ABSTRACT Introduction: The mid and long term survival rate is a necessary parameter to evaluate the outcomes of heart valve surgery. Objectives: To determine the five-year survival of patients who underwent aortic and/or mitral valve surgery, and the variables that could independently predict a lower survival in the follow-up. Method: A cohort study was conducted for evaluating 139 patients who underwent a heart valve surgery, in the period 2010-2012, at the Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular of Havana, Cuba, all of which survived the postoperative period, and were followed up to five years after the surgery. A Kaplan-Meier curve was performed to determine the survival after surgery. Also, a multivariate Cox regression was carried out to determine the variables that were independently associated with a lower survival rate. The statistical significance level used was p<0.05. Results: The sample was homogeneous according to clinical and demographic variables. The overall survival rate was 93% at the end of the study, with a mean follow up of 5.8 years. The older age (HR=1.15; p=0.001) and the history of perioperative low cardiac output syndrome (HR= 3.54; p=0.037) were the variables independently associated to lower survival in the follow-up. Conclusions: The patients’ survival when concluded the follow-up was high. The older age and the perioperative low cardiac output syndrome were the variables independently associated to lower survival.

RESUMEN Introducción: La supervivencia a mediano y largo plazo es un parámetro necesario para evaluar los resultados de la cirugía valvular cardíaca. Objetivos: Determinar la supervivencia a los cinco años de los pacientes operados de cirugía cardíaca valvular aórtica, mitral o ambas, y las variables que pueden pronosticar de manera independiente una peor sobrevida en el seguimiento. Método: Se realizó un estudio de cohorte que evaluó a los 139 pacientes operados de cirugía cardíaca valvular en el trienio 2010-2012, en el Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular de La Habana, Cuba, y que fueron egresados vivos del postoperatorio, hasta un período de cinco años posteriores a la intervención. Se realizó una curva de Kaplan Meier para determinar la supervivencia al final del seguimiento, así como un análisis multivariable de Cox para determinar las variables que se asociaron a una menor supervivencia. El nivel de significación estadística empleado fue p<0,05. Resultados: La muestra resultó homogénea según las variables clínicas y demográficas. La supervivencia al término del seguimiento, que tuvo una media de 5,8 años, fue de un 93%. El incremento de la edad (HR=1,15; p=0,001) y el haber sufrido bajo gasto cardíaco durante el perioperatorio (HR=3,54; p=0,037) se asociaron de manera independiente a una peor sobrevida en el seguimiento. Conclusiones: La supervivencia de los pacientes al concluir el seguimiento fue elevada. El incremento de la edad y el bajo gasto cardíaco perioperatorio fueron las variables asociadas de manera independiente a una menor sobrevida.

ABSTRACT A 72-year-old woman, with a history of stable effort angina, who was performed, after presenting a non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, a conventional coronary angiography (invasive) that evidenced the multivessel coronary artery disease with significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery, therefore, a surgical treatment was decided. At 70 minutes she presented pain in the left side and ipsilateral lumbar region, nausea and vomiting. The initial physical examination evidenced a palpable, painful mass in the left side. The tomography showed the presence of a left subcapsular renal hematoma. To the acute abdomen pattern was added a hypovolemic shock, thus, the patient underwent surgery, confirming the tomographic diagnosis and performing a nephrectomy. This particular case presented predisposing factors for spontaneous and traumatic cause; however, based on the findings in the anatomopathological study, the conclusion was a renal subcapsular hematoma of traumatic origin.

