A Dedicated Stitch to Allow Early Safe Mobilization Avoiding Drain-Induced Heart Injury.

Placement of a mediastinal drain is a routine procedure following heart surgery. Postoperative bed rest is often imposed due to the fear of potential risk of drain displacement and cardiac injury. We developed an encapsulating stitch as a feasible, effective and low-cost technique, which does not require advanced surgical skills for placement. This simple, novel approach compartmentalizes the drain allowing for safe early mobilization following cardiac surgery.

A dedicated stitch to allow early safe mobilization avoiding drain-induced heart injury

Abstract Placement of a mediastinal drain is a routine procedure following heart surgery. Postoperative bed rest is often imposed due to the fear of potential risk of drain displacement and cardiac injury. We developed an encapsulating stitch as a feasible, effective and low-cost technique, which does not require advanced surgical skills for placement. This simple, novel approach compartmentalizes the drain allowing for safe early mobilization following cardiac surgery.

Papel do suporte circulatório nas síndromes coronarianas aguda / The role of circulatory support in acute coronary syndromes

O tratamento da síndrome coronariana aguda obteve expressiva redução da mortalidade graças ao desenvolvimento de novos fármacos e da angioplastia coronariana primária. Entretanto, apesar desta terapêutica ser eficiente e oferecer resultados adequados no tratamento do infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM), o choque cardiogênico ainda ocorre em 5 a 10% dos casos e continua a ser a principal causa de mortalidade intra-hospitalar. Portanto, temos um desfecho clínico insatisfatório neste grupo de pacientes com prognóstico reservado a curto e longo prazo. O balão intra-aórtico, embora empregado de forma rotineira no tratamento do choque cardiogênico refratário, apresenta benefícios limitados e não apresenta impacto no prognóstico destes pacientes, como demonstrado em ensaios randomizados recentes. Os sistemas de suporte de vida extracorpóreo (ECLS) são considerados dispositivos eficazes para o tratamento do choque cardiogênico refratário no IAM, uma vez que oferecem fluxo sanguíneo adequado e são instalados rapidamente pela canulação de vasos periféricos. Deste modo, permitem a tomada de decisões médicas para a realização de intervenções diagnósticas e terapêuticas – ponte para decisão – para tratamento da causa clínica e anatômica, com resultados clínicos consistentes e encorajadores para autilização deste tipo de tecnologia...

The treatment of acute coronary syndrome has achieved a significant reduction in mortality, thanks to the development of new drugs and primary coronary angioplasty. However, although this therapy is efficient and offers adequate results in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), cardiogenic shock still occurs in 5% to 10% of cases, and continues to be the main cause of intra hospital mortality. Therefore, we have an unsatisfactory clinical outcome in this group of patients, with a reserved prognosis in the short and long terms.The intra-aortic balloon pump, although used routinely in the treatment of refractory cardiogenic shock, has limited benefits and does not have any impact on patient prognosis, as demonstrated in recent randomized trials. Extracorporeal life support systems (ECLS) are considered effective devices for the treatment of refractory cardiogenic shock in AMI, as they offer adequate blood flow and are rapidly installed through cannulation of the peripheral veins. They therefore enable medical decision-making for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions – decision-making bridge – for treatment of the clinical and anatomical cause, with consistent and encouraging clinical results for the use of this type of technology...

Febre de origem indeterminada em portador de marcapasso definitivo / Fever of unknown origin in permanent pacemaker carrier

O implante de marcapasso tem sido cada vez mais utilizado, em decorrência de sua segurança e dos baixos índices de complicação. No entanto, a infecção de dispositivos é um quadro grave, que apresenta elevada morbimortalidade e alto custo de tratamento. Algumas vezes essa infecção evolui com endocardite bacteriana, complicação cuja incidência vem aumentando nos últimos anos. É de difícil diagnóstico e tratamento, seja pela inespecificidade dos sintomas clínicos seja pela variação dos achados de imagem no ecocardiograma. Descrevemosum caso de febre de origem indeterminada em portador de marcapasso, que investigação posterior demonstrou ser decorrente de infecção dos cabos-eletrodos e de endocardite secundária. O paciente foi tratado comantibioticoterapia prolongada e retirada do sistema por cirurgia aberta.

