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Rules are presented for the diagnosis of arterioventricular discordances and the spatial position of the ventricles in these cardiopathies by means of angiocardiography and the position of cardiac catheters. Because these rules are based on previous anatomo-embryological findings, the normal development of the conus and the truncus is briefly analysed. The probable morphogenesis of this group of truncoconal cardiopathies is discussed. The fundamental process required to establish the diagnosis of these cardiopathies is as follows: 1) The truncoconal morphology is identified in the lateral projection. a) The anterior position of the pulmonary artery and its infundibulum with respect to the aorta and its infundibulum is characteristic of crossed great arteries with arterioventricular concordance or discordance. b) The anterior position of the aorta and its infundibulum with respect to the pulmonary artery and its infundibulum is characteristic of transposition of the great arteries with arterioventricular concordance or discordance. 2) Once the truncoconal morphology is identified, the use of the anteroposterior projection allows the establishment of the differential diagnosis between arterioventricular concordances and discordances, and of the spatial location of the ventricles in these entities. a) An anterior pulmonary artery directed from right to left, emerging from an infundibulum placed on the left side (anatomically right ventricle on the left) or an anterior pulmonary artery directed from left to right, arising from an infundibulum located to the right (anatomically right ventricular placed on the right), is the specific image of discordant crossed great arteries. b) An anterior pulmonary artery directed from right to left emerging from an infundibulum placed on the right side (anatomically right ventricle on the right side) or the anterior pulmonary artery directed from left to right arising from a left-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left side) is characteristic of concordant crossed great arteries. c) An anterior aorta placed to the right of the pulmonary artery and emerging from a left-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left side) or an anterior aorta placed to the left of the pulmonary artery and arising from an infundibulum placed on the right side (anatomically right ventricle placed on the right) is characteristic of discordant transposition of the great arteries. d) An anterior aorta placed to the right of the pulmonary artery emerging from a right-sided infundibulum (anatomically right ventricle placed on the right) or an anterior aorta placed to the left of the pulmonary artery arising from an infundibulum placed on the left (anatomically right ventricle placed on the left) is the specific picture of concordant transposition of the great arteries... [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Congenital absence of pulmonary valve leaflets is an uncommon condition usually associated with ventricular septal defect and an obstructive pulmonary valve ring. Twenty-one patients with these malformations are described. Twenty had an associated ventricular septal defect with ventriculoarterial concordance, and one also had transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and obstructive pulmonary valve ring. The clinical features, cardiac catheterisation findings, and angiocardiographic results are presented. Twelve patients underwent cardiac surgery. Three patients died, one in the early, and the other two in the late postoperative period. The results, according to the surgical technique employed and postoperative cardiac catheterisation findings, showed that patients in whom the bioprostheses were implanted in the pulmonary position had a better late follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Este artigo apresenta uma tradução do prólogo da obra chr(38)quot;Al Sifãchr(38)quot;, inscrita por Ibn Sina (980-1037 d. c. ) além de discutir elementos sobre a questão da alma e do intelecto

In the present study the importance of the gated myocardial perfusion scan in the evaluation of the surgical results has been shown. It was possible to monitor progressive improvement in myocardial perfusion immediately after surgical treatment and 1 year after operation. In addition to echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, gated myocardial perfusion scan has proved to be an excellent method in the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of anomalous origin of left coronary artery because with this procedure can determine the severity and location of myocardial ischemia and the degree of ventricular dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives: To identify anatomical and functional characteristics associated with survival in adult patients with an absent atrioventricular connection and to highlight the diagnostic importance of echocardiography., Methods: The clinical histories and echocardiographic and hemodynamic test results of 24 patients were recorded., Results: Some 87.5% of patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I/II. In 92%, the ECG demonstrated sinus rhythm and left ventricular dilatation. Chest X-ray showed grade-II cardiomegaly in 83%. Situs solitus and an absent right atrioventricular connection were found on echocardiography in 92%. The ventriculoarterial connection was most frequently concordant (in 71%). All patients had an atrial septal defect, 21 had a ventricular septal defect and 21 had decreased pulmonary flow. The ejection fraction of the main ventricle in the whole patient group was 55% +/- 10%; 52% +/- 12% in those who did not undergo surgery and 58% +/- 8% in those who did (P=NS). Factors associated with poor survival were an ostium secundum atrial septal defect, hemoglobin <16 g/dL and a main ventricle ejection fraction <50%. Of the 54% of patients who underwent surgery, 85% are alive and the majority are in NYHA functional class I/II. Among those who did not, 82% are alive and 73% are in NYHA functional class I/II., Conclusions: The presence of a wide atrial septal defect, a normal hemoglobin level and a normal main ventricle ejection fraction were associated with the survival of these patients into adulthood. Echocardiography can provide clinicians and surgeons with information that is valuable for selecting treatment and monitoring follow-up.

