Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function by two-dimensional strain in patients with left-sided valvular heart disease: comparison whit three-dimendional echocardiography / Avaliação ecocardiográfica da função ventricular direita por strain bidimensional em pacientes com valvopatia à esquerda: comparação com ecocardiografia tridimensional

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a well-known predictor of mortality in patients with valvular heart disease (VHD). The assessment of RV function is often difficult due to complex geometry and hemodynamic factors. Objective: We aim to analyze RV function in patients with severe mitral and/or aortic valve disease using two-dimensional strain (2DS) imaging and conventional echocardiographic parameters, comparing it with right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) measured by three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE). Methods: Fifty-three patients with severe mitral and/or aortic VHD underwent complete transthoracic echocardiogram in the preoperative setting for cardiac surgery, including conventional echocardiographic parameters of RV function and speckle-tracking derived 2DS indices: RV global longitudinal strain (RVGS) and RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWS). Conventional echocardiographic and 2DS parameters were compared with real-time 3DE RVEF using Spearman correlation test. For comparison between two groups of patients based on the presence of RV dysfunction (normal RVEF ≥ 44% - A, abnormal RVEF < 44% - B), we used nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis was used to assess the clinical utility of all RV function variables in defining RV dysfunction. P values <0,05 were considered statistically significant.Results: We found a significant correlation between all parameters and RVEF (p<0.05), with best results for RV fractional area change (FAC), RVGS, and RVFWS. Dividing the population into two-groups based on RVEF, we found 14 patients with RV dysfunction (27.4%), and significant differences between the groups for all RV function variables. For detection of RV dysfunction defined by 3DE, ROC curve analysis showed the best area under the curve (AUC) for RVGS (0.872), RVFWS (0.851) and FAC (0.932). Conclusions: We observed significant correlation between RVGS, RVFWS and RVEF, with good accuracy in detecting RV dysfunction, comparable to FAC and better than other conventional parameters of RV function assessment. The evaluation of RV myocardial deformation with 2DS may have additional diagnostic and prognostic value in patients with severe left-sided VHD

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The Experience of One Brazilian Health Care Center.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been an alternative to invasive treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis in high risk patients. The primary endpoint was 30-day and 1-year mortality from any cause. Secondary endpoints were to compare the clinical and echocardiographic variation pre-and post- transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and the occurrence of complications throughout a 4-year follow-up period. METHODS: This prospective cohort, nestled to a multicenter study (Registro Brasileiro de Implante de Bioprótese por Cateter), describes the experience of a public tertiary center in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. All patients who underwent this procedure between October 2011 and February 2016 were included. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The 30-day all-cause mortality was 5.2% (n=3) and after 1 year was 17.2% (n=10). A significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional classification was observed when comparing pre-and post- transcatheter aortic valve replacement (III or IV 84.4% versus 5.8%; P<0.001). A decline in peak was observed (P<0.001) and mean (P<0.001) systolic transaortic gradient. The results of peak and mean post-implant transaortic gradient were sustained after one year (P=0.29 and P=0.36, respectively). Left ventricular ejection fraction did not change significantly during follow-up (P=0.41). The most frequent complications were bleeding (28.9%), the need for permanent pacemaker (27.6%) and acute renal injury (20.6%). CONCLUSION: Mortality and complications in this study were consistent with worldwide experience. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement had positive clinical and hemodynamic results, when comparing pre-and post-procedure, and the hemodynamic profile of the prosthesis was sustained throughout follow-up.

Sports Practices and Cardiovascular Risk in Teenagers / Práticas Esportivas e Risco Cardiovascular em Adolescentes

Abstract Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths in the world, and many events could be prevented by healthy life habits. Objectives: To compare the occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents enrolled at public schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, including a renowned school for sport practices. Methods: Cross-sectional study, convenience sampling of 422 students enrolled at the Experimental Olympic Gymnasium (EOG) and at Figueiredo Pimentel School (FP). Using descriptive analyses, continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile ranges, and the Student's t-test or the chi-square test, respectively, was used for comparisons. The sports were classified according to the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) (below or above 5). Results: We included 274 students enrolled at the EOG and 148 at FP. Mean age was similar between schools -12.5 ± 1.6 years at FP and 12.6 ± 0.9 at the EOG; 65.5% of the students at FP and 43.8% of the students at the EOG were female (p < 0.01). Significant differences in the prevalence of hypertension (20% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.01) and borderline cholesterol levels (27.7% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.01) were found between FP and EOG students, respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of hypertension, overweight/obesity and altered blood lipid profile was found in this group of adolescents. Regular sports training program combined with little influence of their eating habits outside school may contribute to a better metabolic profile and reduction in cardiovascular risk factors in students. Public health measures are also need.

