The Physician Surprise Question in the Emergency Department: prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to test the ability of the surprise question (SQ), when asked to emergency physicians (EPs), to predict in-hospital mortality among adults admitted to an emergency room (ER). METHODS: This prospective cohort study at an academic medical centre included consecutive patients 18 years or older who received care in the ER and were subsequently admitted to the hospital from 20 April 2018 to 20 October 2018. EPs were required to answer the SQ for all patients who were being admitted to hospital. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The cohort included 725 adults (mean (SD) age, 60 (17) years, 51% men) from 58 128 emergency department (ED) visits. The mortality rates were 20.6% for 30-day all-cause in-hospital mortality and 23.6% for in-hospital mortality. The diagnostic test characteristics of the SQ have a sensitivity of 53.7% and specificity of 87.1%, and a relative risk of 4.02 (95% CI 3.15 to 5.13), p<0.01). The positive and negative predictive values were 57% and 86%, respectively; the positive likelihood ratio was 4.1 and negative likelihood ratio was 0.53; and the accuracy was 79.2%. CONCLUSIONS: We found that asking the SQ to EPs may be a useful tool to identify patients in the ED with a high risk of in-hospital mortality.

Timing to Intubation COVID-19 Patients: Can We Put It Off until Tomorrow?

BACKGROUND: The decision to intubate COVID-19 patients receiving non-invasive respiratory support is challenging, requiring a fine balance between early intubation and risks of invasive mechanical ventilation versus the adverse effects of delaying intubation. This present study analyzes the association between intubation day and mortality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We performed a unicentric retrospective cohort study considering all COVID-19 patients consecutively admitted between March 2020 and August 2020 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 28 days after intubation, and a Cox model was used to evaluate the effect of time from onset of symptoms to intubation in mortality. RESULTS: A total of 592 (20%) patients of 3020 admitted with COVID-19 were intubated during study period, and 310 patients who were intubated deceased 28 days after intubation. Each additional day between the onset of symptoms and intubation was significantly associated with higher in-hospital death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.018; 95% CI, 1.005-1.03). CONCLUSION: Among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were intubated and mechanically ventilated, delaying intubation in the course of symptoms may be associated with higher mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee (opinion number 3.990.817; CAAE: 30417520.0.0000.0068).

Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome following inhalation of hydrogen chloride vapor.

Hydrogen chloride is available commercially as an anhydrous gas or an aqueous solution, hydrochloric acid. Exposure to this gas has been associated with the development of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. However, there are few published reports. A 37-year-old woman developed progressive bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure after cleaning an enclosed space with an unknown concentration of hydrochloric acid gas from a cleaning substance. She had no prior history of asthma or atopy. Severe bronchospasm developed, leading to hypoxemia and diffuse interstitial infiltrates, necessitating orotracheal intubation and admission to the intensive care unit. Asthma-like symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and dyspnea; requiring bronchodilators, and repeated hospitalizations are persistent a year after the accident. Pulmonary function testing showed mild airflow obstruction.

Lung ultrasound score predicts outcomes in COVID-19 patients admitted to the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, creating tools to assess disease severity is one of the most important aspects of reducing the burden on emergency departments. Lung ultrasound has a high accuracy for the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases; however, there are few prospective studies demonstrating that lung ultrasound can predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We hypothesized that lung ultrasound score (LUS) at hospital admission could predict outcomes of COVID-19 patients. This is a prospective cohort study conducted from 14 March through 6 May 2020 in the emergency department (ED) of an urban, academic, level I trauma center. Patients aged 18 years and older and admitted to the ED with confirmed COVID-19 were considered eligible. Emergency physicians performed lung ultrasounds and calculated LUS, which was tested for correlation with outcomes. This protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee number 3.990.817 (CAAE: 30417520.0.0000.0068). RESULTS: The primary endpoint was death from any cause. The secondary endpoints were ICU admission and endotracheal intubation for respiratory failure. Among 180 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were enrolled (mean age, 60 years; 105 male), the average LUS was 18.7 ± 6.8. LUS correlated with findings from chest CT and could predict the estimated extent of parenchymal involvement (mean LUS with < 50% involvement on chest CT, 15 ± 6.7 vs. 21 ± 6.0 with > 50% involvement, p < 0.001), death (AUC 0.72, OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.21; p < 0.001), endotracheal intubation (AUC 0.76, OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.26; p < 0.001), and ICU admission (AUC: 0.71, OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.21; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In COVID-19 patients admitted in ED, LUS was a good predictor of death, ICU admission, and endotracheal intubation.

Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial With N-acetylcysteine for Treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

BACKGROUND: A local increase in angiotensin 2 after inactivation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may induce a redox imbalance in alveolar epithelium cells, causing apoptosis, increased inflammation and, consequently, impaired gas exchange. We hypothesized that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration could restore this redox homeostasis and suppress unfavorable evolution in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center trial conducted at the Emergency Department of Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil, to determine whether NAC in high doses can avoid respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19. We enrolled 135 patients with severe COVID-19 (confirmed or suspected), with an oxyhemoglobin saturation <94% or respiratory rate >24 breaths/minute. Patients were randomized to receive NAC 21 g (~300 mg/kg) for 20 hours or dextrose 5%. The primary endpoint was the need for mechanical ventilation. Secondary endpoints were time of mechanical ventilation, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), time in ICU, and mortality. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups, with no significant differences in age, sex, comorbidities, medicines taken, and disease severity. Also, groups were similar in laboratory tests and chest computed tomography scan findings. Sixteen patients (23.9%) in the placebo group received endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, compared with 14 patients (20.6%) in the NAC group (P = .675). No difference was observed in secondary endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of NAC in high doses did not affect the evolution of severe COVID-19. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC): U1111-1250-356 (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8969zg/).

Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome following inhalation of hydrogen chloride vapor

Hydrogen chloride is available commercially as an anhydrous gas or an aqueous solution, hydrochloric acid. Exposure to this gas has been associated with the development of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. However, there are few published reports. A 37-year-old woman developed progressive bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure after cleaning an enclosed space with an unknown concentration of hydrochloric acid gas from a cleaning substance. She had no prior history of asthma or atopy. Severe bronchospasm developed, leading to hypoxemia and diffuse interstitial infiltrates, necessitating orotracheal intubation and admission to the intensive care unit. Asthma-like symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and dyspnea; requiring bronchodilators, and repeated hospitalizations are persistent a year after the accident. Pulmonary function testing showed mild airflow obstruction.

First-attempt intubation success and complications in patients with COVID-19 undergoing emergency intubation.

Objectives: To evaluate the first-attempt success rates and complications of endotracheal intubation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by emergency physicians. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from March 24, 2020 through May 28, 2020 at the emergency department (ED) of an urban, academic trauma center. We enrolled patients consecutively admitted to the ED with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 submitted to endotracheal intubation. No patients were excluded. The primary outcome was first-attempt intubation success, defined as successful endotracheal tube placement with the first device passed (endotracheal tube) during the first laryngoscope insertion confirmed with capnography. Secondary outcomes included the following complications: hypotension, hypoxemia, aspiration, and esophageal intubation. Results: A total of 112 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were enrolled. Median age was 61 years and 61 patients (54%) were men. The primary outcome, first-attempt intubation success, was achieved in 82% of patients. Among the 20 patients who were not intubated on the first attempt, 75% were intubated on the second attempt and 20% on the third attempt; cricothyrotomy was performed in 1 patient. Forty-eight (42%) patients were hypotensive and required norepinephrine immediately post-intubation. Fifty-eight (52%) experienced peri-intubation hypoxemia, and 2 patients (2%) had cardiac arrest. There were no cases of failed intubation resulting in death up to 24 hours after the procedure. Conclusion: Emergency physicians achieve high success rates when intubating COVID19 patients, although complications are frequent. However, these findings should be considered provisional until their generalizability is assessed in their institutions and setting.

Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Pregnancy.