RESUMEN Mujer de 72 años de edad, con antecedentes de angina de esfuerzo estable, a quien tras presentar un síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST, se le realizó angiografía coronaria convencional (invasiva), donde se evidenció enfermedad arterial coronaria multivaso con estenosis significativa del tronco coronario izquierdo y se decidió tratamiento quirúrgico. A los 70 minutos presentó dolor en el flanco izquierdo y región lumbar ipsilateral, náuseas y vómitos. Al examen físico inicial se evidenció masa palpable, dolorosa, en flanco izquierdo. La tomografía demostró la presencia de un hematoma renal subcapsular izquierdo. Al cuadro de abdomen agudo se sumó choque hipovolémico, por lo que la paciente fue intervenida quirúrgicamente, donde se comprobó el diagnóstico tomográfico y se realizó nefrectomía. Este caso tiene la curiosidad de presentar factores predisponentes para causa espontánea y traumática; sin embargo, en base a los hallazgos en el estudio anatomopatológico se concluyó como hematoma renal subcapsular de origen traumático.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The perioperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) is a frequent complication in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery which decreases short-term survival. Objective: To determine the variables that independently predict the incidence of LCOS in the perioperative period of heart valve surgery at the Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, during the 2012-2014 triennium. Method: A cohort study was conducted where two groups were formed: one with LCOS (46 patients) and the other without it (110 patients). A Kaplan-Meier curve was performed to determine survival 30 days after surgery. The groups were compared with the log-rank test. A multivariate analysis was carried out to determine the variables that independently influenced the appearance of LCOS. The level of statistical significance used was p<0.05. Results: The sample was homogeneous according to clinical and demographic characteristics. The incidence and mortality of the LCOS were 29.5% and 28.3%, respectively. Preoperative renal dysfunction (OR=5.13, p=0.005), prolonged extracorporeal circulation time (OR=4.89, p=0.001) and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (OR=7.52, p<0.001) were the variables independently associated with the appearance of low cardiac output. Conclusions: The LCOS significantly reduces perioperative survival. Preoperative renal dysfunction, prolonged extracorporeal circulation and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance were variables of worse prognosis in these patients, associated with a higher probability of suffering this complication.

RESUMEN Introducción: El síndrome de bajo gasto cardíaco (BGC) perioperatorio es una complicación frecuente en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca la cual disminuye la supervivencia a corto plazo. Objetivo: Determinar las variables que pronostican de manera independiente la incidencia del BGC en el perioperatorio de cirugía cardíaca valvular en el Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, durante el trienio 2012-2014. Método: Se realizó un estudio de cohorte donde se conformaron dos grupos: uno con BGC (46 pacientes) y otro sin él (110 pacientes). Se realizó una curva de Kaplan-Meier para determinar la supervivencia a los 30 días de la cirugía, se compararon los grupos con la prueba de rangos logarítmicos (log-rank). Se efectuó un análisis multivariable para determinar las variables que influyeron de manera independiente en la aparición del BGC. El nivel de significación estadístico empleado fue de p<0,05. Resultados: La muestra fue homogénea según características clínicas y demográficas. La incidencia y la mortalidad del BGC fueron del 29,5% y 28,3%, respectivamente. La disfunción renal preoperatoria (OR=5,13; p=0,005), el tiempo prolongado de circulación extracorpórea (OR=4,89; p=0,001) y la resistencia vascular pulmonar elevada (OR=7,52; p<0,001) fueron las variables que se asociaron de manera independiente a la aparición de bajo gasto. Conclusiones: El BGC reduce significativamente la supervivencia perioperatoria. La disfunción renal preoperatoria, el tiempo prolongado de circulación extracorpórea y la resistencia vascular pulmonar elevada constituyeron variables de peor pronóstico en estos pacientes, asociadas a una mayor probabilidad de sufrir esta complicación.

