RESUMEN Introducción: La inestabilidad hemodinámica, que se caracteriza por las oscilaciones de la presión arterial, es frecuente durante las sesiones de hemodiáilisis (HD) y tiene como resultado la hipotensión intradialítica, causada por una disminución en el volumen sanguíneo del sistema cardiovascular. Es esencial realizar ajustes inmediatos en el sistema cardiovascular, mediados principalmente por el sistema nervioso autónomo, a fin de mantener la estabilidad hemodinámica durante la hemodiálisis. Objetivo: El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue investigar la relación entre la actividad del sistema nervioso simpático y la estabilidad hemodinámica en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) durante las sesiones de hemodiálisis, así como la relación entre la actividad del sistema nervioso simpático y el estado urémico. Material y métodos: Se registraron, durante las sesiones de hemodiálisis, los intervalos RR sucesivos de 14 pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (8 mujeres y 6 hombres) sin antecedentes de episodios recurrentes de hipotensión intradialítica (HI). Se realizaron registros de la tensión arterial en intervalos regulares de 30 minutos durante 4 horas en cada sesión. La estabilidad hemodinámica se estableció mediante la desviación estándar, el coeficiente de variación (CV) y delta (diferencia entre la medida más alta y la más baja) de la tensión arterial sistólica (TAS), la diastólica (TAD) y la media (TAM), así como la tensión diferencial (TD) a partir de los ocho registros obtenidos durante cada sesión. Se utilizó el análisis espectral de transformaciones logarítmicas de baja frecuencia (LnLFnu, por su sigla en inglés) expresados en unidades normalizadas mediante transformación logarítmica. El estado urémico se determinó a través del promedio de los valores de uremia obtenidos durante los últimos doce meses. Se utilizó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson para analizar las variables estudiadas. Resultados: Mediante los distintos cálculos, se hallaron las siguientes correlaciones negativas con los valores de lnLFnu : SD (TAS [r = -0,480; p = 0,010]; TD [r = -0,504; p = 0,006] , y TAM [r = -0,449; p = 0,017]); CV (TAS [r = -0,390; p = 0,040]); y delta (TAS [r = -0,438; p = 0,020]; TD [r = -0,490; p = 0,008], y TAM [r = -0,382; p = 0,045]). También se observó una correlación negativa entre lnLFnu y el estado urémico (r = -0,601; p = 0,01). Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados indican que los valores más elevados de LnLFnu se asocian con una mejor estabilidad hemodinámica, es decir, menor oscilación de la tensión arterial, durante las sesiones de hemodiálisis. A su vez, el promedio de concentración de urea en sangre registrado durante los últimos doce meses, al cual definimos como el estado urémico, se relacionó con valores más bajos de LnLFnu durante las sesiones de hemodiálisis.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hemodynamic instabilities, characterized by oscillations of blood pressure, are common during hemodialysis sessions (HD), culminating in intradialytic hypotension owing to volume withdrawal from the cardiovascular system. The ability to carry out immediate adjusts in cardiovascular system, mainly mediated by the autonomic nervous system, is essential to the maintenance of hemodynamic stability during HD. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the sympathetic activity, and the hemodynamic stability from chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients during the HD, as well as the relationship between sympathetic activity and the uremic state. Methods: Fourteen CKD patients (8 women and 6 men) with no history of recurrent intradialytic hypotension (ID) episodes had the successive RR intervals recorded during HD. Blood pressure measurements were recorded at regular intervals of 30 minutes along 4 hours of each session. Hemodynamic stability was established by the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) and the Delta (difference between the highest and the lowest measure) of systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean (MBP) blood pressures, as well as the pulse pressure (PP) from the 8 recordings obtained during each session. As a measure of autonomic heart control, the low-transformed low frequency (lnLFnu) spectral band was used. The uremic state was established by the mean of uremia from the last 12 months. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the studied variables. Results: The lnLFnu values were negatively associated SD (SBP [r = -0.480; p = 0.010], PP [r = -0.504; p = 0.006] and MBP [r = -0.449; p = 0.017]), CV (SBP [r = -0.390; p = 0.040]) and delta (SBP [r = -0.438; p = 0.020], PP [r = -0.490; p = 0.008] and MBP [r = -0.382; p = 0.045]). lnLFnu was also negatively associated to the uremic state (r = -0.601; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that higher values of the lnLFnu are associated with better hemodynamic stability (i.e., smaller blood pressure oscillations) during HD sessions, in turn, the mean of blood urea concentration in the last 12 months, defined here as the uremic state, was associated with lower values of the lnLFnu during HD sessions.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the experience of treatment of early prosthetic valve endocarditis at a heart center. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective single-center study on data collected from electronic medical records covering the period from January 2009 to December 2015. METHODS: Over the study period, 1,557 consecutive valve operations were performed on adult patients. The study population comprised 32 patients (2%) who were diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis within 12 months after the index surgery. Medical records were retrieved from electronic hospital records, retrospectively. Descriptive clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological and treatment-type data were used. Risk factors for early mortality were studied through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The main clinical manifestation of infective endocarditis was fever, and this was present in all patients. Most of the prostheses were affected in the aortic position (40.6% of cases). The most commonly cultured microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Twenty-six patients (81.3%) underwent surgical treatment and six (18.7%) underwent exclusive clinical treatment. The prevalence of postoperative complications was 31.3% and hospital mortality occurred in seven cases (21.9%). The mortality rate was 50% among the patients who underwent medical treatment and 15.4% among those who underwent surgery. There were no independent risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSION: Prosthetic valve endocarditis is an infrequent complication of valve replacement. Surgical treatment has mortality rates compatible with the severity of patients’ conditions. Surgical indication should not be delayed when clinical treatment has been ineffective

