RCAAP Repository

Abstract A 76-year-old man with situs inversus totalis underwent a successful off-pump three-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 8 days later. At 9-month follow-up a coronary computed tomography angiography confirmed the viability of all of the grafts, and one year after the operation the patient remained asymptomatic. It comprises the fifth Brazilian case of a coronary surgery in a patient with situs inversus totalis and the first one of the country of a coronary artery bypass surgery without the use of the cardiopulmonary bypass in this condition.

ABSTRACT Objective: α-2-agonists cause sympathetic inhibition combined with parasympathetic activation and have other properties that could be beneficial during cardiac anesthesia. We evaluated the effects of dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjuvant compared to a control group during cardiac surgery. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from all adult patients (> 18 years old) undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients were divided into two groups, regarding the use of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant intraoperatively (DEX group) and a control group who did not receive α-2-agonist (CON group). Results: A total of 1302 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, either coronary artery bypass graft or valve surgery, were included; 796 in the DEX group and 506 in the CON group. Need for reoperation (2% vs. 2.8%, P=0.001), type 1 neurological injury (2% vs. 4.7%, P=0.005) and prolonged hospitalization (3.1% vs. 7.3%, P=0.001) were significantly less frequent in the DEX group than in the CON group. Thirty-day mortality rates were 3.4% in the DEX group and 9.7% in the CON group (P<0.001). Using multivariable Cox regression analysis with in hospital death as the dependent variable, dexmedetomidine was independently associated with a lower risk of 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR]=0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-0.65, P≤0.001). The Logistic EuroSCORE (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10, P=0.004) and age (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, P=0.003) were independently associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine used as an anesthetic adjuvant was associated with better outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft and valve surgery. Randomized prospective controlled trials are warranted to confirm our results.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 (RACHS-1) score is a simple model that can be easily applied and has been widely used for mortality comparison among pediatric cardiovascular services. It is based on the categorization of several surgical palliative or corrective procedures, which have similar mortality in the treatment of congenital heart disease. Objective: To analyze the in-hospital mortality in pediatric patients (<18 years) submitted to cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease based on RACHS-1 score, during a 12-year period. Methods: A retrospective date analysis was performed from January 2003 to December 2014. The survey was divided in two periods of six years long each, to check for any improvement in the results. We evaluated the numbers of procedures performed, complexity of surgery and hospital mortality. Results: Three thousand and two hundred and one surgeries were performed. Of these, 3071 were able to be classified according to the score RACHS-1. Among the patients, 51.7% were male and 47.5% were younger than one year of age. The most common RACHS-1 category was 3 (35.5%). The mortality was 1.8%, 5.5%, 14.9%, 32.5% and 68.6% for category 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, respectively. There was a significant increase in the number of surgeries (48%) and a significant reduction in the mortality in the last period analysed (13.3% in period I and 10.4% in period II; P=0.014). Conclusion: RACHS-1 score was a useful score for mortality risk in our service, although we are aware that other factors have an impact on the total mortality.

