Cardiac rehabilitation in Latin America.

This article provides a description of the status of cardiovascular (CV) rehabilitation (CVR) in Latin America (LA) and the potential impact on CV disease in the region. We discuss the insufficient number of CVR programs in the region and describe the components of CVR that are more commonly available, like exercise interventions, medical assessment and patient education. Additionally, we discuss the heterogeneity in other components, like the evaluation of depression, sleep apnea, and smoking cessation programs. Lastly, we provide a brief review on the main characteristics of the health systems of each country regarding access to CVR programs and compare the average cost of CV procedures and treatments with CVR.

Insuficiência tricúspide severa por infarto do músculo papilar anterior do ventrículo direito secundário à hipóxia neonatal / Critical tricuspid insufficiency due to papillary muscle infarction of the right ventricle in a distressed newborn infant

Os autores relatam um caso fatal de insuficiência tricúspide severa observada no período neonatal, devida a infarto do músculo papilar anterior do ventrículo direito (VD), secundário à hipóxia. Logo após o nascimento o bebê necessitou de manobras de ressuscitaçäo e, ao exame do precórdio, havia sopro sistólico. O exame ecocardiográfico evidenciou falta de coaptaçäo do folheto anterior da válvula. O exame macroscópico do coraçäo revelou ruptura da corda tendínea entre os folhetos anterior e posterior e a microscopia mostrou, nesta área, necrose e depósito de cálcio. A anóxia no período perinatal, na maioria dos casos, leva a alteraçöes cardíacas transitórias, mas em alguns, pode ser fatal e, por isso, é importante a avaliaçäo cardiológica em todos os recém-nascidos com sofrimento prolongado

A fatal case of a stressed newborn baby who developed tricuspid insufficiency due to an anterior papillary muscle infarction of the right-ventricle, related to perinatal anoxia is reported. The baby needed resuscitation management and had a systolic murmur soon after birth. The echocardiographic examination showed aflail anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve due to an avulsed anterior papillary muscle. There was rupture of chordae tendineae between anterior and posterior leaflet. Necrosis and calcinum deposit were found in the area. The conclusion was that the anoxia in perinatal period, in most cases, causes transient lesions, but infew cases might be severe and fatal. It is important a complete cardiac evaluation in every case of prolonged perinatal stress