Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Class III and IV Heart Failure.

The effects of inspiratory muscle training on functional capacity and quality of life in functional class III and IV heart failure patients were evaluated. The inspiratory muscle training protocol was applied to 20 patients with heart disease, over a period of 6 weeks, 3 times a week, for 30 minutes, with a load of 40% of the maximum inspiratory pressure and 5 sets of 10 repetitions, with an interval of 1-2 minutes. The Minnesota Quality of Life Questionnaire, the 6-minute walk test, vital data and manovacuometry (pre- and post-intervention) were used. Pre- and post-test comparisons revealed significant differences in the 6-minute walk test, heart rate, respiratory rate, Borg scale, respiratory muscle strength, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and an increase in quality of life was also observed (P < 0.01). Inspiratory muscle training improved functional capacity and quality of life, suggesting that inspiratory muscle training should be included in Class III and IV cardiac rehabilitation.

Trombo serpiginoso em átrio direito: apresentação atípica de tromboembolismo pulmonar. Relato de caso / Serpiginous thrombus in right atrium: atypical presentation of pulmonary thromboembolism. Case report

O tromboembolismo pulmonar é um grave problema de saúde pública devido ao subdiagnóstico e às elevadas morbidade e mortalidade. Quando a embolia pulmonar é maciça com repercussão hemodinâmica importante e a terapia adequada não ocorre nas primeiras horas, a mortalidade é superior a 85%. Na suspeita clínica de tromboembolismo pulmonar, a avaliação ecocardiográfica pode ter papel fundamental na avaliação da mobilidade e da estrutura do ventrículo direito, presença de hipertensão pulmonar e documentação da presença de trombo. A detecção ecocardiográfica de trombo móvel nas câmaras cardíacas direitas permite identificar um grupo de pacientes de alto risco, com mortalidade muito elevada, quando comparada ao tromboembolismo pulmonar em geral. Além da terapia clínica clássica, com heparinas e trombolíticos, as terapêuticas endovascular e cirúrgica devem ser consideradas e podem contribuir para o prognóstico desses pacientes. Relata-se um caso de uma paciente de 33 anos de idade admitida em uma unidade de emergência da no 8o dia de pós-operatório de apendicectomia, com queixas de dor torácica e dispneia de início súbito. Ecocardiograma transtorácico evidenciou presença de trombo serpiginoso solto em átrio direito, que ocluía intermitentemente a valva tricúspide durante o ciclo cardíaco. Diante das características ecocardiográficas atípicas do trombo e da significativa chance de embolização maciça, optou-se por intervenção cirúrgica de emergência.

Pulmonary thromboembolism is a serious public health problem due to misdiagnosis and high morbidity and mortality. When pulmonary embolism is massive with important hemodynamic repercussion, and the appropriate therapy does not take place in the early hours, mortality is higher than 85%. If there is clinical suspicion of pulmonary thromboembolism, an echocardiographic evaluation may have a key role in the evaluation of mobility and structure of the right ventricle, presence of pulmonary hypertension, and documentation of the presence of thrombus. Echocardiographic detection of mobile thrombus in right cardiac chambers allows the identification of a group of high-risk patients with very high mortality when compared to pulmonary thromboembolism in general . In addition to the classical clinical therapy with heparins and thrombolytics, endovascular and surgical therapy should be considered and may contribute to these patients' prognosis. A case is reported of a 33-year-old female patient admitted to an Emergency Unit at 8th postoperative day (POD) of appendectomy, with complaints of chest pain and dyspnea of sudden onset. Transthoracic echocardiography showed the presence of a floating serpiginous thrombus in the right atrium, which intermittently occluded the tricuspid valve during the cardiac cycle. Due to the atypical echocardiographic features of the thrombus, and significant chance of massive embolization, an emergency surgery was chosen.