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine if methylene blue (MB) can counteract or prevent protamine (P) cardiovascular effects. Methods: The protocol included five heparinized pig groups: Group Sham -without any drug; Group MB - MB 3 mg/kg infusion; Group P - protamine; Group P/MB - MB after protamine; Group MB/P - MB before protamine. Nitric oxide levels were obtained by the nitric oxide/ozone chemiluminescence method, performed using the Nitric Oxide Analizer 280i (Sievers, Boulder, CO, USA). Malondialdehyde plasma levels were estimated using the thiobarbiturate technique. Results: 1) Groups Sham and MB presented unchanged parameters; 2) Group P - a) Intravenous protamine infusion caused mean arterial pressure decrease and recovery trend after 25-30 minutes, b) Cardiac output decreased and remained stable until the end of protamine injection, and c) Sustained systemic vascular resistance increased until the end of protamine injection; 3) Methylene blue infusion after protamine (Group P/MB) - a) Marked mean arterial pressure decreased after protamine, but recovery after methylene blue injection, b) Cardiac output decreased after protamine infusion, recovering after methylene blue infusion, and c) Sustained systemic vascular resistance increased after protamine infusion and methylene blue injections; 4) Methylene blue infusion before protamine (Group MB/P) - a) Mean arterial pressure decrease was less severe with rapid recovery, b) After methylene blue, there was a progressive cardiac output increase up to protamine injection, when cardiac output decreased, and c) Sustained systemic vascular resistance decreased after protamine, followed by immediate Sustained systemic vascular resistance increase; 5) Plasma nitrite/nitrate and malondialdehyde values did not differ among the experimental groups. Conclusion: Reviewing these experimental results and our clinical experience, we suggest methylene blue safely prevents and treats hemodynamic protamine complications, from the endothelium function point of view.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm has a lower incidence in the female population, but a higher complication rate. It was been hypothesized that some anatomical differences of abdominal aortic aneurysm in women could be responsible for that. We proposed to analyze our data to understand the differences in the clinical and anatomical characteristics and the outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair, according to gender. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair between 2001-2013 was performed. Patients were divided according gender and evaluated regarding age, atherosclerotic risk factors, aneurysm anatomic features, endograft type, anesthesic risk classification, length of stay, reinterventions and mortality. Two statistical studies were performed, first comparing women and men (Group A) and a second one comparing women and men, adjusted by age (Group B). Results: Of the 171 patients, only 5.8% (n=10) were females. Women were older (P<0.05) and the number of women with no atherosclerotic risk factor was significantly higher. The comparison adjusted by age revealed women with statistically less smoking history, less cerebrovascular disease and ischemic heart disease. Women had a trend to more complex anatomy, with more iliac intern artery aneurysms, larger aneurysm diameter and neck angulations statistically more elevated. No other variables were statistically different between age groups, neither reintervention nor mortality rates. Conclusion: Our study showed a clear difference in the clinical characteristics of women. The female population was statistically older, and when compared with men adjusted by age, had less atherosclerotic risk factors and less target organ disease. Women showed a more complex anatomy but with the same outcomes.

ABSTRACT Introduction: In patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves or atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulation to prevent thromboembolic events, several factors influence adherence and anticoagulation complications. Objective: To evaluate the factors that interfere with the quality and complications of anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 100 patients, in the period from 2011 to 2014, was performed. Anticoagulation conditions in the last year, regarding the presence of complications (embolisms/bleeding) and inadequate treatment were assessed: achievement of less than 8 annual prothrombin times and International Normalized Ratio outside therapeutic target in more than 40% of prothrombin times. Results: There were 31 complications (22 minor bleeding without hospitalization and 9 major complications: 7 bleeding with hospitalization and two emboli); 70 were with International Normalized Ratio outside the target in more than 40% of the tests and 36 with insufficient number of prothrombin times. Socioeconomic factors, anticoagulant type and anticoagulation reason had no relationship with complications or with inadequate treatment. There were more complications in patients with longer duration of anticoagulation (P=0.001). Women had more International Normalized Ratio outside the target range (OR 2.61, CI:1.0-6.5; P=0.04). Patients with lower number of annual prothrombin times had longer times of anticoagulation (P=0.03), less annual consultations (P=0.02) and less dose adjustments (P=0.003). Patients with longer duration of anticoagulation have more complications (P=0.001). Conclusion: There was a high rate of major complications and International Normalized Ratio was outside the goal. Less annual prothrombin times was related to longer duration of anticoagulation, less annual consultations and less dose adjustments. More major complications occurred in patients with longer duration of anticoagulation.

