2004;83(spe) – ABC CARDIOL

Artigo Original

Use of a flap composed of skin and breast tissue for repairing a recalcitrant wound resulting from dehiscence of sternotomy in cardiac surgery

Jaime Anger et al. Pedro Silvio Farsky Vivian Lerner Amato Cely Saad Abboud … Antonio Flávio Sanches de Almeida Renato T. Arnoni Jarbas Jackson Dinkhuysen Paulo P. Paulista

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new technique for repairing recalcitrant wounds resulting from infection and dehiscence in sternotomy of cardiac surgery in 6 women, who had an extensive raw area in the sternal region and had undergone a previous reintervention with relapse. METHODS: The surgical technique used was based on a triangular flap composed of skin and breast tissue with a base in the inframammary crease, which was transposed to the raw area to provide coverage with vascularized tissue. RESULTS: The several treatments of the acute phase are discussed, as are the techniques for reconstructing dehiscences of the sternal region. CONCLUSION: That flap composed of skin and breast tissue fulfills the needs regarding the dimensions of tissue loss in the raw area, in addition to providing greater protection against infection to an area that, due to the dehiscence, remained exposed for a longer period.

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Artigo Original

Clinical efficacy and safety of the percutaneous treatment of secundum atrial septal defect with the Amplatzer occluder

Sérgio Luiz Navarro Braga et al. Amanda Guerra de Moraes Rego Sousa Carlos Augusto Cardoso Pedra César Augusto Esteves … Simone Rolim Fernandes Fontes Pedra Valmir Fernandes Fontes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of the Amplatzer occluder for percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect. METHODS: Forty-nine patients underwent the procedure guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) while under general anesthesia, afterwards being clinically followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: The defect presented as a single orifice in 91.8% of the cases. The means of the longitudinal and transverse diameters were 14.3±5.0 mm and 14.4±4.9 mm, respectively. The means of the stretched diameters and prostheses were 19.3±5.1 mm and 20.3±4.9 mm, respectively. Technical success occurred in 97.9% of the cases. Immediate residual flow was observed in 54.1% of the patients, being minimum or small in 45.8% and moderate in 8.3%. After 24 hours, residual flow was observed in 25% of the patients (P = 0.0002). At the end of 13.1±1.3 months, the incidence of the overall residual flow decreased to 14.6%, only 4.1% being moderate. A significant reduction in the right ventricular diastolic diameter was observed in the different phases of clinical follow-up (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Implantation of the Amplatzer prosthesis proved to be effective and safe, constituting an option for the treatment of the secundum atrial septal defect in selected cases.

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Artigo Original

Contribution to the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae after a bidirectional Glenn operation

Maria Virgínia Tavares Santana et al. Paulo Paredes Paulista Sérgio Cunha Pontes Junior César Augusto Esteves … Valmir Fernandes Fontes José Eduardo Moraes Rego Sousa

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae (PAVFs) after the bidirectional Glenn operation and the possible independent variables that could influence their appearance; to confirm the use of microbubble contrast echocardiography for the detection of PAVFs; and to test the sensitivity and specificity of pulmonary angiography. METHODS: From March 1990 to December 1995, 59 patients were operated upon. Their ages ranged from 2 to 132 months (mean, 32.7± 33.6). All underwent clinical and laboratory examinations, microbubble contrast echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: Of the 54 survivors, 20 (37.0%) had PAVFs. The ages ranged from 2 to 132 months (mean, 29.6±29.7). In 13 (65%) patients, the bidirectional Glenn operation was performed on the right-hand side; in 2 (10.0%) patients, on the left-hand side; and in 5 (25%) patients, it was bicaval. The follow-up of the patients with PAVFs ranged from 4 to 84 months (mean, 32.4±21.65), and that of the patients without fistulae ranged from 1 to 77 months (mean, 23.4±18.8), with statistical significance (P=0.04). The PAVFs were diagnosed by use of microbubble contrast echocardiography in 20 cases; the examination was considered positive when return of microbubbles through the pulmonary veins was detected. PAVFs were observed in the right lung in 9 (45%) patients, in the left lung in 3 (15%) patients, and in both lungs in 8 (40%) patients. The pulmonary angiography showed alterations compatible with PAVFs in 16 patients, with a sensitivity of 80%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PAVFs after the bidirectional Glenn operation was high (37%). The time interval elapsed after the bidirectional Glenn operation was the only independent variable that significantly correlated with the appearance of PAVFs (P=0.04). Microbubble contrast echocardiography was the standard diagnostic method. The pulmonary angiography showed a sensitivity of 80.0%.