Silent Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Pacemaker Users: A Randomized Trial Using Home Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Pacemaker with remote monitoring (PRM) may be useful for silent atrial fibrillation (AF) detection. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of silent AF, the role of PRM, and to determine predictors of silent AF occurrence. METHODS: Three hundred elderly patients with permanent pacemaker (PPM) were randomly assigned to the remote group (RG) or control group (CG). All patients received PPM with remote monitoring capabilities. Primary end point was AF occurrence rate and the secondary end points were time to AF detection and number of days with AF. RESULTS: During the average follow-up of 15.7±7.7 months, AF episodes were detected in 21.6% (RG = 24% vs CG = 19.3%, P = 0.36]. There was no difference in the time to detect the first AF episode. However, the median time to detect AF recurrence in the RG was lower than that in the CG (54 days vs 100 days, P = 0.004). The average number of days with AF was 16.0 and 51.2 in the RG and CG, respectively (P = 0.028). Predictors of silent AF were left atrial diameter (odds ratio [OR] 1.2; 95% CI = 1.1-1.3; P < 0.001) and diastolic dysfunction (OR 4.8; 95% CI = 1.6-14.0; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of silent AF is high in elderly patients with pacemaker; left atrial diameter and diastolic dysfunction were predictors of its occurrence. AF monitoring by means of pacemaker is a valuable tool for silent AF detection and continuous remote monitoring allows early AF recurrence detection and reduces the number of days with AF.

Predictors of Arrhythmic Events Detected by Implantable Loop Recorders in Renal Transplant Candidates / Preditores de Eventos Arrítmicos Detectados por Loop Recorders Implantáveis em Candidatos a Transplante Renal

AbstractBackground:The recording of arrhythmic events (AE) in renal transplant candidates (RTCs) undergoing dialysis is limited by conventional electrocardiography. However, continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring seems to be more appropriate due to automatic detection of arrhythmia, but this method has not been used.Objective:We aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of AE in RTCs using an implantable loop recorder (ILR).Methods:A prospective observational study conducted from June 2009 to January 2011 included 100 consecutive ambulatory RTCs who underwent ILR and were followed-up for at least 1 year. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to define predictors of AE.Results:During a mean follow-up of 424 ± 127 days, AE could be detected in 98% of patients, and 92% had more than one type of arrhythmia, with most considered potentially not serious. Sustained atrial tachycardia and atrial fibrillation occurred in 7% and 13% of patients, respectively, and bradyarrhythmia and non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred in 25% and 57%, respectively. There were 18 deaths, of which 7 were sudden cardiac events: 3 bradyarrhythmias, 1 ventricular fibrillation, 1 myocardial infarction, and 2 undetermined. The presence of a long QTc (odds ratio [OR] = 7.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01–26.35; p = 0.002), and the duration of the PR interval (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08; p < 0.001) were independently associated with bradyarrhythmias. Left ventricular dilatation (LVD) was independently associated with non-sustained VT (OR = 2.83; 95% CI, 1.01–7.96; p = 0.041).Conclusions:In medium-term follow-up of RTCs, ILR helped detect a high incidence of AE, most of which did not have clinical relevance. The PR interval and presence of long QTc were predictive of bradyarrhythmias, whereas LVD was predictive of non-sustained VT.

