the country based on 835 patients showing that the most frequent indication was idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy followed by ischemic and Chagas disease cardiomyopathy. Early mortality was higher than other series and differently from literature, age and gender had no influence in survival. Unexpectedly, Chagas disease had better results. In regard to palliative surgical procedures it is made an analysis of the results literature of cardiomyoplasty in Brazil and South America comparing with data from literature. Following, it is reviewed the experience with ventriculectomy, showing its benefits and limitations and finally, correction of mitral insufficiency in cardiomyopathy, through valvoplasty or replacement, is considered. In summary, it is shown that palliative procedures can lead to improvement of clinical condition and ventricular function but are limited by recurrence of heart failure or sudden death.

Surgical treatment of anomalous coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery.

Anomalous coronary arteries arising from the pulmonary trunk is a rare but potentially fatal condition. We report the clinical presentation, surgical treatment and long-term follow-up of seven surgical cases of anomalous left coronary and one case of anomalous right coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery. Age ranged from 7 months to 13 years (average: 5.09+/-3.7 years) and weight ranged from 7 to 50 kg (average: 19.9+/-8.8 kg). Follow-up was 100% complete: average 78 months (S.D.: 52.7 months). Direct reimplantation was the surgical technique in six cases, Takeuchi procedure in one case and subclavian artery interposition in one case. Concomitant mitral valve repair was undertaken in two cases. In two children the coronary artery anomaly was diagnosed and treated only after a first surgery for other congenital heart anomaly. Left ventricle ejection fraction was restored in those cases of pre-operative dysfunction. Mortality was not observed and all children are asymtomatic and free of reoperation.

Cardiac tamponade caused by central venous catheter in two newborns.

Cardiac tamponade secondary to the use of central venous catheter is a rare complication; however, it is potentially reversible when it is caught in time. We report two cases of cardiac tamponade that was diagnosed using a transthoracic echocardiography, followed by urgent pericardiocentesis and surgical pericardial drainage as a complication from umbilical venous catheterization. In one case, the tip of the catheter was properly placed, and in the other case, it was not. In both cases, a hyperosmolar solution was being injected. Although it may be an uncommon situation, it should be always considered as a possibility in a newborn who develops cardiogenic shock without an apparent cause.

Mid-to-long term follow-up after surgical repair of atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction and ventricular shunting associated with tetralogy of Fallot.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim is to describe our surgical approach in dealing with patients having atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction and ventricular shunting associated with tetralogy of Fallot over the last 8 years, and to present our results in mid-to-long term follow-up. METHODS: Between November 1995 and January 2004, we performed surgical correction in 8 consecutive children with atrioventricular septal defect, common atrioventricular junction, interventricular shunting, and associated tetralogy of Fallot. The age at surgical correction varied from 8 months to 20 years, with a mean of 45 months, and standard deviation of 74 months. A palliative systemic-to-pulmonary shunt had previously been performed in 3 patients. Follow-up ranged from 57 to 135 months, with a mean of 93.5 months, and standard deviation of 32 months. We used a two-patch technique to repair of the atrioventricular septal defect, and a pericardial transjunctional patch for relief of the obstruction in the right ventricular outflow tract. RESULTS: There were no deaths, nor reoperations either in the postoperative period or during follow-up. All patients are asymptomatic, or in the second class created by the New York Heart Association. The mean period of cardiopulmonary by-pass was 136 minutes, and the mean stay in hospital was 11.8 days. At the last examination, pulmonary valvar insufficiency was considered severe in 2 patients, and moderate in another 2. No patient developed more than a trace of regurgitation across the reconstituted left atrioventricular valve. CONCLUSIONS: The two-patch technique, associated with ventriculotomy and a transjunctional pulmonary patch is safe and efficient when correcting atrioventricular septal defect associated with tetralogy of Fallot, resulting in good mid-to-long term clinical outcomes.

Surgical treatment of complete atrioventricular septal defect with the two-patch technique: early-to-mid follow-up.

We report our results on surgical treatment of complete atrioventricular septal defects using the two-patch technique. Forty patients with complete atrioventricular septal defects were operated on in the period from November 1995 to January 2004 and retrospectively analyzed. The age at the time of surgery ranged from 4 months to 20 years (average=18.8+/-37 months). Their weights ranged from 3 to 39 kg (average=7.6+/-5.8 kg). Associated tetralogy of Fallot was present in 20% of the cases (8 patients). Monitoring was complete until January 2007, corresponding to a follow-up ranging from 36 to 135 months (average=74+/-33.7 months). The surgical mortality rate was 2.5% and the hospital mortality rate was 5%. A third patient died from a brain abscess two years after surgery. Over the long-term, two patients needed further operations: one was submitted to mitral plasty due to severe residual mitral insufficiency, one year later; the other underwent a resection of a sub-aortic membrane after three years. Differences were evaluated using the Student-t or Mann-Whitney tests. Surgical treatment of complete atrioventricular septal defect using the two-patch technique results in low morbidity and mortality in early-to-mid term follow-up.

