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Background Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is used as a palliative strategy in patients who are not eligible for valve replacement surgery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, or as a bridge to these treatment modalities. The impact of BAV as a salvage procedure for patients in extreme clinical conditions ( in extremis ) is unknown. Methods Patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis undergoing BAV between July 2008 and January 2013 were evaluated. Patients were divided into the in - extremis group (defined by the presence of two or more of the following organ dysfunctions: mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic instability, dialysis, coagulopathy or severe hepatic dysfunction) and the control group, which included the remaining patients. Results A total of 19 patients underwent BAV. The clinical condition in - extremis was present in 42.1% of them. Patients from the in - extremis group had a higher EUROSCORE II (41.1 ± 24.7 vs. 15.9 ± 14.0; P = 0.001) and LV ejection fraction lower than the control group (33.9 ± 17.3% vs. 49.0 ± 12.5; P = 0.04). None of the patients in the in - extremis group survived past the hospitalization period, whereas the control group mortality was 27.3% (P Conclusions BAV has an unfavorable result in patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis with two or more organ dysfunctions, that is, patients in extremis .

BackgroundThe diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy is frequently difficult. Coronary angiography (CA) is limited because it is invasive and the evaluation is exclusively anatomic. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) measures patterns of myocardial fibrosis caused by ischemia. However, LGE does not detect ischemia that does not result in fibrosis. Thus, a thorough clinical evaluation by a cardiologist seems to be the most effective option for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate CA and LGE as complementary methods for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy in patients with systolic heart failure of unknown etiology.MethodsPatients with systolic heart failure, left ventricle ejection fraction < 45% and unknown etiology after initial non-invasive evaluation were submitted to CA and MRI with LGE to define the etiology of the disease. Patient evaluation by two cardiologists was the gold standard for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy.ResultsTwenty-four patients were included. The sensitivity to detect ischemic cardiomyopathy was 0.45 for CA vs. 0.81 for LGE. The specificity was 1.0 for CA vs. 0.84 for LGE. The positive predictive value was 1.0 vs. 0.81 and the negative predictive value was 0.68 vs. 0.84 for CA and LGE, respectively. LGE accuracy was superior to CA accuracy (0.83 vs. 0.75).ConclusionsLGE was more sensitive than CA to evaluate the etiology of ventricular dysfunction, whereas CA was more specific. The diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy using each one of the methods separately presented limitations.

Background Coronary artery disease is a major cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Moreover, due to the high prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis, many of these patients require percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) even after renal transplantation. The aim of this study is to report the late follow-up of patients with renal transplantation treated with PCI and stenting. Methods Patients > 18 years of age, with prior kidney transplantation, and treated with PCI were included. Clinical follow-up was evaluated by medical record analysis and telephone contact. The study endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during follow-up. Results Twenty-nine patients were included. Mean age was 54.8 ± 8 years and the majority male (72.4%). The prevalence of hypertension was 89.7%, dyslipidemia 69% and diabetes 51.7%. Most of them had multivessel disease (2-vessel: 44.8%; 3-vessel: 41.4%). Lesion complexity was high, being 84.3% type B2 or C lesions and 27.5% bifurcation lesions. Procedural success rate was 100%. Bare metal stents were used in 96.6% of cases. The follow-up time was 1,378 ± 977 days. The mortality rate was 25.1%, target vessel revascularization rate was 15.9% and none of the patients presented nonfatal infarction. The incidence of MACE during follow-up was 34.5%. Conclusions Late follow-up after PCI in renal transplantation patients demonstrated a high probability of clinical events. However, the study population was a sample of high clinical and angiographic complexity.

Background Little is known about the late clinical outcomes of patients undergoing saphenous vein graft percutaneous coronary intervention (SVG-PCI), and there are controversies regarding the role of lesion location (aorto-ostial or graft body). Methods Single-center registry including patients undergoing SVG-PCI between 2006 and 2011. Aorto-ostial lesion was defined as a lesion within the first 8 mm of the graft; graft body lesion was defined as a lesion located in the remaining portions of the graft. Interventions approaching only the distal anastomosis or the native coronary bed were excluded. We evaluated the rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) between the groups. Results One hundred and ninety-five patients were evaluated, 69 in the Aorto-Ostial Group and 126 in the Graft Body Group. Mean age was 69.6 ± 10.2 years, 41% were diabetic, 65.1% had acute coronary syndromes and most of them were treated with bare metal stents (82.5%). There was no statistical difference between groups for most of the characteristics evaluated. In the late follow-up, the TVR rate (50.8% vs. 22%; P = 0.03) was greater in the Aorto-Ostial Group. The MACE rate (67.7% vs. 63.3%; P = 0.33), death (31.7% vs. 35.6%; P = 0.95) and MI (55% vs. 42%; P = 0.64) were similar between the two groups. Conclusions This population included a high-risk subgroup, with high late mortality rates, regardless of the location of the lesion in the graft. In patients treated predominantly by baremetal stents, aorto-ostial lesions had a higher reintervention rate when compared to graft body lesions.