Apesar dos avanços no tratamento de portadores de insuficiência cardíaca aguda, os resultados permanecem insatisfatórios nos portadores de choque cardiogênico refratário. Uma opção para o tratamento dessa desafiadora e grave situação clínica é o implante de dispositivos de assistência ventricular temporária. O objetivo desta comunicação é apresentar um caso de choque cardiogênico refratário, com indicação de assistência ventricular, que evoluiu com falência ventricular direita após o implante de assistência esquerda com necessidade de conversão para o suporte biventricular.

Despite recent advances in acute heart failure treatment, actual results remain limited in refractory cardiogenic shock. Temporary ventricular assist devices have emerged as an alternative in this serious and challenging medical. The purpose of this communication is to present a case of refractory cardiogenic shock, underwent temporary left ventricular assistance device implantation, progressing to right ventricular failure and conversion to biventricular support.

INTRODUÇÃO: A reoperação para substituição de biopróteses aórticas com disfunção é procedimento que envolve considerável risco. Em alguns casos, a mortalidade é elevada e pode contraindicar o procedimento. O implante minimamente invasivo "valve-in-valve" transcateter de valva aórtica parece ser uma alternativa, reduzindo morbimortalidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar esses implantes utilizando a prótese Braile Inovare. MÉTODOS: A prótese Braile Inovare, transcateter, balão expansível foi utilizada em 14 casos. Euroscore médio foi de 42,9%. Todos os pacientes eram portadores de dupla disfunção de bioprótese aórtica. Os procedimentos foram realizados em ambiente cirúrgico híbrido, sob controle ecocardiográfico e fluoroscópico. Por meio de minitoracotomia esquerda, as próteses foram implantadas através do ápice ventricular, sob estimulação ventricular de alta frequência. Foram realizados controles clínicos e ecocardiográficos seriados. O seguimento variou de 1 a 30 meses. RESULTADOS: A correta liberação protética foi possível em todos os casos. Não ocorreu conversão. Não houve mortalidade operatória. A mortalidade em 30 dias foi de 14,3% (dois casos). A fração de ejeção apresentou aumento significativo após o 7º pós-operatório e o gradiente aórtico apresentou redução significativa. A insuficiência aórtica residual não esteve presente. Não ocorreu complicação vascular periférica ou bloqueio atrioventricular total. CONCLUSÕES: O implante "valve-in-valve" de valva aórtica transcateter em biopróteses com disfunção é um procedimento seguro e com morbimortalidade baixa. Essa possibilidade poderá alterar a indicação de seleção de prótese no procedimento inicial, favorecendo próteses biológicas.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic valve replacement for bioprosthesis dysfunction is a procedure involving considerable risk. In some cases, mortality is high and may contraindicate the procedure. Minimally invasive transcatheter aortic "valve-in-valve" implant appears to be an alternative, reducing morbidity and mortality. The objective is to evaluate aortic valve-in-valve procedure using Braile Inovare prosthesis. METHODS: The Braile Inovare prosthesis, transcatheter, expandable balloon, was used in 14 cases. Average EuroSCORE was 42.9%. All patients had double aortic bioprosthesis dysfunction. Procedures were performed in a surgical hybrid environment under echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Using left minithoracotomy prostheses were implanted through the ventricular apex under high-frequency ventricular pacing. Serial clinical and echocardiographic controls were performed. Follow-up ranged 1-30 months. RESULTS: Correct prosthetic deployment was obtained in all cases. There was no conversion. There was no operative mortality. The 30-day mortality was 14.3% (two cases). Ejection fraction increased significantly after the 7th postoperative day. Aortic gradient significantly reduced. The residual aortic regurgitation was not present. There were no vascular complications or complete atrioventricular block. CONCLUSION: The transcatheter "valve-in-valve" procedure for bioprosthesis dysfunction is safe with low morbidity. This possibility may change prosthesis choice during the first aortic valve replacement, favoring bioprostheses.

