Brazilian Landscape of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to increase in the coming years, and strategies to mitigate the burden of this disease are needed in different regions. Geographic variations in epidemiology and risk factors, such as viral hepatitis and metabolic disease, pose challenges in adopting programs for early detection programs and management of patients with HCC. Brazil, like other countries, has high economic and social inequality, with heterogeneous access to health care. Viral hepatitis is the main risk factor but there is growing awareness of fatty liver disease. Risk factor monitoring and screening programs are unmet priorities because patients are often diagnosed at later stages. Advances in the management of patients with HCC have been made in recent years, including new tools for selecting patients for liver transplantation, sophisticated surgical techniques, and new systemic agents. High-volume academic centers often achieve favorable results through the adoption and application of established treatments, but this is not a reality in most regions of Brazil, because of disparities in wealth and resources. As HCC management requires a coordinated and multidisciplinary team, the role of local referral centers in decentralizing access to treatments and promoting health education in different regions should be encouraged and supported.

Cardiac Incidental Findings on Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography: Prevalence and Association with Subsequent Cardiovascular Events.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of reportable cardiac findings detected on abdominopelvic CTs and the association with subsequent cardiovascular events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective search of electronic medical record of patients who underwent abdominopelvic CT between November 2006 and November 2011 with a clinical history of upper abdominal pain. A radiologist blinded to the original CT report reviewed all 222 cases for the presence of pertinent reportable cardiac findings. The original CT report was also evaluated for documentation of pertinent reportable cardiac findings. The following findings were recorded on all CTs: presence of coronary calcification, fatty metaplasia, ventricle wall thinning and thickening, valve calcification or prosthesis, heart/chamber enlargement, aneurysm, mass, thrombus, device, air within ventricles, abnormal pericardium, prior sternotomy, and adhesions if prior sternotomy. Medical records were reviewed to identify cardiovascular events on follow-up in patients with the presence or absence of cardiac findings. We compared the distribution findings in patients with and without cardiac events using the Wilcoxon test (for continuous variables) and the Pearson's chi-squared test (for categorical variables). RESULTS: Eighty-five of 222 (38.3%) patients (52.7% females, median age 52.5 years) had at least one pertinent reportable cardiac finding on the abdominopelvic CT, with a total of 140 findings in this group. From the total 140 findings, 100 (71.4%) were not reported. The most common findings seen on abdominal CTs were: coronary artery calcification (66 patients), heart or chamber enlargement (25), valve abnormality (19), sternotomy and surgery signs (9), LV wall thickening (7), device (5), LV wall thinning (2), pericardial effusion (5), and others (3). After a mean follow-up of 43.9 months, 19 cardiovascular events were found in the cohort (transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, acute arrhythmia, palpitation, syncope and acute chest pain). Only 1 event occurred in the group of patients with no incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings (1/137 = 0.73%). All other 18 events occurred in patients with incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings (18/85 = 21.2%), which was significantly different (p < 0.0001). One out of the total 19 events in the overall group (5.24%) occurred in a patient with no incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings while 18 of 19 total events (94.74%) occurred with patients with incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings, which was also significantly different (p < 0.001). Fifteen of the total events (79%) occurred in patients in whom the incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings were not reported, which was significantly different (p < 0.001) from the four events that occurred in patients in whom the incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings were reported or had no findings. CONCLUSIONS: Incidental pertinent reportable cardiac findings are common on abdominal CTs and are frequently not reported by radiologists. These findings are of clinical relevance since patients with pertinent reportable cardiac findings have a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular events on follow-up.

Post-COVID-19 Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Rare but Severe Condition with no Treatment Besides Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND The incidence of abnormal liver function, mainly aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase elevations, in patients with COVID-19 is not uncommon, but persistent liver damage after the acute phase of the disease is uncommon and has been recently recognized as a new entity named post-COVID-19 cholangiopathy. CASE REPORT We report a clinical case with progressive cholestatic disease following severe COVID-19. AST and ALT peaked at hospital admission and while its serum concentration went down, bilirubin and cholestatic liver enzymes started to increase, reaching the maximum at day 122. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a diffuse irregularity of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, with multiple focal strictures alternating with mild focal dilations of the biliary tree, suggesting a sclerosing cholangiopathy. A transjugular liver biopsy showed a prominent bile ductular reaction, cholangiocyte injury, inflammatory infiltrate rich in neutrophils, biliary infarctions, marked cholestasis, and portal fibrosis, suggesting the diagnosis of post-Covid-19 secondary sclerosing cholangitis. The patient evolved with a continuous deterioration of liver functions, but liver transplantation was not performed due to his poor clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS Post-COVID-19 SSC is a severe disease with no effective clinical treatment and has liver transplantation as the only treatment for a few selected patients.