INTRODUCTION Heart failure, primarily in the elderly, is a growing epidemic in today's world. It leads to high rates of disability and mortality, as well as significant health care expenditures, making it important to assess possible predictors of adverse cardiac events. In Cuba, heart failure mortality is 19.1/100,000 population. OBJECTIVES Assess the value of stress-rest protocol gated-SPECT for identifying patients with symptomatic heart failure likely to suffer adverse cardiac events. METHODS A study was conducted of 52 patients (mean age 59 years, SD 9; 62% women) with functional capacity II/III (New York Heart Association scale) and left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. Patients were divided into two groups based on coronary heart disease diagnosis: those with coronary heart disease (41), labeled ischemic; and those without (11), labeled nonischemic. All underwent gated SPECT myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with technetium-99m-labeled methoxyisobutyl isonitrile, using a two-day stress–rest protocol, including evaluation of intraventricular synchrony by phase analysis. Patients were followed over 36 months for adverse cardiac effects. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between the two groups during the stress test with regard to exercise time, metabolic equivalents or percentage of maximal heart rate during maximal stress. Summed stress, rest and difference scores, however, were significantly different between the ischemic and nonischemic groups: 16.82 (SD 6.37) vs. 7.54 (SD 5.8), p <0.001; 14.43 (SD 6.28) vs. 6.45 (SD 3.77), p = 0.001; and 2.39 (SD 4.89) vs. 1.09 (SD 3.7), p = 0.034. No differences were found in ventricular function, although stress-minus-rest left ventricular ejection fraction was slightly lower in patients with ischemic heart disease (−1.29, SD 5.8) than in patients without ischemic heart disease (1.27, SD 4.31). Dyssynchrony was greater in patients with ischemic heart disease than in those without, primarily during stress (p <0.01). The only variable that showed a possible association with the occurrence of adverse events was <5 metabolic equivalents on the stress test (p = 0.03), while resting phase SD showed only a tendency toward association (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Information on myocardial perfusion, functional capacity and intraventricular synchrony obtained from stress-rest gated SPECT may help identify patients with symptomatic heart failure who are likely to develop adverse cardiac events, enabling better management of higher-risk cases and improved allocation of resources.

INTRODUCTION: Myocardial reperfusion during the course of an acute myocardial infarction improves patients' short- and long-term prognosis; coronary blood flow is successfully re-established while preserving a large amount of at-risk muscle. Clinical evolution, however, varies. Presence of residual ischemia or viable myocardial tissue affects a patient's prognosis. Assessment by noninvasive methods allows better prognostic stratification. Cardiac-gated SPECT provides appropriate parameters to support treatment selection and monitoring of these patients. OBJECTIVES: Assess the prognostic value-ability to predict occurrence of major cardiac events-of perfusion and cardiac function obtained by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in myocardial infarction patients treated by any myocardial reperfusion method, whether pharmacological or surgical. METHODS: Forty patients were included, mean age 58.8±9 years, diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Participants were divided into two groups: primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (15) or thrombolysis (25). All received myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with cardiac-gated SPECT to assess perfusion and left ventricular function, and were followed for six months with telephone interviews and review of clinical records. RESULTS: In the 11 patients who had major cardiac events within six months of followup, a nonsignificant increase in perfusion defect extent was seen post reperfusion. Six (54.5%) of those with major cardiac events had anterior perfusion defects. In functional parameters, a significant increase in end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction were observed post stress (p = 0.006) and at rest (p = 0.001). Post-stress end-diastolic volume of >70 mL had a higher prognostic value for major cardiac events [sensitivity 100%; specificity 89%, area under ROC curve 0.835 (CI 0.702-0.969), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac-gated SPECT is useful to identify variables (including left ventricular systolic dysfunction and dilation of left cavities, particularly left end-systolic volume of >70 mL) predictive of major cardiac events in reperfused patients, independent of treatment modality.

