ABSTRACT Introduction: The increasing worldwide number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) demands greater attention from health professionals. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical demographic profile, frequency, and invasive treatment status of adults with CHD in a public reference hospital in northeastern Brazil. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study including 704 patients attended between August 2016 and August 2020. Data were collected from virtual database. Results: Patients’ age varied from 17 to 81 years (mean 32±14; median 27 years); 294 (41.8%) patients were male, and 410 (58,2%) were female; 230 (32,7%) had diagnosis from age 18 and up. Cardiac complexity categories were “simple defects” (134 [19%] patients), “moderate complexity” (503 [71.5%]), and “great complexity” (67 [9.5%]). Atrial septal defect (ASD) was diagnosed in 216 (30.7%) patients, ventricular septal defect (VSD) in 101 (14.3%), tetralogy of Fallot in 93 (13.2%), and other CHD in 294 (41.8%). New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes were I (401 [57%]), II (203 [28.8%]), III (76 [10.8%]), and IV (24 [3.4%]). Complications were arrhythmias (173 [24%]) and severe pulmonary hypertension (69 [9.8%]). Invasive treatments were corrective surgery (364 (51.6%]), reoperation (28 [4.0%]), palliation (11 [1.6%]), interventional catheterization (12 [1.7%]), surgery plus interventional catheterization (5 [0.7%]), and preoperation (91 [12.9%]). Treatment was not required in 102 (14,5%) patients, and 91 (12.9%) were inoperable. Conclusion: The leading diagnosis was ASD. Frequency of unrepaired patients was high, mainly ASD, due to late diagnosis, which favored complications and denotes a matter of great concern.

ABSTRACT Purpose To develop and validate a chest cavity simulator for teaching video-assited thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods The first phase of the study consisted of developing a chest cavity simulator. A quasi-experimental study was performed in the second phase, and 25 surgeons and residents participated in a three-stage pulmonary suture experiment. The videos were recorded and timed. Generalized linear regression models for repeated measures were used to analyze the outcome change over time. Results The chest cavity simulator consists of a console simulating the left hemithorax. Among the participants, 96% rated the design, visual aspect, positioning ergonomics, and triangulation of the portals as very good or excellent (face validity). There was a decrease in suturing time in step 1 from 435.7 ± 105 to 355.6 ± 76.8 seconds compared to step 3 (p = 0.001). The evaluation of the simulation effectiveness and performance (content validity) was rated as very good or excellent by 96% ofparticipants. The most experienced surgeon showed significant reduction in procedure time (p = 0.021) (construct validity). Conclusions The thoracic cavity simulator is realistic, showing content and construct validity, and can be used in VATS training. The simulation model allowed skill gain in the endoscopic suture.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo compara a sobrecarga contínua versus intermitente do ventrículo direito (VD) de cabritos, para induzir a hipertrofia ventricular. MÉTODO: Foram utilizados três grupos de sete cabritos jovens (controle, contínuo, intermitente). A sobrecarga sistólica foi imposta por 96 horas, no contínuo e por quatro períodos de 12 horas, alternados com 12 horas de descanso, no intermitente. Avaliações ecocardiográficas e hemodinâmicas foram feitas diariamente. Os animais foram, então, mortos para avaliar o conteúdo de água e peso das massas cardíacas. RESULTADOS: O Intermitente mostrou aumento dos pesos de VD e de septo, em relação ao controle (p<0,05), enquanto o contínuo aumentou apenas a massa do VD (p<0,05). Houve maior aumento da espessura do VD no Intermitente (p<0,05). O volume diastólico final do VD mostrou diferença significativa entre os grupos (p=0,01), com maior dilatação do VD do grupo contínuo, no momento 24 horas de sobrecarga sistólica (p<0,03). A fração de ejeção do VD se manteve dentro da normalidade nos dois grupos ao longo do protocolo. Foi observado menor perímetro do VD no intermitente, após 96 horas de treinamento (p<0,05). Não houve diferença significante entre os grupos de estudo e o controle quanto ao conteúdo de água do miocárdio do VD. CONCLUSÃO: A bandagem ajustável do tronco pulmonar permitiu um rápido processo hipertrófico do VD em ambos os grupos, sendo, porém, mais eficiente no intermitente. Nosso estudo sugere que a preparação do ventrículo subpulmonar de forma intermitente poderá proporcionar melhor resultado para a operação de Jatene em dois estágios.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares ventricular hypertrophy induced by continuous versus intermittent systolic overload of the pulmonary ventricle (RV) of young goats. METHODS: Three groups of seven goats were used (control, continuous, and intermittent). Systolic overload was maintained for 96 hours in the continuous group, while the intermittent group suffered four 12-hour periods of systolic overload, alternating with 12-hour resting periods. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluations were performed every day. The animals were then killed for myocardial water content and weight evaluation. RESULTS: Both study groups achieved significant increases in RV mass (p<0.05). However, significant increases of the septum mass were observed only in the Intermittent Group (p<0.05). A greater increase in the RV wall thickness was observed in the Intermittent Group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in RV diastolic volume between the two groups (p= 0.01), with a greater RV dilation in the Continuous Group after 24 hours of continuous overload (p< 0.03). In both groups, the RV ejection fraction was maintained within the normal range throughout the protocol. A smaller RV perimeter was observed in the Intermittent Group after 96 hours of systolic overload (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in RV myocardial water content between the study groups and the Control Group. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustable pulmonary artery bandages permit rapid RV hypertrophy in both groups. Nevertheless, it is more efficient in the Intermittent Group. This study suggests that preparation of the pulmonary ventricle with intermittent systolic overload might provide better results for the 2-stage arterial switch operation.