Association between Metabolic Disorders and Cholangiocarcinoma: Impact of a Postulated Risk Factor with Rising Incidence.

Introduction and objectives: The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has been increasing globally. Although a concomitant increase in the incidence of metabolic disorders might suggest a causal relationship, the data are scarce. We aimed to describe the prevalence of metabolic disorders in patients with CCA and report the clinical features and outcomes. Patients and Methods: Retrospective study including patients with CCA. Patients were divided into: (1) past history of diabetes or/and overweight/obesity ("metabolic disorder group") and (2) without any of these features ("non-metabolic-disorder group"). A Cox regression model was used to determine the prognostic factors. Results: 122 patients were included. In total, 36 (29.5%) had overweight/obesity, 24 (19.7%) had diabetes, and 8 (6.6%) had both. A total of 29 (23.8%) patients had resectable disease and received upfront surgery. A total of 104 (85.2%) received chemotherapy for advanced/recurrent disease. The overall survival of the cohort was 14.3 months (95% CI: 10.1−17.3). ECOG-PS 0 (p < 0.0001), resectable disease (p = 0.018) and absence of vascular invasion (p = 0.048) were independently associated with better prognosis. The "metabolic disorder group" (n = 52) had a median survival of 15.5 months (95% CI 10.9−33.9) vs. 11.5 months (95% CI 8.4−16.5) in the "non-metabolic-disorder group" (n = 70) (HR: 1.10; 95% CI 0.62−1.94). Patients with resectable disease in the "metabolic group" had longer survival than patients in the "non-metabolic group" (43.4 months (95% CI 33.9-NR) vs. 21.8 months (95% CI 8.6−26.9); HR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.03−0.59). Conclusion: Metabolic disorders are frequent among CCA patients. Underlying metabolic comorbidities may be associated with prognosis in resectable CCA. There is a need to explore the mechanism that drives CCA carcinogenesis in a metabolic background.

Liver Surgery: Important Considerations for Pre- and Postoperative Imaging.

Liver surgery may be a curative treatment option not only for primary liver neoplasms but also for liver metastases in selected patients. The number of liver surgeries performed worldwide has increased, but surgical morbidity associated with these surgeries remains significant. Therefore, radiologists need to understand the terminology, surgical techniques, resectability and unresectability criteria, and possible postoperative complications as these are part of the decision-making process. Because vascular and biliary variations are common, an adequate preoperative anatomic evaluation determines the best surgical technique, helps identify patients in whom additional surgical steps will be required, and reduces the risk of inadvertent injury. The surgeon must ensure that the future liver remnant is sufficient to maintain adequate function, aided by the radiologist who can provide valuable information such as the presence of steatosis, biliary dilatation, signs of cirrhosis, and portal hypertension, in addition to the volume of the future liver remnant. Postoperative complications must also be understood and evaluated. The most common postoperative complications are vascular (bleeding, thrombosis, and ischemia), biliary (fistulas, bilomas, and strictures), infectious (incisional or deep), those related to liver failure, and even tumor recurrence. An invited commentary by Winslow is available online. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2022.

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle uptake as noninvasive marker of aortic wall inflammation on MRI: proof of concept study.

