ABSTRACT Chagas disease is among the 21 neglected diseases according to the World Health Organization. This study aimed to investigate the morbidity and mortality distribution of Chagas disease for identifying areas with greater prevalences and deaths of the disease in Northeast Brazil. A population-based ecological study was performed from 2016 to 2018 using data on acute Chagas disease patients from the Disease Notification Information System, chronic cases from the Chagas Disease and the referral Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic in Pernambuco, and Chagas disease-related mortality from the Mortality Information System. The unit of analysis were Pernambuco State mesoregions. The indicators were spatialized into thematic maps on the occurrence and mortality of the disease per 100,000 inhabitants. No cases of acute disease were reported in the period analyzed. Data on 801 chronic Chagas disease patients were analyzed. The population showed an average age of 62 years, with female predominance. The most prevalent comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension and cardiologic involvement without ventricular dysfunction. The average chronic disease occurrence rate was 3.2/ 100,000 people/ year. As for deaths in the mortality system; in total, 350 deaths were recorded, showing male predominance, age ≥ 60 years, and chronic disease with cardiac involvement as the main mortality cause. The annual average mortality proportion was 1.6/100,000 people. The chronic case distribution showed spatial heterogeneity, with the highest rates of chronic disease and deaths observed in two mesoregions, with the main cause of death being heart-related. This highlights the need for more specialized services in areas with higher burden of the disease to avoid delay in the patients’ care.

ABSTRACT We report a rare case of an infective endocarditis by Aerococcus spp in a bioprosthetic aortic valve following a prostate biopsy, in an asymptomatic adult with no additional risk factor for prostate cancer, excepting for age. The diagnosis was based on the presence of vegetations on the bioprosthesis seen on the echocardiogram, positive blood cultures and fever, and a favorable clinical outcome following the treatment with ceftriaxone and gentamicin.

Resumo Fundamento: O Edema Agudo de Pulmão cardiogênico é considerado uma das maiores emergências médicas, é a manifestação extrema da insuficiência cardíaca aguda. A principal etiologia da insuficiência cardíaca é a cardiopatia isquêmica. Até o momento, a definição da etiologia isquêmica no edema agudo de pulmão foi baseada em critérios como: história clínica de doença cardíaca isquêmica, exames não invasivos e, em outros pacientes, na cinecoronariografia. Desta forma classificada, a doença isquêmica do coração demonstrou ser sua principal etiologia. A alta prevalência entre estas duas doenças foi avaliada, mas não pelo critério angiográfico exclusivo, o padrão-ouro desta patologia, a razão deste estudo. Objetivo: Avaliar os preditores da doença arterial coronária obstrutiva nos portadores de Edema Agudo de Pulmão de origem claramente não definida. Método: Pacientes admitidos em um pronto-socorro de referência no tratamento das doenças cardiovasculares foram recrutados a realizar a coronariografia se a etiologia do edema agudo de pulmão não era devidamente esclarecida. A doença coronária obstrutiva foi considerada se ao menos um vaso epicádico tivesse oclusão = 70%. Resultados: A doença coronária obstrutiva foi classificada pela cinecoronariografia em 149 pacientes consecutivamente avaliados, a obstrução da artéria coronária foi a variável desfecho do modelo preditor. Dentre as variáveis relacionadas a doença coronária, as variáveis preditoras foram a história de doença da artéria coronária (p < 0,001) e o déficit segmentar do miocárdio ao ecocardiograma (p < 0,02). Conclusão: O antecedente de doença coronariana e o déficit segmentar do miocárdio ao ecocardiograma foram capazes de discriminar pacientes com edema agudo de pulmão associado a doença coronária obstrutiva. Valores da troponina classificados por dois cardiologistas como secundário a um infarto agudo do miocárdio sem elevação do segmento ST a e a dor torácica antecedendo o quadro não foram capazes de discriminar doentes com ou sem obstrução coronária, logo, o diagnóstico de doença coronária obstrutiva não deve ser perseguido baseado no valor da troponina e ou dor torácica antecedendo o quadro.

Abstract Background: Cardiogenic Acute Pulmonary Edema (APE) is considered one of the main medical emergencies, and it is the extreme manifestation of acute heart failure. The main etiology of heart failure is ischemic heart disease. To date, the definition of ischemic etiology in acute pulmonary edema was based on criteria such as: clinical history of ischemic heart disease, noninvasive examinations and, in other patients, coronary angiography. Classified as such, ischemic heart disease has been shown to be its main etiology. The high prevalence between these two diseases was evaluated, but not by the exclusive angiographic criterion, the gold standard of this pathology and the reason of this study. Objective: To evaluate the predictors of obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with acute pulmonary edema of unclear origin. Method: Patients admitted to a cardiovascular disease referral emergency unit were recruited to undergo coronary angiography if the acute pulmonary edema etiology was not adequately elucidated. Obstructive coronary disease was considered if at least one epicardial vessel had 70% of occlusion. Results: Obstructive coronary disease was classified by coronary angiography in 149 consecutively evaluated patients, and coronary artery obstruction was the outcome variable of the predictor model. Among the variables related to coronary disease, the predictor variables were the history of coronary artery disease (p < 0.001) and myocardium segmental deficit at the echocardiogram (p < 0.02). Conclusion: The antecedent of coronary disease and the myocardium segmental deficit at the echocardiogram were able to discriminate patients with acute pulmonary edema associated with obstructive coronary disease. Troponin values classified by two cardiologists as secondary to an acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and chest pain preceding the clinical picture were not able to discriminate patients with or without coronary obstruction and thus, the diagnosis of obstructive coronary disease should not be pursued based on the troponin value and/or chest pain preceding the clinical picture.

