Identification of impeding factors for dry weight achievement in end-stage renal disease after appropriate kidney graft function.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors that prevent dry weight achievement in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in renal replacement therapy through the change in their body weight after kidney transplant (KT) compared with 1 week before KT. The study included 188 ESRD patients of diverse etiology who received living kidney transplantation with normal immediate graft function, 62.2% were male, age 29 ± 11 years old. All patients were on renal replacement therapy for at least 1 month before KT with either hemodiafiltration (N = 106), hemodialysis (N = 25), or peritoneal dialysis (N = 57). Based on body weight difference (after transplant-before transplant), patients with body weight difference ≤2 kg were considered as being close to their dry weight (Group 1, N = 112), whereas patients with body weight difference >2 kg were considered as being overhydrated (Group 2, N = 76). Clinical and biochemical characteristics were obtained from the medical records at three periods of time: time of ESRD initiation (baseline), 1 week before undergoing KT, and 1 week after KT. The mean time (± standard deviation) from renal replacement therapy initiation to the week before KT was 9.2 ± 5 months. Group 2 had a higher proportion of men, antihypertensive use, peritoneal dialysis, and higher urine output during all periods. Before KT, Group 2 had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures than Group 1. After KT, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased in Group 2, whereas no change occurred in Group 1. Before KT, Group 2 had higher levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, and phosphorous compared with Group 1. Compared with baseline, Group 1 had more optimal blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid parameters before KT than Group 2. After KT, all parameters improved with respect to baseline in both groups. Hemoglobin, albumin, and sodium were similar between groups, except for higher hemoglobin in Group 2 than Group 1 after KT. Multivariate regression analysis showed that male sex, peritoneal dialysis, and systolic blood pressure before KT were independent risk factors for overhydration. In conclusion, high systolic blood pressure and peritoneal dialysis were two independent modifiable variables associated with overhydration before KT. Assessment of the body weight change after KT is a useful tool to evaluate dry weight, in addition to identifying variables associated with poor volume control. This could allow adjustment of clinical and dialysis parameters in future patients.

Survival after major cardiac surgery: performance and comparison of predictive ability of EuroSCORE II and logistic EuroSCORE in a sample of Mediterranean population.

BACKGROUND: The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II has been recently introduced to improve mortality prediction in cardiac surgery. We compare the predictive ability of the new EuroSCORE II with that of the original logistic EuroSCORE and we made an evaluation of a sample of our population submitted to major cardiac surgery in the context of a Mediterranean country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Predicted and observed mortality were recorded in 1,200 consecutive patients undergoing major cardiac surgery at our institution with both logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II. Patients were grouped according to type of surgery: isolated valvular (n = 538), isolated coronary (n = 322), combined (n = 192), and miscellaneous (n = 148). Predictive capacity of both scales was compared for overall population and for each group in terms of calibration and discrimination using the observed by expected mortality rate, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and C-statistic. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 6.8%, whereas that predicted by logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II was 9.7 and 3.7%, respectively. Mortality in our population was higher than mortality expected according to the original EuroSCORE II database. For all groups included in our population, logistic EuroSCORE overestimated mortality and EuroSCORE II underestimated the outcome even more. However, EuroSCORE II showed better calibration than logistic EuroSCORE for overall, valvular, and combined surgery. In contrast, logistic EuroSCORE demonstrated better calibration for coronary surgery. Discrimination capacity was good for both risk scores, but it was superior for logistic EuroSCORE than for EuroSCORE II in all considered subgroups unless combined surgery. CONCLUSION: Mortality in our population was higher than the mortality that would have been expected by the new EuroSCORE II analysis. Although EuroSCORE II has good calibration and discrimination capacity, both are worse than those demonstrated by logistic EuroSCORE. Forthcoming evaluations are necessary when the new model will be widely used.

Pravastatin improves endothelial function in arteries used in coronary bypass grafting.