ABSTRACT Objective: To summarize the effect of mild hypothermia on function of the organs in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Methods: The patients were randomly divided into two groups, northermia group (n=71) and hypothermia group (n=89). We immediately began cooling the hypothermia group when test results showed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, meanwhile all patients of two groups were drawn blood to test blood gas, liver and kidney function, blood coagulation function, and evaluated the cardiac function using echocardiography from 12 to 36 hours. We compared the difference of intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation rate and mortality within one month after intensive care unit admission. Results: Among the 160 patients, 36 died, 10 (11.24%) patients were from the hypothermia group and 26 (36.6%) from the northermia group (P <0.05). In northermia group, 45 (63.38%) patients used intra-aortic balloon pump and 4 (5.63%), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; in hypothermia group, 35 (39.32%) patients used intra-aortic balloon pump and 2 (2.25%), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation（ P <0.05). The patients' heart rate decreased significantly in the hypothermia group. The heart rate of hypothermia group is significantly slower than the northermia group at the 36th hour (P <0.05). But the mean arterial pressure of hypothermia group is significantly higher than the northermia group at the 36th hour (P <0.05). In hypothermia group, PO2, SvO2 and lactate were improved significantly compared to pre-cooling (P <0.05), and they were significantly better than the northermia group at the 36th hour (P <0.05%). Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time have no significantly difference between the two groups (P >0.05). But the platelet count has significantly difference between the two groups at the 36th hour (P <0.05). The aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and creatinine were improved significantly in the hypothermia group, and they were significantly better than the northermia group (P <0.05). Conclusion: Mild hypothermia is feasible and safe for patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

ABSTRACT Fungal endocarditis is a rare and fatal condition. The Candida and Aspergillus species are the two most common etiologic fungi found responsible for fungal endocarditis. Fever and changing heart murmur are the most common clinical manifestations. Some patients may have a fever of unknown origin as the onset symptom. The diagnosis of fungal endocarditis is challenging, and diagnosis of prosthetic valve fungal endocarditis is extremely difficult. The optimum antifungal therapy still remains debatable. Treating Candida endocarditis can be difficult because the Candida species can form biofilms on native and prosthetic heart valves. Combined treatment appears superior to monotherapy. Combination of antifungal therapy and surgical debridement might bring about better prognosis.

ABSTRACT The perspective of the integrated health system has a network of care with multiple integration dimensions among subsystems as nuclear representation, relating the clinical aspects and governance to the representations and collective values. The normative integration aims to ensure coherence between the system of representations and values of society simultaneously with the interfaces of clinical and functional integration. It builds a bridge with governance, which allows, through their skills, management of all system components, encouraging cooperation, communication and information, in order to ensure the population under their responsibility to access excellence services, exceeding their expectations. The integration of care consists of a durable coordination of clinical practices for those who suffer from health problems in order to ensure continuity and full range of the required professional services and organizations, coordinated in time and space, in accordance with the available knowledge. It is possible to establish the type of health equipment for each level of care for patients with congenital heart diseases. This strategy intends to offer timely care in appropriate moments and places, efficiently, operating cooperatively an interdependently, with ongoing exchange of its resources. Thus, situational integration establishes the system connection with the assessment environment that proposes to carry out value judgment, guided by an objective worldview, about an intervention or any of its components, in order to objectify the decision making.

ABSTRACT A 59 year-old patient was admitted with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The clinical exam showed mild hypotension and blood samples revealed acute anemia (hemoglobin = 7.5 g/dl). Emergency computed tomography showed an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and extravasation of the arterial contrast material toward the digestive tract. The patient was transported to the operating room for emergency laparotomy, which showed an aortoduodenal fistula. After proximal and distal aortic vascular control, the two anatomical structures were dissected with duodenorrhaphy, patch repair of the aortic tear and omentum interposition. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, with discharge after 12 days.