Minimally invasive thoracotomy (muscle-sparing thoracotomy) for occlusion of ligamentum arteriosum (ductus arteriosus) in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the feasibility, the safety, and the primary outcomes of a minimally invasive thoracotomy for the occlusion of ligamentum arteriosum (ductus arteriosus) in preterm infants. METHODS: Between October 1991 and June 2003, 273 preterm infants and very low birth weight preterm infants were submitted to a surgical occlusion of the ligamentum arteriosum (ductus arteriosus) through muscle-sparing thoracotomy under general anesthesia in the neonatal ICU. Pre-operative demographic data, mortality outcomes, and adverse events were retrospectively analyzed through medical records consultation. RESULTS: There were no deaths related to surgery, and 234 (86%) patients were discharged from hospital. Thirty-nine deaths have occurred between the 1st and the 51st days. The cause of death was sepsis (14 patients); intracranial bleeding (11 patients); and necrotizing enterocolitis (9 patients). All causes were related to prematurity. In five patients the cause of death was not established or could not be found in the medical records. The most frequent adverse events related to the surgery were: pneumothorax: 3.3% (9 patients), bleeding: 1.4% (4 patients). CONCLUSIONS: The minimally invasive thoracotomy technique for the occlusion of the ligamentum arteriosum (ductus arteriosus) when performed in preterm infants and very low birth weight infants is feasible, safe, efficient, related to low morbidity, and not dependent of hospital resources.

Tamponamento cardíaco em dois recém-nascidos causado por cateter umbilical / Cardiac tamponade caused by central venous catheter in two newborns

Tamponamento cardíaco secundário ao uso de cateter venoso central é uma complicação rara, porém potencialmente tratável, quando identificada a tempo. Nós relatamos dois casos de tamponamento cardíaco, diagnosticados por ecocardiograma transtorácico, seguido de pericardiocentese de urgência e drenagem pericárdica cirúrgica como complicação de cateterização venosa umbilical. Em um caso, a ponta do cateter estava adequadamente localizada e, no outro caso, não. Em ambos os casos, solução hiperosmolar estava sendo infundida. Apesar de situação incomum, esta deve ser sempre considerada em neonato, evoluindo com choque cardiogênico sem causa aparente.

Cardiac tamponade secondary to the use of central venous catheter is a rare complication; however, it is potentially reversible when it is caught in time. We report two cases of cardiac tamponade that was diagnosed using a transthoracic echocardiography, followed by urgent pericardiocentesis and surgical pericardial drainage as a complication from umbilical venous catheterization. In one case, the tip of the catheter was properly placed, and in the other case, it was not. In both cases, a hyperosmolar solution was being injected. Although it may be an uncommon situation, it should be always considered as a possibility in a newborn who develops cardiogenic shock without an apparent cause.

Toracotomia minimamente invasiva (miopreservadora) para ligadura do canal arterial em prematuros / Minimally invasive thoracotomy (muscle-sparing thoracotomy) for occlusion of ductus arteriosus in preterm infants

Objetivo: Avaliar a aplicabilidade, segurança e resultados iniciais da toracotomia minimamente invasiva para ligadura do canal arterial em prematuros. Métodos: Entre outubro de 1991 e julho de 2003, 273 prematuros e prematuros extremos foram submetidos à ligadura cirúrgica do canal arterial por toracotomia miopreservadora, com anestesia geral, em UTI neonatal...

Tratamento cirúrgico da endocardite valvar do alto risco / Surgical treatment of high risk valvar endocarditis

Os autores estudaram os resultados, a curto e a longo prazo, do tratamento cirúrgico da endocardite infecciosa, na sua fase ativa, em 33 pacientes considerados de alto risco e portadores de lesäo orovalvar. A idade dos pacientes variou de 2 a 68 anos, 18 eram do sexo masculino e 22 pertenciam a raça branca. Dos 33 pacientes, 26 tinham lesäo orovalvar conhecida, sendo de natureza reumática em 20, prolapso da valva mitral em três e valva aórtica bicúspide em três. Em quatro casos näo foi evidenciada doença cardíaca prévia. A valva mais freqüentemente acometida foi aórtica com 18 casos (54,5%), seguida da mitral com 13 (39,3%) e da tricúspide com dois (6,0%). Do ponto de vista clínico, observou-se que 23 (69,7%) estavam na classe funcional III e sete (21,0%) na classe funcional IV. O estudo näo invasivo destes pacientes mostrou que 13 casos (39,4%) apresentavam área cardíaca normal. O eletrocardiograma se mostrou anormal em 27 casos (81,8%) predominando os padröes de sobrecarga atrial e ventricular esquerdas. O estudo ecocardiográfico revelou a presença de vegetaçöes em 28 pacientes (84,8%) e as hemoculturas se mostraram positivas em 24 casos (72,7%)