ResumoFundamento:A documentação de eventos arrítmicos (EA) em candidatos a transplante renal (CTR) submetidos à diálise é limitada pelo registro de eletrocardiograma convencional. Um monitoramento contínuo do ritmo cardíaco parece ser o procedimento mais adequado para a detecção automática de arritmia, contudo esse método não foi explorado anteriormente.Objetivo:O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a incidência e os preditores de EA em CTR usando um gravador de eventos implantável, do inglês, “loop recorder implantável” (ILR).Métodos:Um estudo prospectivo observacional foi conduzido entre Junho/2009 a Janeiro/2011. Cem CTR ambulatoriais consecutivos foram submetidos ao ILR e acompanhados pelo menos por um ano. Uma regressão logística multivariada foi aplicada para definir os preditores de EA.Resultados:Durante o tempo médio de acompanhamento de 424 ± 127 dias, EA foram detectados em 98% dos pacientes, sendo que 92% deles tinham mais de um tipo de arritmia, a maioria não considerada potencialmente séria. Taquicardia atrial sustentada e fibrilação atrial ocorreram respectivamente em 7% e 13% dos pacientes; bradiarritmia em 25% e taquicardia ventricular (TV) não-sustentada ou sustentada em 57%. Ocorreram 18 óbitos, 7 por morte cardíaca súbita, 3 por bradiarritmias, 1 por fibrilação ventricular, 1 por infarto do miocárdio e 2 óbitos devido à causas desconhecidas. A presença de QTc longo (Razão de Probabilidade [RP] = 7,28; intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC] 2,01-26,35; p = 0,002) e duração do intervalo PR (RP = 1,05; IC 95%: 1,02-1,08; p < 0,001) foram associados independentemente a bradiarritmias. A dilatação ventricular esquerda (DVE) foi independentemente associada à TV não-sustentada (RP = 2,83; IC 95%: 1,01-7,96; p = 0,041).Conclusões:Em acompanhamento de médio prazo de CTR, o ILR detectou uma alta incidência de EA, a maioria sem relevância clínica. O intervalo PR e a presença de QTc longo foram preditivos de bradiarritmias e DVE de TV não‑sustentada.

Predictors of Arrhythmic Events Detected by Implantable Loop Recorders in Renal Transplant Candidates.

BACKGROUND: The recording of arrhythmic events (AE) in renal transplant candidates (RTCs) undergoing dialysis is limited by conventional electrocardiography. However, continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring seems to be more appropriate due to automatic detection of arrhythmia, but this method has not been used. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of AE in RTCs using an implantable loop recorder (ILR). METHODS: A prospective observational study conducted from June 2009 to January 2011 included 100 consecutive ambulatory RTCs who underwent ILR and were followed-up for at least 1 year. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to define predictors of AE. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 424 ± 127 days, AE could be detected in 98% of patients, and 92% had more than one type of arrhythmia, with most considered potentially not serious. Sustained atrial tachycardia and atrial fibrillation occurred in 7% and 13% of patients, respectively, and bradyarrhythmia and non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred in 25% and 57%, respectively. There were 18 deaths, of which 7 were sudden cardiac events: 3 bradyarrhythmias, 1 ventricular fibrillation, 1 myocardial infarction, and 2 undetermined. The presence of a long QTc (odds ratio [OR] = 7.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01-26.35; p = 0.002), and the duration of the PR interval (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; p < 0.001) were independently associated with bradyarrhythmias. Left ventricular dilatation (LVD) was independently associated with non-sustained VT (OR = 2.83; 95% CI, 1.01-7.96; p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: In medium-term follow-up of RTCs, ILR helped detect a high incidence of AE, most of which did not have clinical relevance. The PR interval and presence of long QTc were predictive of bradyarrhythmias, whereas LVD was predictive of non-sustained VT.

Avaliação dos eventos arrítmicos em candidatos a transplante renal pela monitorização cardíaca com looper implantável / Long-term recording of arrhythmic events with implantable cardiac monitor in renal transplant candidates