Abstract Introduction: Replacement of the aortic valve in patients with a small aortic annulus is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A prosthesis-patient mismatch is one of the main problems associated with failed valves in this patient population. Objective: To evaluate the long-term mortality predictors in patients with a small aortic annulus undergoing aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, a total of 101 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement from January 2000 to December 2010 were studied. There were 81 (80.19%) women with a mean age of 52.81±18.4 years. Severe aortic stenosis was the main indication for surgery in 54 (53.4%) patients. Posterior annulus enlargement was performed in 16 (15.8%) patients. Overall, 54 (53.41%) patients underwent concomitant surgery: 28 (27.5%) underwent mitral valve replacement, and 13 (12.7%) underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Results: Mean valve index was 0.82±0.08 cm2/m2. Overall, 17 (16.83%) patients had a valve index lower than 0.75 cm2/m2, without statistical significance for mortality (P=0.12). The overall 10-year survival rate was 83.17%. The rate for patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement was 91.3% and 73.1% (P=0.02) for patients who underwent concomitant surgery. In the univariate analysis, the main predictors of mortality were preoperative ejection fraction (P=0.02; HR 0.01) and EuroSCORE II results (P=0.00000042; HR 1.13). In the multivariate analysis, the main predictors of mortality were age (P=0.01, HR 1.04) and concomitant surgery (P=0.01, HR 5.04). Those relationships were statistically significant. Conclusion: A valve index of < 0.75 cm2/m2 did not affect 10-year survival. However, concomitant surgery and age significantly affected mortality.

Abstract Objective: The incidence of depression and anxiety is higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine whether experiencing acute coronary syndrome prior to open heart surgery affects patients in terms of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, fear of death and quality of life. Methods: The study included 63 patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery between January 2015 and January 2016. The patients were divided into two groups: those diagnosed after acute coronary syndrome (Group 1) and those diagnosed without acute coronary syndrome (Group 2). Beck depression scale, Beck hopelessness scale, Templer death anxiety scale and death depression scale, State-Trait anxiety inventory and WHOQOL-Bref quality of life scale were applied. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the total score obtained from Beck depression scale, Beck hopelessness scale - future-related emotions, loss of motivation, future-related expectations subgroups, death anxiety scale, the death depression scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - social and environmental subgroups. The mental quality of life sub-scores of group 2 were significantly higher. The patients in both groups were found to be depressed and hopeless about the future. Anxiety levels were found to be significantly higher in all of the patients in both groups. Conclusion: Acute coronary syndrome before coronary artery bypass surgery impairs more the quality of life in mental terms. But unexpectedly there are no differences in terms of depression, hopelessness, anxiety and fear of death.

Abstract Introduction: Ischemic postconditioning is a method that shows evidence of efficacy in minimizing reperfusion injury; however, its effectiveness in preventing injuries in distant organs is still unknown, especially in those who have undergone mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion. Objective: To evaluate the effect of ischemic postconditioning in preventing reperfusion injury in the liver of rats submitted to mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion, comparing two different methods of ischemic postconditioning. Methods: 30 Wistar male rats were used, distributed into three groups: Group A: Ten rats submitted to intestinal ischemia for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes; Group B: Ten rats subjected to ischemia and reperfusion; after ischemia, two cycles of reperfusion (two minutes each) interleaved with two cycles of ischemia (two minutes each); and Group C: Ten rats subjected to ischemia and reperfusion; after ischemia, four cycles of reperfusion (30 seconds each) interspersed with four cycles of ischemia (30 seconds each). After the experiment, the left lobe of the liver was resected for subsequent histological analysis, using the following classification: grade 1 - centrilobular congestion; grade 2 - centrilobular congestion with some degeneration of hepatocytes in one or two central veins; and grade 3 - multifocal centrilobular congestion and degeneration of portal hepatocytes. Results: The mean degree of liver damage found was 1.8 in group A, 1.7 in group B and 1.3 in group C. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Ischemic postconditioning was unable to minimize reperfusion injury in rats undergoing mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion.