OBJECTIVE:: Radiation therapy for cancer can lead to atherosclerosis by inducing inflammatory changes in the vascular wall. It is difficult to quantitatively measure inflammation on CT and MRI studies. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of ferumoxytol, an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle, as a noninvasive marker of vessel wall inflammation secondary to radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer patients in comparison with healthy volunteers. METHODS:: MRI of upper abdomen (T1, T2, multi echo T2* weighted imaging) was performed on 3 T magnet before and 48 h after intravenous administration of ferumoxytol in pancreatic cancer patients who underwent radiation therapy (n = 8) and in healthy volunteers (n = 8). R2* value was obtained by drawing regions of interest outlining the aortic wall directly on the T2* medic image and subsequently transposed to the R2* image using Amira software (v. 5.3.2, FEI, Bordeaux, France). The change in R2* values was analyzed by student's t-test. RESULTS:: The average change in R2* value of the pancreatic cancer patients was determined to be 216.1 ms-1. The average change R2* value of the control patients was determined to be 54.6 ms-1. Thus, pancreatic cancer patients following radiation therapy had a greater uptake of ferumoxytol (p = 0.0082) in their aortic wall as compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION:: This proof of concept study suggests that greater uptake of ferumoxytol in the aortic wall in cancer patients without visible atherosclerosis may be the expression of increased inflammation. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced MRI can offer an imaging biomarker for quantitative estimation of aortic inflammation preceding atherosclerosis.

Cholangiocarcinoma: classification, diagnosis, staging, imaging features, and management.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively uncommon malignant neoplasm with poor prognosis. The distinction between extrahepatic and intrahepatic subtypes is important as epidemiological features, biologic and pathologic characteristics, and clinical course are different for both entities. This review study focuses on the role imaging plays in the diagnosis, classification, staging, and post-treatment assessment of cholangiocarcinoma.

MRI features of perianal fistulas: is there a difference between Crohn's and non-Crohn's patients?

PURPOSE: Though perianal fistulas are commonly seen in patients with Crohn's disease, they can also be seen in patients without inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MR imaging differences of perianal fistulas in patients with and without Crohn's disease. METHODS: Our retrospective search from January 2012 to December 2015 of the Radiology database for perianal fistula yielded 207 patients. Only patients with dedicated MR fistula protocol studies were included, whereas patients with previous anal surgery or anastomosis, anorectal tumors, and equivocal findings that could not be definitely assessed as a fistula were excluded. The following features were assessed: anatomic type of fistula (Parks Classification), luminal origin (hour clock position), anal verge distance, signs of acute inflammation, circumference of anus involved by inflammation, presence of rectal inflammation. and abscess. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty six of 207 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 96 (76.2%) had Crohn's disease and 30 (23.8%) did not. The most common fistulas identified were transphincteric (38.5% of Crohn's and 50% of non-Crohn's) and intersphincteric (33.3% of Crohn's and 35.4% of non-Crohn's). An abscess was associated in 41 cases, 32 (33.3%) in the Crohn's group and 9 (30.0%) in the non-Crohn's group. Rectal inflammation was present in 29 patients with Crohn's disease (29.2%) and in 2 without Crohn's (6.7%). This finding was statistically significant (p = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that while both groups can have similar MR imaging features, accompanying rectal inflammation was more commonly seen in Crohn's disease.

Extranodal lymphomas of abdomen and pelvis: imaging findings and differential diagnosis.

A wide spectrum of extranodal lymphomas in the abdomen and pelvis is commonly encountered by imaging. Diagnosing these lesions generally requires a multimodality approach. This review highlights imaging appearances of extranodal lymphomas in the abdomen and pelvis with emphasis on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography along with the relevant differential diagnosis.

Blood pool contrast agents for venous magnetic resonance imaging.

Imaging of the venous system plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of clinically significant disorders. There have been great advances in venous imaging techniques, culminating in the use of magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Although MRV has distinct advantages in anatomic and quantitative cross sectional imaging without ionizing radiation, there are well-known challenges in acquisition timing and contrast administration in patients with renal impairment. The latest advancement involves the addition of new contrast media agents, which have emerged as valuable alternatives in these difficult scenarios. In this review, we will focus on a group of specific contrast agents called blood pool agents and discuss their salient features and clinical applications.

