Adherence to the cardiac surgery checklist decreased mortality at a teaching hospital: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the impact of adherence to the cardiac surgical checklist on mortality at the teaching hospital. Methods A retrospective cohort study after the implementation of the cardiac surgical safety checklist in a reference hospital in Latin America. All patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and/or heart valve surgery from 2013 to 2019 were analyzed. After the implementation of the project InCor-Checklist "Five steps to safe cardiac surgery" in 2015, the correlation between adherence and completeness of this instrument with surgical mortality was assessed. The EuroSCORE II was used as a reference to assess the risk of expected mortality for patients. Cross-sectional questionnaires were during the implementation of the InCor-Checklist. To perform the correlation, Pearson's coefficient was calculated using R software. Results Since 2013, data from 8139 patients have been analyzed. The average annual mortality was 5.98%. In 2015, the instrument was used in only 58% of patients; in contrast, it was used in 100% of patients in 2019. There was a decrease in surgical mortality from 8.22% to 3.13% for the same group of procedures. The results indicate that the greater the checklist use, the lower the surgical mortality (r = 88.9%). In addition, the greater the InCor-Checklist completeness, the lower the surgical mortality (r = 94.1%). Conclusion In the formation of the surgical patient safety culture, the implementation and adherence to the InCor-Checklist "Five steps to safe cardiac surgery" was associated with decreased mortality after cardiac surgery. HIGHLIGHTS Checklists avoid human errors and are commonly used in high-reliability industries. The "InCor Checklist" was associated with decreased mortality over time. Adherence, completeness, and sustainability within public policies are necessary.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: the impact of advances in perioperative techniques in patient outcomes / Hipertensão pulmonar tromboembólica crônica: o impacto dos avanços nas técnicas perioperatórias nos resultados dos pacientes

ABSTRACT Objectives Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the gold standard treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This study aimed at reporting outcomes of CTEPH patients undergoing PEA within 10 years, focusing on advances in anesthetic and surgical techniques. Methods We evaluated 102 patients who underwent PEA between January 2007 and May 2016 at the Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. Changes in techniques included longer cardiopulmonary bypass, heating, and cooling times and mean time of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and shortened reperfusion time. Patients were stratified according to temporal changes in anesthetic and surgical techniques: group 1 (January 2007-December 2012), group 2 (January 2013-March 2015), and group 3 (April 2015-May 2016). Clinical outcomes were any occurrence of complications during hospitalization. Results Groups 1, 2, and 3 included 38, 35, and 29 patients, respectively. Overall, 62.8% were women (mean age, 49.1 years), and 65.7% were in New York Heart Association functional class III-IV. Postoperative complications were less frequent in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2: surgical complications (10.3% vs. 34.2% vs. 31.4%, p=0.035), bleeding (10.3% vs. 31.5% vs. 25.7%, p=0.047), and stroke (0 vs. 13.2% vs. 0, p=0.01). Between 3 and 6 months post-discharge, 85% were in NYHA class I-II. Conclusion Improvements in anesthetic and surgical procedures were associated with better outcomes in CTEPH patients undergoing PEA during the 10-year period.

RESUMO Objetivo A endarterectomia pulmonar (EAP) é o tratamento padrão ouro para hipertensão pulmonar tromboembólica crônica (HPTEC). O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar a evolução de pacientes com HPTEC submetidos a EAP em 10 anos, com foco nos avanços nas técnicas anestésicas e cirúrgicas. Métodos Foram avaliados 102 pacientes submetidos à EAP entre janeiro de 2007 e maio de 2016 no Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. Mudanças nas técnicas incluíram circulação extracorpórea, tempos de aquecimento e resfriamento mais longos e tempo médio de hipotermia profunda com parada circulatória e tempo de reperfusão reduzido. Os pacientes foram estratificados de acordo com as mudanças temporais nas técnicas anestésicas e cirúrgicas: grupo 1 (janeiro de 2007 a dezembro de 2012), grupo 2 (janeiro de 2013 a março de 2015) e grupo 3 (abril de 2015 a maio de 2016). Os desfechos clínicos foram qualquer ocorrência de complicações durante a hospitalização. Resultados Os grupos 1, 2 e 3 incluíram 38, 35 e 29 pacientes, respectivamente. No geral, 62,8% eram mulheres (idade média, 49,1 anos) e 65,7% estavam em classe funcional III-IV da New York Heart Association. As complicações pós-operatórias foram menos frequentes no grupo 3 do que nos grupos 1 e 2: complicações cirúrgicas (10,3% vs. 34,2% vs. 31,4%, p=0,035), sangramento (10,3% vs. 31,5% vs. 25,7%, p=0,047) e acidente vascular cerebral (0 vs. 13,2% vs. 0, p=0,01). Entre 3 e 6 meses após a alta, 85% estavam na classe I-II da NYHA. Conclusão Melhorias nos procedimentos anestésicos e cirúrgicos foram associadas a melhores resultados em pacientes com HPTEC submetidos a EAP durante o período de 10 anos.