Internal mammary artery (IMA) and radial artery (RA) are the 2 main arterial conduits used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro the vasoreactive properties in both vessels and to investigate the effects of pravastatin incubation on vascular function. IMA and RA rings obtained from patients undergoing CABG were studied in organ baths. We examined the contractile responses to phenylephrine and U46619 and the relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside. In another series of experiments, the vascular reactivity and the superoxide anion production were studied after incubation with pravastatin. The effect of mevalonic acid on such responses was also assessed. Our results show that RA significantly evoked greater tension in response to vasoconstrictor agents and higher relaxation to ACh than IMA. In contrast, relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside was not significantly different. Incubation with pravastatin reduced the contractile response to U46619 and improved the endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh in both arteries. Whereas the effect of pravastatin on response to U46619 was completely abolished by coincubation with mevalonic acid, only a partial inhibition on ACh relaxation was observed. In conclusion, in vitro incubation with pravastatin enhanced endothelial function in IMA and RA. This suggests that postoperative (may include intraoperative) administration of statins could improve the endothelial function of arterial grafts in patients undergoing CABG.

Unexpected entrapment during surgery of anomalous circumflex coronary artery arising from right coronary artery.

A patient with advanced rheumatic heart valve disease underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement with tricuspid ring annuloplasty. There was an anomalous left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA) arising from the right coronary artery (RCA) running along the anterior surface of an enlarged right ventricle (RV). During the immediate postoperative course, signs of inferior and lateral myocardial ischemia developed. An emergent coronary angiography revealed LCCA entrapment. An additional suture placed in the RV outflow tract used to optimize exposition of the aortic root during the aortotomy was determined to be the origin of the coronary entrapment. No similar case of LCCA occlusion has previously been reported. This is a description of successful management of this complication.

The hemostatic power of fat: An effective, inexpensive, and biocompatible method to achieve hemostasis in cardiac surgery.

Postoperative bleeding with its important socioeconomic cost is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. It causes hemodynamic instability, increases blood loss, and multiplies the number of transfusions required. Especially in vascular or aortic surgery, postoperative bleeding can become a life-threatening complication due to anticoagulant or antiaggregation preoperative status or postoperative coagulation dysfunction after a high level of heparinization. Presently described is the case of a patient who underwent an aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement. A simple but effective method to achieve hemostasis, designed particularly for aortic surgery and the use of Dacron grafts, is presented. No residual adherence or contraindications exist, and it can potentially be applied to any kind of surgical process. This method offers a cheap, biocompatible, and highly effective means to achieve complete hemostasis without the use of extra sutures, or expensive synthetic or allogeneic hemostatic agents or sealants.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge for enabling surgery in a patient under cardiogenic shock due to acute mitral prosthesis dysfunction.

A 52-year-old male patient, who underwent mitral replacement with a mechanical prosthesis as a child, sustained a cardiac arrest which was successfully resuscitated. Further investigation showed prosthesis malfunction with significant regurgitation in the context of multi-organ failure. In such a life-threatening condition, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was considered as a rescue procedure to achieve optimisation of clinical status to allow definitive surgical treatment. An unusual complete fracture of the prosthesis was subsequently identified as the cause of acute dysfunction.

Mediastinal paraganglioma fed by the left circumflex artery.

A 60-year-old male patient who previously underwent carotid and jugular paraganglioma resections was referred because of a mediastinal recurrence at the root of the great vessels. Coronary angiography confirmed the circumflex artery of the left coronary artery as the feeding artery of the tumour. The patient underwent surgery due to the tumour's location and malignant potential. Upon mass resection, histopathological examination characterized the tumour as a secondary paraganglioma. Neuroendocrine tumours arising from chromaffin tissues at the extra-adrenal paraganglions of the autonomic nervous system are termed paragangliomas. Clinically, they are divided into functional and non-functional types, depending on their catecholamine secretion. The mediastinal location is exceptional and its treatment is challenging.