Modificaçöes da afinidade da hemoglobina do sangue venoso pelo oxigênio e da fosfatemia no curso da circulaçäo extracorpórea / Changes of affinity of hemoglobin, in venous blood due to oxigen and phosphatenia during extracorporeal circulation

As alteraçöes da afinidade da hemoglobina (Hb) pelo oxigênio (O2) e o comportamento da fosfatemia induzidos pela circulaçäo extracorpórea (CEC) foram avaliados em crianças, no curso da correçäo para cardiopatias congênitas e reumáticas. A afinidade do sangue pelo O2 foi estimada pela determinaçäo do PO250 (pressäo parcial de O2 que satura o sangue 50%) do sangue venoso, calculado a partir da equaçäo de Lichtman, e obtidas seriadamente antes, durante e após a CEC. Paralelamente, a fosfatemia foi determinada. Foram observadas diminuiçäo significativa do nível da PO250 até 24ª hora de pós operatório e queda progressiva da fosfatemia durante a CEC com elevaçäo gradativa posterior, permanecendo significativa até o nível da 12ª hora de pós operatório. Os autores discutem os diversos fatores envolvidos no desvio da curva de dissociaçäo da oxihemoglobina, destacando-se a hipotermia na CEC, o uso do sangue citratado do perfusato e a diminuiçäo da fosfatemia. É enfatizado novamente que se devem evitar os fatores que desviem a curva de dissociaçäo da oxihemoglobina para a esquerda, por seus efeitos adversos na oxigenaçäo tissular. O uso do fósforo no perfusato ainda é prematuro inferir por este trabalho

Manuseio do canal arterial patente no prematuro com síndrome de angústia respiratória: ligadura ou indometacina? / Management of persistent ductus arteriosus in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome: ligation or indomethacin?

A presença de canal arterial patente (PCA) com grande shunt sistêmico-pulmonar no prematuro com síndrome de angústia respiratória (SAR) está quase sempre associada a insuficiência cardíaca, displasia bronco pulmonar, enterocolite necrotizante, hemorragia intracraniana e morte. A ligadura do canal melhora a complacência pulmonar, reduz, significativamente, o tempo de assistência ventilatória e melhora o estado geral do paciente. Depois da introduçao, nesta última década, da indometacina para a interrupçao do PCA, no prematuro, vários estudos vêm procurando estabelecer as vantagens de uma forma de tratamento sobre a outra. O propósito do nosso estudo é comparar os resultados obtidos em 48 pacientes (pts) (Grupo 1) submetidos a ligadura cirúrgica, nos últimos 8 anos, com 28 pts. (Grupo 2) nos quais a indometacina foi, preferentemente, utilizada. A idade gestacional média do Grupo 1 foi de 29,13 + 2,33 semanas (24-34) e de 28,39 + 2,30 semanas (25-32) no Grupo 2. O peso médio foi de 954,17 + 220,68 g (540-1750 g) no Grupo 1 e de 923,21 + 191,74 g (550-1400 g) no Grupo 2. Trinta e três (60,75 por cento) dos pts. do Grupo 1 eram menores do que 1000 g (prematuros extremos), enquanto que 21 do Grupo 2 (75,0 por cento) estavam nessa condiçao. Nove pacientes (32,1 por cento) do Grupo 2 foram transferidos para o Grupo 1, devido ao insucesso da terapêutica com a indometacina, ou pela intolerância às doses indicadas. A ligadura foi realizada na própria unidade de terapia intensiva em 31 pts. (64,5 por cento). A técnica empregada tem sido a de uma toracotomia póstero-lateral pequena, com preservaçao dos músculos do tórax e abertura pelo 3( ou 4( espaço intercostal. Por via extrapleural, o canal é alcançado e ligado com dois clips metálicos, inicialmente, o tórax era rotineiramente drenado, apenas quando havia abertura da pleura. Mais recentemente, mesmo com a pleura aberta, somente sao drenados os casos que apresentam pneumotórax prévio, ou entao sangramento excessivo. A mortalidade no Grupo 1 foi de 18,75 por cento (9 pts.) e, no Grupo 2, de 25,0 por cento (7 pts.). Quatro pacientes do Grupo 2 transferidos para o Grupo 1 faleceram. As causas de óbito no Grupo 1 foram sépsis e hemorragia intracraniana; no Grupo 2, sépsis, enterocolite necrotizante com perfuraçao localizada, hemorragia intracraniana e pneumotórax. Nos dois grupos, a mortalidade foi significantemente maior nos prematuros extremos. A despeito dos problemas de comparaçao entre os 2 grupos e das conclusoes limitadas que podem ser retiradas de um estudo retrospectivo e nao randomizaçao, acreditamos que os resultados da ligadura cirurgica sao nitidamente superiores aos obtidos com o uso da indometacina.