Infra-abdominal muscles activation brings benefits to the pulmonary function of patients with ternal instability after cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: To compare physical therapy strategies involving abdominal muscle stabilization, with and without upper limb movement, in patients with sternal instability after heart surgery and during in-hospital care. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal, randomized, and comparative clinical study included 20 patients, which were divided into two groups: ARM, the arm group (n=10), and LEG, the leg group (n=10). The study involved the evaluation of scores of visual analog scales for sternal instability, pain, discomfort, functional impairment, lung function, and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) before and after the interventions. Two protocols consisting of abdominal exercises in both groups with upper limb movements (ARM) and just abdominal activation with leg movements (LEG) were used for three weeks. Results: There were statistically significant (P≤0.01) improvements in pain, discomfort, and functional impairment scores, and in MIP (P=0.04) and MEP (P≤0.01) after intervention in both groups and just LEG showed improvement in forced vital capacity (P=0.043) and forced expiratory volume in one second (P=0.011). Conclusion: Both strategies promoted improvement in pain, discomfort, and functional impairment scores and in the values of inspiratory and expiratory pressures. Perhaps they were influenced by the time and resolution of the infection process, although exercises with upper limb movements seem to be safe in this population. The activation of the infra-abdominal muscles through leg movements seems to bring more benefits to lung function.

Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score in Brazil: Comparison with InsCor and the EuroSCORE / Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score no Brasil: Comparação com o InsCor e o EuroSCORE

AbstractBackground:Risk scores for cardiac surgery cannot continue to be neglected.Objective:To assess the performance of “Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score” (ACEF Score) to predict mortality in patients submitted to elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart valve surgery, and to compare it to other scores.Methods:A prospective cohort study was carried out with the database of a Brazilian tertiary care center. A total of 2,565 patients submitted to elective surgeries between May 2007 and July 2009 were assessed. For a more detailed analysis, the ACEF Score performance was compared to the InsCor’s and EuroSCORE’s performance through correlation, calibration and discrimination tests.Results:Patients were stratified into mild, moderate and severe for all models. Calibration was inadequate for ACEF Score (p = 0.046) and adequate for InsCor (p = 0.460) and EuroSCORE (p = 0.750). As for discrimination, the area under the ROC curve was questionable for the ACEF Score (0.625) and adequate for InsCor (0.744) and EuroSCORE (0.763).Conclusion:Although simple to use and practical, the ACEF Score, unlike InsCor and EuroSCORE, was not accurate for predicting mortality in patients submitted to elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart valve surgery in a Brazilian tertiary care center. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2015; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

ResumoFundamento:Escores de risco para cirurgia cardíaca não podem continuar sendo neglicenciados.Objetivo:Avaliar o desempenho do Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score (ACEF Score) na predição de mortalidade dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica e/ou valvar eletiva, e compará-lo a outros escores.Métodos:Estudo de coorte prospectivo no banco de um centro terciário brasileiro. Foram avaliados 2.565 pacientes operados de maneira eletiva entre maio de 2007 e julho de 2009. Para uma análise mais detalhada, o desempenho do ACEF Score foi comparado ao do InsCor e ao do EuroSCORE por meio de testes de correlação, calibração e discriminação.Resultados:Os pacientes foram estratificados em leve, moderado e grave para todos os modelos. A calibração foi inadequada para o ACEF Score (p = 0,046) e adequada para o InsCor (p = 0,460) e o EuroSCORE (p = 0,750). Na discriminação, a área abaixo da curva ROC apresentou-se questionável para o ACEF Score (0,625) e apropriada para o InsCor (0,744) e o EuroSCORE (0,763).Conclusão:Embora simples e prático, o ACEF Score, ao contrário do InsCor e do EuroSCORE, não se mostrou acurado para predizer mortalidade nos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica e/ou valvar eletiva em centro terciário brasileiro. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2015; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

