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Objective: The importance of the NT-proBNP value in detecting patients at risk of developing heart failure (HF) and its importance in guiding medical management to prevent the development of HF. Material and methods: The study is a prospective study and includes 314 patients who was presented at the Bagdasar-Arseni Emergency Hospital for cardiology consultation, by appointment, for a period of 3 years. The inclusion criteria were as follows: essential hypertension (diagnosed more than 5 years before), diabetes mellitus (insulin-deficient or under treatment with oral ant diabetics diagnosed more than 5 years before), ischemic heart disease, mild or moderate valvulopathy (mild or moderate mitral regurgitation and large or moderate aortic stenosis) and permanent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Exclusion criteria were as follows: a previous diagnosis of heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and the presence of signs or symptoms of heart failure at the time of enrollment in the study. Patients were randomized into 2 groups, a control group and a intervention group. Patients in the intervention group were managed according to the NT-proBNP value, and patients in the control group received the conventional intervention. Patients were monitored for 3 years and the following objectives were pursued: new diagnosis of heart failure, systolic or diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and hospitalization for cardiovascular pathology. Results: After 3 years, in the control group there were 40 patients (25.5%) who developed HF, compared to 28 patients (17.8%) in the intervention group. In the control group, 60 patients (38.2%) were diagnosed with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, compared to 43 patients (27.4%) in the intervention group. Regarding left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, in the control group there were 98 patients (62.4%), and in the intervention group there were 80 patients (51.0%). Also, the rate of hospitalizations for cardiovascular pathology was higher in the control group, 56 patients (35.7%), compared to 33 patients (21.0%) in the intervention group. Discussions: The incidence of heart failure, left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction, or hospitalizations for cardiovascular events, was lower in the intervention group, in which patients were managed according to the NT-proBNP value, compared to patients in the control group who received conventional intervention. Conclusions: The NT-proBNP biomarker may be useful in the medical management of patients for the prevention of heart failure.

Tracheal stenosis is a rare complication of tracheal intubation, which usually becomes symptomatic after some time after detubation, with typical superior airway obstruction signs and symptoms. This is a case of a 62-yearold female with post intubation tracheal stenosis, with interesting problems of differential diagnosis until the final diagnostic was found. Clinical and imagistic investigations led us to our final diagnosis of iatrogenic post intubation tracheal stenosis.

Purpose. NT proBNP is routinely used in the diagnosis and prognosis of HF. The study aimed to determine whether the value of NT proBNP can be used in hypertensive patients to detect patients at risk of developing HF and whether in these patients medical management guided by NT proBNP can prevent the development of HF. Material and methods. We included 275 hypertensive patients who presented to the Bagdasar-Arseni Emergency Hospital for cardiological consultation for a period of 3 years. Patients diagnosed with heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction and patients with symptoms of heart failure at enrollment were excluded. We divided the patients into 2 groups, a control group and an intervention group. Patients in the intervention group were managed according to the NT proBNP value, and patients in the control group received standard treatment. Results. The objectives pursued at 3 years were: diagnosis of heart failure, systolic or diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and hospitalization for cardiovascular pathology. After 3 years, in the control group there intervention group. In the control group, 51 patients (38.1%) were diagnosed with LV systolic dysfunction compared to 37 patients (26.2%) in the intervention group. Regarding diastolic LV dysfunction, in the control group there were 83 patients (61.9%), and in the intervention group there were 73 patients (51.8%). Also, the rate of hospitalizations for cardiovascular pathology was higher in the control group 47 patients (35.1%) compared to 27 patients (19.1%) in the intervention group. Discussions. Hypertensive patients in the intervention group, who were managed according to the NT proBNP value, had a lower incidence rate of heart failure, LV systolic or diastolic dysfunction, or hospitalizations for cardiovascular events than in the control group. Conclusions. The value of NT proBNP may be useful for detecting hypertensive patients at risk of developing HF, and NT proBNP-guided medical management may prevent or delay the onset of HF.