INTRODUÇÃO: pacientes com doença renal crônica em diálise apresentam elevada mortalidade anual, principalmente decorrente de eventos cardiovasculares, com destaque para morte súbita cardíaca (MSC). Os eventos arrítmicos (EA) são considerados os principais responsáveis pela MSC, tornando relevante a sua avaliação. Dispositivos cardíacos modernos como o looper implantável, que tem capacidade de monitorar o ritmo cardíaco por longo período de tempo e diagnosticar EA, podem contribuir na estratificação de risco desta população. OBJETIVOS: avaliar a taxa de ocorrência dos EA em candidatos a transplante renal com looper implantável e identificar fatores associados; determinar a significância prognóstica dos EA na MSC e mortalidade total; avaliar eficiência diagnóstica do looper e o papel da diálise. MÉTODOS: estudo clínico observacional, prospectivo e aberto que incluiu cem candidatos a transplante renal, em hemodiálise e com alto risco para transplante (idade >=50 anos, DM ou doença cardiovascular). Entre junho/2009 e janeiro/2010, os pacientes foram submetidos ao implante do looper para detecção dos EA e seguimento clínico de um ano. A idade média do grupo foi 59 anos; 65% homens; 97% hipertensos, 70% diabéticos, 34% com infarto prévio e tempo médio de 53,8 meses em hemodiálise. O diagnóstico dos EA seguiu protocolo específico e foram descritos todos os eventos clínicos fatais e não fatais. A estatística incluiu: análise descritiva dos EA, associação destes com variáveis exploratórias pelos testes de qui-quadrado, exato de Fischer, t-Student, Mann-Whitney e regressão logística stepwise selection para análise multivariada (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: foram diagnosticados 5075 EA em 98 pacientes em seguimento médio de 425 dias. A taxa de ocorrência dos EA na casuística foi: bradiarritmias (25%), arritmias supraventriculares (94%) e arritmias ventriculares (79%). Os EA mais comuns foram: taquicardia sinusal (39%) e atrial não sustentada (27%), extrassístoles...

INTRODUCTION: chronic kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis have a high annual mortality rate, mainly due to cardiovascular disease. Sudden cardiac death (SCD), attributed to arrhythmic mechanisms, is considered the major cause of these high death rates. The implantable loop recorder (ILR), a modern cardiac device has the ability for long-term cardiac rhythm monitoring and diagnosing arrhythmic events (AE), which in fact may contribute to the risk stratification of this population. OBJECTIVES: this study was designed to evaluate the incidence and predictors of AE in renal transplant candidates with ILR; to determine the prognostic significance of AE in SCD and all-cause mortality, evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of ILR and the role of dialysis. METHODS: a prospective, open, observational clinical study was conducted, including one hundred renal transplant candidates undergoing hemodialysis, at high risk for transplantation (age >=50 years, diabetes or cardiovascular disease). Between June/2009 and January/2010, patients received an ILR for detection of AE with a one-year follow-up. Mean age of the group was 59 years; 65% were men; 97% hypertensive, 70% diabetic, 34% had previous myocardial infarction and mean hemodialysis time was 53.8 months. The diagnosis of AE followed specific protocol and all fatal and non-fatal clinical events were described. The statistical analysis included: descriptive analysis of AE, an association between these events and exploratory variables by chi-square tests, Fisher exact test, Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and logistic regression using stepwise selection for multivariate analysis (p<0.05). RESULTS: during mean follow-up of 425 days, 5075 AE were diagnosed by ILR in 98 patients. The rate of occurrence of EA in this patients was: bradyarrhythmias (25%), supraventricular arrhythmias (94%) and ventricular arrhythmias (79%). The most common AE were: sinus tachycardia (39%), nonsustained atrial tachycardia...

Efetividade do CDI na taquicardia ventricular sincopal e na parada cardíaca / ICD therapy efficacy is similar in cardiac arrest survivors and in patients with syncope due to ventricular tachycardia

Objetivo: Comparar o comportamento clínico-evolutivo de portadores de CDI por taquicardia ventricular (TV) sincopal ou parada cardíaca (PC) por TV/FV. Método: 585 pacientes foram submetidos a implante de CDI entre jan/2000 e jul/2005 para prevenção secundária de morte súbita cardíaca (MSC). Foram selecionados 415 pacientes de um banco de dados prospectivo, distribuídos em dois grupos: G1, com TV sincopal (n=318) e G2, com PC por TV/FV (n=97). As variáveis analisadas foram: idade, sexo, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo(FEVE), classe funcional de insuficiência cardíaca (CF IC), medicamentos, terapias de choque apropriadas (TCA) pelo CDI e óbitos. Para análise estatística...

