Comparative Study between Subcutaneous and Endovascular Defibrillator Recipients Regarding Tolerance to the Implant Procedure and Perception of Quality of Life. / Estudo Comparativo entre Receptores de Desfibriladores Subcutâneos e Transvenosos em Relação à Tolerância ao Procedimento de Implante e Percepção da Qualidade de Vida.

BACKGROUND: The totally subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is a safe alternative to the conventional transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) system to prevent sudden death. OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of the type of ICD system and surgical technique on patients' quality of life, as well as the severity of discomfort and pain, between S-ICD and TV-ICD recipients. METHODS: Consecutively implanted patients with an S-ICD system were matched with patients with a TV-ICD system. In addition, patients undergoing S-ICD implantation after removal of a TV-ICD due to complications were included. Quality of life (measured with the 12-item short-form health survey) and severity of pain and discomfort were evaluated. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients implanted with S-ICD or TV-ICD under local anesthesia and conscious sedation were analyzed. Patients with S-ICD and TV-ICD systems did not differ significantly in quality of life scores. S-ICD patients had a higher level of perioperative pain; no differences were found regarding severity of intraoperative pain. The magnitude of aesthetic discomfort and sleep disturbances did not differ between groups. An S-ICD was implanted in 7 additional patients after removal of a TV-ICD. All but one of these patients recommended the S-ICD system. CONCLUSIONS: The type of ICD system and the surgical technique have negligible impact on patients' quality of life. These results suggest that conscious sedation, provided by an experienced electrophysiology team, could be considered as an alternative to general anesthesia to manage patients undergoing S-ICD implantation.

FUNDAMENTO: O cardioversor-desfibrilador implantável subcutâneo (S-CDI) é uma alternativa segura ao sistema convencional do CDI transvenoso (TV-CDI) para evitar morte súbita. OBJETIVO: Comparar o impacto do tipo de sistema de CDI e técnica cirúrgica na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, bem como a gravidade do desconforto e da dor, entre receptores de S-CDI e TV-CDI. MÉTODOS: Pacientes consecutivamente implantados com um sistema S-CDI foram pareados com pacientes com um sistema TV-CDI. Além disso, foram incluídos os pacientes submetidos ao implante de S-CDI após a remoção de um TV-CDI, devido a complicações. Foram avaliadas a qualidade de vida (medida com o questionário de saúde de 12 itens) e a gravidade da dor e desconforto. Significância estatística foi definida como p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 64 pacientes implantados com S-CDI ou TV-CDI sob anestesia local e sedação consciente. Pacientes com sistemas S-CDI e TV-CDI não diferiram significativamente nos escores de qualidade de vida. Os pacientes com S-CDI apresentaram maior nível de dor peri-operatória; nenhuma diferença foi encontrada em relação à gravidade da dor intra-operatória. A magnitude do desconforto estético e dos distúrbios do sono não diferiu entre os grupos.O S-CDI foi implantado em 7 pacientes adicionais após a remoção de um TV-CDI. Todos exceto um desses pacientes recomendaram o sistema S-CDI. CONCLUSÕES: O tipo de sistema de CDI e a técnica cirúrgica têm impacto insignificante na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Estes resultados sugerem que a sedação consciente, fornecida por uma equipe experiente de eletrofisiologia, pode ser considerada uma alternativa à anestesia geral para o manejo de pacientes submetidos ao implante de S-CDI.

Estudo Comparativo entre Receptores de Desfibriladores Subcutâneos e Transvenosos em Relação à Tolerância ao Procedimento de Implante e Percepção da Qualidade de Vida / Comparative Study between Subcutaneous and Endovascular Defibrillator Recipients Regarding Tolerance to the Implant Procedure and Perception of Quality of Life

Resumo Fundamento O cardioversor-desfibrilador implantável subcutâneo (S-CDI) é uma alternativa segura ao sistema convencional do CDI transvenoso (TV-CDI) para evitar morte súbita. Objetivo Comparar o impacto do tipo de sistema de CDI e técnica cirúrgica na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, bem como a gravidade do desconforto e da dor, entre receptores de S-CDI e TV-CDI. Métodos Pacientes consecutivamente implantados com um sistema S-CDI foram pareados com pacientes com um sistema TV-CDI. Além disso, foram incluídos os pacientes submetidos ao implante de S-CDI após a remoção de um TV-CDI, devido a complicações. Foram avaliadas a qualidade de vida (medida com o questionário de saúde de 12 itens) e a gravidade da dor e desconforto. Significância estatística foi definida como p < 0,05. Resultados Foram analisados 64 pacientes implantados com S-CDI ou TV-CDI sob anestesia local e sedação consciente. Pacientes com sistemas S-CDI e TV-CDI não diferiram significativamente nos escores de qualidade de vida. Os pacientes com S-CDI apresentaram maior nível de dor peri-operatória; nenhuma diferença foi encontrada em relação à gravidade da dor intra-operatória. A magnitude do desconforto estético e dos distúrbios do sono não diferiu entre os grupos.O S-CDI foi implantado em 7 pacientes adicionais após a remoção de um TV-CDI. Todos exceto um desses pacientes recomendaram o sistema S-CDI. Conclusões O tipo de sistema de CDI e a técnica cirúrgica têm impacto insignificante na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Estes resultados sugerem que a sedação consciente, fornecida por uma equipe experiente de eletrofisiologia, pode ser considerada uma alternativa à anestesia geral para o manejo de pacientes submetidos ao implante de S-CDI.

