Primary coronary angioplasty in 9,434 patients during acute myocardial infarction: predictors of major in- hospital adverse events from 1996 to 2000 in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To verify the results after the performance of primary coronary angioplasty in Brazil in the last 4 years. METHODS: During the first 24 hours of acute myocardial infarction onset, 9,434 (12.2%) patients underwent primary PTCA. We analyzed the success and occurrence of major in-hospital events, comparing them over the 4-year period. RESULTS: Primary PTCA use increased compared with that of all percutaneous interventions (1996=10.6% vs. 2000=13.1%; p<0.001). Coronary stent implantation increased (1996=20% vs. 2000=71.9%; p<0.001). Success was greater (1998=89.5% vs. 1999=92.5%; p<0.001). Reinfarction decreased (1998=3.9% vs. 99=2.4% vs. 2000=1.5%; p<0.001) as did emergency bypass surgery (1996=0.5% vs. 2000=0.2%; p=0.01). In-hospital deaths remained unchanged (1996=5.7% vs. 2000=5.1%, p=0.53). Balloon PTCA was one of the independent predictors of a higher rate of unsuccessful procedures (odds ratio 12.01 [CI=95%] 1.58-22.94), and stent implantation of lower mortality rates (odds ratio 4.62 [CI=95%] 3.19-6.08). CONCLUSION: The success rate has become progressively higher with a significant reduction in reinfarction and urgent bypass surgery, but in-hospital death remains nearly unchanged. Coronary stenting was a predictor of a lower death rate, and balloon PTCA was associated with greater procedural failure.

Surgical treatment of partial atrioventricular septal defect: functional analysis of the mitral valve in the postoperative period

OBJECTIVE: To study mitral valve function in the postoperative period after correction of the partial form of atrioventricular septal defect. METHODS: Fifty patients underwent surgical correction of the partial form of atrioventricular septal defect. Their mean age was 11.8 years and 62% of the patients were males. Preoperative echocardiography showed moderate and severe mitral insufficiency in 44% of the patients. The mitral valve cleft was sutured in 45 (90%) patients (group II - GII). Echocardiographies were performed in the early postoperative period, and 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge. RESULTS: The patients who had some type of arrhythmia in the postoperative period had ostium primum atrial septal defect of a larger size (2.74 x 2.08 cm). All 5 patients in group I (GI), who did not undergo closure of the cleft, had a competent mitral valve or mild mitral insufficiency in the preoperative period. One of these patients began to have moderate mitral insufficiency in the postoperative period. On the other hand, in GII, 88.8% and 82.2% of the patients had competent mitral valve or mild mitral insufficiency in the early and late postoperative periods, respectively. CONCLUSION: The mitral valve cleft was repaired in 90% of cases. Echocardiography revealed competent mitral valve or mild mitral insufficiency in 88.8% and 82.2% of GII patients in the early and late postoperative periods, respectively.

Vector electrocardiographic alterations after percutaneous septal ablation in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: possible anatomic causes

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the dromotropic disturbances (vector-electrocardiographic), and the possible anatomic causes, provoked by selective alcohol injection in the septal branch, for percutaneous treatment, of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Ten patients with a mean age of 52.7 years underwent percutaneous septal ablation (PTSA) from october 1998; all in functional class III/IV). Twelve-lead electrocardiogram was performed prior to and during PTSA, and later electrocardiogram and vectorcardiogram according to Frank's method. The patients were followed up for 32 months. RESULTS: On electrocardiogram (ECG) prior to PTSA all patients had sinus rhythm and left atrial enlargement, 8 left ventricular hypertrophy of systolic pattern. On ECG immediately after PTSA, 8 had complete right bundle-branch block; 1 transient total atrioventricular block; 1 alternating transient bundle-branch block either right or hemiblock. On late ECG 8 had complete right bundle-branch block confirmed by vectorcardiogram, type 1 or Grishman. CONCLUSION: Septal fibrosis following alcohol injection caused a predominance of complete right bundle-branch block, different from surgery of myotomy/myectomy.