Increasing evidence indicates that hypertension in pregnancy is an under recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Compared with women who have had normotensive pregnancies, those who are hypertensive during pregnancy are at greater risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and have a less favorable overall risk profile for CVD years after the affected pregnancies. One factor that might underlie this relationship is that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia, in particular) and CVD share several common risk factors (e.g. obesity, diabetes mellitus and renal disease). Alternatively, hypertension in pregnancy could induce long-term metabolic and vascular abnormalities that might increase the overall risk of CVD later in life. In both cases, evidence regarding risk-reduction interventions specific to women who have had hypertensive pregnancies is lacking. While awaiting results of large-scale studies, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy should be screened for during assessment of a woman's overall risk profile for CVD. Women at high risk must be monitored closely for conventional risk factors that are common to both CVD and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and treated according to current evidence-based national guidelines.

The cardiovascular disease is a crucial cause of morbidity and mortality in the woman mainly when they arrive at menopause. The pathophysiology and neurohormonal mechanisms widely vary with respect to the man. This finding has given the support to think that the estrogens may be playing a protector role in cardiovascular disease. However, the associated risk factors like obesity, diabetes, dislipidemia, smoking and sedentary life are increasing in an exponential form. In Mexico the population age distribution establishes that 60% of the women with hypertension are aged < 54 years old. This is reason why as factor of independent cardiovascular risk is commonest. Nevertheless, after the menopause cardiovascular mortality is greater in the woman than in the man. In this review, the importance of the new pathophysiological mechanisms and the clinical-therapeutic approach are analyzed, making emphasis in the importance of the change in the life style and also in the nutritional aspects. In Mexico the woman still have a unique role in the nutritional culture.

From beginnings of last century the hypertensive emergency was defined as the association of acutely elevation from the arterial pressure and the appearance of damage to end organ. At present is recognized the effects of the hypertensive emergency, the aspects of its patophysiology in which are included phenomenon of vasomotricity and the participation of different substances with vasoactives properties. The clinical presentation includes not only the manifestations of the increase of the arterial pressure, the end organ damage too; for this reason the hypertensive emergency needs the immediate reduction of the arterial tension to prevent the damage to specific organs. The treatment in every case will have to be individualized, with a wide knowledge of the characteristics of every medicament to obtain the best results. The diagnosis and treatment of the hypertensive emergencies needs often of the attention of its complications if they have appeared and later, of a treatment of support for the arterial hypertension.

The association between arterial systemic hypertension arterial coronary disease has been demonstrated by cumulated evidence of several epidemiological studies. Hypertension is an important independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease, vascular cerebral disease and nephropathy. Important advances exist in the knowledge of neurohumoral and hemodynamic factors that come together in the pathophysiology of the hypertension and in the development of coronary disease that allow to establish better strategies not only of treatment, but also of prevention, with the purpose of diminishing the cardiovascular mortality. The spectrum of the coronary artery disease secondary to atherosclerosis is wide and the strategies of treatment of hypertension must be adapted to each particular case. The treatment of both conditions needs of specific limits of agreement to the conditions of the patient and the form of presentation of each one of these disease.

The incidence of hypertension in the geriatric population is very high and is a significant determinant of cardiovascular risk in this group. The tendency for blood pressure to increase with age in westernized societies such as the United States may depend on environmental factors such as diet, stress, and inactivity. Our population tends to become more obese; to consume relatively greater amounts of sodium and lesser amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium; and to decrease exercising with increasing age. Senescent changes in the cardiovascular system leading to decreased vascular compliance and decreased baroreceptor sensitivity contribute not only to rising blood pressure but also to an impairment of postural reflexes and orthostatic hypotension. The hallmark of hypertension in the elderly is increased vascular resistance. Greater vascular reactivity in the elderly hypertensive patients may reflect decreased membrane sodium pump activity and decreased beta-adrenergic receptor activity as well as age-related structural changes. Treatment of diastolic hypertension in the elderly is associated with decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although treatment of systolic hypertension may not decrease immediate cardiovascular mortality, it appears to decrease the incidence of stroke. The initial therapeutic approach to the elderly hypertensive patient should generally consist of a reduction in salt and caloric intake and an increase in aerobic exercise, i.e., walking. Drug therapy should be initiated with lower doses of medication with a special concern about orthostatic hypotension.