Pacemaker implantation has increased due to their safety and low complications rate. However, the infection of the devices is a serious event with high morbidity and mortality rates and high treatment cost. Infections may evolve to bacterial endocarditis, whose incidence has increased in the last years. It is difficult to diagnose and treat due to the unspecificity of clinical symptoms and variation in imaging findings at theechocardiogram. We report a case of fever of unknown origin in a pacemaker carrier, which later proved to havebeen caused by electrode-cable infection and secondary endocarditis. The patient was treated with prolonged antibiotic therapy and retrieval of the device by open surgery.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: long-term follow up.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease is a major cause of cardiomyopathy and sudden death in our country. It has a high mortality when their patients develop New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical outcome of patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure with optimized pharmacological therapy, undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy. METHODS: Between January 2004 and February 2009, 72 patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy in NYHA class III and IV underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy and were monitored to assess their clinical evolution. We used the t test or the Wilcoxon test to compare the same variable in two different times. A P value < 0.05 was established as statistically significant. RESULTS: The average clinical follow-up was 46.6 months (range 4-79 months). At the end of the evaluation, 87.4% of patients were in NYHA class I or II (P<0.001). There was response to therapy in 65.3% of patients (P<0.001), with an overall mortality of 34.7%. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy, we found the following statistically significant changes: improvement in NYHA class and increase of left ventricle ejection fraction, a decrease of the systolic final diameter and systolic final left ventricle volume and improvement of patient survival.

Terapia de ressincronização cardíaca em pacientes com cardiomiopatia chagásica crônica: seguimento de longo prazo / Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: long-term follow up

Introdução: A doença de Chagas é a maior causa de miocardiopatia e morte súbita em nosso país. Apresenta alta mortalidade quando seus portadores evoluem para classe funcional IV da New York Heart Association (NYHA). Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a evolução clínica dos pacientes portadores de cardiomiopatia chagásica com insuficiência cardíaca avançada e terapia farmacológica otimizada submetido a terapia de ressincronização cardíaca. Métodos: Entre janeiro de 2004 e fevereiro de 2009, 72 pacientes com cardiomiopatia chagásica em classe funcional III e IV da NYHA foram submetidos à terapia de ressincronização cardíaca e acompanhados para avaliar sua evolução clínica. Para comparar a mesma variável em dois momentos diferentes utilizamos o Teste t pareado ou o Teste de Wilcoxon. Um valor de P<0,05 foi estabelecido como estatisticamente significante. Resultados: O acompanhamento clínico médio foi de 46,6 meses (variando de 4 a 79 meses). Ao final do seguimento, 87,4% dos pacientes estavam em classe funcional I ou II da NYHA (P<0,001). Houve resposta à terapia em 65,3% dos pacientes (P<0,001), com mortalidade total de 34,7%. Conclusão: Nos pacientes com cardiomiopatia chagásica crônica submetidos à terapia de ressincronização cardíaca, encontramos as seguintes alterações estatisticamente significativas: melhora da classe funcional segundo NYHA; melhora da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo; diminuição do diâmetro sistólico final e volume sistólico final do ventrículo esquerdo e maior sobrevida destes pacientes. .

Introduction: Chagas disease is a major cause of cardiomyopathy and sudden death in our country. It has a high mortality when their patients develop New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical outcome of patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure with optimized pharmacological therapy, undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy. Methods: Between January 2004 and February 2009, 72 patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy in NYHA class III and IV underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy and were monitored to assess their clinical evolution. We used the t test or the Wilcoxon test to compare the same variable in two different times. A P value < 0.05 was established as statistically significant. Results: The average clinical follow-up was 46.6 months (range 4-79 months). At the end of the evaluation, 87.4% of patients were in NYHA class I or II (P<0.001). There was response to therapy in 65.3% of patients (P<0.001), with an overall mortality of 34.7%. Conclusion: In patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy, we found the following statistically significant changes: improvement in NYHA class and increase of left ventricle ejection fraction, a decrease of the systolic final diameter and systolic final left ventricle volume and improvement of patient survival. .

