Resumen Objetivos: La patología atrial izquierda es factor de riesgo independiente para infarto cerebral y puede utilizarse para predecir fibrilación auricular. Examinamos si el crecimiento aurícular izquierdo puede predecir recurrencia en pacientes con infarto embolico de origen indeterminado (ESUS). Materiales y métodos: Sesenta y cuatro pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de ESUS fueron seguidos por una mediana de seguimiento de 22 meses. Registramos los datos clínicos y ecocardiográficos. La interpretación ecocardiográfica fue centralizada y cegada. La escala de Brown ESUS – AF fue utilizada para categorizar a los pacientes en riesgo alto (HRP puntaje > 2) y bajo riesgo (no-HRP: puntaje 0-1). El descenlace primario fue recurrencia de infarto cerebral. Resultados: Mediana de edad fue de 62 años (rango: 22-85 años); 33 (51.6%) fueron hombres. La mediana inicial de la escala de NIHSS fue de 3 putnos (rango de 0 a 27). 12 (18.8%) pacientes fueron de alto riesgo (HRP) y 52 (81.3%) de bajo riesgo (non- HRP). El grupo HRP mostró tendencia significatica hacia mayor recurrencia. Tres (25%) HRP versus 2 (3.8%) no-HRP experimentaron recurrencia (OR: 8.3 IC 95% 1.2-57; p = 0.042); esta asociación se relacionó con dilatación auricular severa (OR: 14.5 IC 95% 0.78-277, p = 0.02) y edad > 75 años (OR: 12.7 IC 95% 1.7-92.2, p = 0.03). En el análisis multivarioado, no encontramos significativas. Conclusiones: El crecimiento auricular izquierdo severo y la edad mayor de 75 años mostraron tendencia significativa a recurrencia de infarto cerebral.

Abstract Objectives: Left atrial disease is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and can be used to predict atrial fibrillation (AF). We examine whether left atrial enlargement (LAE) could predict stroke recurrence in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Materials and methods: Sixty-four patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ESUS were followed for a median of 22 months. Clinical data and echocardiogram findings were recorded. The echocardiogram interpretation was performed centrally and blindly. The Brown ESUS – AF score was used to categorize patients into high (human resource planning [HRP]: score > 2) and low-risk patients (non-HRP score 0-1). Stroke recurrence was the primary outcome. Results: The median age was 62 years (range: 22-85 years); and 33 (51.6%) were men. The median initial NIHSS score was three points (range: 0-27). Twelve (18.8%) patients were categorized as HRP. We found a significant tendency toward recurrence among HRP versus non-HRP patients. Three (25%) HRP versus 2 (3.8%) non-HRP experienced recurrence (OR: 8.3 95% CI 1.2-57; p=0.042); this association was related to severe atrial dilatation (OR: 14.5 95% CI 0.78-277, p = 0.02) and age > 75 years (OR: 12.7 95% CI 1.7-92.2, p = 0.03). We found no differences in recurrence in a univariate analysis. Conclusions: Patients with severe LAE who are 75 years old or older have a significant tendency to experience stroke recurrence.

Background: The objective is to describe characteristics of Program Support to Primary(PSP) and analyze diagnostic concordance between Primary Care Physicians(PCP) and psychologists. Method: A descriptive, longitudinal study conducted in 2010 in 7 Barcelona's primary care centers. The sample of 769 patients referred to psychology(referral form issued by doctors). Descriptive statistics, Cohen's kappa and percentage agreement were used to analyze demographic variables, to assess agreement. Results: The average waiting time between referral and first visit is 28 days. Mean interventions per patient is 3 visits. 27% of patients are discharged, 20% drop. It is a low overall concordance between PCP and psychologist, the most common diagnosis made by the PCP is anxiety disorder.Psychologists diagnosed with the same frequency anxiety disorders (21%), depression (20.2 %) and adaptive disorders (19.6 %). Conclusions: PSP offers brief and specialized interventions in Primary Care.Low concordance indicates a need to increase opportunities for communication between professionals through tools such as consultation.