Estudio transversal: Prevalencia de arritmias cardiacas supraventriculares y factores asociados en pacientes adultos atendidos en consulta cardiológica. Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca, 2018 / Cross sectional Study: Prevalence of supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias and associated factors in adult patients seen at the outpatient cardiology service. Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca, 2018.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las arritmias cardiacas son enfermedades cardiovasculares, causadas por alteraciones en la conducción o formación de estímulos eléctricos. La detección oportuna de estas alteraciones es crucial, pues a largo plazo mejora la calidad de vida de las personas que padecen estas patologías. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de arritmias cardiacas supraventriculares y sus factores asociados en paciente adultos atendidos en la consulta externa de la unidad de cardiología del Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca, 2018. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal, descriptivo y de correlación con una muestra de 608 pacientes mayores de 18 años atendidos en la Institución mencionada que se realizaron electrocardiograma durante el año 2018. Se estudiaron las variables: estado nutricional, hipertensión arterial, diabetes, tabaquismo, medicamentos utilizados; edad y sexo; presencia de arritmia supraventricular. Se utilizó la prueba Chi cuadrado para buscar asociación entre las variables cualitativas; considerando diferencias estadísticamente significativas una p < 0.05. RESULTADOS: De 608 pacientes, el 57.1% fueron mujeres; 61.84% fueron menores de 65 años. El 43.9% tuvo sobrepeso, el 27.6% presentó IMC normal. Las enfermedades crónicas como HTA y Diabetes tuvieron una frecuencia de 44.4% y 16% respectivamente. La prevalencia de las arritmias supraventriculares fue del 3.8%. La fibrilación auricular fue la arritmia supraventricular más frecuente con el 47.8%, seguida de la arritmia sinusal con el 26.08%. Hubo mayor prevalencia de arritmias supraventriculares en el sexo femenino que en el masculino (4.6% vs 2.7%), en los pacientes con sobrepeso u obesidad que en los que tenían IMC normal ( 4.4% vs 2.3%), en los pacientes hipertensos en relación a los que no padecían de hipertensión (5.2% vs 2.7%), en los pacientes usuarios de medicamentos antitiroideos en relación a los que los consumían (50% vs 3.6%); sin embargo no se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa con ninguna de estas variables. CONCLUSIÓN: La prevalencia de las arritmias supraventriculares fue del 3.8%. La principal de arritmia cardiaca diagnosticada fue la fibrilación auricular seguida de la arritmia sinusal. No se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la frecuencia de las arritmias supraventriculares y las variables estudiadas.(AU)

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrhythmias are cardiovascular diseases, caused by disturbances in the initiation or conduction of electrical stimuli. The timely detection of these alterations is crucial, since in the long term it improves the quality of life of people suffering from these pathologies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias and their associated factors in adult patients treated in the outpatient clinic of the cardiology unit of Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca, 2018. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlation study was carried out with a sample of 608 patients older than 18 years, at the mentioned Institution, who underwent electrocardiography during 2018. We studied the variables: nutritional status, arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking, used drugs; age and sex; presence of supraventricular arrhythmia. We used Chi Square test to search for an association between the qualitative variables; considering statistical significance a p <0.05. RESULTS: of 608 patients, 57.1% were women; 61.84% were under 65 years of age. 43.9% were overweight, 27.6% had normal body mass index (BMI). Chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes had a frequency of 44.4% and 16% respectively. The prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias was 3.8%. Atrial fibrillation was the most frequent supraventricular arrhythmia with 47.8%, followed by sinus arrhythmia with 26.08%. There was a higher prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias in females than males (4.6% vs 2.7%), in overweight or obese patients than in those with normal BMI (4.4% vs 2.3%), in hypertensive patients than in those who didn't suffer from hypertension ( 5.2% vs 2.7%), in patients who used antithyroid drugs than in those who didn't use them (50% vs 3.6%); however, no statistically significant association was found with any of these variables. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias was 3.8%. The most common cardiac arrhythmia was atrial fibrillation followed by sinus arrhythmia. No statistically significant association was found between the frequency of supraventricular arrhythmias and the variables studied.(au)

Caso Clínico: Resolución quirúrgica de coartación de aorta en un paciente pediátrico / Case Report: Surgical resolution of aortic coarctation in pediatric patient