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Artigo Original

Immediate results of myocardial revascularization: comparison between men and women

Vivian Lerner Amato et al. Ari Timerman Ângela T. Paes Valéria T. Baltar … Pedro S. Farsky Jorge A. Farran Carlos Gun Paulo Paredes Paulista Leopoldo S. Piegas J. Eduardo M. R. Sousa

OBJECTIVE: To assess morbidity and mortality in men and women undergoing isolated myocardial revascularization and to analyze the factors related to differences occasionally found. METHODS: Comparative analysis of 2032 patients, 1402 (69%) men and 630 (31%) women, who consecutively underwent surgery from January 1999 to December 2002. RESULTS: Women had a greater mean age, more risk factors, and a greater incidence of unstable angina. Internal thoracic artery grafts were more frequently used in men, 85.6% vs 78.3%, P < 0.001. No differences in the postoperative complication rates were observed, except for infections, more frequent in women. In-hospital mortality rates were 4.1% and 6.3% for men and women, respectively (P = 0.026). On multivariate analysis, neither the female sex was identified as an independent prognostic factor for death nor was the use of thoracic artery grafts identified as an isolated protective factor. However, sex-internal thoracic artery graft interaction was significant. The following variables were also selected: age (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.06; P = 0.004), preoperative renal failure (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.07 to 3.11; P = 0.028) and urgent/emergency surgery (OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.32 to 6.14; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The female sex had a greater surgical mortality; this, however, was not an independent prognostic factor for death. The use of thoracic artery grafts proved to be protective. Older patients with renal failure in an emergency situation had greater indices of in-hospital death.

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Artigo Original

Comparative assessment of the prognostic value of four biochemical markers of myocardial damage after percutaneous coronary stenting

Marinella Centemero et al. Amanda Sousa Rodolfo Staico Alexandre Abizaid … Fausto Feres Luiz Fernando Tanajura Luiz Alberto Mattos Áurea Chaves Ibraim Pinto Camila Sarteschi Angela Paes J. Eduardo Sousa

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic effect of the changes in the levels of 4 biochemical markers of myocardial damage (CK-MB activity/mass and troponins T and I) after stent implantation in regard to the occurrence of death, infarction, and new myocardial revascularization procedures in a one-year period. The study also aimed at determining the incidence of their elevations and the existence of predictive variables. METHODS: Those 4 markers were measured in 199 patients treated with stent implantation in native arteries in the following 3 periods: before the procedure, 6-8 hours after the procedure, and 14-18 hours after the procedure. Survival curves and Cox logistic regression were used to determine the prognostic impact of the changes on the occurrence of cardiac events in one year. RESULTS: Changes in the levels of the 4 markers after stent implantation are relatively frequent (6.1% to 32.8%), are associated with the degree of complexity of the lesions treated (long lesions and angulations > 45º) and with the development of problems during the procedure (occlusion of the secondary branches, presence of angina, and electrocardiographic changes). The infarction-free survival rate and the need for a new revascularization were significantly lower only in the patients with an elevation in the CK-MB activity after the procedure as compared with those in patients without that alteration (60% x 85.08%; P=0.025). The following variables influenced the event-free survival rate: diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.27; P=0.0256), balloon predilation (OR: 3.16; P=0.0082), and an elevation in the CK-MB activity after the procedure (OR: 3.64; P=0.0162). CONCLUSION: Systematic monitoring of CK-MB activity after coronary stenting is justified due to its clinical and laboratory behavior reported in studies relating its elevation after the procedure to a worse late outcome, and due to its low cost.

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Incidence of intracardiac thrombus and thromboembolism in the first three months after bioprosthetic valve implantation

Auristela Isabel de Oliveira Ramos et al. Helio Maximiano de Magalhães Mercedes Maldonado Dorival Júlio Della Togna … Zilda Machado Meneghelo Antoninho Sanfins Arnoni Lucia Machado Nisia Lyra Gomes Paulo Paredes Paulista

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of intracardiac thrombus and thromboembolism in the first 3 months after bioprosthetic valve replacement and to identify the risk factors for thrombus formation. METHODS: The study comprised 184 patients, aged between 15 and 75 years, who underwent bioprosthetic valve implantation. Transthoracic and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiographies were performed in the in-hospital phase (mean, 8.4±3 days) and after 3 months (mean, 97.4±21.7 days). RESULTS: The incidence of thrombus was significantly greater in patients with a prosthesis in the mitral or mitroaortic position (21.0%) than in those with a prosthesis in the aortic position (2.8%), P<0.001. The multiple logistic regression identified the prosthesis in the mitral or mitroaortic position as the only independent variable for thrombus formation. On the 3-month follow-up, TEE showed a thrombus in 35 (20.7%) of the 169 patients on echocardiographic assessment, 31.7% in mitral patients and 3.1% in aortic patients, P<0.001. In the third month, the multiple logistic regression also identified the prosthesis in the mitral or mitroaortic position as the only independent variable for thrombus formation. During the 3-month follow-up, 3 (1.6%) patients died and 8 (4.3%) experienced embolic phenomena, all in the cerebral territory. CONCLUSION: The incidence of thrombi in the first 3 months after bioprosthetic valve implantation was 14.1% in the first 10 days and 20.7% in 3 months. A prosthesis in the mitral or mitroaortic position was identified as a risk factor for thrombus formation. The incidence of embolic phenomena clinically diagnosed was lower than the proportion of atrial thrombi documented on echocardiography.