Post-cardiotomy ECMO in pediatric and congenital heart surgery: impact of team training and equipment in the results / ECMO pós-cardiotomia em cirurgia cardíaca pediátrica e congênita: impacto do treinamento da equipe e equipamentos nos resultados

AbstractIntroduction:Post-cardiotomy myocardial dysfunction requiring mechanical circulatory support occurs in about 0.5% of cases. In our environment, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been increasing in recent years.Objective:To evaluate the impact of investment in professional training and improvement of equipment in the rate of weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival.Methods:A retrospective study. Fifty-six pediatric and/or congenital heart patients underwent post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at our institution between November 1999 and July 2014. We divided this period into two phases: phase I, 36 cases (before the structuring of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program) and phase II, 20 cases (after the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program implementation) with investment in training and equipment). Were considered as primary outcomes: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning and survival to hospital discharge. The results in both phases were compared using Chi-square test. To identify the impact of the different variables we used binary logistic regression analysis.Results:Groups were comparable. In phase I, 9 patients (25%) were weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, but only 2 (5.5%) were discharged. In phase II, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used in 20 patients, weaning was possible in 17 (85%), with 9 (45%) hospital discharges (P<0.01). When the impact of several variables on discharge and weaning of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was analyzed, we observe that phase II was an independent predictor of better results (P<0.001) and need for left cavities drainage was associated with worse survival (P=0.045).Conclusion:The investment in professional training and improvement of equipment significantly increased extracorporeal membrane oxygenation results.

ResumoIntrodução:Falência ventricular pós-cardiotomia necessitando de suporte circulatório mecânico ocorre em cerca de 0,5% dos casos. Em nosso meio, o uso de ECMO tem aumentado nos últimos anos.Objetivo:Avaliar o impacto do investimento na formação profissional e melhoria dos equipamentos na taxa de desmame de ECMO e na sobrevida.Métodos:Estudo retrospectivo. Cinquenta e seis pacientes cardíacos pediátricos e/ou portadores de cardiopatias congênitas foram submetidos ao implante de ECMO pós-cardiotomia em nossa instituição entre novembro de 1999 e julho de 2014. Nós dividimos este período em duas fases: fase I, 36 casos (antes da estruturação do programa de ECMO) e fase II, 20 casos (após a instalação do programa ECMO com investimento em formação e equipamento). Foram considerados como desfechos primários: o desmame de ECMO e sobrevida até a alta hospitalar. Os resultados em ambas as fases foram comparados pelo teste Chi-quadrado. Para identificar o impacto das diferentes variáveis, ​ foi usada análise de regressão logística binária.Resultados:Na fase I, 9 pacientes (25%) foram desmamados da ECMO, mas apenas 2 (5,5%) tiveram alta. Na fase II, ECMO foi usado em 20 pacientes, o desmame foi possível em 17 deles (85%), com 9 (45%) altas hospitalares. Quando analisamos o impacto das diversas variáveis ​​sobre a sobrevida e desmame de ECMO, observa-se que a fase II foi um preditor independente de melhores resultados (P<0,001) e a necessidade de drenagem das cavidades esquerdas foi associada com pior sobrevida (P=0,045).Conclusão:O investimento na formação profissional e aperfeiçoamento de equipamentos melhorou significativamente os resultados de ECMO em nossa instituição.