Resumo Fundamento: As doenças cardiovasculares são a maior causa de mortes no mundo e muitos eventos poderiam ser evitados por meio de hábitos saudáveis de vida. Objetivos: Comparar a ocorrência de fatores de risco cardiovascular em adolescentes de escolas públicas do município do Rio de Janeiro, sendo uma delas, modelo em práticas esportivas. Métodos: Estudo transversal; amostra de conveniência de 422 escolares do Ginásio Experimental Olímpico (GEO) e da Escola Municipal Figueiredo Pimentel (FP). Foi realizada análise descritiva dos dados utilizando média e desvio-padrão (DP) ou mediana e intervalo interquartil para variáveis contínuas (testes t de Student e qui-quadrado para comparação, respectivamente). As modalidades esportivas foram classificadas de acordo com o equivalente metabólico (MET), se abaixo ou acima de 5. Resultados: duzentos e setenta e quatro alunos eram do GEO e 148 da FP. A média de idade era semelhante - 12,5 ± 1,6 na EMFP e 12,6 ± 0,9 no GEO; 65,5% dos alunos eram do sexo feminino na FP e 43,8% no GEO (p < 0,01). Da amostra geral, 40% apresentaram sobrepeso ou obesidade. Observaram-se diferenças entre a prevalência de hipertensão (20% vs. 6,3%; p < 0,01 nos alunos da FP e do GEO, respectivamente) e de níveis de colesterol total considerados limítrofes (27,7% vs. 17,3%; p = 0,01 na FP e no GEO, respectivamente). Conclusão: Hipertensão, sobrepeso/obesidade e lipidograma capilar alterado foram muito prevalentes nos adolescentes. Um programa de treinamento esportivo regular com menos interferência alimentar extraescola parece contribuir para um melhor perfil metabólico e menor risco cardiovascular entre estudantes. Ainda, medidas efetivas de saúde pública são necessárias.

Sports Practices and Cardiovascular Risk in Teenagers.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths in the world, and many events could be prevented by healthy life habits. OBJECTIVES: To compare the occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents enrolled at public schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, including a renowned school for sport practices. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, convenience sampling of 422 students enrolled at the Experimental Olympic Gymnasium (EOG) and at Figueiredo Pimentel School (FP). Using descriptive analyses, continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile ranges, and the Student's t-test or the chi-square test, respectively, was used for comparisons. The sports were classified according to the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) (below or above 5). RESULTS: We included 274 students enrolled at the EOG and 148 at FP. Mean age was similar between schools -12.5 ± 1.6 years at FP and 12.6 ± 0.9 at the EOG; 65.5% of the students at FP and 43.8% of the students at the EOG were female (p < 0.01). Significant differences in the prevalence of hypertension (20% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.01) and borderline cholesterol levels (27.7% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.01) were found between FP and EOG students, respectively. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of hypertension, overweight/obesity and altered blood lipid profile was found in this group of adolescents. Regular sports training program combined with little influence of their eating habits outside school may contribute to a better metabolic profile and reduction in cardiovascular risk factors in students. Public health measures are also need.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: the experience of one brazilian health care center

Abstract Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been an alternative to invasive treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis in high risk patients. The primary endpoint was 30-day and 1-year mortality from any cause. Secondary endpoints were to compare the clinical and echocardiographic variation pre-and post- transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and the occurrence of complications throughout a 4-year follow-up period. Methods: This prospective cohort, nestled to a multicenter study (Registro Brasileiro de Implante de Bioprótese por Cateter), describes the experience of a public tertiary center in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. All patients who underwent this procedure between October 2011 and February 2016 were included. Results: Fifty-eight patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The 30-day all-cause mortality was 5.2% (n=3) and after 1 year was 17.2% (n=10). A significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional classification was observed when comparing pre-and post- transcatheter aortic valve replacement (III or IV 84.4% versus 5.8%; P<0.001). A decline in peak was observed (P<0.001) and mean (P<0.001) systolic transaortic gradient. The results of peak and mean post-implant transaortic gradient were sustained after one year (P=0.29 and P=0.36, respectively). Left ventricular ejection fraction did not change significantly during follow-up (P=0.41). The most frequent complications were bleeding (28.9%), the need for permanent pacemaker (27.6%) and acute renal injury (20.6%). Conclusion: Mortality and complications in this study were consistent with worldwide experience. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement had positive clinical and hemodynamic results, when comparing pre-and post-procedure, and the hemodynamic profile of the prosthesis was sustained throughout follow-up.