OBJETIVO: A troca valvar aórtica é procedimento rotineiro com risco aceitável. Em alguns casos, a mortalidade é elevada, contraindicando o procedimento. O implante minimamente invasivo transcateter de valva aórtica parece ser alternativa, reduzindo a morbimortalidade. A avaliação dos resultados clínicos, segurança e eficácia do procedimento são o objetivo desse estudo. MÉTODOS: Uma prótese transcateter, balão expansível foi utilizada em 33 casos de alto risco. EuroScore médio foi de 39,30% e STS score de 30,28%. Oito pacientes apresentavam disfunção de bioprótese e o restante, estenose aórtica calcificada. Os procedimentos foram realizados em ambiente cirúrgico híbrido, sob controle ecocardiográfico e fluoroscópico. Através de minitoracotomia esquerda, as próteses foram implantadas pelo ápice ventricular, sob estimulação de alta frequência ou choque hemorrágico. Foram realizados controles clínicos e ecocardiográficos. RESULTADOS: A correta liberação da prótese foi possível em 30 casos. Três conversões ocorreram. A mortalidade operatória foi de um caso e a mortalidade em 30 dias, 18,18%. O gradiente médio reduziu de 43,58 para 10,54 mmHg. A fração de ejeção apresentou aumento significativo após o 7º pós-operatório. Insuficiência aórtica residual esteve presente em 30,30% dos pacientes. Ocorreu uma complicação vascular periférica e um caso de bloqueio atrioventricular total. Um paciente apresentou acidente vascular cerebral. A mortalidade em 30 dias foi de 18,18%. CONCLUSÃO: O implante transapical de valva aórtica transcateter é procedimento seguro e com resultados de médio prazo satisfatórios. São necessários estudos de longo prazo com maior poder amostral no intuito de determinar resultado hemodinâmico, qualidade de vida e sobrevida em longo prazo

OBJECTIVE: Aortic valve replacement is a routine procedure with acceptable risk, but in some cases, such risk can justify contraindication. Minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation has emerged as an alternative, with lower morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was clinical, safety and efficacy assessment. METHODS: Thirty-three high risk patients underwent transcatheter balloon expandable aortic valve implantation. Mean Logistic EuroScore risk was 39.30% and STS score 30.28%. Eight patients presented with dysfunctional bioprosthesis, remaining ones presented calcified aortic stenosis. Procedures were performed in a hybrid OR under fluoroscopic and echocardiography guidance. Using a left minithoracotomy the prosthesis were implanted trough the ventricular apex under rapid ventricular pacing or hemorrhagic shock. Echocardiographic and angiographic controls were performed. RESULTS: Implant was feasible in 30 cases. Three conversions occured. There was only one case of operative death. Median transvalvular aortic gradient reduced from 43.58 mmHg to 10.54 mmHg. Left ventricular function improved in the first 7 postoperative days. Paravalvular aortic regurgitation was mild and present in 30.30%. One case presented major vascular complication and another one permanent pacemaker implant. One major stroke case occurred. Overall 30-day mortality was 18.18%. CONCLUSION: The transapical implantation of catheter mounted bioprosthesis is a safe procedure with acceptable midterm results. Long term follow-up with increased sample power is mandatory in order to access hemodynamic, life quality and survival