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Artigo Original

Sensitivity and specificity of B-type natriuretic peptide for identifying symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation

Zilda Machado Meneghelo et al. Hélio M. Magalhães Auristela I. O. Ramos Jorge Eduardo Assef … Davi Costa Le Bihau Nivia A. de Campos Salvarani Angela Tavares Paes Romeu S. Meneghelo

OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for identifying symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe chronic mitral regurgitation followed up on an outpatient care basis. METHODS: A group of patients with mitral regurgitation underwent electrocardiography, chest teleradiography, venous blood withdrawal, and transthoracic echocardiography. Based on an analysis of the echocardiographic variables, 62 patients had mild and moderate mitral regurgitation (GI) and 34 had severe mitral regurgitation (GII). The discriminating capacity of the BNP for detecting patients with severe mitral regurgitation was assessed by use of ROC curves. RESULTS: The patients’ ages ranged from 15 to 63 (mean, 31.7) years, and of the 96 patients, 71 (73%) were females. The BNP values ranged from 0.00 pg/mL to 193 pg/mL. The mean BNP values in GI and GII patients were 18.10 ± 0.74 pg/mL and 50.54 ± 1.46 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.001). The cutoff point for identifying severe mitral regurgitation was 15.40 pg/mL for the best balance between sensitivity and specificity, which were 0.73 and 0.74, respectively. The cutoff point for identifying symptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation was 28.40 pg/mL for the best balance between sensitivity and specificity, which were 0.78 and 0.83, respectively. CONCLUSION: The BNP values capable of identifying asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation are lower than 100 pg/mL, which is considered for the diagnosis of heart failure.

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Artigo Original

The use of intravascular ultrasound in deciding on the treatment of moderate coronary lesions

Andrea Claudia Leão de Sousa Abizaid et al. Leopoldo Soares Piegas Alexandre Antonio Cunha Abizaid Luiz Fernando Leite Tanajura … Aurea Jacob Chaves Marinella Patrizia Centemero Ana Cristina C. Seixas Luiz Alberto Piva Mattos Ibraim Pinto Amanda Guerra Morais Rego Sousa J. Eduardo Morais Rego Sousa

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ultrasound criterion of minimum luminal area (MLA) with a cutoff value of 4.0 mm² in an attempt to differentiate the lesions that should be treated from those that should not. METHODS: The study comprised 173 consecutive patients with moderate angiographic lesions (percentage of stenosis between 40 and 70) who underwent ultrasound imaging. They were divided into 2 groups as follows: group 1 or clinical group (MLA > 4.0 mm²); and group 2 or revascularization group (MLA 4.0 mm² and were clinically treated; 98 (57%) patients had MLA < 4.0 mm² and were treated with coronary stents. On quantitative coronary angiography, no significant difference was observed between the percentage of vessel stenosis [group 1: 48% vs group 2: 53%; P=0.06]. By the other hard ultrasound measurements, as MLA was significantly greater in group 1 compared with that in group 2 [4.54 mm² vs 2.45 mm²; P < 0.001)]. The clinical impact of the decision was favorable, and no difference was observed in regard to the occurrence of major cardiac events: [group 1: 5 (7%) vs group 2: 14 (15%); P = 0.09]. The need for revascularization of the target lesion also did not differ (group 1: 3 (4%) vs group 2: 11 (12%); P = 0.07). The predictive variables for MCE were diabetes, functional class III (FC III) angina before hospitalization, and MLA assessed on ultrasound. CONCLUSION: This strategy for deciding on appropriate treatment guarantees low rates of MCE in both groups in the 24-month follow-up, with reduced revascularization rates. The predictive variables of major cardiac events were as follows: diabetes mellitus, FC III angina, and MLA on intravascular ultrasound.

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Use of a flap composed of skin and breast tissue for repairing a recalcitrant wound resulting from dehiscence of sternotomy in cardiac surgery

Clinical efficacy and safety of the percutaneous treatment of secundum atrial septal defect with the Amplatzer occluder

Contribution to the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae after a bidirectional Glenn operation

Immediate results of myocardial revascularization: comparison between men and women

Comparative assessment of the prognostic value of four biochemical markers of myocardial damage after percutaneous coronary stenting

Incidence of intracardiac thrombus and thromboembolism in the first three months after bioprosthetic valve implantation

Sensitivity and specificity of B-type natriuretic peptide for identifying symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation

The use of intravascular ultrasound in deciding on the treatment of moderate coronary lesions

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