Abstract Background The totally subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is a safe alternative to the conventional transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) system to prevent sudden death. Objective To compare the impact of the type of ICD system and surgical technique on patients' quality of life, as well as the severity of discomfort and pain, between S-ICD and TV-ICD recipients. Methods Consecutively implanted patients with an S-ICD system were matched with patients with a TV-ICD system. In addition, patients undergoing S-ICD implantation after removal of a TV-ICD due to complications were included. Quality of life (measured with the 12-item short-form health survey) and severity of pain and discomfort were evaluated. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results A total of 64 patients implanted with S-ICD or TV-ICD under local anesthesia and conscious sedation were analyzed. Patients with S-ICD and TV-ICD systems did not differ significantly in quality of life scores. S-ICD patients had a higher level of perioperative pain; no differences were found regarding severity of intraoperative pain. The magnitude of aesthetic discomfort and sleep disturbances did not differ between groups. An S-ICD was implanted in 7 additional patients after removal of a TV-ICD. All but one of these patients recommended the S-ICD system. Conclusions The type of ICD system and the surgical technique have negligible impact on patients' quality of life. These results suggest that conscious sedation, provided by an experienced electrophysiology team, could be considered as an alternative to general anesthesia to manage patients undergoing S-ICD implantation.

Late potentials abolition reduces ventricular tachycardia recurrence after ablation especially in higher-risk patients with a chronic total occlusion in an infarct-related artery.

INTRODUCTION: Late potentials (LP) abolition is recognized as an effective strategy for substrate ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT). The presence of a chronic total occlusion in a coronary artery responsible for a previous myocardial infarction (infarct related artery CTO, IRA-CTO) is emerging as a predictor of ventricular arrhythmias and VT recurrence after ablation. We sought to analyze the effects of LP abolition, focusing on the high-risk subgroup of patients with IRA-CTO. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a single-center, observational study that screened all patients with prior myocardial infarction and clinical VT, referred for VT ablation at San Raffaele Hospital between 2010 and June 2013. Patients were then included in the study if they had a coronary diagnostic angiography (without revascularization) performed during the index hospitalization. The main endpoint was VT recurrence after ablation. Eighty-four patients formed the population of the study. An IRA-CTO was present in 47 patients (56%) and the presence of an IRA-CTO was a predictor of VT recurrence (HR 3.7, P = 0.005). LP were observed in 51 patients and successfully abolished in 38 cases. LP abolition was associated with lower VT recurrence especially among patients with IRA-CTO (24% vs. 65%, P = 0.005). The presence of an IRA-CTO, in combination with no LP abolition, was the strongest predictor of VT recurrence (HR 4.4, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Late potentials abolition is an effective strategy for substrate ablation of ventricular tachycardia. The additional reduction of VT recurrence achieved with LP abolition on top of noninducibility is especially significant among high-risk patients with IRA-CTO.

Ola de calor: desencadenante de tormenta arrítmica en un paciente con síndrome de Brugada / Heat wave: a trigger of electrical storm in a patient with brugada syndrome

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Hidroneumopericardio iatrogénico tras pericardiocentesis / Iatrogenic Hidropneumopericardium after Pericardiocentesis

El hidroneumopericardio se define por la presencia de líquido y aire en la cavidad pericárdica. Se trata de una afección infrecuente en los adultos, habitualmente asociada a buen pronóstico, pero que puede resultar potencialmente grave. Presentamos el caso de un paciente trasplantado renal que debutó con taponamiento cardíaco y que precisó pericardiocentesis; varios días después, presentó un cuadro de dolor torácico debido a un hidroneumopericardio iatrogénico. Las pruebas de imagen son claves en la obtención de este diagnóstico.

Hydropneumopericardium is defined by the accumulation of serous fluid and gas in the pericardial sac. It is uncommon in adults, usually associated with favorable outcomes; yet, it may be severe occasionally. We present the case of a kidney transplant patient who developed cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis. Several days after the procedure, the patient presented chest pain due to iatrogenic hydropneumopericardium. Image tests are essential to make this diagnosis.