Improving cardiovascular magnetic resonance access in low- and middle-income countries for cardiomyopathy assessment: rapid cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

AIMS: To evaluate the impact of a simplified, rapid cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) protocol embedded in care and supported by a partner education programme on the management of cardiomyopathy (CMP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Rapid CMR focused particularly on CMP was implemented in 11 centres, 7 cities, 5 countries, and 3 continents linked to training courses for local professionals. Patients were followed up for 24 months to assess impact. The rate of subsequent adoption was tracked. Five CMR conferences were delivered (920 attendees-potential referrers, radiographers, reporting cardiologists, or radiologists) and five new centres starting CMR. Six hundred and one patients were scanned. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance indications were 24% non-contrast T2* scans [myocardial iron overload (MIO)] and 72% suspected/known cardiomyopathies (including ischaemic and viability). Ninety-eighty per cent of studies were of diagnostic quality. The average scan time was 22 ± 6 min (contrast) and 12 ± 4 min (non-contrast), a potential cost/throughput reduction of between 30 and 60%. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings impacted management in 62%, including a new diagnosis in 22% and MIO detected in 30% of non-contrast scans. Nine centres continued using rapid CMR 2 years later (typically 1-2 days per week, 30 min slots). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid CMR of diagnostic quality can be delivered using available technology in LMICs. When embedded in care and a training programme, costs are lower, care is improved, and services can be sustained over time.

[Asymptomatic Chronic Stanford A Aortic Dissection after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery]. / Disección Aórtica Stanford A Crónica Asintomática Post Cirugía de Revascularización Coronaria.

Acute Stanford A aortic dissection rarely makes a transition to the chronic state naturally, due to its high mortality. We present a rare case of chronic Stanford A aortic dissection post surgery, in a patient who remained stable for more than 1 year, and subsequently presented chest pain.

INCA (Peru) Study: Impact of Non-Invasive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Assessment in the Developing World.

Background Advanced cardiac imaging permits optimal targeting of cardiac treatment but needs to be faster, cheaper, and easier for global delivery. We aimed to pilot rapid cardiac magnetic resonance ( CMR ) with contrast in a developing nation, embedding it within clinical care along with training and mentoring. Methods and Results A cross-sectional study of CMR delivery and clinical impact assessment performed 2016-2017 in an upper middle-income country. An International partnership (clinicians in Peru and collaborators from the United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, and Colombia) developed and tested a 15-minute CMR protocol in the United Kingdom, for cardiac volumes, function and scar, and delivered it with reporting combined with training, education and mentoring in 2 centers in the capital city, Lima, Peru, 100 patients referred by local doctors from 6 centers. Management changes related to the CMR were reviewed at 12 months. One-hundred scans were conducted in 98 patients with no complications. Final diagnoses were cardiomyopathy (hypertrophic, 26%; dilated, 22%; ischemic, 15%) and 12 other pathologies including tumors, congenital heart disease, iron overload, amyloidosis, genetic syndromes, vasculitis, thrombi, and valve disease. Scan cost was $150 USD, and the average scan duration was 18±7 minutes. Findings impacted management in 56% of patients, including previously unsuspected diagnoses in 19% and therapeutic management changes in 37%. Conclusions Advanced cardiac diagnostics, here CMR with contrast, is possible using existing infrastructure in the developing world in 18 minutes for $150, resulting in important changes in patient care.

Ruptura de músculo papilar antero lateral por endocarditis local: Presentación inusual de la endocarditis de válvula nativa / Rupture of the anterolateral papillary muscle due to focal infective endocarditis: An unusual presentation of native valve endocarditis

Se presenta en caso de un varón de 55 años con diagnóstico de insuficiencia mitral severa por ruptura de músculo papilar; los hallazgos operatorios mostraron vegetaciones múltiples en la cabeza del musculo papilar anterolateral con ruptura total del mismo y velos valvulares normales. La histopatología mostró infiltrado inflamatorio polimorfonuclear en el tejido endocárdico y miocárdico, además vegetaciones fibrinosas en la superficie del musculo papilar, el cultivo del tejido resultó positivo a K. pneumoniae, concluyéndose como endocarditis aislada por infección directa del músculo papilar. El paciente recibió tratamiento antibiótico por seis semanas y fue dado de alta a los 45 días del ingreso con grado funcional. (AU)

We report the case of a 55-year old male patient diagnosed of severe mitral valve insufficiency due to rupture of the papilar muscle. Surgical findings included multiple vegetations on the head of the antero-lateral papilar muscle with complete rupture of it and abnormal valve veils. Histoptahology revealed polymorphonuclear infiltrate on the endocardic and myocardic tissues, and fibrinous vegetations on the surface of the papilar muscle. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the papilar muscle. The patient received 6-weeks of treatment and was discharged after 45 days of being admitted with functional class. (AU)