Functional behavior of patients with conventional pacemakers undergoing cardiac resynchronization.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an efficient treatment for patients with heart failure (HF), severe ventricular dysfunction and intraventricular block. Conventional pacemakers (CPM) implanted in the right ventricular apical area cause alterations in the normal sequence of cardiac activation similar to those induced by LBBB (left bundle-branch block). Therefore, patients with CPM and advanced HF could be candidates to undergo CRT, but as only small numbers of patients have been evaluated so far, definitive conclusions are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical and functional outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with conventional pacemakers. METHODS: Patients with CPM, who were in NYHA HF functional class III/IV class refractory to drug therapy, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ) <35% underwent CRT. Patients clinical-functional behavior was assessed prospectively six months after the procedure. The improvement of one HF-functional class was set as an effective response to the procedure. The following was assessed: QRS duration (ECG), diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular systolic diameter (LVSd) and LVEF seen on the echocardiogram. For the statistical analysis, Students paired t test and Spearmans correlation were used. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (mean age 61.5) were evaluated. Of these, six were females, and chagasic cardiomyopathy was predominant. During the clinical follow-up of 22.7+/-13 months, 86.2% of the patients benefited from CRT. Within this group, the mean LVEF increased by 18% (p=0.013), QRS duration dropped by 11.8% (p=0.002) and no significant reduction in left ventricular intracavitary diameters was observed. CONCLUSION: CRT is effective for patients with CPM and advanced HF as it yields a high rate of response (86.2%), significantly improves LVEF and reduces QRS duration.

ICD patients with elevated defibrillation threshold: clinical behavior and therapeutic alternatives.

BACKGROUND: The ideal programming of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shock energy should be at least 10J above the defibrillation threshold (DFT), requiring alternative techniques when the DFT is elevated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical behavior of ICD patients with DFT>25J and the efficacy of the chosen therapy. METHODS: Patients who had undergone ICD implantation between Jan/00 and Aug/04 (prospective database) and presented intraoperative DFT>25J were selected. The analyzed variables were: clinical characteristics, LVEF, rescue of arrhythmic events from ICD and causes of deaths. RESULTS: among 476 patients, 16 (3.36%) presented DFT>25J. The mean age was 56.5 years, and 13 patients (81%) were men. According to the baseline cardiomyopathy, 09 patients had Chagas' disease, 04 had ischemic cardiomyopathy and 03 had idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Mean LVEF was 0.37 and amiodarone was used by 94% of the patients. Mean follow-up (FU) period was 25.3 months. DFT was higher than maximum energy shock (MES) in 2 patients and it was necessary to implant an additional shock electrode (array). It was programmed MES in ventricular fibrillation zone of ICD therapy in the other patients. In the FU, 03 patients had 67 successful appropriate shock therapies (AST). There were 05 noncardiac and 02 heart failure deaths. The patients who died showed higher DFT levels (p=0.044) without correlation with death because there wasn't unsuccessful AST. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of ICD patients, the occurrence of elevated DFT (>25J) was low, leading to alternative therapies. There was an association with severe ventricular dysfunction, although without correlation to the causes of death.

Portadores de CDI com limiar de desfibrilação elevado: evolução clínica e alternativas terapêuticas / ICD patients with elevated defibrillation threshold: clinical behavior and therapeutic alternatives

