Transcatheter Closure of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defects Using Different Generations of Amplatzer Devices: Multicenter Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate safety and efficacy of using different generations of softer Amplatzer™ devices for ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure to avoid serious complications at follow-up. BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSD) is a well-established procedure; however, it is associated with unacceptable incidence of complete heart block. Great advantages have been achieved by using softer devices for VSD transcatheter closure. The first and second generation of Amplatzer™ occluders (AVP II, ADO, and ADO II) seem to offer a safe and attractive alternative for this procedure. These devices can be delivered using either an arterial (retrograde) or venous (prograde) approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with congenital PmVSD who underwent transcatheter closure using ADO, ADO II, and AVP II devices were included. Primary end point was to determine efficacy and safety of these generations of devices and to determine the incidence of complications at follow-up (complete AV block and aortic/tricuspid/mitral regurgitation). One hundred and nineteen patients underwent VSD closure at a median age of 5 years (8 months-54 years). During the catheterization, there were only minor complications and at follow-up of 36 ± 25.7 months (up to 99 months), the closure rate was high of 98.3% and freedom from AV block was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of softer Amplatzer™ devices is a good alternative to achieve PmVSD closure safely with no risk of AVB during the procedure or at midterm follow-up.

Itraconazole or allopurinol in the treatment of chronic American trypanosomiasis: the regression and prevention of electrocardiographic abnormalities during 9 years of follow-up.

Several drugs are now known to have useful activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of human American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease). However, the long-term effects of chemotherapy on the electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities associated with this disease have only been assessed for benznidiazole. In the present study, the ECG changes in 299 cases of chronic Chagas disease were followed for 9 years after treatment with itraconazole (N = 136) or allopurinol (N = 163). Among the 97 cases who were found to have ECG abnormalities immediately prior to their treatment, the two drugs appeared equally effective, such abnormalities being corrected in 23 (50%) of the 46 cardiopathy cases given itraconazole and 25 (49%) of the 51 given allopurinol (P > 0.05). Both of these 'cure rates' are much higher than the 8.1% frequency of abnormal-normal conversion observed among 198 'historical controls' (i.e. cases of chronic Chagas disease who had been left untreated; P < 0.05). Itraconazole appeared better than allopurinol at preventing the development of cardiopathy in the cases who appeared electrocardiographically normal at baseline. Among 202 such cases, only two (2.2%) of the 90 treated with itraconazole but 28 (25.0%) of the 112 given allopurinol were found to have developed ECG abnormalities during follow-up (P < 0.05). Therefore, although itraconazole and allopurinol are equally effective at reversing ECG alterations, itraconazole offers better protection against the development of new ECG abnormalities among those with chronic Chagas disease.

O marca-passo cardíaco artificial permanente em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca / Permanent cardiac artificial pacemaker in patients subjected to heart surgery

Entre 1971 e 1985, o implante de marca-passo cardíaco artificial permanente (MPCAP) foi necessário em 38 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca (CC). A cardiopatia que motivou CC era congênita em 9 e adquirida em 29 pacientes (valvar em 17, isquêmica em 11 e miocardiopatias em 1) e a arritmia que requereu implante do MPCAP foi diagnosticada, no pré-operatório, em 5 pacientes, ocorreu por trauma cirúrgico em 19 e manifestou-se tardiamente em 14 pacientes. A técnica de implante do MPCAP foi a transvenosa em 20 e transtorácica em 18. Originalmente, foi utilizada a estimulaçäo ventricular de demanda em 37 procedimentos e um paciente recebeu MPCAP atrioventricular seqüencial. Näo ocorreram óbitos durante o implante de MPCAP simultâneo (n=10) ou posterior (n=28) à CC, mas, tardiamente, 3 pacientes faleceram, sendo dois por insuficiência cardíaca congestiva e outro por arritmia ventricular. O acompanhamento pós-operatório mostrou diversos eventos implicando em nova CC, reprogramaçäo ou reimplante de MPCAP, mas a evoluçäo clínica tem sido satisfatória para os pacientes sobreviventes. Concluiu-se que a associaçäo de CC e MPCAP contribuiu para uma sobrevivência adequada, resguardadas, a necessidade de um acompanhamento pós-operatório criterioso e a versatilidade nas técnicas e modos de estimulaçäo cardíaca artificial

[Use of a temporal cardiac pacemaker in patients undergoing a major non-cardiac surgery]. / Empleo del marcapaso cardiaco temporal en pacientes sometidos a procedimiento de cirugia mayor no cardiaca.

This is a report of the use of transvenous temporal pacemaker in 18 patients, with an average age of 59.3 years, that under want non cardiac major surgery. They did not have cardiac simptoms but had conduction abnormalities in the preoperative electrocardiogram. A pacemaker was implanted as a prophylaxis against arrythmia during the transoperative and postoperative periods. There was no incidence of transoperative arrythmia. Three patients died in the immediate postoperative period, two due to duffuse carcinomatosis and one due to diabetic acidosis. The average duration of the implanted pacemaker was 12.7 days, and three patients required a permanent pacemaker. Case five is exemplificative of the benefits of the temporal pacemaker, he had a preoperative electrocardiogram showing trifascicular block, he was taken to the operating room and anesthesia was induced, the patient had a cardiac arrest but recovered without secuela; latter on a temporal pacemaker was inserted and the patient had surgery without cardiac problems.