Treatment of delayed rupture of the left ventricle after mitral valve replacement

Rupture of the left ventricle following mitral valve replacement is a catastrophic complication with deadly consequences. We report here the case of a 75-year-old man who underwent elective mitral valve replacement for severe mitral regurgitation. Delayed type 1 rupture of the left ventricle developed 3 hours postoperatively in the intensive care unit. A salvaging maneuver was used, which gained time, allowing reoperation and successful intraventricular repair.

Improvement in left ventricular dysfunction after surgical correction of mitral regurgitation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether left ventricular end-systolic (ESD) diameters £ 51mm in patients (pt) with severe chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) are predictors of a poor prognosis after mitral valve surgery (MVS). METHODS: Eleven pt (aged 36±13 years) were studied in the preoperative period (pre), median of 36 days; in the early postoperative period (post1), median of 9 days; and in the late postoperative period (post2), mean of 38.5±37.6 months. Clinical and echocardiographic data were gathered from each pt with MR and systolic diameter ³51mm (mean = 57±4mm) to evaluate the result of MVS. Ten patients were in NYHA Class III/IV. RESULTS: All but 2 pt improved in functional class. Two pt died from heart failure and infectious endocarditis 14 and 11 months, respectively, after valve replacement. According to ejection fraction (EF) in post2, we identified 2 groups: group 1 (n=6), whose EF decreased in post1, but increased in post2 (p=0.01) and group 2 (n=5), whose EF decreased progressively from post1 to post2 (p=0.10). All pt with symptoms lasting £ 48 months had improvement in EF in post2 (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: ESD ³51mm are not always associated with a poor prognosis after MVS in patients with MR. Symptoms lasting up to 48 months are associated with improvement in left ventricular function.

Percutaneous implantation of endoprostheses in the carotid arteries

OBJECTIVE: To assess the in-hospital evolution of patients undergoing percutaneous stent placement in the carotid arteries. METHODS: From August 1996 to April 2001, we studied 86 patients with carotid arterial obliterative lesions > 70% who were treated with percutaneous stent placement in the carotid arteries. We assessed the rate of success of the implantation and of the procedure, the types of stents used, mortality rate, and neurological complications. RESULTS: Successful implantation was obtained in 98.9% of the cases, and the procedure was successful in 91.8%. The Wallstent was the most frequently used stent (73 patients - 77%). Cerebral strokes occurred as follows: 3 (3.2%) transient ischemic attacks, 1 (1.1%) minor stroke, and 3 (3.1%) major strokes. One (1.1%) patient died during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The high rate of success of stent implantation (98.9%) in addition to the low rate of cerebral stroke/death (4.2%) showed the efficiency and safety of percutaneous stent placement in carotid arteries.

Mildly symptomatic chronic mitral regurgitation. Analysis of left ventricular systolic function and mitral regurgitant fraction under pharmacological influence: echocardiographic study

OBJECTIVE: To study echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function and valvar regurgitation under pharmacological influence in mildly symptomatic patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: We carried out a double-blind placebo controlled study in 12 patients with MR, mean aged 12.5 years old, who were randomized in 4 phases: A) digoxin; B) enalapril; C) digoxin + enalapril; D) placebo. The medication was administered for 30 days in each phase, and the following variables were analyzed: shortening and ejection fractions, wall stress index of left ventricle, left ventricular meridional end-systolic wall stress, Doppler-derived mean rate of left ventricular pressure rise (mean dP/dt), stroke volume and MR jet area. The clinical variables analysed were heart rate and systemic arterial pressure. RESULTS: No significant variation was observed in the clinical variables analysed. The shortening and ejection fraction, the mean dP/dt and stroke volume significantly increased and the wall stress index of left ventricle, the meridional left ventricular end systolic wall stress and the mitral regurgitation jet area decreased in the phases with medication as compared with that in the placebo phase. CONCLUSION: The parameters of left ventricular systolic function improved significantly and the degree of MR decreased with the isolated administration of digoxin or enalapril in mildly symptomatic patients with chronic MR. The combination of the drugs, however, did not show better results.