The clinical presentation of diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy (DKP) is similar to that observed in nonpregnant women, although reports suggest the presenting blood glucose level may not be as high. It is hypothesized that lower, maternal fasting glucose levels are a result of both the fetus and the placenta consuming glucose. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman gravida 2, para 0, abortion 1 with type 1 diabetes who had euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis and review the literature on DKP, with a focus on diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of the mother and fetus.

Choline and Fructooligosaccharide: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Cardiac Fat Deposition, and Oxidative Stress Markers.

This study investigates the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats with choline and fructooligosaccharide (FOS). The healthy control group received standard diet. The other three groups consisted of animals with NAFLD. Group Estr received standard diet; group Echo received standard diet plus choline (3 g/100 g diet); and group Efos received standard diet plus FOS (10 g/100 g diet). Food intake, weight, urinary nitrogen, urinary ammonia, total cholesterol, serum triacylglyceride, liver and heart weights, tissue nitrogen, tissue fat, vitamin E, TBARS, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in hepatic and heart tissue. Choline and FOS treatments resulted in total mean fat reduction in liver and heart tissue of 0.2 and 1.7 g, respectively. Both treatments were equally effective in reducing hepatic and cardiac steatosis. There were no differences in the TBARS level among experimental and control groups, indicating that the proposed treatments had no added protection against free radicals. While all experimental groups had increased vitamin E and GSH levels, choline treatment led to a significant increase compared to control.

Resultados Tardios de Pacientes Submetidos a Implante de Stents Farmacológicos do Registro SAFIRA / Late Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation ? The SAFIRA Registry

Introdução: A doença arterial coronária continua sendo um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública da atualidade e a intervenção coronária percutânea com stents farmacológicos é a forma mais frequente de tratamento desses pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a taxa de desfechos clínicos no seguimento clínico de até 10 anos dos pacientes tratados com stents farmacológicos. Métodos: Pacientes com indicação de ICP foram incluídos de forma prospectiva, independentemente do quadro clínico ou angiográfico de apresentação. O desfecho primário consistiu na avaliação da taxa de eventos cardíacos adversos maiores combinados (óbito cardíaco, infarto agudo do miocárdio não fatal ou necessidade de revascularização do vaso alvo guiada por isquemia) no seguimento clínico tardio. Resultados: No período 2002 a 2012, incluímos 1.632 pacientes, com idade de 64,3 ± 10,9 anos, 71,4% eram do sexo masculino e 31,2% portadores de diabetes mellitus. As taxas de sucesso angiográfico e clínico foram de 99,1% e 96,7%, respectivamente. O seguimento clínico foi realizado em 95,8% dos elegíveis em um tempo médio de seguimento de 3,4 ± 2,6 anos. O desfecho primário ocorreu em 246 pacientes (15,9%), com taxas de óbito cardíaco de 6,4%, infarto do miocárdio de 3,6% e revascularização do vaso alvo de 5,5%. A trombose do stent foi verificada em 40 pacientes (2,4%). Conclusões: Nesta experiência da prática clínica diária, a utilização dos stents farmacológicos demonstrou resultados clínicos favoráveis agudos e no longo prazo no tratamento de uma população não selecionada de pacientes com doença arterial coronária e graus variáveis de complexidade clínica e angiográfica.

Background: Coronary artery disease remains a major public healthcare problem worldwide and percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents is the most frequent treatment option for these patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of clinical events in up to 10 years of clinical follow-up of patients treated with drug-eluting stents. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with an indication for percutaneous coronary intervention despite their clinical or angiographic presentation. The primary endpoint consisted of the evaluation of the composite rate of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, non-fatal acute myocardial infarction or the need of ischemia guided target vessel revascularization) in the late clinical follow-up. Results: From 2002 to 2012, we included 1,632 patients with mean age of 64.3 ± 10.9 years, 71.4% were male and 31.2% had diabetes mellitus. The angiographic and clinical success rates were 99.1% and 96.7%, respectively. Follow-up was obtained in 95.8% of the eligible patients at a mean of 3.4 ± 2.6 years. The primary endpoint was observed in 246 patients (15.9%), with rates of cardiac death of 6.4%, myocardial infarction of 3.6% and target vessel revascularization of 5.5%. Stent thrombosis was observed in 40 patients (2.4%). Conclusions: In this clinical practice experience the use of drug-eluting stents demonstrated favorable acute and long-term results in the treatment of a non-selected population of patients with coronary artery disease and variable degrees of clinical and angiographic complexity.