Objetivos: Describir las características del Programa de Soporte a la Primaria (PSP) y analizar la concordancia diagnóstica entre Médicos de Atención Primaria (MAP) y Psicólogos/as del programa. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal realizado en 2010 en 7 CAPs de Barcelona. La muestra son 769 pacientes derivados a psicología. Se utilizan estadísticos descriptivos para analizar las variables sociodemográficas y la kappa de Cohen para valorar la concordancia. Resultados: El tiempo de espera medio entre derivación y primera visita es 28 días. La media de intervenciones por paciente es 3 visitas. Un 27% son dados de alta, un 20% abandonan. Existe una baja concordancia global entre MAP y Psicólogo/a.El diagnóstico más frecuentemente realizado por los MAP es Trastorno de Ansiedad. Los psicólogos/as diagnostican con igual frecuencia Trastornos Ansiosos (21%), Depresión (20.2%) y Trastornos Adaptativos (19.6%). Conclusiones: El PSP ofrece intervenciones breves y especializadas desde Atención Primaria. La baja concordancia indica la necesidad de aumentar espacios de interconsulta.

INTRODUÇÃO: O acesso através da punção da artéria axilar (AAx) tem sido utilizado em adultos com bons resultados, porém seu uso em neonatos e lactentes jovens tem sido pouco relatado. Nosso objetivo foi relatar a experiência inicial com o uso desse acesso em diferentes intervenções nessa faixa etária de pacientes. MÉTODO: De janeiro de 2009 a setembro de 2010 foram incluídas 11 crianças submetidas a diferentes procedimentos intervencionistas realizados através de punção da AAx. O procedimento foi realizado com agulha 21 G, sendo utilizados introdutores 4 F ou 5 F pediátricos. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 26 ± 12 dias e o peso médio, de 4,2 ± 1,7 kg. Os procedimentos intervencionistas realizados foram: implante de stent no canal arterial (6), valvoplastia aórtica (1), angioplastia aórtica (2), implante de stent em Blalock-Taussig (1), e redilatação do stent do canal arterial (1). A punção da AAx direita foi realizada com sucesso em todos os pacientes e sem dificuldade técnica. Os tempos médios do procedimento e da fluoroscopia foram de, respectivamente, 52 ± 15 minutos e 13 ± 4 minutos. Apenas um paciente teve como complicação um pneumotórax sem repercussão hemodinâmica, e os demais pacientes não apresentaram intercorrências. Não houve complicações isquêmicas nem neurológicas no membro puncionado. O tempo médio de internação na Unidade de Tratamento Intensivo (UTI) foi de 48 ± 16 horas. Não houve mortalidade durante os procedimentos intervencionistas e um paciente faleceu na UTI cinco dias após por sepse. CONCLUSÃO: O acesso axilar obtido por punção demonstrou ser uma alternativa segura e eficaz para a realização de diferentes procedimentos intervencionistas em neonatos e lactentes com cardiopatias congênitas.

BACKGROUND: Axillary artery access (AxA) has been used in adults with good results, however, its use in neonates and infants has not been extensively reported. This study was aimed at reporting our initial experience using this access in different cardiac interventions in this age group. METHOD: From January 2009 to September 2010, 11 children were submitted to different cardiac interventions using AxA. The procedure was performed with a 21 G needle followed by the insertion of a 4 F or a 5 F pediatric sheats. RESULTS: Mean age was 26 ± 12 days and mean weight was 4.2 ± 1.7 Kg. The cardiac interventions performed were: stenting of the arterial duct (6), aortic valvoplasty (1), aortic angioplasty (2), stent implantation in a Blalock-Taussig shunt (1) and stent redilation in the arterial duct (1). Right AxA puncture was successfully obtained in all patients without technical difficulties. Mean procedure and fluoroscopy times were 52 ± 15 minutes and 13 ± 4 minutes, respectively. Pneumothorax without hemodynamic involvement was the single complication in one patient. The other patients did not have any abnormalities. There were no ischemic or neurologic complications in the ipsilateral limb. Mean time of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay was 48 ± 16 hours. There were no deaths during the interventional procedures and one patient died of sepsis at the ICU 5 days after the procedure. CONCLUSION: In our experience AxA proved to be a safe and effective alternative for different interventional procedures in neonates and infants with congenital heart diseases.

Congenital supravalvular mitral stenosis is a rare malformation characterized by the presence of a shelf-like fibrous membrane, with 1 or 2 small orifices, covering and obstructing the mitral valve. The membrane is positioned closely to the mitral valve (and sometimes it is attached to it); therefore, a preoperative diagnosis is inevitably difficult, even with the use of biplane echocardiography. Two patients with supravalvular mitral stenosis aged 3 years and 3 months are described. In 1 patient, a preoperative diagnosis was made, and both successfully underwent correction.