INTRODUCCIÓN: La coartación de aorta es una cardiopatía congénita con una incidencia de 4 por cada 10 000 nacidos vivos y puede asociarse o no a ductus arterioso persistente u otras malformaciones. Suele ser asintomático, normalmente se diagnostica mediante los signos clásicos; con gradiente de presión arterial entre extremidades, pulsos reducidos en extremidades inferiores, hipertensión arterial en miembros superiores o, en casos graves, fallo cardiaco izquierdo. Su resolución puede ser percutánea o quirúrgica, dependiendo de la edad y sus características. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente masculino de 6 años, asintomático, con sospecha de coartación aórtica, por presentar una diferencia entre presiones arteriales de miembros superiores e inferiores, extremidades inferiores con pulsos reducidos y soplo sistólico en foco aórtico. Se solicitó ecocardiograma que informó válvula aórtica bicúspide con rafe, insuficiencia ligera y coartación de aorta; angiotomografía evidenció coartación de aorta yuxtaductal; cateterismo cardiaco objetivó casi nulo paso de contraste a través del defecto, por lo que se programó tratamiento quirúrgico. EVOLUCIÓN: La corrección quirúrgica se realizó mediante coartectomía con anastomosis termino-terminal más cierre del conducto arterioso. Posterior a la intervención se logró objetivar una mejora relevante en el gradiente de presión entre las extremidades. En el postquirúrgico el paciente presentó hipertensión que logró ser controlada, evolucionó favorablemente y recibió el alta a los 4 días sin tratamiento antihipertensivo ambulatorio. CONCLUSIÓN: La expectativa de vida en pacientes intervenidos para corregir su cardiopatía congénita es superior en relación a aquellos que no son intervenidos, por lo que el diagnóstico oportuno supone una herramienta importante para mejorar la calidad y esperanza de vida.

BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart disease with an incidence of 4 per 10 000 live births, it may or may not be associated with patent ductus arteriosus as well as other malformations. It is usually asymptomatic and diagnosed by its classic signs such as; arterial pressure gradient between extremities, reduced pulses in the lower extremities, arterial hypertension in the upper extremities or, in severe cases, left heart failure. Its resolution can be percutaneous or surgical, depending on the patient's age and the characteristics of the defect. CASE REPORTS: A 6-year-old male patient, asymptomatic, with suspected aortic coarctation, due to a difference between arterial pressures in the upper and lower limbs, lower limbs with reduced pulses, and a systolic murmur in the aortic focus. An echocardiogram was requested, which reported a bicuspid aortic valve with raphe, mild regurgitation, and coarctation of the aorta; CT angiography showed coarctation of the juxtaductal aorta; cardiac catheterization showed almost no passage of contrast through the defect, so surgical treatment was scheduled. EVOLUTION: Surgical correction was performed by coartectomy with end-to-end anastomosis and closure of the ductus arteriosus. After the intervention, a relevant improvement in the pressure gradient between the extremities was observed. In the postoperative period the patient presented hypertension, that we managed to control, the patient progressed favorably and was discharged after 4 days without antihypertensive treatment. CONCLUSION: Life expectancy in patients who underwent surgery to correct a congenital heart disease is higher than in those who don't, so timely diagnosis is an important tool to improve life quality and life expectancy.

Primary coarctation-related isthmus aneurysm in an adult.

A 56-year-old female patient was transferred due to the presence of a left supraclavicular pulsatile mass. Further work-up was performed to confirm diagnosis. Angiography and computed tomography were also performed. The anatomy of the thoracic aorta suggested an unknown and untreated aortic coarctation. A second aortic narrowing was identified at the aortic arch, a result of elongation of the aorta. Endovascular approach was not possible, due to complexity of the aortic anatomy, and tortuosity. Open surgical repair was successfully performed. A primary coarctation-related isthmus aneurysm is an exceptional finding in adults, and is a life-threatening condition when diagnosis is delayed. Management and treatment are controversial and challenging.

Postoperative recurrence of postinfarction true and false ventricular aneurysms.

Progressive dyspnea after myocardial infarction can suggests the presence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or a left ventricular aneurysm (LVA). Surgical treatment of LVA aims to reduce its volume and to restore the ventricle. Recurrence of LVA after previous repair is extremely rare and the occurrence of concomitant postoperative true and false aneurysms is extraordinary. Surgery is usually challenging because of LV dysfunction and cardiac adherences in reoperations. We describe the simultaneous occurrence in a patient of a recurrent true and false LVA after surgical repair of a postinfarction LVA. Five years postoperatively, the patient remains alive and healthy.

Complete Transversal Disc Fracture in a Björk-Shiley Delrin Mitral Valve Prosthesis 43 Years After Implantation.