Use of Short-term Circulatory Support as a Bridge in Pediatric Heart Transplantation / Emprego do Suporte Circulatório de Curta Duração como Ponte para Transplante Cardíaco Pediátrico

Background: Heart transplantation is considered the gold standard therapy for the advanced heart failure, but donor shortage, especially in pediatric patients, is the main limitation for this procedure, so most sick patients die while waiting for the procedure. Objective: To evaluate the use of short-term circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation in end-stage cardiomyopathy. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Between January 2011 and December 2013, 40 patients with cardiomyopathy were admitted in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, with a mean age of 4.5 years. Twenty patients evolved during hospitalization with clinical deterioration and were classified as Intermacs 1 and 2. One patient died within 24 hours and 19 could be stabilized and were listed. They were divided into 2 groups: A, clinical support alone and B, implantation of short-term circulatory support as bridge to transplantation additionally to clinical therapy. Results: We used short-term mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation in 9. In group A (n=10), eight died waiting and 2 patients (20%) were transplanted, but none was discharged. In group B (n=9), 6 patients (66.7%) were transplanted and three were discharged.The mean support time was 21,8 days (6 to 984h). The mean transplant waiting list time was 33,8 days. Renal failure and sepsis were the main complication and causeof death in group A while neurologic complications were more prevalent en group B. Conclusion: Mechanical circulatory support increases survival on the pediatric heart transplantation waiting list in patients classified as Intermacs 1 and 2. .

Introdução: O transplante cardíaco é o tratamento de escolha na insuficiência cardíaca terminal, porém a escassez de doadores limita o seu emprego, especialmente na população pediátrica. O implante de dispositivos de assistência circulatória mecânica (ACM) pode aumentar o tempo de espera e contribuir na redução da mortalidade. Objetivo: Estudar a evolução dos pacientes pediátricos com diagnóstico de miocardiopatia, com indicação de transplante e que evoluíram em Intermacs1 ou 2, comparando a utilização ou não de algum tipo de ACM de curta duração. Método: No período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2013, 40 pacientes com idade média de 4,5 anos foram admitidos com diagnóstico de miocardiopatia dilatada. Desses pacientes, 20 evoluíram em Intermacs 1 ou 2. Um faleceu em menos de 24 horas e 19 foram listados para transplante. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: A, pacientes manejados clinicamente em espera para o transplante; B, pacientes que utilizaram algum tipo de ACM de curta duração durante o tempo de espera em lista. Resultados: No grupo A (n=10), oito pacientes evoluíram para óbito aguardando o transplante e dois pacientes (20%) foram transplantados, sendo que nenhum recebeu alta hospitalar. No grupo B (n = 9), seis pacientes (66,7%; p = 0,04) foram transplantados e três receberam alta hospitalar (p = 0,049). As principais complicações foram insuficiência renal e sepse, no grupo A, e complicações neurológicas no grupo B. Conclusão: O emprego de ACM de curta duração aumentou a sobrevida dos pacientes priorizados e em fila de espera de transplante cardíaco pediátrico. .

Recomendações brasileiras de ventilação mecânica 2013. Parte 2 / Brazilian recommendations of mechanical ventilation 2013. Part 2

O suporte ventilatório artificial invasivo e não invasivo ao paciente grave tem evoluído e inúmeras evidências têm surgido, podendo ter impacto na melhora da sobrevida e da qualidade do atendimento oferecido nas unidades de terapia intensiva no Brasil. Isto posto, a Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira (AMIB) e a Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia (SBPT) - representadas por seu Comitê de Ventilação Mecânica e sua Comissão de Terapia Intensiva, respectivamente, decidiram revisar a literatura e preparar recomendações sobre ventilação mecânica, objetivando oferecer aos associados um documento orientador das melhores práticas da ventilação mecânica na beira do leito, com base nas evidências existentes, sobre os 29 subtemas selecionados como mais relevantes no assunto. O projeto envolveu etapas que visaram distribuir os subtemas relevantes ao assunto entre experts indicados por ambas as sociedades, que tivessem publicações recentes no assunto e/ou atividades relevantes em ensino e pesquisa no Brasil, na área de ventilação mecânica. Esses profissionais, divididos por subtemas em duplas, responsabilizaram-se por fazer uma extensa revisão da literatura mundial. Reuniram-se todos no Fórum de Ventilação Mecânica, na sede da AMIB, na cidade de São Paulo (SP), em 3 e 4 de agosto de 2013, para finalização conjunta do texto de cada subtema e apresentação, apreciação, discussão e aprovação em plenária pelos 58 participantes, permitindo a elaboração de um documento final.