FUNDAMENTO: A programação ideal da energia de choque do CDI deve ser pelo menos 10 J acima do limiar de desfibrilação (LDF), necessitando de técnicas alternativas quando o LDF é elevado. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o comportamento clínico dos portadores de CDI com LDF>25 J e a eficácia da terapêutica escolhida. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados portadores de CDI, entre janeiro de 2000 e agosto de 2004 (banco de dados prospectivo), com LDF>25 J intra-operatório, e analisaram-se: características clínicas, FEVE, resgate de eventos arrítmicos pelo CDI e óbitos. RESULTADOS: dentre 476 pacientes, 16 (3,36 por cento) apresentaram LDF>25J. Idade média de 56,5 anos, sendo 13 pacientes (81 por cento) do sexo masculino. Quanto à cardiopatia de base 09 eram chagásicos, 04 isquêmicos e 03 com etiologia idiopática. A FEVE média dos pacientes foi 37 por cento e 94 por cento utilizavam amiodarona. O seguimento médio foi de 25,3 meses. Em 02 pacientes com LDF > Choque Máximo (CM), foi necessário implante de eletrodo de choque adicional (array), sendo mantido programação com CM em zona de FV (>182bpm) nos demais. Durante o seguimento 03 pacientes apresentaram 67 terapias de choque apropriadas (TCA) com sucesso. Ocorreram 07 óbitos sendo 5 por causas não cardíacas e 2 por insuficiência cardíaca avançada. Os pacientes que foram a óbito apresentaram níveis de LDF maiores (p=0,0446), entretanto sem relação com a causa dos mesmos tendo em vista que não ocorreram TCA sem sucesso. CONCLUSÃO: Nessa coorte de pacientes com CDI, a ocorrência de LDF elevado foi baixa, implicando terapêuticas alternativas. Houve associação com disfunção ventricular grave, entretanto sem correlação com as causas de óbito.

BACKGROUND: The ideal programming of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shock energy should be at least 10J above the defibrillation threshold (DFT), requiring alternative techniques when the DFT is elevated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical behavior of ICD patients with DFT>25J and the efficacy of the chosen therapy. METHODS: Patients who had undergone ICD implantation between Jan/00 and Aug/04 (prospective database) and presented intraoperative DFT>25J were selected. The analyzed variables were: clinical characteristics, LVEF, rescue of arrhythmic events from ICD and causes of deaths. RESULTS: among 476 patients, 16 (3.36 percent) presented DFT>25J. The mean age was 56.5 years, and 13 patients (81 percent) were men. According to the baseline cardiomyopathy, 09 patients had Chagas' disease, 04 had ischemic cardiomyopathy and 03 had idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Mean LVEF was 0.37 and amiodarone was used by 94 percent of the patients. Mean follow-up (FU) period was 25.3 months. DFT was higher than maximum energy shock (MES) in 2 patients and it was necessary to implant an additional shock electrode (array). It was programmed MES in ventricular fibrillation zone of ICD therapy in the other patients. In the FU, 03 patients had 67 successful appropriate shock therapies (AST). There were 05 noncardiac and 02 heart failure deaths. The patients who died showed higher DFT levels (p=0.044) without correlation with death because there wasn't unsuccessful AST. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of ICD patients, the occurrence of elevated DFT (>25J) was low, leading to alternative therapies. There was an association with severe ventricular dysfunction, although without correlation to the causes of death.

Comportamento funcional dos portadores de marcapasso convencional submetidos a ressincronização cardíaca / Functional behavior of patients with conventional pacemakers undergoing cardiac resynchronization