Embolizaço percutânea de fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares em paciente com telangiectasia hemorrágica hereditária / Percutaneous embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

A maioria dos casos de malformações arteriovenosas pulmonares ocorre em pacientes portadores de telangiectasia hemorrágica hereditária. É uma doença incomum, que pode se apresentar com acidentes vasculares encefálicos em pacientes jovens. Com o surgimento de dispositivos de oclusão, a embolização percutânea tornou-se o tratamento de escolha. Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 33 anos de idade, com história de múltiplos acidentes vasculares encefálicos, cianose, dispneia, epistaxes recorrentes e presença de fístulas pulmonares de alto fluxo, submetido a embolização por via percutânea. O paciente apresentou melhora clínica, encontrando-se em acompanhamento há 30 meses, sem sintomas recorrentes.

Most cases of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations occur in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. It is a rare disease that may present with stroke-like symptoms in young patients. With the development of occlusion devices, percutaneous embolization has become the treatment of choice. We report a case of a 33 year-old man with a history of multiple strokes, cyanosis, dyspnea, recurrent epistaxis and high flow pulmonary fistulae who was submitted to percutaneous embolization. The patient improved clinically and has had no recurring symptoms in the 30-month follow-up.

Resultados iniciais e tardios de diabéticos tratados com stents farmacológicos do Registro Safira / Early and late outcomes of diabetic patients treated with drug-eluting stents in the Safira Registry

INTRODUÇÃO: O tratamento percutâneo da doença arterial coronária foi revolucionado pelo uso dos stents farmacológicos (SF). No entanto, sua utilização na prática diária envolve pacientes com características clínicas e angiográficas mais complexas dos que aquelas encontradas em estudos randomizados. Este registro se propôs a caracterizar, em nosso meio, diabéticos e seus desfechos clínicos após implante de SF. MÉTODOS: Registro unicêntrico, prospectivo, que arrolou pacientes consecutivos submetidos a implante de SF. Foram registrados dados clínicos, angiográficos e do procedimento, assim como os desfechos hospitalares e tardios. A avaliação do desfecho primário, composto por óbito cardíaco, infarto agudo do miocárdio ou revascularização da lesão-alvo, foi realizada comparando-se pacientes diabéticos e não diabéticos. RESULTADOS: Avaliamos 1.670 pacientes tratados com SF no período de 2002 a 2012, com seguimento de 3,2 ± 2,5 anos. Um terço dos pacientes era diabético e apresentou sobrevivência livre de eventos menor que os não diabéticos (79,4% vs. 82,6%; P = 0,02). A razão de risco ajustada, no entanto, foi de 1,22 (IC 95%, 0,89-1,69) - não significativa. Ao analisar o subgrupo dos pacientes em uso de insulina, encontramos sobrevivência livre de eventos significativamente menor que a dos demais, enquanto que os diabéticos que não estavam em uso de insulina mostraram comportamento semelhante ao dos não diabéticos (68,7% vs. 83,9% vs. 82,8%, respectivamente; P < 0,01). A razão de risco ajustada foi 1,72 (IC 95%, 1,13-2,63) vez maior para os diabéticos em uso de insulina em comparação aos demais pacientes. CONCLUSÕES: O uso de SF traz benefícios para todos os diabéticos, especialmente para os que não utilizam insulina.