Perspectives on invasive and noninvasive ventilatory support for critically ill patients are evolving, as much evidence indicates that ventilation may have positive effects on patient survival and the quality of the care provided in intensive care units in Brazil. For those reasons, the Brazilian Association of Intensive Care Medicine (Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira - AMIB) and the Brazilian Thoracic Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia - SBPT), represented by the Mechanical Ventilation Committee and the Commission of Intensive Therapy, respectively, decided to review the literature and draft recommendations for mechanical ventilation with the goal of creating a document for bedside guidance as to the best practices on mechanical ventilation available to their members. The document was based on the available evidence regarding 29 subtopics selected as the most relevant for the subject of interest. The project was developed in several stages, during which the selected topics were distributed among experts recommended by both societies with recent publications on the subject of interest and/or significant teaching and research activity in the field of mechanical ventilation in Brazil. The experts were divided into pairs that were charged with performing a thorough review of the international literature on each topic. All the experts met at the Forum on Mechanical Ventilation, which was held at the headquarters of AMIB in São Paulo on August 3 and 4, 2013, to collaboratively draft the final text corresponding to each sub-topic, which was presented to, appraised, discussed and approved in a plenary session that included all 58 participants and aimed to create the final document.

Recomendações brasileiras de ventilação mecânica 2013. Parte I / Brazilian recommendations of mechanical ventilation 2013. Part I

O suporte ventilatório artificial invasivo e não invasivo ao paciente crítico tem evoluído e inúmeras evidências têm surgido, podendo ter impacto na melhora da sobrevida e da qualidade do atendimento oferecido nas unidades de terapia intensiva no Brasil. Isto posto, a Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira (AMIB) e a Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumonia e Tisiologia (SBPT) - representadas pelo seus Comitê de Ventilação Mecânica e Comissão de Terapia Intensiva, respectivamente, decidiram revisar a literatura e preparar recomendações sobre ventilação mecânica objetivando oferecer aos associados um documento orientador das melhores práticas da ventilação mecânica na beira do leito, baseado nas evidencias existentes, sobre os 29 subtemas selecionados como mais relevantes no assunto. O projeto envolveu etapas visando distribuir os subtemas relevantes ao assunto entre experts indicados por ambas as sociedades que tivessem publicações recentes no assunto e/ou atividades relevantes em ensino e pesquisa no Brasil na área de ventilação mecânica. Esses profissionais, divididos por subtemas em duplas, responsabilizaram-se por fazer revisão extensa da literatura mundial sobre cada subtema. Reuniram-se todos no Forum de Ventilação Mecânica na sede da AMIB em São Paulo, em 03 e 04 de agosto de 2013 para finalização conjunta do texto de cada subtema e apresentação, apreciação, discussão e aprovação em plenária pelos 58 participantes, permitindo a elaboração de um documento final.

Perspectives on invasive and noninvasive ventilatory support for critically ill patients are evolving, as much evidence indicates that ventilation may have positive effects on patient survival and the quality of the care provided in intensive care units in Brazil. For those reasons, the Brazilian Association of Intensive Care Medicine (Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira - AMIB) and the Brazilian Thoracic Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumonia e Tisiologia - SBPT), represented by the Mechanical Ventilation Committee and the Commission of Intensive Therapy, respectively, decided to review the literature and draft recommendations for mechanical ventilation with the goal of creating a document for bedside guidance as to the best practices on mechanical ventilation available to their members. The document was based on the available evidence regarding 29 subtopics selected as the most relevant for the subject of interest. The project was developed in several stages, during which the selected topics were distributed among experts recommended by both societies with recent publications on the subject of interest and/or significant teaching and research activity in the field of mechanical ventilation in Brazil. The experts were divided into pairs that were charged with performing a thorough review of the international literature on each topic. All the experts met at the Forum on Mechanical Ventilation, which was held at the headquarters of AMIB in São Paulo on August 3 and 4, 2013, to collaboratively draft the final text corresponding to each sub-topic, which was presented to, appraised, discussed and approved in a plenary session that included all 58 participants and aimed to create the final document.

