Reducción de las demoras en la reperfusión del infarto de miocardio mediante sistema de telemedicina en una red de hospitales públicos / Reducing delay reperfusion of myocardial infarction using a system of telemedicine in public hospitals

INTRODUCCIÓN En las primeras horas de evolución del infarto, el diagnóstico precoz y la adopción de conductas de reperfusión y control de arritmias graves pueden salvar miles de vidas por año. OBJETIVOS Evaluar un programa de trabajo en red y observar cómo incide en la reducción de las demoras y el incremento de la aplicación de conductas adecuadas en la fase aguda del infarto. MÉTODOS En seis hospitales públicos de mediana complejidad y un hospital de derivación de alta complejidad, se desarrolló un programa asentado en cuatro bases fundamentales 1) un algoritmo común de diagnóstico y tratamiento consensuado por los hospitales de la red; 2) una intervención educativa en las guardias de los establecimientos; 3) un sistema de telemedicina para el envío de trazados electrocardiográficos vía web; 4) una estructura de derivación ágil con móviles adecuados. RESULTADOS Se internó a un total de 432 pacientes con diagnóstico de infarto con ST elevado desde el comienzo de la telemedicina, con una edad de 56 (±9) años y un 83,3% de varones. Hubo un incremento temporal significativo en la proporción de pacientes reperfundidos E1 60,4%, E2 69,1% y E3 78%, p de tendencia=0,012, con un incremento absoluto del 17,6% y relativo del 29,1% en la reperfusión. Cuando se utilizó el sistema de telemedicina, la proporción de reperfusión fue mucho mayor (78,4% frente a 66,3%; p=0,01). Existió una tendencia significativa a reducir los tiempos a la reperfusión entre E1 y E3 E1 mediana (minutos) 120 (50-240), E3 90 (35-150), p=0,04. DISCUSIÓN La implementación de un programa de reperfusión aguda del infarto en una red hospitalaria se asoció con un incremento significativo e impactante en la proporción de reperfusión del 28,5% y una reducción de los tiempos en la reperfusión aguda.

Clinical predictors of in-hospital prognosis in unstable angina: ECLA 3. The ECLA Collaborative Group.

OBJECTIVES: Because of recent changes in the treatment of unstable angina, we wanted to reassess the short-term prognostic value of clinical and echocardiographic variables. METHODS: This was an observational, prospective study that included 1038 nonselected consecutive patients admitted to coronary care units for unstable angina. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were age 60.18 +/- 16 years, history of prior myocardial infarction in 336 patients (32%), and a history of previous angina in 817 patients (78.7%). Angina during the 48 hours before admission was observed in 1004 patients (96.7%) and ST-segment changes on admission electrocardiogram occurred in 385 patients (37%). In-hospital treatment consisted of nitrates in 81.4% of patients, aspirin in 88.6%, beta-blockers in 71%, intravenous heparin in 34.5%, subcutaneous heparin in 23%, and angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting in 25.1%. After admission, angina occurred in 443 patients (40.8%), refractory angina in 223 patients (21.5%), and death or myocardial infarction in 84 patients (8.1%). At admission, the independent predictors of myocardial infarction or death identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis were ST-segment depression (odds ratio [OR] 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23 to 3.68, P =.006), prior angina (OR 2.23, 95% CI 0.98 to 5.05, P =.05), number of episodes of angina within the previous 48 hours (OR 1.63, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.70, P =.05), and history of smoking (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.85, P =.004). Age greater than 65 years (OR 1.49, 95% CI1.09 to 2.03, P = 0.03) was significantly related to in-hospital death. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for application of this model was 0.59. Sensitivity was 80% with a specificity of only 33%. Refractory angina after admission showed a strong relation with an adverse short-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: With current therapy, clinical and electrocardiographic variables provide useful information about the short-term outcome of unstable angina. However, this model has low specificity to identify high-risk patients. Future studies about the incremental value of the new serum markers such as troponin T and C-reactive protein to assist in identification of high-risk patients are necessary.

Metabolic modulation of acute myocardial infarction. The ECLA (Estudios Cardiológicos Latinoamérica) Collaborative Group.

BACKGROUND: Several trials have been performed in the past using glucose, insulin, and potassium infusion (GIK) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Because of continuing uncertainty about the potential role of this therapeutic intervention, we conducted a randomized trial to evaluate the impact of a GIK solution during the first hours of AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four hundred seven patients with suspected AMI admitted within 24 hours of symptoms onset were enrolled. In a ratio of 2:1, 268 patients were allocated to receive GIK (high- or low-dose) and 139 to receive control. Phlebitis and serum changes in the plasma concentration of glucose or potassium were observed more often with GIK. A trend toward a nonsignificant reduction in major and minor in-hospital events was observed in patients allocated to GIK. In 252 patients (61.9%) treated with reperfusion strategies, a statistically significant reduction in mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.34; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.78; 2P=0.008) and a consistent trend toward fewer in-hospital events in the GIK group were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that a metabolic modulation strategy in the first hours of an AMI is feasible, applicable worldwide, and has mild side effects. The statistically significant mortality reduction in patients who underwent a reperfusion strategy might have important implications for the management of AMI patients. It is now essential to perform a large-scale trial to reliably determine the magnitude of benefit.

[Treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with a single oral doses of diltiazem and propranolol]. / Tratamiento de la taquicardia paroxística supraventricular con doses única oral de diltiazem y propranolol.