BACKGROUND: The percutaneous treatment of coronary artery disease has been revolutionized by the use of drug-eluting stents (DES). However, its use in the daily practice involves patients with more complex clinical and angiographic characteristics than those found in randomized trials. This registry was designed to characterize diabetic patients and their outcomes following DES implantation in our country. METHODS: Prospective single-center registry enrolling consecutive patients after DES implantation. Clinical, angiographic and procedure-related data, as well as early and long-term outcomes were recorded. The primary endpoint, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization, was compared between diabetics and non-diabetics. RESULTS: We evaluated 1,670 patients treated with DES from 2002 to 2012 with a follow-up of 3.2 ± 2.5 years. One third of the patients were diabetic and had lower event-free survival when compared to non-diabetic patients (79.4% vs. 82.6%; P = 0.015). The adjusted odds ratio, however, was 1.22 (95% CI, 0.89-1.69) and was not significant. A significantly lower event-free survival was observed in the subgroup of patients receiving insulin, whereas it was similar for diabetic and non-diabetic patients in the subgroup not receiving insulin (68.7% vs. 83.9% vs. 82.8%, respectively; P < 0.01). The adjusted odds ratio was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.13-2.63) higher for diabetic patients receiving insulin when compared to the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DES is beneficial for all diabetic patients, especially those who do not receive insulin.

Resultados imediatos e seguimento clínico dos pacientes submetidos a implante valvar aórtico transcateter / Immediate results and clinical follow-up of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic-valve implantation

INTRODUÇÃO: Um terço da população idosa portadora de estenose aórtica calcificada sintomática não apresenta condições cirúrgicas em decorrência do elevado risco operatório. O implante valvar aórtico transcateter (IVAT) surgiu como uma alternativa terapêutica para esses pacientes. MÉTODOS: Incluímos, no período de novembro de 2008 a abril de 2012, todos os pacientes submetidos a IVAT em nosso serviço. Relatamos as características clínicas basais, os dados dos procedimentos, os resultados hospitalares e o seguimento clínico dessa população. As definições utilizadas foram baseadas nos critérios do Valve Academic Research Consortium. RESULTADOS: O IVAT foi realizado em 23 pacientes, com 79 ± 6,7 anos de idade, 56% do sexo feminino. O EuroSCORE foi de 20,4 ± 11,1%. A prótese CoreValve® foi utilizada em 19 pacientes (82,6%) e a Edwards SAPIEN TM nos demais. A taxa de sucesso do procedimento foi de 96%. O tempo médio de seguimento clínico foi de 22 ± 12,8 meses, observando-se 6 óbitos (26,1%) nesse período, 3 dos quais ocorreram nos primeiros 30 dias (13%) e outros 2 (21,7%), até o final do primeiro ano. Um paciente apresentou ataque isquêmico transitório na fase hospitalar (4,3%), mas não ocorreram episódios de acidente vascular encefálico ou de infarto do miocárdio no período periprocedimento ou no acompanhamento tardio. O desfecho combinado de segurança aos 30 dias ocorreu em 5 pacientes (21,7%) e o desfecho combinado de eficácia aos 12 meses foi de 78,3%. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados obtidos neste estudo demonstram o IVAT como procedimento atrativo para o tratamento de pacientes portadores de estenose aórtica calcificada de alto risco cirúrgico.

BACKGROUND: One third of the elderly population with symptomatic calcified aortic stenosis cannot undergo surgery due to their high operative risk. The transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative therapy for this group of patients. METHODS: All patients submitted to TAVI from November 2008 to April 2012 were included in our study. We report the baseline clinical characteristics, procedural data, hospital outcomes and clinical follow-up of this population. Definitions were based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria. RESULTS: TAVI was performed in 23 patients, with 79 ± 6.7 years of age, and 56% were female. The EuroSCORE was 20.4 ± 11.1%. The CoreValve® prosthesis was used in 19 patients (82.6%) and the Edwards SAPIEN TM valve was used in the remaining ones. Procedure success rate was 96%. The mean follow-up was 22 ± 12.8 months, with 6 deaths (26.1%) in this period, 3 of which were observed in the first 30 days (13%) and other 2 (21.7%) by the end of the first year. One patient had a transient ischemic attack during hospitalization (4.3%), but there were no episodes of stroke or myocardial infarction in the periprocedural period or in the follow-up. The composite safety endpoint at 30 days was observed in 5 patients (21.7%) and the composite efficacy endpoint at 12 months was 78.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that TAVI is an attractive procedure for the treatment of patients with calcified aortic stenosis and high operative risk.

