INTRODUÇÃO: O implante valvular aórtico percutâneo (IVAP) vem se desenvolvendo rapidamente nos últimos anos. A manipulação da valva aórtica degenerada pode acarretar complicações. O IVAP direto, sem pré-dilatação com balão e com menor manipulação, seria uma alternativa. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar uma série de 8 casos de IVAP direto com seguimento a médio prazo realizado no Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul. MÉTODOS: Série de 8 casos com descrição da técnica e resultados imediatos e a médio prazo do implante do dispositivo CoreValveTM sem valvuloplastia com balão. RESULTADOS: No total, 7 pacientes do sexo masculino e 1 do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 76 anos e EuroSCORE logístico variando de 6% a 62%, foram submetidos ao implante do dispositivo CoreValveTM. Houve significativa queda dos gradientes entre o ventrículo esquerdo e a aorta. Foram registrados três casos de insucesso do implante, um óbito no período pós-implante imediato e um óbito aos 6 meses, sem relação com o procedimento. No seguimento de um ano, não houve novos casos de implante de marca-passo e eventos embólicos. CONCLUSÕES: O IVAP direto sem pré-dilatação com balão mostrou-se uma alternativa potencialmente eficaz. Quando realizado com sucesso, determina melhora dos sintomas, diminuição sustentável do gradiente transvalvar aórtico e aumento da área valvar aórtica. Não está claro, contudo, qual o paciente e qual a condição anatômica ideal para essa abordagem. Estudos adicionais e seguimento mais prolongado ainda são necessários para definir o exato papel e as precisas indicações dessa variação da técnica.

BRACKGROUND: Percutaneous aortic valve implantation (PAVI) has been developing rapidly in recent years. The manipulation of the degenerated aortic valve may lead to complications. PAVI without balloon pre-dilatation may be an alternative. The objective of this study is to report a series of 8 cases of direct PAVI with midterm follow-up, performed at the Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul. METHODS: Series of 8 cases with technical description and immediate and mid-term results of CoreValveTM device implantation without balloon pre-dilatation. RESULTS: A total of 7 male patients and 1 female patient, with mean age of 76 years and logistic EuroSCORE ranging from 6% to 62%, were submitted to the CoreValveTM device implantation. There was a significant decrease in the gradient between the left ventricle and the aorta. Three cases of implant failure, one death in the immediate post-implant period and one death at 6 months, with no relationship with the procedure, were reported. In the one-year follow-up, there were no new cases of pacemaker implantation and embolic events. CONCLUSIONS: Direct PAVI without balloon pre-dilatation proved to be a potentially effective alternative technique. When performed successfully, it improves symptoms, provides a sustainable aortic transvalvular gradient decrease and aortic valve area increase. It is not clear, however, which patients and what anatomical conditions are optimal for this approach. Additional studies and longer follow-up are still required to define the exact role and appropriate indications for this change in technique.

INTRODUÇÃO: A estenose aórtica grave é uma doença prevalente e de alta morbidade e mortalidade, sendo a troca valvar por meio de cirurgia cardíaca a abordagem clássica. Todavia, indivíduos idosos e com outras co-morbidades apresentam elevado risco operatório. O implante valvular aórtico percutâneo pela via retrógrada desponta como uma alternativa exeqüível e efetiva. São descritos os primeiros casos realizados no Sul do Brasil com essa abordagem inédita. MÉTODO: Série de três casos com descrição da técnica e resultados imediatos do implante do dispositivo CoreValve, que consiste de uma bioprótese com três folhetos de pericárdio porcino montados e suturados e um stent auto-expansível de nitinol, introduzido pela via arterial femoral ou ilíaca. RESULTADOS: Três pacientes do sexo feminino com 81, 85 e 90 anos de idade e EuroSCORE logístico variando de 20% a 36% foram submetidas ao implante desse dispositivo com sucesso. Houve significativa queda dos gradientes entre o ventrículo esquerdo e a aorta e ausência de complicações cardiovasculares maiores, embora duas pacientes tenham necessitado de implante de marca-passo definitivo por distúrbio de condução atrioventricular. Todas as pacientes receberam alta assintomáticas e seguem em avaliação clínica. CONCLUSÃO: A experiência inicial do Sul do Brasil com implante valvular aórtico percutâneo se mostrou segura e efetiva em análise a curto prazo. Estudos adicionais e seguimento mais prolongado ainda são necessários para definir o exato papel e as precisas indicações dessa nova e promissora técnica.

BACKGROUND: Severe aortic stenosis is a prevalent disease with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The classic approach to its treatment is through heart valve replacement surgery. However, elderly patients and others with different comorbidities present high surgical risk. The percutaneous aortic valve implantation through a retrograde approach has emerged as a feasible and effective alternative treatment for this issue. We describe the first series of cases treated with this new approach in the South of Brazil. METHODS: Series of three cases describing the procedure and immediate results of CoreValve device implantation. This device consists in a bioprosthesis with three porcine leafs mounted and sutured in a self-expandable nitinol stent introduced through the femoral or iliac artery. RESULTS: Three female patients aged 81, 85 and 90 years with a logistic EuroSCORE varying from 20% to 36% were successfully submitted to the implantation of this device. A significant reduction in all gradients between the left ventricle and the aorta was observed. There were no reports of major cardiovascular complications, although in two patients the implantation of a permanent pacemaker was needed due to an atrioventricular conduction disorder. All patients were discharged asymptomatic and were kept in a long-term clinical follow-up evaluation program. CONCLUSION: The initial short-term experience with the percutaneous retrograde aortic valve implantation in the south of Brazil was feasible and safe. Additional studies and long-term follow-up are still necessary in order to define the precise role and adequate indications for this new and very promising technique.

OBJECTIVE: To assess signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) for diagnosing incipient left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). METHODS: A study with 115 individuals was carried out. The individuals were divided as follows: GI - 38 healthy individuals; GII - 47 individuals with mild to moderate hypertension and normal findings on echocardiogram and ECG; and GIII - 30 individuals with hypertension and documented LVH. The magnitude vector of the SAECG was analyzed with the high-pass cutoff frequency of 40 Hz through the bidirectional four-pole Butterworth high-pass digital filter. The mean quadratic root of the total QRS voltage (RMST) and the two-dimensional integral of the QRS area of the spectro-temporal map were analyzed between 0 and 30 Hz for the frequency domain (Int FD), and between 40 and 250 Hz for the time domain (Int TD). The electrocardiographic criterion for LVH was based on the Cornell Product. Left ventricular mass was calculated with the Devereux formula. RESULTS: All parameters analyzed increased from GI to GIII, except for Int FD (GII vs GIII) and RMST log (GII vs GIII). Int TD showed greater accuracy for detecting LVH with an appropriate cutoff > 8 (sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 81%). Positive values (> 8) were found in 56.5% of the G II patients and in 18.4% of the GI patients (p< 0.0005). CONCLUSION: SAECG can be used in the early diagnosis of LVH in hypertensive patients with normal ECG and echocardiogram.