A avaliação do dissincronismo cardíaco pela ecocardiografia após o Estudo Prospect / Echocardiographic cardiac dyssinchrony evaluation after the Prospect Study

A terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (RSC) tornou-se um importante recurso para o tratamento de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca, que não respondem às medidas habituais e, apresentam distúrbios de condução, bloqueio de ramo esquerdo (BRE). Seguindo as recomendações atuais, cerca de 30 por cento dos pacientes não apresentam resposta satisfatória. A ecocardiografia, em suas diversas modalidades, foi proposta como método capaz de melhor selecionar o grupo dos chamados respondedores. O estudo multicêntrico Prospect avaliou 12 critérios ecocardiográficos para confirmar os achados de estudos isolados. Concluiu que nenhum critério ecocardiográfico seria capaz de ajudar nessa seleção ou influênciar essa decisão. Este artigo de revisão mostra os resultados do estudo, faz comentários sobre a metodologia empregada e as implicações que levaram a esses resultados, os quais contrariam diversos estudos anteriores. A revisão também propõe um protocolo usado pelos autores para avaliar pacientes candidatos à RSC, assim como discute novas tecnologias que estão surgindo com a mesma finalidade.

Comparação do parâmetros ecocardiográficos de dissincronia entre uma população normal e outra com bloqueio de ramo esquerdo / Comparison of echocardiographic dyssincrony parameters between normals and individuals with left bundle branch block

Introdução: A terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) tem sido usada para tratar pacientes com duração aumentada do complexo QRS e insuficiência cardíaca, para corrigir a perda do sincronismo cardíaco. Pelos critérios atuais clínicos e eletrocardiográficos (ECG) de indicação da TRC, cerca de 30 por cento dos pacientes não apresentam melhora com essa terapêutica. A ecocardiografia (ECG) tem sido proposta como uma técnica que poderia selecionar melhor os pacientes. Objetivo: Comparar os critérios ecocardiográficos para a evidência de dissincronismo átrio-ventricular (AV), interventricular (INTER) e intraventricular (INTRA) entre uma população normal com uma portadora de bloqueio de ramo esquerdo (BRE)...

O doppler tecidual na avaliação da função diastólica regional do ventrículo esquerdo: seu valor na detecção das alterações precoces e no entendimento da evolução da disfunção em pacientes com função sistólica normal / The tissue doppler in the evaluation of the left ventricle diastolic function: its value in the detection of the early alterations and in the understanding of the evolution of the dysfunction in patients with normal systolic function

Objetivo: Detectar, através do Doppler tecidual (TVI), as formas incipientes de disfunção diastólica antes mesmo de serem capazes de produzir alteração no fluxo mitral. Métodos: Foram estudados 140 indivíduos de idade compreendida entre 22 e 86 anos, todos com função sistólica normal. Foi obtido o TVI dos anéis septal, lateral, anterior e inferior. De todos os anéis foram medidas as suas respectivas ondas E apóstrofe e A apóstrofe (E apóstrofe(s,l,a,i) e A apóstrofe(s,l,a,i)). Além das medidas, os anéis foram codificados conforme o aspecto normal ou anormal de sua curva, respectivamente, como N e A. Os pacientes foram estratificados em grupos em função da relação E/A maior que 1,2NL, E/A maior que 1,2, 0,08 menor que E/A menor que 1,2 e E/A menor que 0,8. Resultados: Observou-se que quanto pior a função diastólica, maior o número de anéis compremetidos. O percentual de anéis alterados foi de, respectivamente, 4,31 por cento, 22,36 por cento, 79,65 por cento e 95,00 por cento nos grupos E/A maior que 1,2NL, E/A maior que 1,2,0,8 menor que E/A menor que 1,2 e E/A menor que 0,8. Os anéis septal e inferior mostraram-se os mais sensíveis. A onda E apóstrofe, nos vários anéis, diminuiu conforme piorou a função diastólica dos pacientes...