Discinergia ventricular esquerda reversível identificada por potenciação pós-extrassistólica em miocardiopatia chagásica crônica não é causada por hibernação miocárdica / Reversible dysynergy identified by post-extrasystolic potentiation in chronic chagas cardiomyopathy is not caused by myocardial hibernation

A alteração regional da mobilidade segmentar do ventrículo esquerdo é marcador precoce de miocardiopatia chagásica crônica. Demonstramos recentemente que a discinergia em algumas regiões ventriculares pode ser revertida pela potenciação pós-extrassistólica. Apesar de angiografia coronária normal, pacientes com miocardiopatia chagásica apresentam falhas de perfusão, corroborando a hipótese de que a hibernação miocárdica pode ser responsável pelas anormalidades de mobilidade segmentar revertidas durante a potenciação pós-extrassistólica. Método: Vinte e dois pacientes consecutivos portadores de miocardiopatia chagásica foram submetidos a angiografia coronária, ventriculografia e cintilografia miocárdica com tálio-201 com o protocolo estresse-redistribuição-reinjeção para avaliação da perfusão dos segmentos do ventrículo esquerdo...

Background: Regional left ventricular segmental wall motion impairment is an early marker of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. We have recently shown that dysynergy may be reversed in some ventricular regions by post-extrasystolic potentiation. Despite normal epicardial coronary arteries, patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy have perfusion defects, raising the possibility that myocardial hibernation could be responsible for the wall motion abnormalities reversed during post-extrasystolic potentiation. Methods: Twentytwo consecutive patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy underwent coronary angiography, left ventricular contrast angiography and stress-redistribution-reinjection thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy for the assessment of the perfusion status in left ventricular segments showing the presence of post-extrasystolic potentiation...

Refeeding syndrome, an undiagnosed and forgotten potentially fatal condition.

Refeeding syndrome (RFS) has been well described but is also a frequently forgotten and undiagnosed complication in clinical practice, which, if untreated, may lead to death. Patients who are more prone to developing RFS are those with at least one of the following conditions: BMI <16 kg/m(2), a recent unintentional weight loss >15%, very little nutritional intake for >10 days, and/or low plasma concentrations of potassium, phosphate or magnesium before feeding; and those with at least two of the following conditions: BMI <18.5 kg/m(2), a recent weight loss >10%, very little nutritional intake for >5 day, and/or a history of alcohol abuse or drug use, including insulin, chemotherapy or diuretics. We report here a patient who, after undergoing intestinal resection (short gut syndrome), presented diarrhoea, weight loss and protein-energy malnutrition. After nutritional assessment, the nutritional support team decided to feed the patient by the parenteral route. After 16 h of parenteral nutrition, the patient developed supraventricular tachycardia, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia, and RFS was diagnosed and managed. After intestinal adaptation, the patient is currently able to maintain his nutritional status with nutrition therapy by the oral route.

A ventricular thrombus mimicking a tumour.

Primary cardiac tumours are a rare occurrence in clinical practice. Mural or pedunculated thrombi are other infrequent findings. These are usually associated with underlying heart disease, present in the left atrium or occupying aneurysms in the ventricular wall, usually the apex. The case of a 33-year-old woman with a pedunculated cardiac mass not having these latter characteristics is reported. She had experienced dyspnoea and lower extremity oedema for 3 years on referral. Echocardiography revealed a mass emerging from the interventricular septum, and a myxoma was suspected. Heart surgery was performed and the findings were a thrombus and large extent of septal and apical mural fibrosis. An endoaneurysmorraphy was performed with exclusion of fibrotic walls from the ventricular cavity.

