Inter-American Society of Cardiology (CIFACAH-ELECTROSIAC) and Latin-American Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS): multidisciplinary review on the appropriate use of implantable cardiodefibrillator in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Our main objective was to present a multidisciplinary review on the epidemiology of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and the tools that could be used to identify malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and to perform risk stratification. In addition, indications and contraindications for the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in general and in special populations including the elderly and patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are also given. METHODS: An expert group from the Inter American Society of Cardiology (IASC), through their HF Council (CIFACAH) and Electrocardiology Council (ElectroSIAC), together with the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS), reviewed and discussed the literature regarding the appropriate use of an ICD in people with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF). Indications and contraindications for the use of ICD are presented in this multidisciplinary review. RESULTS: Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the usefulness of ICD in both primary and secondary prevention of SCD in HFpEF. There are currently precise indications and contraindications for the use of these devices. CONCLUSIONS: In some Latin American countries, a low rate of implantation is correlated with low incomes, but this is not the case for all Latin America. Determinants of the low rates of ICD implantation in many Latin American countries are still a matter of research. VA remains one of the most common causes of cardiovascular death associated with HFrEF and different tools are available for stratifying the risk of SCD in this population.

Tromboprofilaxis, anticoagulación y coagulopatía en tiempos de pandemia: recomendación de la ACATA, ACMI, SCC CCV y ACMV / Thromboprophylaxis, anticoagulation and coagulopathy in times of pandemic: The ACATA, ACMI, SCC CCV and ACMV recommendation

Resumen Introducción La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) puede predisponer a tromboembolia venosa o trombosis arterial debido a una respuesta inflamatoria aumentada, hipoxia, inmovilización y coagulación intravascular diseminada; hasta en un 20 a 50% de pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19 tienen alteraciones hematológicas relacionadas con coagulopatía (dímero D elevado, tiempo de protrombina prolongado, trombocitopenia y/o fibrinógeno bajo). Evaluaciones post mortem evidencian depósitos trombóticos microvasculares típicos, ricos en plaquetas en vasos pequeños de pulmones y otros órganos. Objetivo Brindar una aproximación práctica y actualizada en el manejo del paciente con riesgo elevado o que presentan eventos tromboembólicos en el marco de la actual pandemia por COVID-19. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión narrativa que incluyó estudios observacionales descriptivos. Se efectuó una búsqueda de la literatura de evidencia médica en diferentes buscadores como Science Direct y PubMed, usando las palabras claves “thromboprophylaxis”, “anticoagulation”, “thrombosis”, “anticoagulant”, “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “coronavirus”. Posteriormente se escribieron las recomendaciones generales referentes al tema. Conclusiones Existen diferentes formas en las que la pandemia por COVID-19 puede predisponer al desarrollo de enfermedades trombóticas o tromboembólicas, el efecto directo o indirecto de este virus relacionado con la tormenta de citocinas que precipita el inicio del síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica y predispone al desarrollo de eventos trombóticos; también las intervenciones disponibles pueden tener interacciones farmacológicas con antiagregantes y/o anticoagulantes.

Abstract Introduction Coronavirus 19 infection can predispose to VTE or arterial thrombosis due to a heightened inflammatory response, hypoxia, immobility and DIC. Up to 20-50% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have hematological disorders related to coagulopathies (elevated D-dimer, prolonged PT, thrombocytopenia and/or low fibrinogen). Post-mortem examinations show typical platelet-rich microvascular thrombotic deposits in the small vessels of the lungs and other organs. Objective To provide a practical, updated approach to the treatment of patients at high risk for or with ongoing thromboembolic events in the current COVID-19 pandemic setting. Material and methods A narrative review was performed including descriptive observational studies. A search of the medical evidence literature was carried out in different search engines such as ScienceDirect and PubMed, using the following key words: “thromboprophylaxis”, “anticoagulation”, “thrombosis”, “anticoagulant”, “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, and “coronavirus”, and general recommendations on the topic were subsequently composed. Conclusions The are various ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic may predispose to the development of thrombotic or thromboembolic diseases. The virus may have a direct or indirect effect related to the cytokine storm which triggers the onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and predisposes to the development of thrombotic events. The available interventions may also have pharmacological interactions with antiplatelet drugs and/or anticoagulants.

Latin-American Registry of Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19: Rationale and Design of the CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry.

Background: Infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) exhibits a strong infectivity but less virulence compared to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In terms of cardiovascular morbidity, susceptible population include elderly and patients with certain cardiovascular conditions. This infection has been associated with cardiac injury, cardiovascular complications and higher mortality. Objectives: The main objective of the CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry is to determine the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 infected patients that required in-hospital treatment in different Latin American institutions. Methods: The CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry is an observational, multicenter, ambispective, and hospital-based registry of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection who required in-hospital treatment in Latin America. Enrollment of patients started on May 01, 2020 and was initially planned to last three months; based on the progression of pandemic in Latin America, enrollment was extended until December 2020, and could be extended once again based on the pandemic course in our continent at that moment. Conclusions: The CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry will characterize the in-hospital population diagnosed with COVID-19 in Latin America in order to identify risk factors for worsening of cardiovascular comorbidities or for the appearance of cardiovascular complications during hospitalization and during the 30-day follow up period.

Thrombosis and Coagulopathy in COVID-19.

Since December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which initially occurred in the city of Wuhan, located in China's Hubei province, spread around the world and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the new Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic. The presence of comorbidities (eg, cardiovascular disease, obesity), Sepsis Induced Coagulopathy score >4, elevation of D-dimer (>6 times the normal value), C-reactive protein, troponins and other disseminated intravascular coagulation markers; is associated to a worse prognosis in hospitalized patients with severe COVD-19, reaching a hospital mortality of 42%. Initial anticoagulant treatment with low molecular weight heparin has been shown to reduce mortality by 48% at 7 days and 37% at 28 days and achieve a significant improvement in the arterial oxygen pressure/inspired fraction of O2 (PaO2/FiO2) by mitigating the formation of microthrombi and associated pulmonary coagulopathy.

Widening of posterior glottis through rotation of the arytenoid on its axis: Report of nine cases.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral vocal folds' immobility is a challenge in laryngology. Multiple procedures have been proposed to improve breathing by statically enlarging the glottal airway, what also results in loss of voice and aspiration. We proposed a technique to enlarge the posterior glottis by rotating the arytenoids on its axis, imitating the function of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, with the objective of evaluating the results regarding decannulation, voice quality, and bronchoaspiration. METHODS: This study is a clinical case series of patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis who underwent an arytenoid rotation surgery at a single tertiary university care institution between 2011 and 2017. Data were prospectively collected and was complemented with information from medical charts. Patients were assessed for decannulation, dyspnea, posterior glottic opening, quality of voice, and swallowing disorders. RESULTS: Nine patients were included in the study. Out of three patients who required tracheostomy, two were successfully decannulated. Six patients reported a significant improvement in their dyspnea, while four patients reported a worsening of their voice. The stroboscopy evidenced a posterior glottic opening of at least 7 mm in six patients. Eight patients had no aspiratory symptoms, and the acoustic analysis showed that only one patient has a normal voice. CONCLUSION: The arytenoid rotation on its axis by imitating the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle preserves the physiological functions of the larynx, which allows sufficient opening of the posterior glottis for breathing, and could alter in a lesser extent the anterior glottis to maintain a good quality of voice and swallowing.