EuroSCORE and the patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery at Santa Casa de São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the European Risk System in Cardiac Operations (EuroSCORE) model to predict mortality in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization at the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School. METHODS: From May 2005 to November 2006, 100 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The records of these patients were reviewed in order to retrieve those variables included in the EuroSCORE risk scoring method. The correlation of predicted and observed mortality was compared. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test for univariate analysis and Hosmer-Lemeshow Test for logistic regression model. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 5%. For EuroSCORE univariate analysis, findings were as follows: score 0-2 predicted mortality 0.40%, observed 0.00%; score 3-5 predicted mortality 1.45%, observed 0.00%; score greater than 6 predicted mortality 3.15%, observed 7.94%. Although these differences, p-value was 0.213 with no statistical significance. The p-value for the Hosmer-Lemeshow Test was < 0.001 indicating poor calibration of the model for this sample. CONCLUSION: The EuroSCORE model is a simple, objective system to estimate hospital mortality. However, to validate the logistic regression analysis, it is necessary hundreds of patients, which limit its widespread application.

EuroSCORE e os pacientes submetidos a revascularização do miocárdio na Santa Casa de São Paulo / EuroSCORE and the patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery at Santa Casa de São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o perfil atual do paciente submetido a revascularização do miocárdio na Disciplina de Cirurgia Cardíaca da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, verificar o risco de mortalidade esperada neste grupo, por meio da aplicação do Sistema Europeu de Risco em Operações Cardíacas (EuroSCORE), e confrontá-lo com a mortalidade observada. MÉTODOS: Analisamos 100 pacientes consecutivos submetidos a revascularização do miocárdio, de maio de 2005 a novembro de 2006. Identificamos os fatores predisponentes à coronariopatia e analisamos os critérios de risco de mortalidade pelo EuroSCORE. Comparamos as taxas de mortalidade esperadas com as observadas na amostra. Aplicamos o teste do qui-quadrado para análise univariada e o teste de Hosmer-Lemeshow para ajuste do modelo de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: A mortalidade hospitalar foi 5,0 por cento. Na análise univariada, para escore 0-2 a mortalidade prevista pelo EuroSCORE foi de 0,40 por cento e a encontrada 0 por cento. Para o escore 3-5, a mortalidade prevista foi de 1,45 por cento e a encontrada 0 por cento. Para escore >6, a mortalidade prevista foi de 3,15 por cento e a encontrada 7,94 por cento. As discrepâncias entre as porcentagens observadas e previstas não foram estatisticamente significantes (p = 0,213). O valor-p do teste de Hosmer-Lemeshow foi igual a < 0,001, indicando um ajuste ruim ou má calibração do modelo para o número de indivíduos na amostra atual. CONCLUSÃO: O EuroSCORE é um modelo preditor simples e objetivo de mortalidade operatória. Entretanto, para validação da análise de regressão logística, são necessárias centenas de indivíduos, o que limita a universalização de sua aplicabilidade.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the European Risk System in Cardiac Operations (EuroSCORE) model to predict mortality in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization at the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School. METHODS: From May 2005 to November 2006, 100 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The records of these patients were reviewed in order to retrieve those variables included in the EuroSCORE risk scoring method. The correlation of predicted and observed mortality was compared. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test for univariate analysis and Hosmer-Lemeshow Test for logistic regression model. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 5 percent. For EuroSCORE univariate analysis, findings were as follows: score 0-2 predicted mortality 0.40 percent, observed 0.00 percent; score 3-5 predicted mortality 1.45 percent, observed 0.00 percent; score greater than 6 predicted mortality 3.15 percent, observed 7.94 percent. Although these differences, p-value was 0.213 with no statistical significance. The p-value for the Hosmer-Lemeshow Test was < 0.001 indicating poor calibration of the model for this sample. CONCLUSION: The EuroSCORE model is a simple, objective system to estimate hospital mortality. However, to validate the logistic regression analysis, it is necessary hundreds of patients, which limit its widespread application.