Doutorado em cardiologia no Instituto do Coração da FMUSP, de 1994 a 2004: defesa e publicação / Doctorate in cardiology at FM-USP heart institute from 1994 through 2004: defense and publication

FUNDAMENTO: Um estudo avaliou a relação entre defesas de tese e publicações no âmbito de toda a Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP). Questiona-se a existência de diferenças entre diferentes áreas do conhecimento e no domínio do tempo. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar as publicações relacionadas às teses defendidas na pós-graduação do Instituto do Coração (InCor) da FMUSP. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um levantamento retrospectivo junto à pós-graduação de cardiologia da FMUSP, no período de 1994 a 2004. Inicialmente foram coletados dados de alunos que defenderam teses nesse período, de seus orientadores e das próprias teses. A seguir, cruzando informações da Medline® e Web of Science®, localizaram-se publicações desses autores e dados referentes às respectivas publicações. RESULTADOS: Nesse período, foram defendidas 268 teses, que resultaram em 195 publicações, no período de até dez anos após a defesa. As publicações ocorreram com mediana de um ano e nove meses após a sua defesa, com fator impacto mediano de 2,1 e uma mediana de 4 citações por trabalho. Não houve correlação com significância estatística em nenhum dos dados estudados. CONCLUSÃO: Uma porcentagem importante das teses é publicada. A publicação tem ocorrido de maneira cada vez mais precoce após a defesa. Esse fato pode estar relacionado ao sucesso das políticas das comissões de pós-graduação e à importância com que esse tema já é debatido atualmente, contribuindo para a melhoria da qualidade da pós-graduação.

BACKGROUND: A study evaluated the relationship between the defense of dissertations and their publication within the realm of the entire Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FM-USP). The existence of differences among different areas of knowledge and the time between defense of dissertations and their publication is questioned. OBJECTIVE: To characterize publications related to dissertations defended in graduate courses of the Heart Institute (InCor) of the University of São Paulo Medical School (FM-USP). METHODS: A retrospective survey was carried out featuring graduate work at FM/USP for the 1994 - 2004 period. Initially, data were collected on students who defended dissertations during this period, on their advisors, and on the dissertations defended in the course of the period. Then, by crossing these data with data from Medline® and Web of Science®, publications by these authors and data were located that referred to the respective publications. RESULTS: During that period, 268 dissertations were defended, resulting in 195 publications within a period of up to 10 years after their defense. The median time for publication after defense was one year and nine months, with a median impact factor of 2.1, and a median of 4 citations per paper. There was no statistically significant correlation among any of the data studied. CONCLUSION: A significant percentage of the dissertations were published, and in the group studied, publication took place within increasingly short times after their defense. This fact may be related to the success of the graduate commissions' policies and to the importance currently lent to debates on this theme, all of which contribute to improvement in the quality of graduate studies.

Doctorate in cardiology at FM-USP Heart Institute from 1994 through 2004: defense and publication.

BACKGROUND: A study evaluated the relationship between the defense of dissertations and their publication within the realm of the entire Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FM-USP). The existence of differences among different areas of knowledge and the time between defense of dissertations and their publication is questioned. OBJECTIVE: To characterize publications related to dissertations defended in graduate courses of the Heart Institute (InCor) of the University of São Paulo Medical School (FM-USP). METHODS: A retrospective survey was carried out featuring graduate work at FM/USP for the 1994-2004 period. Initially, data were collected on students who defended dissertations during this period, on their advisors, and on the dissertations defended in the course of the period. Then, by crossing these data with data from Medline and Web of Science, publications by these authors and data were located that referred to the respective publications. RESULTS: During that period, 268 dissertations were defended, resulting in 195 publications within a period of up to 10 years after their defense. The median time for publication after defense was one year and nine months, with a median impact factor of 2.1, and a median of 4 citations per paper. There was no statistically significant correlation among any of the data studied. CONCLUSION: A significant percentage of the dissertations were published, and in the group studied, publication took place within increasingly short times after their defense. This fact may be related to the success of the graduate commissions' policies and to the importance currently lent to debates on this theme, all of which contribute to improvement in the quality of graduate studies.