Abstract Objective: Intimal hyperplasia is associated with graft failure and vascular sutures in the first year after surgery and in postangioplasty restenosis. Allium sativum (common garlic) lowers cholesterol and has antioxidant effects; it also has antiplatelet and antitumor properties and, therefore, has great potential to reduce or inhibit intimal hyperplasia of the arteries. Our objective is to determine if the garlic has an efficacy to inhibit myointimal hyperplasia compared to cilostazol. Methods: Female New Zealand rabbits were divided into the following groups (n=10 each) according to treatment: group A, garlic, 800 µg×kg-1×day-1, orally; group C, cilostazol, 50 mg.day-1, orally; group PS, 10 ml of 0.9% physiological saline solution, orally. Our primary is the difference of the mean of myointimal hyperplasia. Statistical analysis was performed by using ANOVA and Tukey tests, as well as the Chi-square test. We calculated the 95% confidence interval for each point estimate, and the P value was set as < 0.05. Results: Group PS had a mean hyperplasia rate of 35.74% (95% CI, 31.76–39.71%); group C, 16.21% (95% CI, 13.36–19.05%); and group A, 21.12% (95% CI, 17.26–25.01%); P<0.0001. Conclusion: We conclude that Allium sativum had the same efficacy in inhibiting myointimal hyperplasia when compared to the positive control, cilostazol.

Abstract Objective: To study the in-hospital outcome of adult patients who had undergone surgical repair for Tetralogy of Fallot. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology searching the hospital records. All those adult patients who had undergone repair for Tetralogy of Fallot from January 2012 to December 2014 were included in the study. All the patients were operated by the same surgical team. Patients who underwent primary repair as well as those with previous palliative procedures were included in the study. Thirty days outcome was studied by recording variables from the database. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16. Results: A total of 80 patients was included in the study, in which there were 48 (60%) male patients and 32 (40%) female patients. Mean age was 21±0.21 years. Those with previous palliation were 15 (18.75%). The associated problems observed were: atrial septal defect 27 (33.75%), right aortic arch 30 (37.5%), patent ductus arteriosus 6 (7.5%) and double outlet right ventricle 3 (3.75%). In-hospital mortality recorded was 7 (8%). Postoperative complications encountered were low cardiac output syndrome 9 (11.25%), pleural effusion requiring tapping 3 (3.75%), reoperation for bleeding 3 (3.8%), pulmonary regurgitation (moderate to severe) 20 (25%) which occurred in the transannular patch group only and atrial arrhythmia 4 (5%). Conclusion: A large number of adult patients are still operated for tetralogy of Fallot in Pakistan. With increasing experience in the technique the mortality and morbidity is comparable to international literature.

FUNDAMENTO: A função endotelial braquial tem sido associada ao fluxo lento coronário (FLC). O aumento do fluxo sanguíneo para a artéria braquial faz com que o endotélio libere óxido nítrico (ON), com subsequente vasodilatação. Além de sua atividade com betabloqueador, o nebivolol provoca vasodilatação, aumentando a liberação endotelial de ON. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do nebivolol na função endotelial vascular em pacientes com FLC. MÉTODOS: 46 pacientes com FLC e 23 indivíduos com artérias coronárias epicárdicas normais foram examinados com ecocardiografia transtorácica e ultrassonografia da artéria braquial. Os pacientes foram reavaliados dois meses após o tratamento com aspirina ou aspirina e nebivolol. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com FLC apresentaram maior índice de massa corporal (26,5 ± 3,3 vs. 23,8 ± 2,8, p < 0,001), tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRIV) de influxo mitral (114,9 ± 18,0 vs. 95,0 ± 22,0 mseg, p < 0,001), menor fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) (63,5 ± 3,1% vs. 65,4 ± 2,2, p = 0,009), colesterol HDL (39,4 ± 8,5 vs. 45,8 ± 7,7 mg/dL, p = 0,003) e dilatação fluxo-mediada da artéria braquial (DFM) (6,1 ± 3,9% vs. 17,6 ± 4,5%, p <0,001). Houve correlações significativas entre a DFM e a presença de FLC (r = 0,800, p < 0,001) e o colesterol HDL (r = 0,349, p = 0,003). Dos pacientes com FLC, apesar de os valores médios de DFM em pré-tratamento terem sido semelhantes (6,1 ± 4,3% vs. 6,0 ± ,6%, p = 0,917), em comparação com a DFM do grupo em pós-tratamento apenas com aspirina, a DFM apresentou valores significativamente maiores do que os pacientes tratados com aspirina e nebivolol (6,0 ± 3,5% vs. 8,0 ± 2,9%, p = 0,047). Constatou-se que o tratamento com nebivolol está associado a um significativo aumento na DFM (6,0 ± 3,6 a 8,0 ± 2,9 %, p = 0,030), ao passo que o tratamento apenas com aspirina não apresentou a mesma associação. CONCLUSÃO: A função endotelial pode ser comprometida nas artérias coronárias e braquiais em pacientes com FLC, e o nebivolol pode ser eficaz na melhora da função endotelial em pacientes com FLC.