Chronic antiarrhythmic therapy for the prevention of episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia is limited by its elevated cost, the development of side effects and lack of patients' collaboration. In this study the efficacy and safety of a single oral dose of diltiazem (180 mg) and propranolol (80 mg) were assessed. Eighteen episodes of supraventricular tachycardia were treated in 17 patients, 9 female and 8 male, aged between 19 and 60 years old (mean 45.3 +/- 11.4). The episodes had begun 3 months to 40 years before. They were divided in 3 groups: group I (placebo), 6 episodes; group II (diltiazem-propranolol), 12 episodes; and group III (patients from the placebo group without spontaneous recovery of sinus rhythm who were given active drug), 6 episodes. There were no spontaneous conversions in group I (placebo) within 80 minutes. In group II, ten out of 12 episodes responded to the combination after 38.8 +/- 20.8 minutes (seven episodes were converted to sinus rhythm within the first 45 minutes). In group III (non-responders to placebo who were subsequently given active drugs), four out of 6 episodes were suppressed after 50.7 +/- 16.7 minutes. The cycle of the tachycardia lengthened before conversion to sinus rhythm both in groups II and III. Neither systolic nor diastolic blood pressure changed significantly in any group. Seven out of 14 patients who successfully converted to sinus rhythm in groups II and III, suffered mild to moderate sweat between 3 and 5 minutes before the end of the episodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tratamiento de la taquicardia paroxistica supra ventricular con dosis unica oral de diltiazem y propranolol / Treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with a single oral dosis of diltiazem and propranolol

El tratamiento crónico para prevenir la recurrencia de episodios de taquicardia supraventricular presenta el incoveniente del elevado costo, aparición de efectos adversos y escasa adherencia de los pacientes. En el presente estudio se evaluó la seguridad y eficacia de la combinación de ditiazem (180 mg) y propranolol (80 mg) en dosis única oral. Fueron incluidos 18 episodios de taquicardia supraventricular en 17 pacientes. La población fue dividida en 3 grupos I (placebo), 6 episodios; grupo II (droga activa), 12 episodios y grupo III (pacientes del grupo placebo en quienes, al no existir reversión a ritmo sinusal, se indicó diltiazem-propranolol), 6 episodios. No hubo ceses epontáneos de la arritmia en el grupo I (placebo) dentro de los 80 minutos. En el grupo II, 10 e 12 episodios fueron convertidos a ritmo sinusal a los 38,8 ñ 20,8 minutos post-droga. En el grupo III, 4 de 6 episodios fueron convertidos a ritmo sinusal a los 50,7 ñ 16,7 minutos post-droga activa. Dos pacientes tuvieron hipotensión arterial que no requirió tratamento específico. Es decir que 14 de 18 episodios revirtieron a ritmo sinusal con la combinación oral. Se concluye que el tratamiento episódico puede ser de utilidad en pacientes sin cardiopatía severa y con aceptable tolerancia hemodinámica durante las crisis (AU)

Tratamiento de la taquicardia paroxística supraventricular con doses única oral de diltiazem y propranolol. / [Treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with a single oral doses of diltiazem and propranolol]

Chronic antiarrhythmic therapy for the prevention of episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia is limited by its elevated cost, the development of side effects and lack of patients collaboration. In this study the efficacy and safety of a single oral dose of diltiazem (180 mg) and propranolol (80 mg) were assessed. Eighteen episodes of supraventricular tachycardia were treated in 17 patients, 9 female and 8 male, aged between 19 and 60 years old (mean 45.3 +/- 11.4). The episodes had begun 3 months to 40 years before. They were divided in 3 groups: group I (placebo), 6 episodes; group II (diltiazem-propranolol), 12 episodes; and group III (patients from the placebo group without spontaneous recovery of sinus rhythm who were given active drug), 6 episodes. There were no spontaneous conversions in group I (placebo) within 80 minutes. In group II, ten out of 12 episodes responded to the combination after 38.8 +/- 20.8 minutes (seven episodes were converted to sinus rhythm within the first 45 minutes). In group III (non-responders to placebo who were subsequently given active drugs), four out of 6 episodes were suppressed after 50.7 +/- 16.7 minutes. The cycle of the tachycardia lengthened before conversion to sinus rhythm both in groups II and III. Neither systolic nor diastolic blood pressure changed significantly in any group. Seven out of 14 patients who successfully converted to sinus rhythm in groups II and III, suffered mild to moderate sweat between 3 and 5 minutes before the end of the episodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tratamiento de la taquicardia paroxistica supra ventricular con dosis unica oral de diltiazem y propranolol / Treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with a single oral dosis of diltiazem and propranolol

El tratamiento crónico para prevenir la recurrencia de episodios de taquicardia supraventricular presenta el incoveniente del elevado costo, aparición de efectos adversos y escasa adherencia de los pacientes. En el presente estudio se evaluó la seguridad y eficacia de la combinación de ditiazem (180 mg) y propranolol (80 mg) en dosis única oral. Fueron incluidos 18 episodios de taquicardia supraventricular en 17 pacientes. La población fue dividida en 3 grupos I (placebo), 6 episodios; grupo II (droga activa), 12 episodios y grupo III (pacientes del grupo placebo en quienes, al no existir reversión a ritmo sinusal, se indicó diltiazem-propranolol), 6 episodios. No hubo ceses epontáneos de la arritmia en el grupo I (placebo) dentro de los 80 minutos. En el grupo II, 10 e 12 episodios fueron convertidos a ritmo sinusal a los 38,8 ñ 20,8 minutos post-droga. En el grupo III, 4 de 6 episodios fueron convertidos a ritmo sinusal a los 50,7 ñ 16,7 minutos post-droga activa. Dos pacientes tuvieron hipotensión arterial que no requirió tratamento específico. Es decir que 14 de 18 episodios revirtieron a ritmo sinusal con la combinación oral. Se concluye que el tratamiento episódico puede ser de utilidad en pacientes sin cardiopatía severa y con aceptable tolerancia hemodinámica durante las crisis