Fatores associados ao controle da asma em pacientes pediátricos em centro de referência / Factors associated with asthma control in a pediatric reference center

OBJETIVO:Descrever os dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e os fatores associados ao controle da asma em pacientes asmáticos seguidos em um ambulatório pediátrico especializado. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de pacientes asmáticos ambulatoriais, para os quais eram fornecidas medicações profiláticas. A classificação da asma, as etapa de tratamento e a avaliação do controle seguiram a IV Diretrizes Brasileiras para o Manejo da Asma, de 2006. Os fatores avaliados foram: outras alergias, obesidade, imunodeficiências, refluxo gastresofágico e sensibilização alérgica, sendo comparados pacientes com asma controlada ou não com relação à etapa do tratamento, à obesidade e à sensibilização alérgica. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 300 pacientes com asma (1,38M:1F), com mediana de idade de 10,8 anos, e de início dos sintomas de 1,0 ano. A atopia estava presente em 78 por cento dos pais e/ou irmãos. Antecedentes pessoais de doenças alérgicas ocorreram em 292 pacientes (96 por cento rinite, 27 por cento dermatite atópica, 18 por cento conjuntivite alérgica, 6 por cento alergia alimentar). Foram diagnosticados sete casos de deficiência de IgA (DIgA) e quatro de IgG2; obesidade em 37/253 (15 por cento), sendo que sobrepeso e obesidade estiveram associados à falta de controle (p=0,023). Em 118 pacientes com multissensibilização, predominaram casos não controlados (22 (19 por cento) casos; p=0,049; OR 1,9; IC95 por cento 1,03-3,50). Entre os 180 casos (60 por cento) em tratamento nas etapas 3 e 4, 122 (45 por cento) estavam controlados e 112 (41 por cento) parcialmente controlados. CONCLUSÕES: A rinite foi a alergia mais associada à asma e a prevalência de DIgA foi 20 vezes maior do que na população geral. O controle parcial ou total dos sintomas da asma foi obtido em 85 por cento dos casos. Obesidade/sobrepeso e multissensibilização foram associadas à falta de controle da asma.

OBJECTIVE:To describe the epidemiological and clinical data and factors associated with asthma control of asthmatic patients followed at a pediatric reference center. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including asthmatic outpatients receiving prophylactic medications from the institution. For classification of asthma, steps of treatment and control evaluation, the IV Brazilian Guidelines for the Management of Asthma (2006) were adopted. The presence of other allergies, obesity, immunodeficiency, gastroesophageal reflux and allergic sensitization were evaluated and compared between patients with or without asthma control according to the treatment step, obesity and allergic sensitization. RESULTS: 300 patients with asthma (1.38M:1F) were included; median age=10.8 years; median age at onset of symptoms=1.0 year. Among parents and/or siblings, 78 percent reported atopy. Personal history showed other allergic diseases in 292 patients (96 percent rhinitis, 27 percent atopic dermatitis, 18 percent allergic conjunctivitis, 6 percent food allergy). IgA deficiency was diagnosed in seven cases and IgG2 deficiency in four. Obesity was noted in 34/233 patients (15 percent) and overweight/obesity were associated with asthma poor control (p<0.023). Among 118 patients multisensitizated, the frequency of poor asthma control was greater (22 (19 percent) cases; p=0.049, OR 1.9; 95 percentCI 1.03-3.50). Among the patients, 180 (60 percent) were treated according steps 3 and 4; 122 children (45 percent) were considered controlled and 112 (41 percent) were partially controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic rhinitis was the allergic disease more associated with asthma. The prevalence of IgA deficiency was 20 times higher than in the general population. Total or partial control of asthma symptoms was obtained in 85 percent of the cases. Overweight/obesity and multisensitization were associated to poor asthma control.

Undergrading and understaging in patients with clinically insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to evaluate the undergrading and understaging rates in patients with clinically localized insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and July 2008, 406 patients underwent radical prostatectomy for clinical localized prostate cancer in our hospital. Based on preoperative data, 93 of these patients fulfilled our criteria of non-significance: Gleason score < 7, stage T1c, PSA < 10 ng/mL and percentage of affected fragments less than 25%. The pathologic stage and Gleason score were compared to preoperative data to evaluate the rate of understaging and undergrading. The biochemical recurrence free survival of these operated insignificant cancers were also evaluated. RESULTS: On surgical specimen analysis 74.7% of patients had Gleason score of 6 or less and 25.3% had Gleason 7 or greater. Furthermore 8.3% of cases showed extracapsular extension. After 36 months of follow-up 3.4% had biochemical recurrence, defined by a PSA above 0.4 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of cases, we have found considerable rates of undergrading and understaging in patients with prostate cancer whose current definitions classified them as candidates for active surveillance. According to our results the current definition seems inadequate as up to a third of patients had higher grade or cancer outside the prostate.

