Resultados de un programa de cuidados paliativos en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada en etapa final de vida / Results of a palliative care program in patients with advanced heart failure in the end-of-life stage

Introducción: La prevalencia de la insuficiencia cardiaca se encuentra en aumento, manifestándose en la fase avanzada (ICA) con síntomas invalidantes. Las exacerbaciones, las internaciones frecuentes y la elevada morbimortalidad son condiciones para ser asistidas por cuidados paliativos. Se diseñó un programa de cuidados paliativos cardiológicos (CPC) para monitorear síntomas, profundizar la comunicación, determinar directivas anticipadas y adecuar el esfuerzo terapéutico. El objetivo del estudio fue comparar la asistencia de pacientes fallecidos por ICA, antes y después de un programa de CPC. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional y comparativo. Se ofreció CPC a pacientes con ICA y se comparó con grupo control que no ingresó al programa por falta de disponibilidad (preCPC). En el análisis estadístico se evaluaron las variables categóricas mediante pruebas no paramétricas y las continuas comparadas mediante la prueba de U de Mann-Whithey. Resultados: Ingresaron 77 pacientes en preCPC y 65 al programa CPC. Tenían características poblacionales similares: edad (mediana) 75 años, género masculino: 70 %. Se registró una disminución de la duración (27,3 vs. 7,2 días; p < 0,001) y del número de internaciones (2,64 vs. 1,51; p < 0,001) a favor del grupo CPC. Las intervenciones invasivas los últimos 5 días de vida predominan en preCPC: asistencia ventilatoria mecánica (52,7 vs. 7,8 %; p < 0,001), hemodiálisis (41 vs. 5,5 %; p < 0,001), reanimación cardiopulmonar (88,2 vs. 11 %; p < 0,001), acceso vascular central (75,7 vs. 26,5 %, p < 0,01) y uso de inotrópicos (70,5 vs. 20 %; p < 0,001). Las intervenciones no invasivas o de confort predominaron en CPC: sedación paliativa (3 vs. 25 %), uso de opioides (35 vs. 58,3 %), desconexión de cardiodesfibrilador (0 vs. 37,5 %) y directrices de no reanimación cardiopulmonar (3 vs. 77 %; p < 0,001). La mortalidad en sectores de cuidados críticos predomina en preCPC (51 vs. 26 %; p < 0,005). (AU)

Introduction: The prevalence of heart failure is on the rise. In its advanced stage (AHF) the condition manifests with incapacitating symptoms. Exacerbations, frequent admissions, and high morbidity and mortality represent conditions amenable to palliative care. A cardiology palliative care (CPC) program was designed to monitor symptoms, deepen communication, establish advanced directives, and adjust therapeutic efforts. The goal of the study was to compare the care of patients who died from AHF before and after CPC program implementation. Material and methods: This was an observational, comparative study. CPC was offered to patients with AHF, and these subjects were compared to a control group without CPC because of unavailability (preCPC). In the statistical analysis categorical variables were evaluated using non-parametric tests. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whithey U-test. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included in the preCPC group, and 65 in the CPC group. They all had similar demographic characteristics: age (median), 75 years; male gender, 70 %. A decrease in duration (27.3 vs. 7.2; p < 0.001) and in number of hospital admissions (2.64 vs. 1.51; p < 0.001) was found in the CPC group as compared to the control group. Invasive procedures within the final 5 days of life predominated in the preCPC group; assisted mechanical ventilation (52.7 % vs. 7.8 %; p < 0.001), hemodialysis (41 % vs. 5.5 %; p < 0.001), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (88.2 % vs. 11 %; p < 0.001), central vascular access (75.7 % vs. 26.5 %, p < 0.01), and use of inotropics (70.5 % vs. 20 %; p < 0.001). Non-invasive, comfort interventions predominated in the CPC group: palliative sedation (3 % vs. 25 %), opioid use (35 % vs. 58.3 %), deactivation of implantable cardiac defibrillator (0 vs. 37,5 %), and do-not-resuscitate orders (3 % vs. 77 %; p < 0.001). Mortality in critical care settings predominated in the preCPC group (51 % vs. 26 %; p < 0.005). (AU)

Respiratory failure after treatment of pneumothorax.

A 40-year-old man presented with an eight day history of left-side pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea. Chest examination revealed decreased air entry at the left lung. Chest X-ray examination revealed a large pneumothorax and a chest tube was successfully placed. Two hours after the procedure, auscultation revealed crackles over the left lung and oxygen saturation was 88% on room air. Chest radiography was repeated and showed a fully expanded left lung with alveolar-interstitial infiltrates.