FUNDAMENTO: A cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica (CPM) tem sido utilizada na avaliação da cardiopatia chagásica. OBJETIVO: Investigar o valor da CPM com tomografia computadorizada por emissão de fóton único (gated-SPECT) para detectar comprometimento cardíaco precoce em pacientes chagásicos na fase indeterminada, que apresentam anomalias de movimento segmentar detectadas por exame de imagem por Doppler tecidual (IDT) strain derivada. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 40 indivíduos (idade média: 25 ± 2 anos, 50% homens) de uma área endêmica da doença de Chagas e com diagnóstico sorológico positivo. Todos foram submetidos à CPM com gated-SPECT de 2 dias (repouso e estresse) e ecocardiografia. RESULTADOS: Trinta indivíduos (75%) apresentaram resultados normais. Em três casos (8%), a CPM apresentou resultado ligeiramente anormal e em sete foi ambígua. Em todos os casos com defeitos reversíveis, os segmentos afetados foram coincidentes com aqueles com anomalias de movimento. Foi encontrada redução na fração de ejeção ventricular esquerda (FEVE) > 5% (ΔLVEF% < -5) pós-estresse em 11 dos 40 indivíduos (28%). Tanto o desvio padrão fasederivado como a largura da banda do histograma mostraram diferença significativa entre o pós-estresse e a fase de repouso. Em ambos os casos, houve ligeira dessincronia em repouso normalizado no pós-estresse. CONCLUSÃO: Uma abordagem estresse-repouso com gated-SPECT é válida para detectar alterações miocárdicas precoces, bem como dessincronia intraventricular na fase indeterminada da doença de Chagas em pacientes com anomalias no movimento segmentar previamente detectadas pela IDT strain derivada.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has been used in the assessment of chagasic heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of gated-single photon emission computed tomography (gated-SPECT) MPI to detect early cardiac involvement in chagasic patients in the indeterminate phase, who present segmental motion abnormalities detected by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived strain. METHODS: Forty individuals (mean age: 25±2 years, 50% males) from an endemic area of Chagas disease and with positive serologic diagnosis, were included. All underwent gated-SPECT two-day (stress-rest) MPI and echocardiography. RESULTS: Thirty individuals (75%) showed a normal scan. In three cases (8%) the MPI was slightly abnormal, and in seven it was equivocal. In all cases with reversible defects, the affected segments were coincident with those with motion abnormalities. A post-stress left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction > 5% (ΔLVEF < -5%) was found in 11 out of 40 individuals (28%). Both the phase-derived standard deviation and the histogram bandwidth showed a significant difference between post-stress and rest. In both cases there was a slight dyssynchrony at rest which normalized at post-stress. CONCLUSIONS: A stress-rest gated-SPECT is a valid approach to detect early myocardial alterations, as well as intraventricular dyssynchrony in the indeterminate phase of Chagas disease in patients with segmental motion abnormalities previously detected by TDI-derived strain.

At present alopecia areata is considered as a non cicatricial type of alopecia of unknown cause, in which a frank autoimmune component exists. It possesses a greater incident between the 20 and 50 years and affects both sexes equally. In its multifactorial etiopathogen autoimmune diseases are involved as rheumatoid arteritis, or the systemic lupus erythematosus and endocrinopathies as diabetes mellitus, or Hashimoto´s thyroiditis, also associate to genetic factors has been seen, psychological traumas, atopy and to the presence of septic focus fundamentally oral, these last ones are capable of favoring the formation of autoantibodies IgM and C3, that in frank loss of tolerance, attack to the skin cells, especially to those of the scalp. A case of a 32-years-old man is presented, that was admitted in our services with diagnosis of alopecia areata multifocal, and it was concluded that was starting point of a profuse oral sepsis, aggravated by smoking habit. Causal treatment was indicated and evolved towards a complete capillary repopulation of alopecic plates.

Actualmente se considera la alopecia areata como un tipo de alopecia no cicatricial de causa desconocida, en la que existe un franco componente autoinmune. Posee una mayor incidencia entre los 20 y 50 años y afecta a ambos sexos por igual. En su etiopatogenia multifactorial se involucran enfermedades autoinmunes como la artritis reumatoidea, o el lupus eritematoso sistémico y endocrinopatías como la diabetes mellitus, o la tiroiditis de Hashimoto, también se ha visto asociada a factores genéticos, traumas sicológicos, atopia y a la presencia de focos sépticos, fundamentalmente bucales, estos últimos son capaces de propiciar la formación de autoanticuerpos IgM y C3, que en franca pérdida de la tolerancia a lo propio, atacan a las células de la piel, especialmente a las del cuero cabelludo. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 32 años de edad, que fue ingresado en nuestros servicios con el diagnóstico de alopecia areata multifocal, y se llegó a la conclusión de que era punto de partida de una sepsis bucodental profusa, agravada por el hábito de fumar. Se indicó tratamiento causal y evolucionó hacia una completa repoblación capilar de las placas alopécicas.