FUNDAMENTO: A terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) é eficiente no tratamento de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca (IC), disfunção ventricular grave e bloqueio intraventricular. O marcapasso convencional (MPC) em região apical de ventrículo direito provoca alterações da seqüência de ativação normal do coração semelhante às do BRE. Nesse sentido, pacientes com MPC e IC avançada poderiam ser candidatos a TRC, mas reduzidas casuísticas foram avaliadas e não há conclusões definitivas. OBJETIVO: Analisar o comportamento clínico-funcional da terapia de ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) nos portadores de marcapasso convencional. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com MPC, IC-CF(NYHA) III/IV refratária a terapêutica medicamentosa, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) <35 por cento, foram submetidos a TRC. O comportamento clínico-funcional foi avaliado prospectivamente após seis meses. A redução de uma CF-IC foi estabelecida como resposta efetiva ao procedimento. Foram analisados: duração do QRS (ECG), diâmetro diastólico (DDVE), diâmetro sistólico do ventrículo esquerdo (DSVE) e FEVE ao ECO. A análise estatística utilizou os testes t de Student pareado e a correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: Vinte e nove pacientes com idade média de 61,5 anos foram estudados. Seis eram do sexo feminino e houve predomínio da cardiomiopatia chagásica. Em seguimento clínico de 22,7±13 meses, 86,2 por cento dos pacientes melhoraram com a TRC. Nesse grupo, a FEVE média aumentou em 18 por cento (p=0,013); houve redução da duração do QRS em 11,8 por cento (p=0,002) e não houve redução significativa dos diâmetros intracavitários do ventrículo esquerdo. CONCLUSÃO: A TRC é efetiva para pacientes com MPC e IC avançada porque proporciona taxa elevada de responsivos (86,2 por cento), melhora significativa da FEVE e redução da duração do QRS.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an efficient treatment for patients with heart failure (HF), severe ventricular dysfunction and intraventricular block. Conventional pacemakers (CPM) implanted in the right ventricular apical area cause alterations in the normal sequence of cardiac activation similar to those induced by LBBB (left bundle-branch block). Therefore, patients with CPM and advanced HF could be candidates to undergo CRT, but as only small numbers of patients have been evaluated so far, definitive conclusions are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical and functional outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with conventional pacemakers. METHODS: Patients with CPM, who were in NYHA HF functional class III/IV class refractory to drug therapy, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ) <35 percent underwent CRT. Patients’ clinical-functional behavior was assessed prospectively six months after the procedure. The improvement of one HF-functional class was set as an effective response to the procedure. The following was assessed: QRS duration (ECG), diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular systolic diameter (LVSd) and LVEF seen on the echocardiogram. For the statistical analysis, Student’s paired t test and Spearman’s correlation were used. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (mean age 61.5) were evaluated. Of these, six were females, and chagasic cardiomyopathy was predominant. During the clinical follow-up of 22.7±13 months, 86.2 percent of the patients benefited from CRT. Within this group, the mean LVEF increased by 18 percent (p=0.013), QRS duration dropped by 11.8 percent (p=0.002) and no significant reduction in left ventricular intracavitary diameters was observed. CONCLUSION: CRT is effective for patients with CPM and advanced HF as it yields a high rate of response (86.2 percent), significantly improves LVEF and reduces QRS duration.

Ventricular remodeling in right ventricular apical pacing.

OBJECTIVE: To determine ventricular remodeling (VR) and the role of clinical and functional variables in patients with normal cardiac function who underwent right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP). METHODS: Among the 268 consecutive patients with standard pacemaker due to complete atrioventricular block (CAVB), those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 55% and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) > 53 mm on Doppler echocardiography were excluded. Ventricular remodeling was defined as echocardiographic changes documented at least six months after implantation, namely, a >10% increase in LVEDD and a > 20% decrease in LVEF. The following variables were analyzed: underlying heart disease, NYHA functional class of heart failure (HF), time of ventricular stimulation, and QRS duration. Statistical analysis included likelihood ratio test, Fishers exact test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included 75 patients, mean age 70.9 +/- 14, of whom 22.6% were male. Mean time between both evaluations was 80.2 months. Before implantation, mean LVEF was 72% and LVEDD was 46 mm; after implantation this values were 69.7% (p = 0.0025) and 48.5 mm (p = 0.0001), respectively. Mean QRS duration after implantation was 156 ms. Ventricular remodeling was observed only in four patients (5.3%), and no exploratory variable specified this behavior. CONCLUSION: In a long-term follow-up, patients without ventricular dysfunction who underwent RV apical pacing (RVAP) showed low VR rate, and no analyzed variable was associated with its occurrence.