Influence of balloon pressure inflation in patients undergoing primary coronary stent implantation during acute myocardial infarction: a quantitative coronary angiography analysis

OBJECTIVE:To verify the influence of moderate- or high-pressure balloon inflation during primary coronary stent implantation for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: After successful coronary stent implantation, 82 patients were divided into 2 groups according to the last balloon inflation pressure: group 1 (³12 to <16 atm) and group 2 (³16 to 20 atm), each with 41 cases. All patients underwent late coronary angiography. RESULTS: In group 1, the mean stent deployment pressure was 13.58±0.92 atm, and in the group 2 it was 18.15±1.66 atm. Stents implanted with moderate pressures (³12 to <16 atm) had a significantly smaller postprocedural minimal lumen diameter, compared to with those with higher pressure, with lesser acute gain (2.7± 0.4 mm vs 2.9±04 mm; p=0.004), but the late lumen loss (0,9±0,8 mm vs 0,9±0,6 mm) and the restenosis (22% vs. 17.1%) and target-vessel revascularization rates (9.8% vs 7.3%) were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: During AMI stenting, the use of high pressures (³16 atm) did not cause a measurable improvement in late outcome, either in the late loss, its index, and the net gain, or in clinical and angiographic restenosis rates.

Aspergillus infection in the ascending aorta of a patient with aortic and mitral valve prostheses

We report the case of implantation of metallic mitral and aortic valve prostheses 6 months earlier, with subsequent multiple embolic episodes. The anatomicopathological examination of the thrombus of the third embolic episode was compatible with Aspergillus sp, which was treated with amphotericin B, followed by oral itraconazole. On the fourth embolism, vegetations were visualized in the ascending aorta on echocardiography and resonance imaging, and the patient underwent replacement of the aortic segment by a Haemashield tube and exploration of the aortic prosthesis, which was preserved, because no signs of endocarditis were found. Four months later, the patient died due to cardiogenic shock secondary to acute myocardial infarction caused by probable coronary embolism and partial dysfunction of the aortic prosthesis.

Initial experience in Brazil with the Helex septal occluder for percutaneous occlusion of atrial septal defects

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the initial clinical experience with the Helex septal occluder for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects. METHODS: Ten patients underwent the procedure, 7 patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) with hemodynamic repercussions and 3 patients with pervious foramen ovale (PFO) and a history of stroke. Mean age was 33.8 years and mean weight was 55.4 kg. Mean diameter by transesophageal echocardiography and mean stretched ASD diameter were 11.33 ± 3.3mm, and 15.2 ± 3.8mm, respectively. The Qp/Qs ratio was 1.9 ± 0.3 in patients with ASD. RESULTS: Eleven occluders were placed because a patient with 2 holes needed 2 devices. It was necessary to retrieve and replace 4 devices in 3 patients. We observed immediate residual shunt (< 2mm) in 4 patients with ASD, and in those with patent foramen ovale total occlusion of the defect occurred. No complications were noted, and all patients were discharged on the following day. After 1 month, 2 patients with ASD experienced trivial residual shunts (1mm). In 1 patient, we observed mild prolapse in the proximal disk in the right atrium, without consequences. CONCLUSION: The Helex septal occluder was safe and effective for occluding small to moderate atrial septal defects. Because the implantation technique is demanding, it requires specific training of the operator. Even so, small technical failures may occur in the beginning of the learning curve, but they do not involve patient safety.

Troca valvar com preservação de cordas e plástica na cirurgia da insuficiência mitral crônica