Hipertensión pulmonar grave reversible asociada al uso de dasatinib en un paciente con leucemia mieloide crónica

La hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) es una enfermedad rara caracterizada por un incremento progresivo de las resistencias vasculares pulmonares que lleva a la falla cardíaca derecha y muerte prematura. La enfermedad puede ser idiopática o asociada a otras condiciones como la hipertensión portal, el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, las enfermedades del tejido conectivo, las cardiopatías congénitas con cortocircuitos de izquierda a derecha o asociadas a diferentes toxinas o drogas. Se han realizado avances en el tratamiento farmacológico enfocados en el remodelado de la vasculatura pulmonar. En este sentido, se encuentran en evaluación los inhibidores de la tirosina kinasa (ITK). El imatinib es un ITK selectivo aprobado para el tratamiento de la leucemia mieloide crónica (LMC) que ha demostrado beneficios en el tratamiento de la HAP en estudios de fase II. Paradójicamente, el ITK dasatinib, también aprobado para el tratamiento de la LMC, ha sido asociado a HAP, falla ventricular derecha y a derrame pleural, lo que sugiere la posibilidad de un efecto adverso a nivel pulmonar vinculado con esta droga.(AU)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare disease that is characterized by a progressive increase in vascular pulmonary resistance, chronic right ventricle failure and premature death. Pulmonary arterial hypertension can be either idiopathic or associated to other conditions such as portal hypertension, human immunodeficiency virus, connective tissue diseases, congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts or associated to different drugs/toxins. Encouraging progress has been made by targeting the main vasoproliferative aspects of the disease. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are promising emerging therapeutics. Imatinib, a selective TKI approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, has demonstrated some efficacy in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension in a phase II study. However, the TKI dasatinib, also approved for therapy of chronic myeloid leukaemia, has been linked to reversible pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular failure, with pleural effusion, suggesting the possibility of drug-related pulmonary arterial hypertension.(AU)

Hipertensión pulmonar grave reversible asociada al uso de dasatinib en un paciente con leucemia mieloide crónica / Reversible Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated to Dasatinib in a Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Patient

La hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) es una enfermedad rara caracterizada por un incremento progresivo de las resistencias vasculares pulmonares que lleva a la falla cardíaca derecha y muerte prematura. La enfermedad puede ser idiopática o asociada a otras condiciones como la hipertensión portal, el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, las enfermedades del tejido conectivo, las cardiopatías congénitas con cortocircuitos de izquierda a derecha o asociadas a diferentes toxinas o drogas. Se han realizado avances en el tratamiento farmacológico enfocados en el remodelado de la vasculatura pulmonar. En este sentido, se encuentran en evaluación los inhibidores de la tirosina kinasa (ITK). El imatinib es un ITK selectivo aprobado para el tratamiento de la leucemia mieloide crónica (LMC) que ha demostrado beneficios en el tratamiento de la HAP en estudios de fase II. Paradójicamente, el ITK dasatinib, también aprobado para el tratamiento de la LMC, ha sido asociado a HAP, falla ventricular derecha y a derrame pleural, lo que sugiere la posibilidad de un efecto adverso a nivel pulmonar vinculado con esta droga.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare disease that is characterized by a progressive increase in vascular pulmonary resistance, chronic right ventricle failure and premature death. Pulmonary arterial hypertension can be either idiopathic or associated to other conditions such as portal hypertension, human immunodeficiency virus, connective tissue diseases, congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts or associated to different drugs/toxins. Encouraging progress has been made by targeting the main vasoproliferative aspects of the disease. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are promising emerging therapeutics. Imatinib, a selective TKI approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, has demonstrated some efficacy in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension in a phase II study. However, the TKI dasatinib, also approved for therapy of chronic myeloid leukaemia, has been linked to reversible pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular failure, with pleural effusion, suggesting the possibility of drug-related pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Enfoque del paciente con fenómeno de Raynaud / Approach to patients with Raynaud's phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon is a common disorder with vasospasm of the digital arteries causing pallor with cyanosis and/or rubor. It can be primary (idiopathic), where it is not associated with other diseases, or secondary to several diseases or conditions, including connective tissue diseases, such as scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. Capillaroscopy is the most reliable way to distinguish between primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon through identification of an early pattern of systemic sclerosis. Treatment is often non-pharmacological, including avoiding cold and smoking cessation. Calcium channel antagonists are often considered when treatment is needed.

Cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema: an unreported complication of a digestive endoscopic procedure.

Unilateral pulmonary edema is an uncommon clinical situation that may be difficult to distinguish from other conditions that cause lung infiltrates. Most cases occur in the right lung, and there are no reports about cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema as a complication of an endoscopic procedure of gastrointestinal tract. The authors describe a case of a 79-year-old woman with acute cardiac heart failure that developed soon after a diagnostic upper and lower digestive endoscopy. Continuous positive airway pressure, intravenous nitroglycerin, and furosemide treatment resulted in rapid improvement of symptoms and the progressive resolution of left-sided infiltrates on chest radiography. This case is of particular importance because of the rarity of cardiogenic unilateral edema in the left lung. This clinical finding was associated with the prolonged rest on the left side during the gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure.