Dor torácica na emergência: quando pensar em síndrome de Takotsubo? / Emergency chest pain: when to think about Takotsubo syndrome?

A síndrome de Takotsubo é uma cardiomiopatia induzida por estresse, caracterizada por disfunção transitória do ventrículo esquerdo. Essa disfunção pode ser confundida com infarto agudo miocárdio na sala de emergência por ter características clínicas semelhantes ­ principalmente a dor torácica. A fisiopatologia ainda não é bem definida, mas está associada à deficiência de estrogênio e ao aumento de catecolaminas que estimulam o acoplamento dos receptores beta-2 do coração, o que resulta em atividade inotrópica negativa, levando à disfunção contrátil do ventrículo esquerdo. As enzimas cardíacas alteradas dificultam ainda mais o diagnóstico da síndrome de Takotsubo. O exame padrão-ouro, que diferencia a síndrome de Takotsubo do infarto agudo do miocárdio, é a angiografia coronariana. Uma das opções na emergência é o ecocardiograma na beira do leito. Além disso, os critérios de Mayo devem ser usados para diagnosticar a síndrome de Takotsubo. É importante, para o profissional que trabalha no pronto-socorro, ter a síndrome de Takotsubo como diagnóstico diferencial na dor torácica.

Takotsubo syndrome is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy characterized by a transient left ventricular dysfunction. This dysfunction can be confused with acute myocardial infarction in the emergency room as it has similar clinical characteristics, especially chest pain. Its pathophysiology is not yet well defined, but is associated with estrogen deficiency and increased catecholamines that stimulate the coupling of cardiac beta-2 receptors, resulting in negative inotropic activity and leading to contractile dysfunction of the left ventricle. Altered cardiac enzymes make the diagnosis of Takotsubo syndrome even more difficult. The gold standard exam that will differentiate Takotsubo syndrome from acute myocardial infarction is coronary angiography. One of the options in the emergency room is bedside echocardiography. In addition, Mayo criteria should be used to diagnose Takotsubo syndrome. Professionals working in the emergency room shall have Takotsubo syndrome as a differential diagnosis in chest pain.

Inferolateral post-myocardial infarction pseudoaneurysm. A rare case report / Pseudoaneurisma pós-infarto inferolateral. Um raro relato de caso

ABSTRACT: We report the case of a 76-year-old male patient with a history of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for 3 years. He was admitted to the Emergency Room with a new chest pain episode that began 40 days before and was diagnosed with left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm through 3D transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging scans. The patient underwent angiography of the coronary arteries, identifying lesions with a multiarterial pattern. Surgical treatment and LV aneurysmectomy were performed with good clinical evolution.

RESUMO: Relatamos um caso de paciente do sexo masculino, de 76 anos, com antecedente de infarto agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (IAMCSST) há 3 anos. Foi admitido na unidade de pronto-socorro com nova dor torácica de início há 40 dias, sendo diagnosticado com pseudoaneurisma do ventrículo esquerdo por meio de exames de imagem (ecocardiograma transtorácico tridimensional e ressonância magnética cardíaca), tendo sido submetido a estudo angiográfico das coronárias, com identificação de lesões com padrão multiarterial. Foi realizado tratamento cirúrgico, aneurismectomia do ventrículo esquerdo, com boa evolução clínica.

Related risk factors of PET/CT detected coronary microvascular disease in patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the related factors of the coronary microvascular disease (CMD) diagnosed with positron emission tomography(PET)/CT in patients with chest pain and without obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCA). Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with chest pain and NOCA on coronary angiography, who underwent PET/CT quantitative myocardial blood flow measurements at TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital from August 2018 to January 2019, were enrolled for this study. The diagnostic criteria for NOCA was the absence of coronary artery diameter stenosis ≥50% on coronary angiography. Clinical data, global left ventricular myocardial blood flow on stress and rest, and the coronary flow reserve (CFR) were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to CFR. Patients with CFR<2 were defined as CMD group, and the rest were classified as control group. Pearson correlation analysis and Logistics regression analysis were used for exploring the risk factors of the CMD. Results: A total of 66 patients, with an mean age of (56.7±9.6) years, were included in the study, including 41 females (62%). There were 20 patients with CMD (30%). Body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in CND group than in control group ((28.1±3.6) kg/m2 vs. (25.6±3.5) kg/m2, P=0.01). Total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were also significantly higher in CMD group than in control group ((4.89±1.03) mmol/L vs. (4.30±1.02) mmol/L and (3.23±0.81) mmol/L vs. (2.71±0.95) mmol/L respectively, P=0.038). Pearson correlation analysis showed that CFR was moderately correlated with BMI (r=-0.45, P<0.001), and was weakly correlated with TC and LDL-C (r=-0.271 and r=-0.280, respectively, P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (the risk of CMD increased by 1.528 times for every 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, 95%CI 1.083-5.897, P<0.05) was an independent risk factor of CMD after adjusted by gender, hypertension, diabetic mellites and LDL-C. Conclusion: For patients with NOCA and chest pain, high BMI is independent risk factor of CMD diagnosed by PET/CT.

Telecardiology on the diagnostic support of chest pain in twenty-two Emergency Care Units (UPA 24h) in the State of Rio de Janeiro / Telecardiology on the diagnostic support of chest pain in twenty-two Emergency Care Units (UPA 24h) in the State of Rio de Janeiro

Background: Telecardiology may be a useful support in diagnosis and management of chest pain. Objective: Evaluate the application of telecardiology to support the differential diagnosis of chest pain in patients admitted to Emergency Care Units. Method: Observational, retrospective and documental study of 5,816 patients admitted with supposedly cardiological chest pain in twenty two Emergency Care Units in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data were tabulated and analyzed by Excel® software, using simple descriptive statistics, from the database of the Cardiology Consultancy Nucleus. Results: Diagnostic disagreement was found in 1,593 (27.39%) cases. Of these, 1,477 (92.72%) were diagnosed locally as non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI), 74 (4.64%) as acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI), 40 (2.52%) as acute pulmonary edema (APE) and 2 (0.12%) as tachyarrhythmia. Intensive care referral was requested to 100% of these patients. After telecardiology, the diagnoses were: 385 (24.17%) unstable angina, 289 (18.14%) congestive heart failure, 212 (13.31%) APE, 174 (10.92%) STEMI, 152 (9.54%) hypertensive emergency, 113 (7.09%) acute chronic renal failure, 89 (5.59%) non-STEMI, 89 (5.59%) pneumonia, 39 (2.45%) sepsis, 26 (1.63 %) myopericarditis, 20 (1.26%) tachyarrhythmia and 5 (0.31%) orovalvar disease. The outcome after telecardiology was 1,178 discharges (73.94%), 338 (21.21%) referrals, 62 (3.90%) deaths and 15 (0.95%) unknown. Conclusion: Telecardiology was effective in chest pain diagnosis and management, optimizing hospital admission in the public health system

Neumomediastino espontáneo recidivante / Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

El neumomediastino espontáneo se caracteriza por la presencia de aire en el mediastino. Es una enfermedad generalmente benigna y autolimitada, no asociada a causa directa conocida. Es de infrecuente ocurrencia. Se presenta principalmente con dolor torácico, disnea y enfisema subcutáneo. El diagnóstico se realiza sobre la base del cuadro clínico y radiografía o tomografía axial computarizada de tórax. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 17 años de edad, atleta de alto rendimiento, que comienza de forma súbita con dolor torácico, disnea y enfisema subcutáneo. Se le realizó radiografía de tórax en la que se observa la presencia de aire en el mediastino, y se corrobora el diagnóstico de neumomediastino mediante tomografía axial computarizada de tórax. Recibió tratamiento conservador con mejoría evidente. Aunque la literatura reporta que no es habitual la recurrencia, en el paciente que se presenta hubo recidiva del neumomediastino a los tres meses del primer evento. Se presenta este caso por lo infrecuente de esta enfermedad y su recurrencia(AU)

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is characterized by the presence of air in the mediastinum. It is a generally benign and self-limiting disease, not associated with known direct cause. It is of infrequent occurrence. It presents mainly with chest pain, dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema. The diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture and chest X-ray or computed tomography. It is presented a male patient of 17 years old, a high performance athlete, who started suddenly with chest pain, dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema. A chest x-ray was performed and the presence of air in the mediastinum was observed, confirming the diagnosis of pneumomediastinum by means of computerized tomography of the thorax. He received conservative treatment with obvious improvement. Although the literature reports that recurrence is not common, there was a recurrence of the pneumomediastinum three months after the first event. This case is presented because of the infrequence of this condition and its recurrence(AU)

Seguridad de la angiografía por tomografía computada coronaria en pacientes con dolor torácico agudo para el alta del servicio de urgencias / Safety of coronary computed tomography angiography in patients with acute chest pain in the Emergency Department

Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre la angiografía por tomografía computada (angio-TC) coronaria y el desarrollo de un evento coronario agudo en los primeros 6 meses en pacientes adultos con dolor torácico agudo, atendidos en el servicio de urgencias de una clínica de nivel iv de atención. Materiales y métodos: Entre febrero de 2012 y de 2014, se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo en pacientes adultos que consultaron al servicio de urgencias por un dolor torácico agudo. Todos (n = 62) fueron estudiados por angio-TC coronaria en un tomógrafo Siemens de 40 detectores. Del total, se incluyeron para el análisis a 46 pacientes con resultado negativo o estenosis menor del 50%, a los que se les realizó un seguimiento telefónico o por historia clínica de 6 meses de duración. Se excluyeron los casos a los que no se les pudo hacer un control en los 6 meses posteriores o que tuvieron una estenosis mayor del 50%. Resultados: En la angio-TC se encontraron coronarias sanas en 37 (80%) pacientes y placas no obstructivas en 9 (20%). De los 46 casos incluidos, ninguno presentó un evento coronario agudo o muerte secundaria a este durante los 6 meses de seguimiento. Conclusión: La angio-TC coronaria es una ayuda diagnóstica útil para la valoración de pacientes con dolor torácico agudo. Constituye una herramienta segura y de rápida realización, que permite definir los resultados negativos o la existencia de placas no obstructivas desde el mismo servicio de urgencias

Objective: To determine the relationship between the results of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and the development of acute coronary events during the first six months of following in adult patients with acute chest pain seen in the emergency department of an iv level hospital. Materials and methods: A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted that included patients with chest pain that were seen in the emergency department, between February 2012 and February 2014. All of them (n = 62) underwent coronary CT angiography in a 40 detector Siemens CT scanner. The 46 patients who had a negative result or a non-obstructive plaque were included in the analysis, and were followed up over 6 months through medical records or by telephone. Patients who were not able to be tracked during the 6 months, or who had a coronary obstructive plaque greater than 50%, were excluded. Results: Coronary CT angiography was performed on 46 patients, finding healthy coronary arteries in 37 (80%) cases and non-obstructive plaques in 9 (20%). There were no acute coronary events or deaths secondary to this during the follow-up period of 6 months. Conclusión: Coronary CT angiography is a useful diagnostic aid for the evaluation of patients with acute chest pain. It is a safe tool and rapid to perform, which allows defining negative results or the existence of a non-obstructive plaque in the emergency department itself.

Plasma Levels of Soluble CD146 Reflect the Severity of Pulmonary Congestion Better Than Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure negatively affects short-term outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, reliable and non-invasive assessment of pulmonary congestion is needed to select patients requiring more intensive monitoring and therapy. Since plasma levels of natriuretic peptides are influenced by myocardial ischemia, they might not reliably reflect congestion in the context of ACS. The novel endothelial biomarker, soluble CD146 (sCD146), presents discriminative power for detecting the cardiac origin of acute dyspnea similar to that of natriuretic peptides and is associated with systemic congestion. We evaluated the performance of sCD146 for the assessment of pulmonary congestion in the early phase of ACS. METHODS: One thousand twenty-one consecutive patients with ACS were prospectively enrolled. Plasma levels of sCD146, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and high-sensitive troponin T were measured within 24 hr after the onset of chest pain. Pulmonary congestion on chest radiography was determined and classified in three groups according to the degree of congestion. RESULTS: Nine hundred twenty-seven patients with ACS were analyzed. Ninety-two (10%) patients showed signs of pulmonary edema on chest radiography. Plasma levels of sCD146 reflected the radiological severity of pulmonary congestion. Higher plasma levels of sCD146 were associated with the worse degree of pulmonary congestion. In contrast to BNP, sCD146 levels were not affected by the level of troponin T. CONCLUSIONS: The novel endothelial biomarker, sCD146, correlates with radiological severity of pulmonary congestion in the early phase of ACS and, in contrast to BNP, is not affected by the amount of myocardial cell necrosis.

multi slice computed tomography coronary angiographic study of coronary artery disease in soldiers with chest pain

The study is sought to highlight the role and results of MSCT angiography in scenario of acute chest pain to determine or exclude significant coronary artery disease in patients who do not have high risk features for significant coronary disease. Descriptive study. Computed topography department, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, National Institute of Heart Diseases Rawalpindi from September 2013 to December 2013. A total of 150 patients [soldiers] who were referred to this hospital with chest pain and who did not have high risk features were evaluated by multi slice computed coronary angiography. One hundred and fifty patients who reported to this hospital with chest pain were evaluated by multi slice computed tomography [MSCT] angiography. Their age ranged from 20 to 53 years. Cases studied were those having low probability of coronary artery disease. Patients having high probability of coronary disease, acute coronary syndrome or definite coronary artery disease were excluded from this study and were evaluated by conventional coronary angiography, 114 [76%] patients showed normal coronary arteries. 6 [4%] had subcritical coronary disease, 5 [3.33%] had only minor irregularity in coronary arteries, 4 [2.66%] had significant coronary artery disease that necessitated coronary angiogram. 16 [10.66%] cases had muscle bridge in left anterior descending artery. One [0.66%] patient had patent graft after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Three [2%] patient's had patent stents in coronary arteries. While 1[0.66%] patient had aberrant origin of coronary artery. There were no side effects observed during study. Patients presenting with chest pain with low risk features can be studied conveniently with MSCT angiography. Prevalence of significant coronary artery disease is low. MSCT angiography is a very useful, convenient and safe tool to screen low risk patients to rule out presence of significant coronary artery disease

Predictors of positive chest radiography in non-traumatic chest pain in the emergency department

To determine predictors associated with positive chest x-ray finding in patients presenting with non-traumatic chest pain in the Emergency Department [ED]. Health records, including the final radiology reports of all patients who presented with non-traumatic chest pain and had a chest x-ray performed in an urban Canadian tertiary care ED over four consecutive months were reviewed Demographic and clinical variables were also extracted Chest x-ray findings were categorized as normal [either normal or no significant change from previous x-rays] or abnormal* Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between various predictors and chest x-ray finding [positive/negative]. The 330 study patients had the following characteristics: mean age 58 +/- 20 years; female 41% [n=134] Patients' chief complaints were only chest pain 75% [n=248], chest pain with shortness of breath 12% [n=41], chest pain with palpitation 4% [n=14], chest pain with other complaints 9% [n=28] Chest x-rays were reported as normal or no acute changes in 81% [n=266] of patients, and abnormal in 19% [n=64] of patients* The most common abnormal chest x-ray diagnoses were congestive heart failure [n=28; 8%] and pneumonia [n=17; 5%] Those with abnormal chest x-ray findings were significantly older [71 versus 55 years; p<0.001], had chest pain with shortness of breath [36% versus 11%; p<0.001], had significant past medical history [39% versus 14%; p<0.001], and were also tachypnoic [31% versus 12%; p<0.001]. This study found that patients with non-traumatic chest pain are likely to have a normal chest x-ray if they were young, not tachypnoeic or short of breath, and had no significant past medical history. A larger study is required to confirm these findings