FUNDAMENTO: Buscando aprimorar a utilização dos exames de ecocardiografia, foram criados os Critérios de Adequação (CA) (Appropriateness Criteria), pela Sociedade Norte-Americana de Ecocardiografia (ASE) /Colégio Americano de Cardiologia (ACC). OBJETIVO: Comparar o perfil de adequação de solicitação de ecocardiograma transtorácico (ETT) de acordo com os CA, entre Hospital Público Universitário (HU) e Hospital Privado (HP), e verificar quais características se associam com melhor perfil de solicitação de ETT. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados prospectivamente 779 solicitações consecutivas de ETT no HP (49,8%) e no HU (50,2%). Sendo 55,6% solicitações para mulheres e 44,4%, para homens com 59,1 ± 15,7 anos. As indicações foram classificadas como: apropriadas, inapropriadas ou não classificadas, e a adequação aos CA foi correlacionada com idade, sexo dos pacientes, além do tempo de formado do solicitante. A análise estatística empregou Coeficiente Kappa e teste Qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa no perfil de adequação de solicitações apropriadas de ETT nas duas instituições (71% x 75%; p = 0,3). No HP, os fatores associados a maior taxa de exames apropriados foram: sexo feminino (p = 0,001) e idade menor que 60 anos (p < 0,001). No HU, médicos formados entre 5 e 10 anos apresentaram maior taxa de solicitações inadequadas (p = 0,02). As variáveis que foram preditoras independentes de exames apropriados foram, no HP: sexo feminino (p = 0,001) e idade < 60 anos (p = 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Nesta avaliação, HP e HU apresentaram perfis de adequação de solicitações similares. Sexo feminino, tempo de formado do médico solicitante e a idade do paciente influíram na adequação das solicitações.

FUNDAMENTO: Tem sido sugerido que o polimorfismo da haptoglobina pode influenciar na patogênese das complicações microvasculares e macrovasculares em pacientes diabéticos. OBJETIVO: O objetivo principal deste estudo transversal foi de realizar uma investigação da existência ou não de uma associação entre os genótipos de haptoglobina e a prevalência de eventos isquêmicos cardiovasculares (angina estável, angina instável e infarto agudo do miocárdio), hipertensão arterial sistêmica, hipertensão refratária, obesidade e dislipidemia em 120 pacientes com diabete melito tipo 2, seguidos no Hospital Universitário da Unicamp, em Campinas, Estado de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: A genotipagem da haptoglobina foi realizada por reações em cadeia da polimerase alelo-específicas. As frequências dos genótipos de haptoglobina foram comparadas com a presença/ausência de doença cardiovascular, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, hipertensão refratária, obesidade e dislipidemia; medições de pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica; glicemia, colesterol (total, lipoproteínas de alta densidade - HDL e lipoproteínas de baixa densidade - LDL) e triglicerídeos; assim como níveis de creatinina sérica. RESULTADOS: Embora nenhuma associação entre o genótipo de haptoglobina e a presença de doença cardiovascular tenha sido identificada, encontramos um excesso significativo de pacientes com o genótipo Hp2-1 entre as pessoas com hipertensão refratária, que também apresentavam uma maior pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica e níveis de colesterol total e LDL. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados sugerem que os pacientes com diabete melito tipo 2 com o genótipo Hp2-1 podem apresentar uma maior chance de desenvolver hipertensão refratária. Estudos adicionais em populações diabéticas são necessários para confirmar esses achados.

