Arterial lactate levels and their prognostic value in patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

Objective: Evaluate the change of lactate levels and its prognostic role in the postoperative period of patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Methods: Retrospective study between 2001 and 2019. Patients older than 18 years and who underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy were included. The U Mann Whitney test was performed to evaluate the change between lactate levels, and Cox regression analysis to evaluate the relationship with mortality. Areas under the curve were constructed for lactate levels. Results: Seventy-three patients were operated on during the study period. Median age was 51 years, 55% female. The median lactate on days 1 was 4.65 mml/L and on day 2 it was 1.62 mml/L with a change of 2.87 mml/L. No differences were found between the levels measured on day 1 and 2 between the people who died and those who did not on day 30. In the multivariate regression of COX, no relationship with mortality was found. The area under the curve shows regular performance on both day 1 and day 2 in predicting mortality outcomes. Conclusions: The behavior of the lactate in patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy shows a rapid change during the first hours after the procedure. No role was found as a predictor of mortality neither in-hospital nor in follow-up.

Objetivo: Evaluar el cambio de los niveles de lactato y su rol pronóstico en el posoperatorio de pacientes sometidos a tromboendarterectomía pulmonar. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo entre 2001 y 2019. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años que fueron sometidos a tromboendarterectomía pulmonar. Para evaluar el cambio entre los niveles de lactato se realizó la prueba de U Mann Whitney. Para evaluar la relación con la mortalidad se realizó un análisis multivariado de Cox. Se construyeron áreas bajo la curva para los niveles de lactato. Resultados: . Setenta y tres pacientes fueron operados durante el período de estudio. La mediana de edad fue de 51 años, 55% mujeres. La mediana de lactato en el día 1 fue de 4,65 mmL/L y en el día 2 fue de 1,62 mmL/L con un cambio de 2,87 mmL/L. No se encontraron diferencias entre los niveles medidos el día 1 y 2 entre las personas que murieron y las que no al día 30 hospitalario. En la regresión multivariada de COX no se encontró relación con la mortalidad. El área bajo la curva muestra un desempeño regular tanto en el día 1 como en el día 2 para predecir el resultado de la mortalidad en especial intrahospitalaria. Conclusiones: El comportamiento del lactato en pacientes sometidos a tromboendarterectomía pulmonar muestra un cambio rápido durante las primeras horas posteriores al procedimiento. No se encontró que sea un predictor de mortalidad ni hospitalaria ni durante el seguimiento.

Impacto de COVID-19 en la enfermedad cardiovascular / Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular disease

Resumen La enfermedad por coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) es una enfermedad infecciosa cuya sintomatología inicial, en la mayoría de las ocasiones, se manifiesta con compromiso del tracto respiratorio. El virus que causa dicha enfermedad se denomina síndrome respiratorio agudo severo por coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Si bien la manifestación grave más frecuente de la infección parece ser la neumonía, se han documentado diversas implicaciones cardiovasculares. Las personas que cursan con dicha infección y que tienen una enfermedad cardiovascular preexistente tienen un riesgo mayor de cuadros graves y mortalidad. Existen asociaciones directas o indirectas de la infección con injuria miocárdica, arritmias, enfermedad tromboembólica venosa y miocarditis. Los tratamientos en investigación pueden tener efectos adversos en el sistema eléctrico del corazón; además, algunos medicamentos de uso crónico (como los inhibidores del sistema renina angiotensina aldosterona) se les ha otorgado un polémico papel en la virulencia del microorganismo. La alta demanda en atención en salud que requieren los pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV 2 puede comprometer la asistencia de pacientes cardiovasculares sin dicha infección y dejar en riesgo de exposición al personal sanitario. Se presenta una revisión sobre los aspectos más llamativos donde estas dos condiciones interaccionan.

Abstract Coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease which initial symptoms, in most cases, manifest with respiratory tract compromise. The virus that causes said disease is called severe acute respiratory syndrome by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV 2), although the most frequent serious manifestation of the infection appears to be pneumonia, various implications have been documented from the cardiovascular point of view. People who have this infection and a pre-existing cardiovascular disease have an increased risk of severe symptoms and mortality. There are direct or indirect associations of the infection with myocardial injury, arrhythmias, venous thromboembolic disease and myocarditis. Investigational treatments may have adverse effects on the heart's electrical system. In addition, some medications of chronic use (such as renin angiotensin aldosterone systeminhibitors), have been given a controversial role in the virulence of the organism. The high demand in health care required by patients infected with SARS-CoV 2 can compromise the care of cardiovascular patients without said infection, in addition to leaving healthcare personal at risk of exposure. Therefore, a review is presented on the most striking aspects where these two conditions interact.

[High-risk electrocardiographic patterns in Patients with acute coronary syndrome]. / Patrones electrocardiográficos de alto riesgo en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo.

Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in the world and the electrocardiogram remains the diagnostic tool for determining an acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation. In spite of this, only half of the patients present classic electrocardiogram findings compatible with the ST-elevation infarction criteria. There is a spectrum of electrocardiographic findings that may reflect a phenomenon of acute coronary occlusion, which should be promptly recognized by the clinician to offer early reperfusion therapy.

La persistencia de delirium a los 3 meses del egreso de los pacientes ancianos hospitalizados en una clínica universitaria / Persistent Delirium in Elderly patients Three Months After Hospital Discharge from a University Clinic

RESUMEN Objetivos: El delirium es muy prevalente entre los pacientes ancianos con enfermedad general. Si no se revierte en el momento del alta hospitalaria, se lo considera «delirium persistente¼ (DP). El propósito del estudio es describir la prevalencia y las características de los pacientes con DP 3 meses después del egreso hospitalario de la Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana (CUB). Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo longitudinal para evaluar la prevalencia y las características de los pacientes de 65 o más arios del servicio de hospitalización de la CUB que cumplieran criterios de delirium del DSM-5 al ingreso, el egreso y 3 meses después. Se determinaron las variables sociodemográficas y se aplicaron las escalas CGI-S y DRS-R98. Resultados: Se evaluó a 30 pacientes con diagnóstico de delirium con interconsulta por psiquiatría de enlace entre abril y octubre de 2013, y se excluyó a 6 por no cumplir los criterios de inclusión. Se incluyó en el estudio a 24 pacientes, de los que 9 fallecieron durante la hospitalización (37,5%). De los 15 sobrevivientes, 5 (el 20,8% de la muestra) presentaron remisión del delirium al egreso y 10 (41,6%) continuaron con síntomas y conformaron el grupo de DP. Del grupo de DP, 5 (20,8%) presentaron DP completo y los otros 5 (20,8%), DP subsindrómico (DPSS). A los 3 meses del egreso, solo 2 pacientes (8,3%) continuaron con DP completo y otros 2 (8,3%), con DPSS. En el grupo de pacientes con DP, la prevalencia fue del 30% (diagnóstico de delirium al ingreso) y una incidencia del 70% (aparición del delirium durante la hospitalización). Conclusiones: Un grupo importante de pacientes con delirium continúan sintomáticos 3 meses después del alta. El 40% de los pacientes con síntomas persistentes en el seguimiento a 3 meses indica una trayectoria de mejoría gradual del delirium, lo cual tiene implicaciones en la práctica clínica.

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of patients with persistent delirium (PD) at three months after hospital discharge. Methodology: Longitudinal descriptive study to assess the prevalence and characteristics of in-patients aged 65 years and older in the Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana who met DSM-5 criteria for delirium at admission, at discharge, and at a 3-month follow up assessment. Socio-demographic features were determined, and CGI-S and DRS-R98 scales used. Results: A total of 30 patients were evaluated between April and October 2013, but 6 did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. The study included 24 patients, with 9 (37.5%) dying during hospitalisation. Of the 15 surviving patients, five (20.8% of the total sample) had their delirium resolved at discharge, and ten (41.6% of the sample) continued with symptoms. These established the PD group, of whom five of them (20.8%) had full PD, and the other five (20.8%) sub-syndromal PD (SSPD). At the final assessment, only two patients (8.3%) continued with full PD, and another two (8.3%) with SSPD. Among the PD group, 30% had a full delirium at admission (prevalence), and 70% developed full delirium during hospitalization (incidence). Conclusions: A significant number of patients did not recover from delirium at leaving hospital, and remained symptomatic three months after discharge. The study findings suggest a course of gradual improvement of delirium, with a persistence of symptoms over time in 40% of the patients, which would have implications for the clinical practice.

Persistent Delirium in Elderly patients Three Months After Hospital Discharge from a University Clinic. / La persistencia de delirium a los 3 meses del egreso de los pacientes ancianos hospitalizados en una clínica universitaria.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of patients with persistent delirium (PD) at three months after hospital discharge. METHODOLOGY: Longitudinal descriptive study to assess the prevalence and characteristics of in-patients aged 65 years and older in the Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana who met DSM-5 criteria for delirium at admission, at discharge, and at a 3-month follow up assessment. Socio-demographic features were determined, and CGI-S and DRS-R98 scales used. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were evaluated between April and October 2013, but 6 did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. The study included 24 patients, with 9 (37.5%) dying during hospitalisation. Of the 15 surviving patients, five (20.8% of the total sample) had their delirium resolved at discharge, and ten (41.6% of the sample) continued with symptoms. These established the PD group, of whom five of them (20.8%) had full PD, and the other five (20.8%) sub-syndromal PD (SSPD). At the final assessment, only two patients (8.3%) continued with full PD, and another two (8.3%) with SSPD. Among the PD group, 30% had a full delirium at admission (prevalence), and 70% developed full delirium during hospitalization (incidence). CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients did not recover from delirium at leaving hospital, and remained symptomatic three months after discharge. The study findings suggest a course of gradual improvement of delirium, with a persistence of symptoms over time in 40% of the patients, which would have implications for the clinical practice.