Ana Sofia Correia

Long-term survival, autonomy, and quality of life of elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Abstract  Aims: We reviewed the long‐term survival, autonomy, and quality of life (QoL) of elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods: Records of patients ≥75 years old that underwent AVR from 2002 to 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Functional status was classified with Barthel Index (BI). QoL was presumed as the self‐perception of well‐being after AVR. Independent predictors of mortality were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: We included 114 patients, with a mean age of 78.5 ± 2.5 years. Seventy (59.8%) patients were females. Mean additive and logistic EuroSCORE were 7 ± 2 and 9 ± 7, respectively. Follow‐up on vital status was achieved for 113 (99.1%) patients after a mean period of 47.2 ± 23.4 months. Twenty‐seven (23.7%) patients died (including three operative deaths). Survival up to one, three, and five years of follow‐up was 94.4%, 86.7%, and 76.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that pulmonary hypertension and diabetes were independent predictors of all‐cause mortality. Information on BI score and QoL was obtained for 77 (89.5%) and patients. Among those, 69 (89.6%) were autonomous according to BI and 72 (93.5%) considered having had an improvement in QoL. Conclusion: Patients ≥75 years old undergoing AVR presented good medium‐term survival. Predictors of an adverse outcome were significant pulmonary hypertension and diabetes. At follow‐up, most achieved improvement of QoL and remained autonomous. These results stress that excellent long‐term outcomes with AVR can be achieved in appropriately selected elderly patients. (J Card Surg 2012;27:20–23)

The usefulness of the head-up tilt test in patients with suspected epilepsy.

PURPOSE It is estimated that approximately 20-30% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy have been misdiagnosed, and neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) might frequently be the real cause of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) episodes. We assessed the role of the head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients previously diagnosed with refractory epilepsy to evaluate the ability of this test to correctly diagnose patients with NCS. METHOD We retrospectively analysed the clinical records of 107 consecutive patients with a previous diagnosis of refractory epilepsy that were taking antiepileptic drugs and who were referred for HUTT between January 2000 and December 2010. During the subsequent follow-up, we recorded the treatments performed and the recurrence of symptoms. RESULTS Complete follow-up data were available for 94 (88%) patients, and the mean follow-up period was 80±36 months. The HUTT was positive in 54% of patients. Thirty-one (33%) patients were misdiagnosed with epilepsy, and 20 (21%) patients had a dual diagnosis of NCS and epilepsy. The recurrence of TLOC was reported in 55% of the patients, but it was significantly lower in the misdiagnosed group (42% versus 64%; P=0.039). CONCLUSION NCS is an important cause of epilepsy misdiagnosis. The HUTT is often critical for making an accurate diagnosis and subsequently selecting the appropriate treatment for patients presenting with TLOC. The diagnostic overlap between epilepsy and NCS is not uncommon, suggesting that electroencephalographic monitoring during a HUTT may play an important role in diagnosing patients with recurrent, undiagnosed TLOC episodes.

Embolic complication of left ventricular non-compaction as an unusual cause of acute myocardial infarction

One of the greatest challenges in medicine consists of arriving at a correct diagnosis despite different presentations of the disease. We present a case in which, notwithstanding the initial diagnosis, the search for the etiology was essential for clinical guidance. Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) was first described by Chin et al. in 1990. This relatively new entity is characterized by excessive thickening of the myocardial wall, formed of a thin epicardial layer and a substantially thicker non-compacted endocardial layer. The clinical presentation is highly variable but it must always be borne in mind that heart failure, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and embolic events are common complications of LVNC.

Isolated papillary muscle hypertrophy: a variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Do not miss a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A 65-year-old Caucasian, hypertensive, and asymptomatic man was referred to cardiology consultation because of an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) with left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy and giant negative T waves ( Panel A ) (evolutive compared with ECG performed 10 years before). A transthoracic echocardiogram showed no significant abnormalities and the myocardial perfusion scintigraphy excluded ischaemia. Cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed …

Double-chambered left ventricle plus left ventricular non-compaction: report of an abnormal association

A 57-year-old asymptomatic woman with no significant medical history was referred for routine cardiac evaluation of hypertension. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed normal cardiac chamber dimensions, preserved biventricular systolic function, and prominent trabeculation mainly in the apical region ( Panel A ; see Supplementary data online, Video S1 …

Cardiac thrombus and conduction disorder in takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a reversible form of left ventricular dysfunction with an apparently benign natural history after left ventricular recovery. Rarely there are complications such as arrhythmias and apical thrombus. We describe a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated with apical thrombus and persistent complete atrioventricular block after improvement of left ventricular wall motion.

Unusual type A aortic dissection

A 66-year-old woman with hypertension and systemic lupus erythematosus presented with intermittent interscapular and chest pain, progressive dyspnea and presyncope episodes since the previous week. On physical examination she was hemodynamically stable, but jugular venous distension and diminished cardiac sounds were detected. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta (Figure 1A, arrow) with an adjacent large mass compressing the right cardiac chambers (Figure 1B, arrow). Thoracic computed tomography confirmed aortic rupture (contrast extravasation suggestive of active rupture; Figure 1C, arrowed circle) associated with a large intramural hematoma (dimensions: 100×87×104 mm) extending inferiorly and compressing the right cardiac chambers (Figures 1D and E, arrow). Urgent surgery was

Paradoxical embolism associated with Ebstein's anomaly in an adult: Case report

Ebsteins anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve, often associated with other cardiac malformations, especially atrial septal defect, which is present in 80-90% of patients and predisposes to paradoxical embolization. We describe the case of a 47-year-old male, a drug abuser, with a known but not investigated cardiac murmur. He presented to the emergency department with worsening exertional dyspnea and fatigue associated with recent recurrent transient ischemic attacks. On brain computed tomography there were multiple non-recent ischemic infarctions. Transthoracic echocardiography showed EA with severely dilated right cardiac chambers, right systolic dysfunction and severe tricuspid regurgitation. Contrast and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a patent foramen ovale with right-to-left shunt. After exclusion of other potential causes of the neurologic events, they were assumed to be the consequence of paradoxical embolism.

Endocardite da válvula tricúspide em doente com cardiopatia congénita

A case of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis is presented. Since this was not the first episode, the patient had not undergone invasive procedures and there was no history of intravenous drug abuse, the possibility of congenital heart disease was considered, a hypothesis that was confirmed.

Case reportCardiac thrombus and conduction disorder in takotsubo cardiomyopathyMiocardiopatia de takotsubo complicada com trombo apical e alterações da condução

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a reversible form of left ventricular dysfunction with an apparently benign natural history after left ventricular recovery. Rarely there are complications such as arrhythmias and apical thrombus. We describe a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated with apical thrombus and persistent complete atrioventricular block after improvement of left ventricular wall motion.