FUNDAMENTO: Os gastos com cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (RVM) e angioplastia coronariana (AC), representaram importante ônus para o SUS. OBJETIVO: Analisar gastos do SUS com RVM e AC e sua performance nos hospitais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (ERJ), de 1999 a 2008. MÉTODOS: As informações provieram das AIH pagas dos hospitais com mais de 100 revascularizações. As taxas de letalidade foram ajustadas por modelos Poisson (covariáveis idade, dias de permanência no hospital e gasto em UTI). Foram construídos índices de gasto médio relativo, dividindo-se o valor médio da fração de gasto em cada hospital pelo gasto médio no ERJ, em dólares. Para análise estatística empregou-se o Stata. RESULTADOS: Foram pagas 10.983 RVM e 19.661 AC em 20 hospitais nos 10 anos, com valores médios de US$ 3.088,12 e 2.183,93, respectivamente. A taxa de letalidade nas RVM flutuou de 9,2%-1999 para 7,7%-2008, com valores extremos de 5,0%-9,2% e nas AC de 1,6%-1999 para 1,5%-2008, com valores extremos de 0,9%-2,3%. Os hospitais diminuíram a realização de RVM e duplicaram a de AC. Idade, tempo de internação e gastos em UTI correlacionaram-se significativamente com a letalidade nas RVM e AC pagas no ERJ. Em média, os gastos com os serviços hospitalares representaram 41% do total das RVM e 18% das AC, e os com as órteses e próteses, 55% das AC e 28% nas RVM. CONCLUSÃO: Evidencia-se necessidade de melhorar a qualidade do atendimento das instituições que realizam RVM e AC pagas pelo SUS.

FUNDAMENTO: Diversos métodos têm sido utilizados para avaliar a modulação vagal cardíaca; entretanto, há lacunas quanto a associação e acurácia desses métodos. OBJETIVO: Investigar a associação entre três métodos válidos, reprodutíveis e comumente utilizados para avaliação da modulação vagal cardíaca, e comparar as suas acurácias. MÉTODOS: Trinta homens saudáveis (23 ± 4 anos) e 15 homens com coronariopatia (61 ± 10 anos) foram avaliados em ordem contrabalanceada pela Variabilidade da Frequência Cardíaca (VFC; variáveis: domínio do tempo = pNN50, DPNN e RMSSD, domínio da frequência = AF ms² e AF u.n.), Arritmia Sinusal Respiratória (ASR) e Teste de Exercício de 4 segundos (T4s). RESULTADOS: Indivíduos saudáveis apresentaram maior modulação vagal nos três métodos (p < 0,05). No grupo saudável houve correlação (p < 0,05) entre os resultados da VFC (pNN50 e DPNN) e da ASR, mas não houve correlação entre o T4s e os outros dois métodos estudados. No grupo com coronariopatia houve correlação entre os resultados da VFC (pNN50, DPNN, RMSSD, AF ms² e AF u.n.) e da ASR. Em adição, houve correlação entre o T4s e a ASR. Por fim, os métodos ASR e T4s apresentaram tamanho do efeito mais preciso e melhor acurácia (p < 0,05) comparados à VFC. CONCLUSÃO: A VFC e a ASR geraram resultados parcialmente redundantes em indivíduos saudáveis e em pacientes com coronariopatia, enquanto o T4s gerou resultados complementares a VFC e ASR em indivíduos saudáveis. Além disso, os métodos ASR e T4s foram mais precisos para discriminar a modulação vagal cardíaca entre indivíduos saudáveis e pacientes com coronariopatia comparados à VFC.