RESUMO O eletrocardiograma é um método diagnóstico de simples execução, de grande utilidade nos diagnósticos das doenças cardiovasculares, sobretudo as agudas, como as arritmias e o infarto agudo do miocárdio. O seu entendimento não é claro, provavelmente porque a base da explicação é voltada para conceitos básicos da física, atrelado ao ensinamento mais teórico que prático aos estudantes de medicina. A presente experiência mostra o modelo criado e adotado para explicar um método de ensino desenvolvido com os devidos materiais fornecidos à população alvo do ensino: estudantes de medicina e médicos residentes de cardiologia e outras especialidades clínicas, que fazem prática de estágio obrigatório dos seus respectivos programas de aprendizagem em uma emergência cardiológica de um hospital universitário em Recife/PE.

ABSTRACT The electrocardiogram is a straightforward diagnostic method, which is very useful to diagnose cardiovascular diseases, particularly acute ones, such as arrhythmias and acute myocardial infarction. Its understanding is unclear, probably because the basis of the explanation is focused on basic concepts of physics, bound to a more theoretical than practical teaching approach for the medical students. This experience shows the model created and adopted to explain a teaching method developed with the proper materials provided to the target group: medical students and medical residents in cardiology and other clinical specialties that require the student to undertake practical training in a cardiac emergency unit of a teaching hospital in Recife / PE.

Introdução: Valores críticos (VC) laboratoriais podem ser indicativos de condições de risco de morte que requerem intervenção clínica rápida. O objetivo deste estudo foi implantar, validar e revisar uma lista de valores críticos (LVC) no Pronto-Socorro Cardiológico Universitário de Pernambuco-Universidade de Pernambuco (PROCAPE-UPE). Método: Este trabalho foi realizado no período de 2011 a 2013. Para elaborar a LVC, os testes laboratoriais realizados no PROCAPE foram analisados e comparados com os dos jornais da Federação Internacional de Química Clínica e Medicina Laboratorial (IFCC) e do Colégio Americano de Patologistas (CAP). Após a elaboração da LVC, ela foi validada por médicos; treinamentos e procedimento operacional padrão foram desenvolvidos abrangendo todo o laboratório de análises clínicas, com o intuito de formalizar o procedimento de comunicação de resultados críticos. A LVC foi revisada a cada seis meses. Resultados: Foram realizadas modificações nos intervalos de VC na dosagem de cálcio sérico total, sódio sérico, potássio sérico, no índice internacional normalizado (INR) e na contagem total de leucócitos. Também foi incluído na LVC o hormônio estimulante de tireoide (TSH). Na LVC exclusiva da pediatria, foi incluída a dosagem de sódio sérico e o INR, e uma alteração no valor do potássio sérico foi realizada. Assim, uma avaliação periódica da LVC possibilitou maior adequação às necessidades da população de estudo e evitou sobrecarga no processo de notificação. Conclusão: Faz-se necessário que os laboratórios de análises clínicas sejam responsáveis pela implantação, validação e revisão de sua LVC para assegurar a saúde do paciente.

Introduction: Laboratory critical values (CV) can indicate threatening conditions that require rapid clinical intervention. The aim of this study was to implement, validate and review a critical values list (CVL) at Pronto-Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco - Universidade de Pernambuco (PROCAPE-UPE). Method: This study was conducted between 2011 and 2013. To formulate the CVL, laboratory tests performed at PROCAPE were analyzed and compared with those of the Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). A draft CVL was validated by physicians; staff training and the standard operating procedure were developed covering the entire clinical analysis laboratory, in order to formalize the procedure of critical result reporting. The CVL was updated every six months. Results: Changes were made in CV intervals for the measurement of total serum calcium, serum sodium, serum potassium, the international normalized ratio (INR) and total leukocyte count. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was also included in the CVL. In the pediatric CVL, dosages of serum sodium and INR were included, and a change in the value of serum potassium was made. Thus, periodic reviews of CVL allowed greater adequacy to the needs of the study population and avoided overloading the notification process. Conclusion: Clinical laboratories must be responsible for the implementation, validation and review of their CVL to ensure patients’ health.