João Jackson Duarte

Initial and pioneer experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (Inovare) through femoral or iliac artery

OBJECTIVE This paper demonstrates the initial and pioneering experience implant of the Inovare prosthesis implant through transfemoral or iliac artery route. METHODS Six patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The access was femoral or iliac through which the delivery device, a latex balloon catheter with the crimped prosthesis, was inserted. Through the femoral introducer 24 Fr Gore® DrySeal sheath, an extra stiff guide wire with non-traumatic tip was positioned in the left ventricle by passing through the valve ring. After balloon valvuloplasty, in cases of native valve stenosis, the prosthesis implantation was performed after hypotension induced by tachycardia and controlled by temporary pacemaker. The valve positioning was guided by TEE (transesophageal ecocardiography) and fluoroscopy, aiming to position a third of the length of the prosthesis into the left ventricle cavity. RESULTS The successful valve implantation was possible in six cases. There was no need of conversion to open surgery due to inability to access or graft migration. There were no intraoperative or hospital deaths. We observed a significant reduction in the mean gradient of 66.84115.46 mmHg to 19.74110.61 mm Hg postoperatively (P=0.002), a reduction of 70.46%. CONCLUSION Inovare prosthesis, implanted by femoral or iliac artery was feasible, and determined adequate hemodynamic performance in the postoperative follow-up, showing no mortality in this small series.

Multiple left atrial myxoma: case report

Primary cardiac tumors are infrequent, with an incidence between 0.001% and 0.2%, mostly comprising benign histological characteristics in 75% of these cases. Myxomas account for approximately 50% of these neoplasms. As regards location, 75-80% of myxomas are in the left atrium, 18% in the right atrium, and more rarely in the ventricles. We report a case of a patient in functional class (FC) IV New York Heart Association (NYHA) and postoperative histological diagnosis of multilobular myxoma originating in the posterior left atrial wall. Clinical evaluation 3 months after surgery suggested NYHA functional class I and echocardiographic absence of intracardiac masses.

Ventriculectomia parcial esquerda: operação de Batista em pacientes acima de 60 anos

Background: Cardiac insufficiency is one of the most important problems challenging the public health resources in the modern world. The partial left ventriculectomy (Batistas Operation) is the most recent surgical treatment for the end-stage heart failure but, until now, without specific reports in the cardiovascular literature regarding its results in elderly patients. Objective: To study the results of the Batistas Operation in aged patients. Method: From May 1995 to December 1997, ten patients aged 62 to 78 years, suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (class IV NYHA), were treated with the partial left ventriculectomy procedure in the Cardiothoracic Surgical Clinic of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University ¾ (University Hospital Nucleus). Results: Nine (90%) patients were discharged from the hospital and one (10%) patient died in the 6th postoperative day from respiratory insufficiency. An elliptical resection was performed in the lateral wall of the left ventricle, from the apex to near the atrioventricular groove and between the papillary muscles. Dimensions of the removed fragment (mean values): 10.8+1.3 cm x 5.0+0.6 cm. The echocardiographic control has proved: FE = fractional shortening, EF = ejection fraction, LVSD = left ventricular end-systolic diameter, LVDD = left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, DVL = diastolic volume lowering and SVR = systolic volume rised. In the late follow up three patients were in NYHA class I, three patients in class II and one in class III. The actuarial survival rate were 100%,87%,87% and 67% for 6, 12, 24 and 36 months respectively. Conclusion: The partial left ventriculectomy performed in elderly patients with cardiac insufficiency with severe hemodynamics disfunction resulted in 10% mortality, promoted important recovery of the cardiac performance by: improvement of NYHA functional class, enhancement of the ejection fraction and left ventricular % systolic shortening; reduction of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters and determining better ventricular volume/mass ratio.

Mixoma atrial esquerdo múltiplo: relato de caso

Primary cardiac tumors are infrequent, with an incidence between 0.001% and 0.2%, mostly comprising benign histological characteristics in 75% of these cases. Myxomas account for approximately 50% of these neoplasms. As regards location, 75-80% of myxomas are in the left atrium, 18% in the right atrium, and more rarely in the ventricles. We report a case of a patient in functional class (FC) IV New York Heart Association (NYHA) and postoperative histological diagnosis of multilobular myxoma originating in the posterior left atrial wall. Clinical evaluation 3 months after surgery suggested NYHA functional class I and echocardiographic absence of intracardiac masses.

Mitral valve replacement with crossed papillopexy and annular constriction in heart failure patients