The epidemic of childhood obesity, the risk of developing left ventricular hypertrophy, and evidence of the early development of atherosclerosis in children would make the detection of and intervention in childhood hypertension important to reduce long-term health risks; however, supporting data are lacking. Secondary hypertension is more common in preadolescent children, with most cases caused by renal disease. Primary or essential hypertension is more common in adolescents and has multiple risk factors, including obesity and a family history of hypertension. Evaluation involves a through history and physical examination, laboratory tests, and specialized studies. Management is multifaceted. Nonpharmacologic treatments include weight reduction, exercise, and dietary modifications. Although the evidence of first line therapy for hypertension is still controversial, the recommendations for pharmacologic treatment are based on symptomatic hypertension, evidence of end-organ damage, stage 2 of hypertension, or stage 1 of hypertension unresponsive to lifestyle modifications, and hypertension with diabetes mellitus.

The multidisciplinary Institutional Committee of experts in Systemic Arterial Hypertension from the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez" presents its update (2008) of "Guidelines and Recommendations" for the early detection, control, treatment and prevention of Hypertension. The boarding tries to be simple and realistic for all that physicians whom have to face the hypertensive population in their clinical practice. The information is based in the most recent scientific evidence. These guides are principally directed to hypertensive population of emergent countries like Mexico. It is emphasized preventive health measures, the importance of the no pharmacological actions, such as good nutrition, exercise and changes in life style, (which ideally it must begin from very early ages). "We suggest that the changes in the style of life must be vigorous, continuous and systematized, with a real reinforcing by part of all the organisms related to the health education for all population (federal and private social organisms). It is the most important way to confront and prevent this pandemic of chronic diseases". In this new edition the authors amplifies the information and importance on the matter. The preventive cardiology must contribute in multidisciplinary entailment. Based mainly on national data and the international scientific publications, we developed our own system of classification and risk stratification for the carrying people with hypertension, Called HTM (Arterial Hypertension in Mexico) index. Its principal of purpose this index is to keep in mind that the current approach of hypertension must be always multidisciplinary. The institutional committee of experts reviewed with rigorous methodology under the principles of the evidence-based medicine, both, national and international medical literature, with the purpose of adapting the concepts and guidelines for a better control and treatment of hypertension in Mexico. This work group recognizes that hypertension is not an isolated disease; therefore its approach must be in the context of the prevalence and interaction with other cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, dislipidemia and smoking among others. The urgent necessity is emphasized to approach in a concatenated form the diverse cardiovascular risk factors, since independently of which they share common pathophysiological mechanisms, its suitable identification and control will affect without any doubt the natural history of the other concatenated risk factor. By all means that to greater participation of factors, greater it will be the global cardiovascular risk but never, however, the specific weight is due to avoid that each one has on the global cardiovascular risk. In this Second edition we try to amplify and give systematic forms for the clinical approach for the suspicion of secondary hypertension and we emphasizes that hypertension in the woman with or without menopause should be careful analyzed, and special recommendations are given for the hypertension in pregnancy. Also we have approached some aspects related to the hypertensive emergencies and other special situations. In this second version some recommendations are presented for boarding hypertension in children and adolescents.

The treatment of the atrial septal defect (ASD) in patients older than 40 years of age is controversial. We analyzed our experience according to different subgroups: i) the natural history of adults without closure of the defect; ii) comparison between surgical closure versus no closure; and iii) comparison between surgical versus transcatheter occlusion. It was concluded that surgical treatment offers better results than medical treatment alone. According to our results, treatment must be undertaken as soon as possible, even when the functional symptoms seem to be minimal. The safety and efficacy of a transcatheter occluder system was superior to surgery with regard to some complications, although this difference was not significant in young adults (<40 years).