Clinical recommendations for postoperative care after heart transplantation in children: 21 years of a single-center experience

Heart transplantation is an option for children with complex congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathies. A patient's quality of life and long-term survival depend on successful management of the surgical complications and adverse side effects of immunosuppression. The purpose of this review was to summarize the practical management of postoperative care in this patient population and to make recommendations for the future.

High levels of B-type natriuretic peptide predict weaning failure from mechanical ventilation in adult patients after cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE: The failure to wean from mechanical ventilation is related to worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the serum level of B-type natriuretic peptide is a predictor of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of 101 patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. B-type natriuretic peptide was measured postoperatively after intensive care unit admission and at the end of a 60-min spontaneous breathing test. The demographic data, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, fluid balance, need for vasopressor or inotropic support, and length of the intensive care unit and hospital stays were recorded. Weaning failure was considered as either the inability to sustain spontaneous breathing after 60 min or the need for reintubation within 48 h. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients studied, 12 patients failed the weaning trial. There were no differences between the groups in the baseline or intraoperative characteristics, including left ventricular function, EuroSCORE and lengths of the cardiac procedure and cardiopulmonary bypass. The B-type natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher at intensive care unit admission and at the end of the breathing test in the patients with weaning failure compared with the patients who were successfully weaned. In a multivariate model, a high B-type natriuretic peptide level at the end of a spontaneous breathing trial was the only independent predictor of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: A high B-type natriuretic peptide level is a predictive factor for the failure to wean from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. These findings suggest that optimizing ventricular function should be a goal during the perioperative period.

Diaphragmatic pacing stimulation in spinal cord injury: anesthetic and perioperative management

OBJECTIVE: The standard therapy for patients with high-level spinal cord injury is long-term mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy. However, in some cases, this approach results in death or disability. The aim of this study is to highlight the anesthetics and perioperative aspects of patients undergoing insertion of a diaphragmatic pacemaker. METHODS: Five patients with quadriplegia following high cervical traumatic spinal cord injury and ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure were implanted with a laparoscopic diaphragmatic pacemaker after preoperative assessments of their phrenic nerve function and diaphragm contractility through transcutaneous nerve stimulation. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01385384. RESULTS: The diaphragmatic pacemaker placement was successful in all of the patients. Two patients presented with capnothorax during the perioperative period, which resolved without consequences. After six months, three patients achieved continuous use of the diaphragm pacing system, and one patient could be removed from mechanical ventilation for more than 4 hours per day. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of a diaphragmatic phrenic system is a new and safe technique with potential to improve the quality of life of patients who are dependent on mechanical ventilation because of spinal cord injuries. Appropriate indication and adequate perioperative care are fundamental to achieving better results.

Particularidades clínicas e fisioterapêuticas de crianças submetidas à cirurgia de cardiopatias congênitas / Clinical and physical therapy particularities of children after congenital heart disease surgeries

Os avanços importantes nas últimas décadas que ocorreram no campo das cardiopatias congênitas, sobretudo na melhoria implantada nas unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos, a melhor compreensão e o diagnóstico preciso das alterações hemodinâmicas associados aos avanços nos procedimentos cirúrgicos têm apresentado repercussões importantes na melhora da expectativa de vida destes pacientes. O atendimento cardiológico pediátrico torna-sedesafio para toda equipe multiprofissional, uma vez que o impacto das cardiopatias tem repercussões significativas na qualidade de vida destes. A fisioterapia, como membro desta equipe, deve buscar o aperfeiçoamento constante de suas técnicas para contribuir coma otimização com cuidados destes pacientes. Foi realizada uma revisão com diferentes elementos abordando aspectos clínicos e cirúrgicos, bem(AU) como a atuação da fisioterapia diante de pacientes com cardiopatias congênitas.

The important advances in recent decades that occurred in the field of congenital heart disease, especially in improving in pediatric intensive care units, better understanding and accurate assessmentof hemodynamic changes associated with advances in surgical procedures have shown significant impact in increasing survival ofthese patients. The pediatric cardiac care becomes an important issueto multidisciplinary team, since the impact of heart disease has a significant impact on quality of life. Physical therapy, as a memberof this team, should search and propose the constant improvement of its techniques to contribute to optimizing care of these patients.A review was made with different elements addressing clinical and surgical aspects and the role of physical therapy on patients with congenital heart disease.