Introduction: Coronary angiography (CA) is the gold standard test to identify patients with coronary artery disease. Despite a proportion of normal CAs is expected, this study should be minimized, given its invasive nature, the associated risk and increased health costs. Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the characteristics, epidemiological patterns and variables associated to angiographically "normal" coronary arteries in stable patients referred for CA. Methods: Coronary angiographies were analyzed in 12,686 patients from five centers in Buenos Aires. All data were retrospectively obtained from 2008 to 2013. Coronary angiographies with < 50% lesions were defined as "normal". Demographic characteristics, usual risk factors, chronic renal failure, hypothyroidism, peripheral vascular disease, symptoms, ischemia-inducing tests and social coverage were compared between the group with "normal" CA and patients with = 50% obstructive coronary disease. Results: Among the 3,990 patients included in the study (31.5%), 38.6% had a normal CA, and female gender was the most important independent predictor for this finding. In addition, younger age and absence of ischemic symptoms were associated with greater probability of "normal" CA. Conclusions: In a population referred for CA diagnosed with stable coronary artery disease, female gender, younger age and absence of symptoms were associated with angiographically "normal" coronary arteries. Better use of clinical stratification models could optimize CA performance to detect patients with significant coronary artery disease, limiting unnecessary studies.

Introducción: La cinecoronariografía (CCG) es la prueba que se constituye en el estándar de oro para identificar a pacientes con coronariopatía. Pese a que se prevé una proporción de CCG normales, este estudio debe minimizarse, dados su carácter invasivo, el riesgo asociado y el aumento del costo en salud. Objetivos: Determinar las características, los patrones epidemiológicos y las variables relacionadas con el hallazgo de arterias coronarias angiográficamente "normales" en pacientes estables derivados para la realización de una CCG. Material y métodos: Se analizaron las CCG de 12.686 pacientes de cinco centros de Buenos Aires. Todos los datos se obtuvieron en forma retrospectiva entre 2008 y 2013. Se definió "normal" a una CCG con lesiones < 50%. Se compararon las características demográficas, los factores de riesgo habituales, la presencia de insuficiencia renal crónica, de hipotiroidismo y de enfermedad vascular periférica, los síntomas, los estudios evocadores de isquemia y la cobertura social entre el grupo con CCG "normal" y los pacientes con coronariopatía obstructiva = 50%. Resultados: De los 3.990 pacientes incluidos (31,5%), el 38,6% presentaba una CCG normal. El sexo femenino fue el mayor predictor independiente para este hallazgo. Además, la menor edad y la ausencia de síntomas compatibles con isquemia se asociaron con una probabilidad mayor de una CCG "normal". Conclusiones: En una población derivada para CCG con diagnóstico de enfermedad arterial coronaria estable, el género femenino, la menor edad y la ausencia de síntomas se relacionaron con el hallazgo de arterias coronarias angiográficamente "normales". Un mejor uso de los modelos de estratificación clínica podría optimizar el rendimiento de la CCG para detectar pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria significativa, limitando así los estudios innecesarios.

O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar os fotógrafos brasileiros Geraldo de Barros e José Oiticica Filho e suas fotografias. Assim, contextualiza-se o período de fins da década de 1940 até 1964, ano da morte de Oiticica Filho, abordando a história da fotografia brasileira e sua relação com a história da arte, bem como a questão da abstração. Desse modo, temos a história da fotografia moderna brasileira relacionada com os movimentos concretos e neoconcretos. Ao mesmo tempo, este artigo busca também fazer uma revisão crítica dos textos escritos sobre estes fotógrafos e suas imagens, a fim de estabelecer sua importância além do campo fotográfico.

The objective of this paper is to introduce the Brazilian photographers Geraldo de Barros and José Oiticica Filho and their work. Set between the late 1940s and 1964 - the year of Oticica Filho's death - the article discusses the history of Brazilian photography and how it relates to the history of art, as well as the issue of abstraction. By doing so, it shows how the history of modern Brazilian photography interacts with the concrete and neoconcrete art movements. In addition, the author offers a critical review of the texts written about these two photographers and their images as a means to determine their importance beyond the field of photography.

Background Pericardial window has been the conventional treatment for severe pericardial effusion or recurrent cardiac tamponade before the advent of percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. Objectives To analyze our initial experience with pericardial procedures in patients with pericardial effusion. Material and Methods A total of 15 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy due to severe pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade. Primary success was defined as an effective percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy without the need of a new intervention due to pericardial effusion and absence of major complications during hospitalization. A pericardial biopsy was performed through the same route in 3 patients. Results The primary success was achieved in all the procedures. The most frequent complication during hospitalization was pleural effusion. One year after the procedure 7 patients had died due to the underlying condition; none of them had had recurrent pericardial effusion. Conclusions In our series of patients, percutaneous ballon pericardiotomy appeared to be a useful and simple technique, with a high rate of success and a low incidence of complications and recurrences. Percutaneous pericardial biopsy might add diagnostic information within the same procedure.

Introducción La ventana quirúrgica pleuropericárdica ha sido el tratamiento convencional del derrame pericárdico grave o taponamiento recidivante hasta el advenimiento de la pericardiotomía percutánea con balón. Objetivos Analizar nuestra experiencia inicial en procedimientos pericárdicos realizados en pacientes con derrame pericárdico. Material y métodos Se incluyeron 15 pacientes en forma consecutiva tratados con pericardiotomía percutánea con balón por derrame pericárdico grave o taponamiento. Se consideró éxito primario a la pericardiotomía percutánea con balón efectiva sin necesidad de una nueva intervención por derrame pericárdico y alta hospitalaria sin complicaciones mayores. Por la misma vía se realizó una biopsia pericárdica en 3 pacientes. Resultados El éxito primario se alcanzó en todos los procedimientos. En el seguimiento intrahospitalario, el derrame pleural fue la complicación menor más frecuente. En el seguimiento al año se produjeron 7 muertes atribuidas a la enfermedad de base sin que se observaran recidivas de derrame pericárdico. Conclusiones En nuestra serie de pacientes, la pericardiotomía percutánea con balón resultó una técnica útil y simple, con una tasa alta de éxito y una tasa baja de complicaciones y recidivas. La biopsia pericárdica percutánea podría agregar información diagnóstica en un mismo procedimiento.