Coronary Artery Embolism and Myocardial Infarction, case report.

Coronary embolism (CE) is a rare cause of non-atherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The clinical presentation is similar to ACS, and the diagnosis is supported by Shibata criteria. Atrial fibrillation is the main reported etiology in CE cases. Management includes percutaneous intervention with thromboaspiration and anticoagulation. The following case is a description of a patient with acute chest pain and recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) with a rapid ventricular response, is described. A thrombotic lesion in the distal right coronary artery (RCA) of embolic origin, was documented. Successful mechanical thromboaspiration was performed; intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) showed no thrombus, dissection, or atherosclerotic plaque. CE is an underdiagnosed cause of ACS; diagnosis relies on Shibata criteria, and patients experience worse outcomes in follow-up.

Clinical outcomes and complications following percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale

Introduction: patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with systemic embolic events, and evidence in favor of its closure is increasing. Our objective is to describe the main clinical outcomes and complications of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale. Materials and methods: patients who underwent percutaneous PFO closure from January 1, 2016, through September 1, 2021, were recorded retrospectively. Immediate outcomes (<72 hours), and early and late-onset clinical outcomes were evaluated. In-hospital and follow-up mortality were evaluated through medical chart reviews or telephone calls. Results: forty patients who underwent percutaneous PFO closure were included. There was a mean follow up of 2.3 years, the mean age was 43 ± 13.6 years, 7% were over 60 years old, 72.5% were women, 25% were hypertensive, 20% had diabetes, and 10% had a history of migraines. The mean RoPE score was 6, and 50% had a score greater than 7. Out of all the cases, three (7.5%) had serious adverse events and four had immediate complications. During follow-up, 2.5% had early-onset events consisting of atrial fibrillation and 2.5% had late-onset events due to CVA recurrence. There were no deaths from neurological causes and we reported a 100% survival. Discussion: From our experience, we highlight a low percentage of serious adverse events, and a low number of immediate, early and late-onset events, with a 100% survival, showing excellent results for percutaneous PFO closure. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2585).

Factores asociados a mortalidad a 30 días en pacientes mayores de 75 años llevados a cateterismo cardiaco / Factors associated to mortality at 30 days in patients over 75 years who underwent cardiac catheterization

Resumen La enfermedad coronaria es la principal causa de mortalidad en el mundo, y en tal sentido, la población anciana es la más afectada. Paralelo al creciente aumento de la población mayor de 75 años, se cuestiona la seguridad y eficacia de la intervención coronaria percutánea, en términos de morbi-mortalidad. Se plantea un estudio de corte transversal en mayores de 75 años, llevados a cateterismo cardiaco por infarto agudo de miocardio con o sin elevación del ST, angina inestable o fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda menor del 40%, en un centro especializado de Cardiología de Medellín-Colombia. Se estimó la incidencia acumulada de muerte a 30 días y se exploraron las variables relacionadas con la mortalidad. Resultados: Se analizaron 399 sujetos, con mediana de edad de 80 años (RIQ 6), de los cuales fallecieron 20 durante la hospitalización, y en total 24 murieron en los 30 días posteriores al cateterismo cardiaco, estimándose una mortalidad a 30 días del 6% (IC 95% 3,5-8,5). La mediana de estancia hospitalaria fue de 7 días (rango 0-64 días). Se encontró relación entre mortalidad y sexo femenino con una razón de prevalencia (RP) de 2,61 (p= 0,017), con infarto posterior a cateterismo cardiaco RP 9,77 (p < 0,001) y complicación mecánica durante el cateterismo RP 5,039 (p = 0,003). Además, una RP de 9,25 (p < 0,001) en los pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio Killip III y IV. Los pacientes con un desenlace fatal tenían una presión sistólica de la arteria pulmonar (PSAP) mediana de 40 mm Hg y una fracción de eyección mediana del ventrículo izquierdo (FEVI) del 40%, mientras quienes no fallecieron tenían una PSAP mediana de 36 mm Hg y una FEVI mediana del 47%. Conclusiones: El cateterismo cardiaco y la intervención coronaria tienen una mortalidad relativamente baja en los primeros 30 días y comparable a sujetos de menor edad llevados a este procedimiento. Los factores asociados con aumento de la mortalidad fueron: puntaje de III - IV en la escala de Killip-Kimball, fracción de eyección disminuida, reinfarto durante la hospitalización, complicación mecánica durante el cateterismo cardiaco y género femenino. Estos resultados sugieren que la intervención coronaria percutánea puede ser un método seguro y eficaz en mayores de 75 años.

Abstract Coronary disease is the main cause of death in the world and, in that sense, elderly population are the most affected. Parallel to the growing increase in the population over 75 years, security and efficacy of the percutaneous coronary intervention is questioned in regards to its morbidity and mortality. A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients over 75 years who underwent cardiac catheterization due to acute myocardial infarction with or without ST elevation, unstable angina or left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 40%, in a specialized Cardiology Center in Medellín, Colombia, Cumulative incidence was estimated at 30 days and variables related to mortality were explored. Results: 399 individuals were analyzed, with an average age of 80 years (RIQ 6), out of whom 20 died during the hospitalization, and a total of 24 died during the 30 days after the cardiac catheterization, with an estimated mortality at 30 days of 6% (CI 95%, 3.5-8.5). The mean hospital stay was 7 days (range 0-64 days). A relationship between mortality and female gender was found with a prevalence rate (PR) of 2.61 (p = 0.017), with infarction posterior to cardiac catheterization PR 9.77 (p < 0.001) and mechanical complication during the catheterization PR 5.039 (p = 0.003). Also, a PR of 9.25 (p < 0.001) in patients with acute myocardial infarction Killip III and IV. Patients with fatal outcome had a mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of 40 mm Hg and a mean ejection fraction of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 40%, whereas those who survived had a mean PASP of 36 mm HG and a mean LVEF of 47%. Conclusion: Cardiac catheterization and coronary intervention have a relatively low mortality rate in the first 30 days and it is comparable to younger individuals who underwent this procedure. Factors associated to an increase in mortality were: score of III or IV in the Killip-Kimball scale, decreased ejection fraction, reinfarction during hospitalization, mechanical complication during cardiac catheterization and female gender. These results suggest that percutaneous coronary intervention can be a safe and efficient method in patients over 75 years of age.

[Role of bosentan in patients with chronic venous thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]. / Efectividad del bosentán en el tratamiento de la hipertensión pulmonar debida a tromboembolia venosa crónica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has a dismal prognosis when there are no central pulmonary thrombi amenable to surgical thromboendarterectomy. Pulmonary vasodilators could be useful in this setting. Initial experience with bosentan in a small group of patients with CTEPH has shown favourable results on the short term (3 to 6 months), but long-term effects remain unknown. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively describe the effects of bosentan in 6 CTEPH patients with a mean follow-up period of 15 months (range, 8-26). RESULTS: At 3-month follow-up, all patients had experienced clinical improvement, with a statistical trend towards reduced pulmonary vascular resistance [1,008 (624) dyn/sec/cm-5 versus 768 (392), p = 0.07]. Clinical improvement persisted on the long-term, [baseline NYHA functional class 3.0 (0.4) versus 2.0 (0) at the last follow-up visit, p < 0.01]. Six-minute walk-test results [baseline 230 (124) meters versus a 313 (70) at 1 year] and NTproBNP [2,225 (2,079) pg/ml versus a 1,056 (1,104) at 1 year] were also consistent with persistent beneficial effect. CONCLUSIONS: Bosentan seemed to provide long-term benefits in this small series of patients with CTEPH.