Utilizaçäo da ecocardiografia transesofágica durante implante de endoprótese aórtica (Stent). Experiência inicial / Use of transesophageal echocardiography during implantation of aortic endoprosthesis (stent). Initial experience

OBJECTIVE: To report the role played by transesophageal echocardiography during implantation of self-expanding aortic endoprostheses (stent) at a hemodynamics laboratory. METHODS: Thirteen patients underwent stent implantation in the descending thoracic aorta with the aid of transesophageal echocardiography during the entire procedure. Indications for stenting were as follows: 8 aortic dissections, 2 true aneurysms, 2 penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers, and 1 traumatic pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: No complications resulting from the use of transesophageal echocardiography were observed. In 12 patients, the initial result was considered appropriate, with total or partial resolution of the major lesion confirmed by a posterior examination. In 1 patient, the procedure was suspended after transesophageal echocardiography and angiography showed that the proximal aortic diameter was inappropriate. Transesophageal echocardiography contributed to clarifying relevant points, such as aortic diameter, anatomic detail of the intimal lesion, and location and size of the communicating orifice. In addition, it facilitated placing the stent in the target lesion, reduced the time of exposure to radiation and the use of contrast medium, and provided rapid identification of intercurrent events, possibly reducing the total duration of the procedure. CONCLUSION: The use of transesophageal echocardiography during placement of aortic stents seems appropriate. The actual advantages of the procedure will be defined in a comparative prospective study

Estudo hemodinâmico com cateter de Swan-Ganz, concomitante a biópsia endomiocárdica, em transplantados cardíacos: importância no diagnóstico precoce da rejeiçäo / Acute Electrophysiologic and Echocardiogrophic Effects of Xamoterol in Long-term Chagasic Patients With tinus Nodal Dysfunction

PURPOSE--To evaluate the role of hemodynamic parameters in the diagnosis of acute rejection who underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation. METHODS--A protocol was carried out in 19 patients who underwent heart transplantation and in whom Swan-Ganz hemodynamics was performed immediately prior to routine endomyocardial biopsy in the first few months postoperatively. The results of 28 biopsies were divided in group I--severe rejection who needed pulse-therapy (n = 10) and group II--No or mild/moderate rejection who did not need any pulse (n = 18). Hemodynamic parameters were compared between both groups. RESULTS--There were significant differences among hemodynamic parameters in groups I and II. Group I had higher mean right atrial pressures (13.0 x 7.3 mmHg), mean pulmonary pressure (26.3 x 20.4 mmHg), mean wedge pressure (14.4 x 10.9 mmHg) and lower cardiac index (2.57 x 3.10 l/min/m2). CONCLUSION--In a routine situation, hemodynamic measurements, as obtained with Swan-Ganz catheter, simultaneously with endomyocardial biopsies, show significant alterations in transplanted patients who develop acute rejection. This information, obtained earlier than the biopsy results, could shorten the time to initiate pulse-therapy in patients with severe rejection

Objetivo - Analisar o papel de parâmetros hemodinâmicos no diagnóstico de rejeição aguda em pacientes submetidos a transplante cardíaco ortotópico. Métodos - Dezenove pacientes submetidos a transplante cardíaco foram avaliados hemodinamicamente com cateter de Swan- Ganz imediatamente antes das biópsias endomiocárdicas de rotina nos primeiros meses pós-transplante. Os resultados de 28 biópsias foram divididos em 2 grupos: rejeição grave, necessitando de tratamento (N=10) - grupo I e rejeição leve/moderada ou ausente, não necessitando de tratamento (N=18) -grupo II. Foram comparadas as medidas hemodinâmicas entre os dois grupos. Resultados - Aos quadros de rejeição grave, necessitando tratamento (grupo I) estiveram associadas significantes alterações hemodinâmicas como aumento da pressão atrial direita média (13,0x7,3mmHg - Grupo IxGrupo II), pressão média pulmonar (26,3x 20,4mmHg), pressão média de capilar pulmonar (14,4xl0,9mmHg) e índice cardíaco (2,57x3,10 1/min/ m2). Conclusão - Em situação rotineira, as alterações hemodinâmicas obtidas através de cateterismo direito, concomitante à realização da biópsia endomiocárdica, mostraram-se confiáveis no diagnóstico de rejeição grave e poderiam abreviar o início da terapêutica imunossupressora com pulsoterapia em pacientes transplantad