A patient who underwent previous implantation of a mitral valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley Delrin (BSD) mitral valve prosthesis during infancy was admitted to our institution 43 years later after an episode of syncope and cardiac arrest. Under extreme hemodynamic instability, a mitral valve prosthetic dysfunction causing massive mitral regurgitation was identified. The patient underwent an emergent cardiac operation, and a complete disc fracture with partial disc migration was found. Exceptional cases of mechanical prosthetic heart valve fracture exist. We report the first case of complete transversal disc rupture of a BSD mitral valve prosthesis after the longest period of implantation ever reported in that position.

[Arterial grafts in coronary surgery. Treatment for everyone?]. / Los injertos arteriales en cirugía coronaria: una terapia universal?

At present, arterial conduits are the key elements of coronary bypass surgery. The clear benefits of using the left internal mammary artery for revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery have encouraged the use of other arteries in different areas. The right internal mammary artery and the radial artery are competing for the role as the second most useful conduit. Moreover, use of the right gastroepiploic artery or the inferior epigastric artery, although both are less popular, enables complete revascularization to be carried out using only arterial grafts in most patients. The majority of publications on the subject endorse the extensive use of arterial conduits. However, most findings are based on observational and angiographic data that are derived essentially from studies on symptomatic patients. Consequently, indications for the different techniques have not been standardized. On the other hand, the patency of saphenous vein grafts has improved recently. This article describes the anatomical and histologic characteristics of arterial conduits. The indications for, and advantages and limitations of, the different techniques available are reviewed. In addition, the clinical and angiographic results achieved are considered, as is the role of arterial conduits in different anatomical and clinical settings. Finally, the future application of this type of surgery is discussed.

Intramedullary cervical abscess in the setting of aortic valve endocarditis.

Spinal cord tissue has a remarkable resistance to infection. An intramedullary abscess is an exceptional complication of infective endocarditis in the post-antibiotic era. We describe the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with fever and cephalea. Two days later, left-side numbness, lack of sphincter control, and a new aortic murmur were noticed. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an 8 ×15-mm intramedullary cervical abscess. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed an aortic valve perforation as a result of infective endocarditis. Conservative management was decided for the intramedullary abscess.

Intervenciones de la aorta ascendente: Estudio transversal en dos Instituciones de Salud de la Ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador / Ascending aorta surgical interventions: Cross- Sectional Study in two Health Institutions in Cuenca, Ecuador.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El tratamiento de las patologías aneurismáticas de la aorta ascendente (AA) ha evolucionado a través de los años. La técnica quirúrgica propuesta para esta patología es siempre en pro de conservar en medida de lo posible los tejidos nativos. La dilatación aórtica puede ser secundaria a otras patologías. Existe relación con HTA, EPOC, tabaquismo, aterosclerosis, insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva, enfermedad coronaria, síndrome de Marfan. El objetivo del presente estudio fue caracterizar a los pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de la aorta ascendente en dos centros médicos de la ciudad de Cuenca- Ecuador, entre Enero del 2014 hasta Agosto 2019. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo y de correlación, de corte transversal. La población de estudio estuvo conformada por 23 pacientes sometidos a intervención quirúrgica de aorta ascendente en la ciudad de Cuenca-Ecuador, en el Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga y la Clínica Santa Inés desde enero de 2014 hasta agosto 2019. La información se obtuvo de las historias clínicas únicas. RESULTADOS: El rango de edad fue de 27 a 74 años, con una media de 55.57 años. Las comorbilidades encontradas con mayor frecuencia fueron hipertensión arterial (56.5%) y diabetes tipo 2 (17.4%); además un 8.7% de pacientes presentó síndrome de Marfan. El 39% fueron casos de aneurisma de aorta ascendente sin afección valvular importante. La gran mayoría de pacientes fueron sometidos a cirugía con técnica de Bentall-De Bono (91%). La mayoría de pacientes (52.2%) no presentó ninguna complicación postquirúrgica. La tasa de mortalidad encontrada en la población de estudio fue 1.3 por cada 10. CONCLUSIONES: Los hombres presentaron con mayor frecuencia cirugía por patología de la aorta. La edad media fue de 55 años. Los diagnósticos en los pacientes estudiados fueron heterogéneos entre SAA y afecciones aórticas primarias o secundarias a valvulopatías. Los síntomas principales fueron angina y disnea; no se encontró una relación entre la presentación clínica con un aumento en la mortalidad. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron HTA y Diabetes Mellitus II. No se lograron identificar relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las complicaciones y las demás variables. La complicación más común fue la re-intervención por sangrado. La mortalidad en nuestro estudio tuvo una disminución progresiva desde el 2014.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of ascending aorta (AA) aneurysms has evolved over the years. The surgical technique for this pathology should always be chosen in favor of preserving native tissues, as much as possible. Aortic dilation can be secondary to other pathologies. There is an association with arterial hypertension, COPD, smoking, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, Marfan syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterize patients who underwent ascending aorta surgery in two medical centers in Cuenca- Ecuador, between January 2014 and August 2019. METHODS: Cross-Sectional descriptive and correlation study. The study population was formed by 23 patients undergoing an ascending aortic surgical intervention, in the city of Cuenca-Ecuador, at Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga or Clínica Santa Inés, from January 2014 to August 2019. Data was obtained from the patient's medical records. RESULTS: The age range went from 27 to 74 years with an average of 55.5 7 years. The most frequently found comorbidities were hypertension (56.5%) and type 2 diabetes (17.4%), 8.7% of the patients presented with Marfan syndrome. The most common diagnosis was ascending aortic aneurysm without significant valve damage (39%). 91% percent of the patients underwent surgery with the Bentall-De Bono technique. The majority of patients (52.2%) did not present any post-surgical complications. The mortality rate found in this population was 1.3 per 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Men were more frequently affected. The mean age was 55 years. The studied pathologies were heterogeneous, from SAA to primary or secondary aortic diseases. The main symptoms were angina and dyspnea; there was no significant association between clinical onset and mortality. The most frequent comorbidities were Arterial Hypertension and type II Diabetes. We didn't found any significant associations between complications and the other variables. The most common complication was bleeding that needed re-intervention. Mortality decreased progressively since 2014.