Undergrading and understaging in patients with clinically insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to evaluate the undergrading and understaging rates in patients with clinically localized insignificant prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and July 2008, 406 patients underwent radical prostatectomy for clinical localized prostate cancer in our hospital. Based on preoperative data, 93 of these patients fulfilled our criteria of non-significance: Gleason score < 7, stage T1c, PSA < 10 ng/mL and percentage of affected fragments less than 25 percent. The pathologic stage and Gleason score were compared to preoperative data to evaluate the rate of understaging and undergrading. The biochemical recurrence free survival of these operated insignificant cancers were also evaluated. RESULTS: On surgical specimen analysis 74.7 percent of patients had Gleason score of 6 or less and 25.3 percent had Gleason 7 or greater. Furthermore 8.3 percent of cases showed extracapsular extension. After 36 months of follow-up 3.4 percent had biochemical recurrence, defined by a PSA above 0.4 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of cases, we have found considerable rates of undergrading and understaging in patients with prostate cancer whose current definitions classified them as candidates for active surveillance. According to our results the current definition seems inadequate as up to a third of patients had higher grade or cancer outside the prostate.

Postoperative outcome of patients with prosthetic valve leak.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic valve leak is a possible complication of surgical valve replacement. Although uncommon, its consequences may be serious. Few studies correlate the degree of prosthetic valve leak with clinical events. OBJECTIVE: To compare the postoperative outcome of patients with mild/moderate (Mi/Mo) or severe (Sev) prosthetic valve leak METHODS: A total of 185 patients with prosthetic valve leak were selected among 1350 patients undergoing heart valve surgery between 1999 and 2001. Of these, a sample of 58 patients (37 men) with prosthetic valve leak (36 with Mi/Mo versus 22 with Sev leak) in the pre and/or postoperative period of heart valve replacement had complete medical record data, so their clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data could be retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of reoperation was 11.1% in the Mi/Mo group, versus 22.7% in the Sev group (odds ratio = 2.35 [95% CI 0.56-9.94]). Endocarditis was the cause of reoperation in 75% of the patients of the Mi/Mo group and in 60% of the Sev group. Aortic bioprostheses were those most frequently related to leak (55.8% in the Mi/Mo group and 57.7% in the Sev group). Forty percent of the patients with previous Mi/Mo leak did not present prosthetic valve leak on postoperative day 2 versus 21.4% of the patients with Sev prosthetic valve leak. No significant differences were found regarding laboratory variables. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Patients with severe leak are more likely to undergo reoperation. (2) Endocarditis was the most frequent cause of reoperation for any leak degree. (3) Severe prosthetic valve leak is more difficult to fully resolve after surgical treatment.

Evolução pós-operatória de pacientes com refluxo protético valvar / Evolución postoperatoria de pacientes con reflujo protésico valvular / Postoperative outcome of patients with prosthetic valve leak