OBJECTIVE To analyze the short-term and mid-term follow-ups of patients with heart failure and moderate to severe mitral valve insufficiency and who have undergone mitral valve replacement with crossed papillopexy and annular constriction. METHODS Thirteen patients in NYHA functional class III or IV, with a mean age of 54.1 years and with idiopathic etiology, underwent mitral valve replacement with ring constriction and crossed papillopexy. Echocardiograph parameters, functional class and survival actuarial curve were analyzed. RESULTS There were no deaths during surgery or in the postoperative period. The mean left ventricular diastolic diameter was reduced from 71 +/- 8.6 mm to 65.3 +/- 8.6 mm (p=0.049) and the mean left ventricular systolic diameter was reduced from .1 +/- 8.5 mm to 50.4 +/- 11.1 mm (p=0.002). The atrial diameters varied from 49.4 +/- 6.4 mm to 44 +/- 5.9 mm (p=0.017); the percentage of the left ventricular shortening was 17 +/- 4 % to 24 +/- 8.3% (p=0.014); the ejection fraction varied statistically and significantly from 34 +/- 9% to 45 +/- 14% (p=0.008). Eleven (84.6%) patients were in FC I and II. At 1, 6 and 12 months after follow-up surgery, the survival rate was 100%, 82.6%, 71.6%, respectively. This rate was maintained at 7.6% for more than 36 months. CONCLUSION The results obtained from patients with heart failure and moderate to severe mitral valve insufficiency and who underwent mitral valve replacement with crossed papillopexy and annular constriction presented evidence of improved heart remodeling and significant improvement in left ventricular performance.

Endovascular repair of ascending aortic dissection.

Woman, 84 years-old, with Stanford type A thoracic aortic dissection committing aortic arch and descending aorta. Proposed and accepted endovascular treatment according to the severity of the clinical picture. Common femoral artery dissection bilaterally was done. Aortography confirmed the exclusion of the false lumen and patency of the coronary ostia.

Correlation between right atrial venous blood gasometry and cardiac index in cardiac surgery postoperative period

OBJECTIVE To determine, even during postoperative period, the confiability of the cardiac index correlate with the data data given by a central atrial venous blood gasometry in patients who underwent cardiac surgery. METHODS From the sample of arterial and venous blood of right atrium gathered in postoperative of cardiac surgery, it was determinated the hemoglobin concentration and the gasometric study through what was observed of the venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) and the partial pressure of oxygen from venous blood gathered in right atrium (PvO2), add to the calculation of artery-venous difference of the oxygen content--radial artery / right atrium (C( a-v )O2). Afterwards, these parameters were compared with the cardiac index determined by thermodilution. RESULTS There was good correlation between SvO2, C(av)O2 of the venous right atrial blood and cardiac index measured by thermodilution method, with sensibility and specificity good and high positive predict value and negative predict value. The PvO2 demonstrated poor sensibility in the estimative of low output. CONCLUSION In cardiac surgery postoperative, the SvO2 and the C(a-v)O2 were safe parameters correlated with low cardiac output. The PvO2 demonstrated poor sensibility in the estimative of low output in postoperative cardiac surgery.

Anatomopathological study of cardiomyopathy induced by doxorubicin in rats

PURPOSE The development of an experimental model of myocardiopathy induced by Doxorubicin in rats. METHODS 16 wistar male rats were randomized in two groups: Group I (placebo) and Group II (Doxorubicin - 5mg/kg). After six months, the animals were subjected to cardiotomy and their hearts were weighted and submitted to transversal cuts, from which fragments for a macro and micro study were obtained. These fragments were studied considering their external and internal diameters and the thickness of the left ventricle (LV). The histological pieces were analyzed for the presence of fibrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolization, necrosis and size of nucleus variation. Data obtained was submitted to statistical analysis with Students t test. RESULTS The hearts of the animals in Group II increased 41% in relation to their weight; 33% in the internal diameter and 14% in the external diameter of the LV cavity; and 24% in the thickness of the wall. Fibrosis of the myocardial tissue was observed in 75% of the animals of Group II; all the animals presented miocyte cytoplasmatic vacuolization; myocardial necrosis was present in 75% of the animals; and 87/% presented variation in the size of myocite nuclei. The presence of polymorphonuclear cells was also observed. CONCLUSION Doxorubicin was effective in the promotion of macro and microscopic alterations in the cardiac tissue of rats, possibly constituting a model for the experimental study of myocardiopathy.

Indication of endovascular treatment of type B aortic dissection - Literature review

Aortic dissection is a cardiovascular event of high mortality if not early diagnosed and properly treated. In Stanford type A aortic dissection, there is the involvement of the ascending aorta, whereas in type B the ascending aorta is not affected. The treatment of type A aortic dissection is mainly surgical. The hospital mortality of type B aortic dissection surgical treatment is approximately 20%, while medical therapy is 10%. However, half the patients who are discharged from hospital after medical treatment, progress to aortic complications in the following years, and the mortality in three to five years may reach 25-50%. In addition, the surgical treatment of aortic complications after medical treatment, has also a significant mortality. This way, the endovascular treatment comes up as an interesting alternative of a less invasive treatment for this disease. They presented a mortality rate lower than 10% with more than 80% success rate of occlusion and thrombosis of the false lumen. The INSTEAD TRIAL, which randomized patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection for optimal medical therapy and endovascular treatment in addition to optimal medical therapy, showed that after three years of follow up, patients who underwent endovascular treatment had lower mortality and aorta-related complications. Therefore, there is a current tendency to recommend the endovascular treatment as a standard for the treatment of type B aortic dissection

Pioneering transcatheter aortic valve Implant (Inovare®) via transfemoral

We present a patient with severe aortic valvular bioprosthesis dysfunction implanted for 11 years, presenting with acute pulmonary edema due to severe valvular insufficiency with severe systolic dysfunction (EF <30%) and comorbid conditions that amounted operative risk (STS score > 10). We carried out the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (Inovare® - Braile Biomedica), which was implemented successfully by transfemoral access and good patient outcomes.