ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI), obesity, clinical outcomes, and mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Brazil using a large sample with one year of follow-up from the Brazilian Registry of Cardiovascular Surgeries in Adults (or BYPASS) Registry database. Methods: A multicenter cohort-study enrolled 2,589 patients submitted to isolated CABG and divided them into normal weight (BMI 20.0-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and obesity (BMI > 30.0 kg/m2) groups. Inpatient postoperative outcomes included the most frequently described complications and events. Collected post-discharge outcomes included rehospitalization and mortality rates within 30 days, six months, and one year of follow-up. Results: Sternal wound infections (SWI) rate was higher in obese compared to normal-weight patients (relative risk [RR]=5.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.37-17.82; P=0.001). Rehospitalization rates in six months after discharge were higher in obesity and overweight groups than in normal weight group (χ2=6.03, P=0.049); obese patients presented a 2.2-fold increase in the risk for rehospitalization within six months compared to normal-weight patients (RR=2.16, 95% CI=1.17-4.09; P=0.045). Postoperative complications and mortality rates did not differ among groups during time periods. Conclusion: Obesity increased the risk for SWI, leading to higher rehospitalization rates and need for surgical interventions within six months following CABG. Age, female sex, and diabetes were associated with a higher risk of mortality. The obesity paradox remains controversial since BMI may not be sufficient to assess postoperative risk in light of more complex and dynamic evaluations of body composition and physical fitness. Objective BMI, , (BMI) (CABG followup follow up or BYPASS database Methods cohortstudy cohort study 2589 2 589 2,58 20.024.9 200249 20.0 24.9 20 0 24 9 20.0-24. kg/m2, kgm2 kgm kg/m2 kg m2 m 25.029.9 250299 25.0 29.9 25 29 25.0-29. 300 30. events postdischarge post 3 days followup. up. Results SWI (SWI normalweight relative RR=5.89, RR589 RR =5.89, 5 89 [RR]=5.89 95 CI=2.3717.82 CI2371782 CI =2.37 17.82 37 17 82 [CI]=2.37-17.82 P=0.001. P0001 P P=0.001 . 001 P=0.001) χ2=6.03, χ2603 χ χ2 6 03 (χ2=6.03 P=0.049 P0049 049 P=0.049) 2.2fold 22fold fold 2.2 RR=2.16, RR216 16 (RR=2.16 CI=1.174.09 CI117409 CI=1.17 4.09 1 4 09 CI=1.17-4.09 P=0.045. P0045 P=0.045 045 P=0.045) periods Conclusion Age sex fitness 258 58 2,5 024 20.024. 20024 200 20. 249 24. 20.0-24 kg/m 029 25.029. 25029 250 25. 299 29. 25.0-29 RR=5.89 RR58 =5.89 8 [RR]=5.8 3717 CI=2.3717.8 CI237178 237 =2.3 1782 17.8 [CI]=2.37-17.8 P000 P=0.00 00 χ2=6.03 χ260 (χ2=6.0 P=0.04 P004 04 2fold 22 2. RR=2.16 RR21 (RR=2.1 174 CI=1.174.0 CI11740 CI117 CI=1.1 409 4.0 CI=1.17-4.0 2, 02 20.024 2002 20.0-2 25.029 2502 25.0-2 RR=5.8 RR5 =5.8 [RR]=5. 371 CI=2.3717. CI23717 23 =2. 178 17. [CI]=2.37-17. P00 P=0.0 χ2=6.0 χ26 (χ2=6. RR=2.1 RR2 (RR=2. CI=1.174. CI1174 CI11 CI=1. 40 4. CI=1.17-4. 20.02 20.0- 25.02 25.0- RR=5. =5. [RR]=5 CI=2.3717 CI2371 =2 [CI]=2.37-17 P0 P=0. χ2=6. (χ2=6 RR=2. (RR=2 CI=1.174 CI1 CI=1 CI=1.17-4 RR=5 =5 [RR]= CI=2.371 CI237 = [CI]=2.37-1 P=0 χ2=6 (χ2= RR=2 (RR= CI= CI=1.17- RR= [RR] CI=2.37 CI23 [CI]=2.37- P= χ2= (χ2 (RR [RR CI=2.3 CI2 [CI]=2.37 (χ CI=2. [CI]=2.3 CI=2 [CI]=2. [CI]=2 [CI]= [CI] [CI

Abstract Placement of a mediastinal drain is a routine procedure following heart surgery. Postoperative bed rest is often imposed due to the fear of potential risk of drain displacement and cardiac injury. We developed an encapsulating stitch as a feasible, effective and low-cost technique, which does not require advanced surgical skills for placement. This simple, novel approach compartmentalizes the drain allowing for safe early mobilization following cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Chagas' disease has spread throughout Latin America because of the high rate of migration among these countries. Approximately 30% of Chagas' patients will develop cardiomyopathy, and 10% of these will develop severe cardiac damage leading to heart failure. Beta-blockade improves symptoms and survival in heart failure patients; however, its efficacy has