INTRODUÇÃO: A doença arterial coronária é uma das principais causas de óbito em pacientes com doença renal crônica. Além disso, em decorrência da elevada prevalência de fatores de risco para aterosclerose, muitos desses pacientes necessitam de intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP) mesmo após o transplante renal. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever a evolução tardia de pacientes transplantados renais submetidos a ICP com stent. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos pacientes transplantados renais, com idade > 18 anos, tratados com ICP. O seguimento foi realizado por análise de prontuários e contato telefônico. O desfecho do estudo foi a incidência de eventos cardíacos adversos maiores (ECAM) durante o seguimento. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 29 pacientes. A média de idade foi de 54,8 ± 8 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (72,4%). A prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica foi de 89,7%, de dislipidemia, de 69%, e de diabetes, de 51,7%. A maior parte apresentava doença multiarterial (biarterial: 44,8%; triarterial: 41,4%). A complexidade das lesões foi elevada, sendo 84,3% dos tipos B2 ou C e 27,5% com lesões em bifurcação. A taxa de sucesso do procedimento foi de 100%. Stents convencionais foram utilizados em 96,6% dos casos. O tempo de seguimento foi de 1.378 ± 977 dias. A mortalidade foi de 25,1%, a taxa de revascularização do vaso-alvo foi de 15,9% e nenhum paciente apresentou infarto não-fatal. A incidência de ECAM durante a evolução foi de 34,5%. CONCLUSÕES: A evolução clínica tardia após ICP em pacientes transplantados renais demonstrou elevada probabilidade de eventos clínicos. No entanto, a população estudada foi uma amostra de alta complexidade clínica e angiográfica. BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is a major cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Moreover, due to the high prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis, many of these patients require percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) even after renal transplantation. The aim of this study is to report the late follow-up of patients with renal transplantation treated with PCI and stenting. METHODS: Patients > 18 years of age, with prior kidney transplantation, and treated with PCI were included. Clinical follow-up was evaluated by medical record analysis and telephone contact. The study endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included. Mean age was 54.8 ± 8 years and the majority male (72.4%). The prevalence of hypertension was 89.7%, dyslipidemia 69% and diabetes 51.7%. Most of them had multivessel disease (2-vessel: 44.8%; 3-vessel: 41.4%). Lesion complexity was high, being 84.3% type B2 or C lesions and 27.5% bifurcation lesions. Procedural success rate was 100%. Bare metal stents were used in 96.6% of cases. The follow-up time was 1,378 ± 977 days. The mortality rate was 25.1%, target vessel revascularization rate was 15.9% and none of the patients presented non-fatal infarction. The incidence of MACE during follow-up was 34.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Late follow-up after PCI in renal transplantation patients demonstrated a high probability of clinical events. However, the study population was a sample of high clinical and angiographic complexity.