OBJETIVO: Comparar, clinica e laboratorialmente, três grupos de pacientes submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico da insuficiência mitral crônica isolada; um grupo submetido à plástica valvar e dois à troca da valva mitral com diferentes técnicas de preservação das cordas. MÉTODOS: Operados 28 pacientes com idade média de 54,1 anos, sem doença coronariana, multivalvar ou reoperações: 9 tiveram plástica valvar, 10 troca valvar mitral com preservação das cordas de ambas as cúspides, e 9 apenas da cúspide posterior. Avaliações clínicas, ecodopplercardiográfica e radioisotópica foram realizadas até o 6º mês de seguimento. RESULTADOS: Ao final, 88,8% encontravam-se em classe funcional I. Um faleceu por hemorragia intracraniana durante tratamento anticoagulante. Houve queda no diâmetro diastólico (p<0,0001) e volume diastólico final do ventrículo esquerdo (p<0,0001) nos três grupos. Apenas os pacientes submetidos à plástica tiveram queda no diâmetro sistólico (p=0,0003) e no volume sistólico final (p=0,0040), sem alterações na fração de ejeção (p=0,5586). Os submetidos à troca valvar mitral tiveram queda similar na fração de ejeção (p=0,0001 e p=0,0296). CONCLUSÃO: Houve melhora clínica com as três técnicas empregadas. Os pacientes submetidos à plástica valvar tiveram melhor preservação da função ventricular. Não houve diferença significativa no desempenho cardíaco entre os dois grupos submetidos à troca valvar mitral com preservação das cordas até o 6º mês de seguimento.

Isolamento das veias pulmonares em pacientes com fibrilação atrial permanente secundária a valvopatia mitral

OBJETIVO: Analisar a eficácia do isolamento cirúrgico das veias pulmonares para restabelecer ritmo sinusal em pacientes com fibrilação atrial secundária à doença mitral. MÉTODOS: 33 pacientes com indicação de correção cirúrgica da valva mitral e com fibrilação atrial permanente, foram submetidos ao isolamento cirúrgico das veias pulmonares, sendo 67% mulheres. Média de idade de 56,3±10 anos, classe funcional NYHA pré-operatória de 3,2±0,6, tamanho de átrio esquerdo de 5,5± 0,9 cm, fração de ejeção de 61,3±13%. A técnica cirúrgica consistiu de incisão circunferencial ao redor das 4 veias pulmonares, excisão do apêndice atrial esquerdo e de incisão perpendicular desde a borda inferior da incisão, isolando as veias pulmonares, até o ânulo da valva mitral. Arritmias precoces foram tratadas, agressivamente, com cardioversão. RESULTADOS: O seguimento médio foi de 23,9±17 meses e ocorreram 3 óbitos no pós-operatório. Dez pacientes necessitaram de cardioversão elétrica no pós-operatório; 87% apresentavam ritmo sinusal na última consulta e 33% estavam em uso de amiodarona. CONCLUSÃO: Isolamento das veias pulmonares associado à cirurgia da valva mitral é uma técnica efetiva e segura na manutenção de ritmo sinusal em pacientes com fribilação atrial permanente.

Trombose de prótese biológica mitral: importância do ecocardiograma transesofágico no diagnóstico e acompanhamento pós-tratamento

OBJETIVO: Descrever os achados clínicos e ecocardiográficos de trombose em prótese biológica mitral e o valor do ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE) no diagnóstico e monitoração da lise do trombo. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados ao ETE 111 pacientes com prótese biológica mitral, e incluídos 4 de 7 com suspeita de trombo nestas próteses (idade média = 60,2±10,2 anos; 2 homens). O diagnóstico pôde ser confirmado pela realização seriada do ETE e pela evolução clínica. Investigaram-se os aspectos morfológicos dos folhetos da prótese, e presença e característica das massas ecogênicas anexas. Foram obtidos o gradiente médio pela prótese e a área valvar. RESULTADOS: O diagnóstico de trombo em prótese biológica mitral foi realizado 48,7±55,2 meses após a cirurgia. Dois pacientes apresentaram acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico no pós-operatório imediato. O gradiente médio global estava elevado (11,4±3 mmHg) e a área valvar reduzida (1,24±0,3cm²). Ao ETE, em todos foram evidenciadas massas ecogênicas em face ventricular esquerda da prótese biológica mitral, sugestivas de trombo. No ETE seriado (136±233 dias), houve desaparecimento do trombo em dois casos e redução do trombo nos outros dois, após tratamento. O gradiente médio reduziu para 6,2±3 mmHg (p=0,004; IC 95%), e a área valvar aumentou para 2,07±0,4 (p=ns). CONCLUSÃO: O ETE mostrou-se útil na detecção de trombo em prótese biológica mitral e eficaz na monitoração do tratamento, em todos casos.