FUNDAMENTO: O refluxo de prótese valvar é uma possível complicação da cirurgia de troca valvar. Embora raro, suas consequências podem ser graves. Há poucos estudos que correlacionam o grau do refluxo de prótese valvar com os eventos clínicos dos pacientes. OBJETIVO: Comparar a evolução pós-operatória de pacientes com refluxo de prótese valvar discreto/moderado (D/M) ou importante (Imp). MÉTODOS: Dentre 1.350 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia valvar entre 1999 e 2001, foram selecionados 185 pacientes com refluxo de prótese valvar. Desses pacientes, foram avaliados retrospectivamente dados clínicos, laboratoriais e ecocardiográficos de uma amostra de 58 pacientes (37 homens) com refluxo de prótese valvar no pré e/ou no pós-operatório de troca valvar com dados completos em prontuários, sendo 36 com refluxo D/M versus 22 com refluxo Imp. RESULTADOS: A incidência de reoperação foi de 11,1 por cento no Grupo D/M versus 22,7 por cento no Grupo Imp (odds ratio = 2,35 [IC95 por cento 0,56-9,94]). Endocardite foi a causa de reoperação em 75 por cento dos pacientes do Grupo D/M e em 60 por cento do Grupo Imp. As biopróteses aórticas foram as mais acometidas por refluxo (55,8 por cento no Grupo D/M e 57,7 por cento no Grupo Imp). Evoluíram sem refluxo de prótese valvar no segundo pós-operatório 40 por cento dos pacientes com refluxo prévio D/M versus 21,4 por cento dos pacientes com refluxo de prótese valvar Imp. Não houve diferenças significantes nas variáveis laboratoriais. CONCLUSÕES: (1) Os portadores de refluxo importante têm maior probabilidade de reoperação. (2) Endocardite foi a causa mais frequente de reoperação para qualquer grau de refluxo. (3) O refluxo de prótese valvar importante é de mais difícil resolução completa após tratamento cirúrgico.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic valve leak is a possible complication of surgical valve replacement. Although uncommon, its consequences may be serious. Few studies correlate the degree of prosthetic valve leak with clinical events. OBJECTIVE: To compare the postoperative outcome of patients with mild/moderate (Mi/Mo) or severe (Sev) prosthetic valve leak METHODS: A total of 185 patients with prosthetic valve leak were selected among 1350 patients undergoing heart valve surgery between 1999 and 2001. Of these, a sample of 58 patients (37 men) with prosthetic valve leak (36 with Mi/Mo versus 22 with Sev leak) in the pre and/or postoperative period of heart valve replacement had complete medical record data, so their clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data could be retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of reoperation was 11.1 percent in the Mi/Mo group, versus 22.7 percent in the Sev group (odds ratio = 2.35 [95 percent CI 0.56-9.94]). Endocarditis was the cause of reoperation in 75 percent of the patients of the Mi/Mo group and in 60 percent of the Sev group. Aortic bioprostheses were those most frequently related to leak (55.8 percent in the Mi/Mo group and 57.7 percent in the Sev group). Forty percent of the patients with previous Mi/Mo leak did not present prosthetic valve leak on postoperative day 2 versus 21.4 percent of the patients with Sev prosthetic valve leak. No significant differences were found regarding laboratory variables. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Patients with severe leak are more likely to undergo reoperation. (2) Endocarditis was the most frequent cause of reoperation for any leak degree. (3) Severe prosthetic valve leak is more difficult to fully resolve after surgical treatment.

FUNDAMENTO: El reflujo de prótesis valvular es una posible complicación de la cirugía de reemplazo valvular. Aunque raras, sus consecuencias pueden resultar severas. Hay pocos estudios que correlacionan el grado del reflujo de prótesis valvular con los eventos clínicos de los pacientes. OBJETIVO: Comparar la evolución postoperatoria de pacientes con reflujo de prótesis valvular leve/moderado (L/M) o severo (S). MÉTODOS: Teniendo en cuenta a los 1.350 pacientes sometidos a la cirugía valvular entre el 1999 y el 2001, se seleccionaron a 185 pacientes con reflujo de prótesis valvular. De ellos, se evaluaron retrospectivamente datos clínicos, laboratoriales y ecocardiográficos de una muestra de 58 pacientes (37 varones) con reflujo de prótesis valvular en el pre y/o en el postoperatorio de reemplazo valvular con datos completos en prontuarios, con 36 presentado reflujo L/M versus 22 con reflujo S. RESULTADOS: La incidencia de reoperación fue del 11,1 por ciento en el Grupo L/M versus el 22,7 por ciento en el Grupo S (odds ratio = 2,35 [IC95 por ciento 0,56-9,94]). La Endocarditis fue la causa de reoperación en el 75 por ciento de los pacientes del Grupo L/M y en el 60 por ciento del Grupo S. Las bioprótesis aórticas fueron las más afectadas por reflujo (el 55,8 por ciento en el Grupo L/M y el 57,7 por ciento en el Grupo S). Evolucionaron sin reflujo de prótesis valvular en el segundo postoperatorio el 40 por ciento de los pacientes con reflujo previo L/M versus el 21,4 por ciento de los pacientes con reflujo de prótesis valvular S. No hubo diferencia significantes en las variables laboratoriales. CONCLUSIÓN: 1) Los portadores de reflujo severo tienen mayor probabilidad de reoperación. 2) Endocarditis fue la causa más frecuente de reoperación para cualquier grado de reflujo. 3) El reflujo de prótesis valvular severo es de más difícil resolución completa tras tratamiento quirúrgico.