Acute Right Coronary Artery Occlusion After Tricuspid Valve Ring Annuloplasty.

A patient was submitted to mitral valve replacement and tricuspid ring annuloplasty. During immediate postoperative course, signs of inferior myocardial ischemia appeared. Acute entrapment of the right coronary artery due to tricuspid ring sutures was confirmed by coronary angiography. The patient was reoperated and a right coronary bypass graft was successfully performed. Tricuspid procedures have shown to be effective and secure with a low rate of complication. Few cases of right coronary artery occlusion have been described and the majority not treated. Exceptional cases of right coronary occlusion related to tricuspid ring annuloplasty have been reported with a favorable outcome, as the case described herein.

[Pneumoperitoneum after cardiac surgery. A complete anamnesis is the clue]. / Neumoperitoneo tras cirugía. Una completa anamnesis es la clave.

Herein we present the case of an 82 year-old patient undergoing cardiac surgery for mitral valve replacement. Fifteen years earlier, the patient had undergone surgery to replace his aortic valve, so that it was now a cardiac reoperation. Through sternotomy, and release of pericardial adherences, there was an accidental opening of a small portion of the peritoneum, proceeding to repair with simple suture. Postoperatively, the presence of pneumoperitoneum alarmed about the possibility of an intra-abdominal complication but it was subsequently discarded with recent surgical process. Through this article we review what the pneumoperitoneum consist, its causes and management, as well as highlighting possible etiologies sometimes not considered as a recent cardiac surgery, simply because the patient in found in different contexts and we do not think about those possibilities.

Perivalvular pannus and valve thrombosis: two concurrent mechanisms of mechanical valve prosthesis dysfunction.

A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our institution with progressive dyspnea. She had previously been diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease and had undergone cardiac surgery for mechanical mitral valve replacement ten years previously. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed blockage of the mechanical prosthesis and the patient was scheduled for surgery, in which a thrombus was removed from the left atrial appendage. A partial thrombosis of the mechanical prosthesis and circumferential pannus overgrowth were concomitantly detected. Prosthetic heart valve blockage is a rare but life-threatening complication, the main causes of which are thrombosis and pannus formation. The two conditions are different but both are usually misdiagnosed. Two concurrent mechanisms of prosthesis blockage were found in this patient.