Reconsidering FDA Guidelines: A Single-Center Experience of Prolonged Impella 5.5 Support.

OBJECTIVE: Impella 5.5 (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for mechanical circulatory support for ≤14 days. It is unknown whether prolonged support is associated with worse outcomes. We sought to review our single-center experience with Impella 5.5 and compare outcomes based on support duration. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed adult patients (≥18 years old) supported with Impella 5.5 at our institution (May 2020 to April 2023). Patients on prolonged support (>14 days) were compared with those supported for ≤14 days. RESULTS: There were 31 patients supported with Impella 5.5 including 14 (45.2%) supported >14 days. Median support duration for those on prolonged support was 43.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 25 to 63.5) days versus 8 (IQR 6, 13) days for those who were not (P < 0.001). Overall, the device-related complication rate was 9.7% and did not differ between groups (P = 0.08). Overall, 30-day postimplant survival was 71% and did not differ by support duration (P = 0.2). In-hospital mortality was 32% and did not differ between cohorts (P > 0.99). Among those surviving to explant (n = 22), long-term strategy included bridge to durable ventricular assist device (18%, n = 4), cardiac transplant (55%, n = 12), and cardiac recovery (27%, n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk patients with cardiogenic shock may be supported with Impella 5.5 beyond the FDA-approved duration without increased risk of complications or mortality.

Aspectos clínicos-epidemiológicos de la COVID-19 en pacientes de Pinar del Río / Clinical-epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients from Pinar del Rio

RESUMEN Introducción: la COVID-19 es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, que puede provocar un síndrome respiratorio agudo por lo que constituye en la actualidad una emergencia de salud pública internacional. Objetivo: identificar los factores clínicos epidemiológicos de la COVID-19 en el período de marzo de 2020 a mayo de 2021 en Pinar del Río. Métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo en la provincia de Pinar del Río. Se exploraron los datos tomados de los informes estadísticos de la Unidad Provincial de Higiene y Epidemiología de los pacientes egresados por COVID-19. Se identificaron variables clínicas y epidemiológicas. Resultados: los grupos etarios de 41-50 años, 51-60 años representaron el 17,16 % para ambos seguido del grupo de 21-30 años que representó 16,23 %. El sexo masculino predominó sobre el femenino, para un 52,82 %. Predominaron los casos con evolución asintomática, lo que representó el 53,28 %. El curso sintomático fue mayor en los grupos etarios de 21-30 años y 51-60 años. Los síntomas predominantes fueron tos y fiebre, seguidos por rinorrea y odinofagia. La hipertensión arterial fue la enfermedad más frecuente seguida del asma y diabetes mellitus tipo 2. El municipio de Pinar del Río presentó el mayor número de casos positivos. Conclusiones: existió un ligero predominio de pacientes asintomáticos. La fiebre y los síntomas respiratorios fueron predominantes. Las enfermedades crónicas más frecuentes fueron la hipertensión arterial y el asma. El municipio Pinar del Río fue el más afectado.

ABSTRACT Introduction: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can cause acute respiratory syndrome and is currently an international public health emergency. Objective: to identify the epidemiological clinical factors of COVID-19 in the period from March 2020 to May 2021 in Pinar del Rio. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Pinar del Rio province. Data collected from the statistical reports of the Provincial Unit of Hygiene and Epidemiology of COVID-19 discharged patients were explored. Clinical and epidemiological variables were identified. Results: the age groups 41-50 years, 51-60 years represented 17,16 % for both, followed by the group 21-30 years which represented 16,23 %. Male sex predominated over the female sex, representing 52,82 %. Cases with asymptomatic evolution predominated, representing 53,28 %. The symptomatic course of the disease predominated in the age groups 21-30 and 51-60 years old. The most predominant symptoms were cough and fever, followed by rhinorrhea and odynophagia. Hypertension was the most frequent disease followed by asthma and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Pinar del Rio municipality presented the highest number of positive cases. Conclusions: there was a slight predominance of asymptomatic patients. Fever and respiratory symptoms prevailed. The most frequent chronic diseases were hypertension and asthma. Pinar del Rio municipality was the most affected region.

Vólvulo de vesícula biliar, a propósito de un caso / Gallbladder Volvulus: a case report

RESUMEN Introducción: el vólvulo de la vesícula biliar se define como la torsión del órgano sobre su mesenterio a lo largo del eje del conducto y arteria cística, es una enfermedad rara, que ocurre con mayor frecuencia en mujeres ancianas. Presentación del caso: se trata de una paciente femenina de 46 años de edad, de color de piel blanca, con antecedentes patológicos personales de úlcera duodenal, que practica hábitos tóxicos como el fumar y la ingestión de café. No se ha sometido con anterioridad a procederes quirúrgicos. Acude a cuerpo de guardia de Cirugía General del Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Provincial Abel Santamaría Cuadrado de Pinar del Río con dolor en hipocondrio derecho, de leve intensidad y de aproximadamente 24 horas de evolución, acompañado de náuseas y dos vómitos con restos de alimentos. Se le diagnostica vólvulo de vesícula biliar, por lo cual recibe tratamiento quirúrgico. Conclusiones: el vólvulo de vesícula biliar, enfermedad infrecuente de gran similitud clínica a otras patologías de abdomen agudo, hace muy complejo su diagnóstico preoperatorio. No obstante, el advenimiento de las nuevas técnicas imagenológicas maniobradas por especialistas capacitados, junto con la correcta aplicación del método clínico epidemiológico facilitaron la capacidad diagnóstica que permitiera a los cirujanos tomar la decisión terapéutica acertada para el paciente, con resultados satisfactorios.

ABSTRACT Introduction: gallbladder volvulus is defined as the twisting of the organ over its mesentery along the axis of the duct and cystic artery; it is a rare disease, which more frequently occurs in older women. Case report: a 46 year-old, white skin color female patient, with personal pathological history of duodenal ulcer, having smoking and coffee ingestion habits, who has not previously undergone surgical procedures, she comes to the emergency room of the General Surgery Department at Abel Santamaria Cuadrado Provincial General Hospital in Pinar del Río referring pain in right hypochondriac region, of slight intensity and of approximately 24 hours of evolution; accompanied by nausea and two vomits with food remains. He is diagnosed with gallbladder volvulus, undergoing surgical treatment. Conclusions: gallbladder volvulus, an infrequent entity of great clinical similarity to other pathologies of the acute abdomen, makes a very complex pre-surgical diagnosis; nevertheless, the introduction of new imaging techniques performed by trained specialists, together with the accurate application of the clinical epidemiological method facilitated the diagnostic capacity, allowing the surgeons to take a correct and timely therapeutic decision for the patient and with satisfactory results.