not been well established in Chagas' disease. We evaluated the role of carvedilol in cardiac remodeling and mortality in a Chagas' cardiomyopathy animal model. METHODS: We studied Trypanosoma cruzi infection in 55 Syrian hamsters that were divided into three groups: control (15), infected (20), and infected + carvedilol (20). Animals underwent echocardiography, electrocardiography, and morphometry for collagen evaluation in ventricles stained with picrosirius red. RESULTS: The left ventricular diastolic diameter did not change between groups, although it was slightly larger in infected groups, as was left ventricular systolic diameter. Fractional shortening also did not change between groups, although it was slightly lower in infected groups. Collagen accumulation in the interstitial myocardial space was significantly higher in infected groups and was not attenuated by carvedilol. The same response was observed in the perivascular space. The survival curve showed significantly better survival in the control group compared with the infected groups; but no benefit of carvedilol was observed during the study. However, in the acute phase (up to 100 days of infection), carvedilol did reduce mortality. CONCLUSION: Carvedilol did not attenuate cardiac remodeling or mortality in this model of Chagas' cardiomyopathy. The treatment did improve survival in the acute phase of the disease.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a correlação entre um marcador estrutural do miocárdio e a sobrevida dos pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada. MÉTODOS: Mediante realização da biópsia endomiocárdica e exame ecocardiográfico foram estudados 9 indivíduos sem doença estrutural miocárdica (controle) e 45 pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada grave de etiologia idiopática (MCDI) e chagásica (MCDC). Foi analisada a correlação entre a quantidade de colágeno miocárdico intersticial (FVCI) e a sobrevida desses pacientes, se a FVCI diferia entre as etiologias, e se a fibrose interferia na função e geometria do miocárdio. RESULTADOS: Foi observado que a FVCI foi 15 vezes maior nos cardiomiopatas em relação ao grupo-controle, mas não diferiu em relação às MCDI e MCDC (*p < 0,001). Não houve correlação da FCVI com a sobrevida dos pacientes com cardiomiopatias (MCDI p = 0,249 e na MCDC p = 0,587) e apenas na MCDI a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo teve correlação com a FVCI. O diâmetro diastólico final do ventrículo esquerdo não se correlacionou com a FCVI nas duas etiologias. CONCLUSÃO: A fibrose miocárdica não diferiu entre as duas etiologias, não se correlacionou com o prognóstico das MCDC e MCDI e apenas na MCDI ela se correlacionou com a FEVE.

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether there is a correlation between a myocardial structural marker and the overlife rate of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Using endomyocardial biopsy and 2D-echocardiogram, we studied nine patients with no changes in myocardial structure (control) and 45 patients with severe dilated cardiomyopathy of idiopathic etiology (IDCM) and of Chagasic etiology (CDCM). We analyzed the correlation between the quantity of interstitial myocardial collagen (ICVF) and the overlife rates of these patients. We also evaluated the difference in ICVF between these groups and whether fibrosis interfered on the geometry and function of the myocardium. RESULTS: We observed that ICVF was 15 times higher in cardiomyopathy patients than in the control group, but there was no difference in ICVF between CDCM and IDCM (*p < 0.001) patients. There was no correlation between ICVF and the overlife rate in cardiomyopathy patients (IDCM p = 0.249, and CDCM p = 0.587). We observed a significant correlation between ICVF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) only for IDCM. There was no correlation between ICVF and left ventricular diastolic diameter in either etiology. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in myocardial fibrosis between patients with CDCM or IDCM, and there was no correlation between fibrosis and the prognosis either for IDCM or CDCM. There was a correlation between myocardial fibrosis and LVEF only for IDCM.