Remodelamento ventricular na estimulação cardíaca apical do ventrículo direito / Ventricular remodeling in right ventricular apical pacing

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a taxa de remodelamento ventricular (RV) e a importância de variáveis clínico-funcionais em pacientes com função cardíaca normal submetidos à estimulação artificial apical do ventrículo direito (VD). MÉTODOS: Dentre 268 pacientes consecutivos com BAVT e marcapasso convencional, foram excluídos os portadores de fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) < 55 por cento e diâmetro diastólico do ventrículo esquerdo (DDVE) > 53 mm ao eco-Doppler. O RV foi definido como o conjunto de modificações ecocardiográficas documentadas pelo menos 6 meses pós-implante: aumento >10 por cento no DDVE e redução > 20 por cento na FEVE. As variáveis analisadas foram: cardiopatia de base, classe funcional de insuficiência cardíaca (IC), tempo de estimulação ventricular e duração do QRS. A análise estatística incluiu os testes da razão de verossimilhança, exato de Fisher e a soma de postos de Wilcoxon. O valor de p foi significante quando < 0,05. RESULTADOS: o estudo incluiu 75 pacientes com idade média de 70,9 ± 14 anos, 22,6 por cento do sexo masculino. O tempo médio entre as avaliações foi de 80,2 meses. A FEVE média pré-implante foi 72 por cento e o DDVE 46 mm e pós-implante, 69,7 por cento (p = 0,0025) e 48,5mm (p < 0,0001), respectivamente. A duração média do QRS pós-implante foi 156 ms. O RV ocorreu em apenas quatro pacientes (5,3 por cento), e nenhuma das variáveis exploratórias discriminou esse comportamento. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes sem disfunção ventricular submetidos à estimulação cardíaca apical do VD em longo seguimento apresentaram baixa taxa de RV, e não foram definidos fatores associados para sua ocorrência.

OBJECTIVE: To determine ventricular remodeling (VR) and the role of clinical and functional variables in patients with normal cardiac function who underwent right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP). METHODS: Among the 268 consecutive patients with standard pacemaker due to complete atrioventricular block (CAVB), those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 55 percent and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) > 53 mm on Doppler echocardiography were excluded. Ventricular remodeling was defined as echocardiographic changes documented at least six months after implantation, namely, a >10 percent increase in LVEDD and a > 20 percent decrease in LVEF. The following variables were analyzed: underlying heart disease, NYHA functional class of heart failure (HF), time of ventricular stimulation, and QRS duration. Statistical analysis included likelihood ratio test, FisherÆs exact test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included 75 patients, mean age 70.9 ± 14, of whom 22.6 percent were male. Mean time between both evaluations was 80.2 months. Before implantation, mean LVEF was 72 percent and LVEDD was 46 mm; after implantation this values were 69.7 percent (p = 0.0025) and 48.5 mm (p = 0.0001), respectively. Mean QRS duration after implantation was 156 ms. Ventricular remodeling was observed only in four patients (5.3 percent), and no exploratory variable specified this behavior. CONCLUSION: In a long-term follow-up, patients without ventricular dysfunction who underwent RV apical pacing (RVAP) showed low VR rate, and no analyzed variable was associated with its occurrence.

Tuberculose ocular: relato de casos / Ocular tuberculosis: case reports

Os autores relatam dois casos de tuberculose ocular presumida com comprometimento coroidiano. No primeiro caso, um paciente de 43 anos, HIV positivo, com tuberculose pulmonar miliar e tuberculoma cerebral, apresenta um granuloma coroidiano único na região macular do olho esquerdo. No segundo caso, uma paciente de 12 anos, HIV negativa, com tuberculose pulmonar apresenta coroidite multifocal e comprometimento do segmento anterior do olho esquerdo. Ambos os pacientes evoluíram favoravelmente com o tratamento específico, apresentando completa resolução das lesões. As lesões oculares da tuberculose são diversas e devemos continuar atentos a esta enfermidade.

Disseminated histoplasmosis

A histoplasmose disseminada é uma doença rara, que apresenta evoluçäo potencialmente fatal, decorrente da deficiência da imunidade celular do hospedeiro, devendo ser relacionada a infecçöes oportunistas. Säo descritos três grupos de possíveis hospedeiros: crianças com imaturidade imunológica, imunossuprimidos e um grupo sem deficiência imune mensurável pelos métodos atuais.