INTRODUÇÃO: A valvuloplastia aórtica por cateter balão (VAB) é utilizada como estratégia paliativa em pacientes inelegíveis tanto para troca valvar cirúrgica quanto para implante valvar aórtico transcateter, ou como ponte para essas modalidades de tratamento. Não se sabe o impacto terapêutico da VAB quando realizada como medida de salvamento para pacientes em condições clínicas extremas (in extremis). MÉTODOS: Foram analisados pacientes com estenose aórtica grave de etiologia degenerativa submetidos à VAB entre julho de 2008 e janeiro de 2013. Os pacientes foram divididos entre o grupo in extremis (definido pela presença de duas ou mais das seguintes disfunções orgânicas: ventilação mecânica, instabilidade hemodinâmica, terapia renal dialítica, coagulopatia ou disfunção hepática graves) e o grupo controle, que incluiu os demais pacientes. RESULTADOS: Um total de 19 pacientes realizaram VAB no período. A condição clínica in extremis esteve presente em 42,1%. Os pacientes do grupo in extremis tiveram EUROSCORE II mais elevado (41,1 ± 24,7 vs. 15,9 ± 14,0; P = 0,01) e fração de ejeção do VE mais baixa que o grupo controle (33,9 ± 17,3% vs. 49,0 ± 12,5%; P = 0,04). Nenhum paciente do grupo in extremis sobreviveu ao período intra-hospitalar, enquanto que, no grupo controle, a mortalidade foi de 27,3% (P < 0,01). CONCLUSÕES: Para o tratamento de pacientes com estenose aórtica grave de etiologia degenerativa, a VAB tem resultado desfavorável quando indicada para pacientes com duas ou mais disfunções orgânicas, ou seja, em condição clínica in extremis. BACKGROUND: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is used as a palliative strategy in patients who are not eligible for valve replacement surgery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, or as a bridge to these treatment modalities. The impact of BAV as a salvage procedure for patients in extreme clinical conditions (in extremis) is unknown. METHODS: Patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis undergoing BAV between July 2008 and January 2013 were evaluated. Patients were divided into the in-extremis group (defined by the presence of two or more of the following organ dysfunctions: mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic instability, dialysis, coagulopathy or severe hepatic dysfunction) and the control group, which included the remaining patients. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients underwent BAV. The clinical condition in-extremis was present in 42.1% of them. Patients from the in-extremis group had a higher EUROSCORE II (41.1 ± 24.7 vs. 15.9 ± 14.0; P = 0.001) and LV ejection fraction lower than the control group (33.9 ± 17.3% vs. 49.0 ± 12.5; P = 0.04). None of the patients in the in-extremis group survived past the hospitalization period, whereas the control group mortality was 27.3% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BAV has an unfavorable result in patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis with two or more organ dysfunctions, that is, patients in extremis.

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico da cardiomiopatia isquêmica é frequentemente difícil. A angiografia coronária (AC) é limitada, por ser invasiva e de avaliação exclusivamente anatômica. A ressonância nuclear magnética cardíaca (RNM) com realce tardio pelo gadolínio (RTG) pode mensurar padrões de fibrose miocárdica ocasionados pela isquemia. Porém, o RTG pode não detectar isquemia que não resultou em fibrose. Assim, uma avaliação clínica meticulosa pelo cardiologista parece ser a maneira mais eficaz para definir o diagnóstico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a AC e o RTG como métodos complementares para o diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia isquêmica em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica sem etiologia definida. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo < 45% e etiologia indefinida após avaliação não invasiva inicial foram submetidos à AC e à RNM com RTG para definição etiológica. A análise dos casos por dois cardiologistas foi o padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico de cardiomiopatia isquêmica. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 24 pacientes. A sensibilidade para detecção de cardiomiopatia isquêmica foi de 0,45 para AC vs. 0,81 do RTG. A especificidade da AC foi de 1,0 vs. 0,84 do RTG. O valor preditivo positivo foi de 1,0 vs. 0,81, e o valor preditivo negativo foi 0,68 vs. 0,84 para AC e do RTG, respectivamente. A acurácia do RTG foi superior a da AC (0,83 vs. 0,75). CONCLUSÕES: O RTG foi mais sensível do que a AC na avaliação etiológica da disfunção ventricular, enquanto a AC foi mais específica. A definição de cardiomiopatia isquêmica utilizando cada um dos métodos em separado apresentou limitações. BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy is frequently difficult. Coronary angiography (CA) is limited because it is invasive and the evaluation is exclusively anatomic. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) measures patterns of myocardial fibrosis caused by ischemia. However, LGE does not detect ischemia that does not result in fibrosis. Thus, a thorough clinical evaluation by a cardiologist seems to be the most effective option for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate CA and LGE as complementary methods for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy in patients with systolic heart failure of unknown etiology. METHODS: Patients with systolic heart failure, left ventricle ejection fraction < 45% and unknown etiology after initial non-invasive evaluation were submitted to CA and MRI with LGE to define the etiology of the disease. Patient evaluation by two cardiologists was the gold standard for the diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were included. The sensitivity to detect ischemic cardiomyopathy was 0.45 for CA vs. 0.81 for LGE. The specificity was 1.0 for CA vs. 0.84 for LGE. The positive predictive value was 1.0 vs. 0.81 and the negative predictive value was 0.68 vs. 0.84 for CA and LGE, respectively. LGE accuracy was superior to CA accuracy (0.83 vs. 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: LGE was more sensitive than CA to evaluate the etiology of ventricular dysfunction, whereas CA was more specific. The diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy using each one of the methods separately presented limitations.