Objectives: To compare the short- and mid-term outcomes of surgical (SUR) vs. transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) using Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) in adults with a very similar spectrum of the disease; and to identify predictors for the primary end point., Design: Single-center, concurrent comparative study. Surgically treated patients were randomly matched (2:1) by age, sex, date of procedure, ASD size, and hemodynamic profile., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Patients: One hundred sixty-two concurrent patients with ASD submitted to ASO (n = 54) or SUR closure (n = 108) according with their preferences., Main Outcome Measures: Primary end point was a composite index of major events including failure of the procedure, important bleeding, critical arrhythmias, serious infections, embolism, or any major cardiovascular intervention-related complication. Predictors of these major events were investigated., Results: Atrial septal defects were successfully closed in all patients, and there was no mortality. The primary event rate was 13.2% in ASO vs. 25.0% in SUR (P = .001). Multivariate analysis showed that higher rate of events was significantly associated with age >40 years; systemic/pulmonary output ratio <2.1; and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure >50 mm Hg; while in the ASO group the event rate was only associated with the ASD size (>15 cm(2)/m(2); relative risk = 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.01-8.8). There were no differences in the event-free survival curves in adults with ages <40 years., Conclusions: The efficacy for closure ASD was similar in both groups. The higher morbidity observed in SUR group was observed only in the patients submitted to the procedure with age >40 years. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the ASO group. Surgical closure is a safe and effective treatment, especially in young adults. There is certainly nothing wrong with continuing to do surgery in countries where the resources are limited.

The history and evolution of the cardiovascular surgery and pediatric cardiology is fascinating. For centuries many erroneous galenic concepts about cardiovascular anatomy and physiology were sustained by physicians. At the end of the XIX century and during the XX century, the progress in science allowed for a more appropriate understanding of the anatomophysiology of the cardiovascular system, promoting the concept of dispensability of half of the heart. This concept of right ventricle dispensability has subsisted, teaching us lessons that have led to a bear understanding of the hemodinamic behavior of many cardiac congenital malformations. The cavopulmonar total bypass or Fontan procedure with its modifications is an example of this knowledge. In the present article we make a brief historical review of the concept of right ventricle dispensability, and a brief analysis of the learned lessons provided by many authors and our own experience, without forgetting that we still have a long way to fully understand the pulmonary vasculature behavior and the univentricular physiology.

Background: A reduction of heart rate variability (HRV) is currently considered an independent risk factor for morbidity, mortality and severity of severalcardiac disease, however, the dynamic sympathovagal modulation on HRV during 24 hr in primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) had not been described., Methods: 24 hr Holter monitoring (HA) were recorded in 32 patients (mean age 34, +/-12, 90% female) with severe primary pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary pressure, 90:t:12 mm Hg), and in 34 patients (mean age 36 +/-14, 60% female) with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) secondary to septal ventricular defect or atent ductus arteriosus. A control group (n=44) paired for age, gender and arterial pulmonary pressure was included. HRV time and spectral parameters (mean, SDNN, SDANN, rMSSD, PNN50, LF, HF and LF/HF ratio) were analyzed during three periods: 24 hr; day (8-22:00), night (23-07:00) and also every hour of recording at 5 min-intervals). After detection of sympatho-vagal balance 15 patients were randomized, Treprostinil (prostaglandin) was administered to 6 patients and subcutaneous placebo to 9., Results: HRV frequency parameters during 24 hr HM were significantly different among groups. LF/HF (day) 5.9:1:12.5:1:1P.001 and LF/HF night) 2.8:tlvs.1.5:l:.8.034. Sympathovagal modulation on 24 hr HRV showed that heart rate circadian rhythm is clearly altered in both PPH and ES, but the sympathetic tone in PPH is higher at l 24 hr. (p < .05), after administering treprostinil a recovery of sympathovagal balance was observed, Conclusions: Autonomic cardiac disturbance is clearly present in PPH and ES. The circadian rhythm of HRV is first lost due to an increase of sympathetic tone. These changes may be markers of autonomic disbalance that favor the development of arrhythmias and sudden death. The sympathovagal balance in PPH could be considered an important risk marker.

Objectives: Evaluate long-term evolution of patients submitted to surgery for coarctation of the aorta. Compare event free survival in younger vs older patients at the time of surgical correction., Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of patients operated for coarctation of the aorta from January 1 1980 to December 31 1994. The mean follow-up ranged from 9 to 23 years (mean 10.9 y). Final events registered were recoarctation, death, systemic hypertension, endocarditis, stroke, aneurisms., Results: Two hundred and sixteen patients were found with mean age 13 +/- 12 y male gender was most frequent (61%). Recoarctation was found in 13 patients (6.02%), persistent hypertension in 14.1%. Event free survival at 10 years was 86.2%. In patients less than 10 y was 89% vs 80.2% in older patients. Hypertension free survival in patients less than 10 y was 98.3% vs 80.1% in older patients (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Our data confirms that surgical treatment for coarctation of the aorta is associated with low morbidity and mortality at long-term with reduced rate of recoarctation (7%). Early correction (< 10 y) is associated with a better long term survival. Hypertension and use of pharmacologic treatment are reduced after surgery and persist in the long-term evolution.