Endovascular Neurosurgery in the Northern Macro-Region of Rio Grande do Sul: Part I

Introduction The city of Passo Fundo, in the north of the Rio Grande do Sul state, has been standing out in the health care field for many years. The state has become a reference in endovascular interventional neuroradiology. We will cover 10 years of experience in this area and divide our observations in 3 parts: cerebral angiograms (part I), carotid angioplasties (part II) and intracranial aneurysms (part III). The goal of part I is to statistically assess the cerebral angiograms, their indications, risks and complications, as well as to do a technical review. Materials and Methods A retrospective study from 2005 to 2015 with a total of 5,567 interventional neuroradiology procedures performed. A total of 4,114 angiograms, 639 embolizations of intracranial aneurysms, 414 carotid angioplasties, 143 embolizations of cerebral arteriovenous malformations, 32 embolizations of dural arteriovenous fistulas, 102 cerebral vasospasm treatments, 21 treatments of epistaxis, 36 embolizations of craniocervical tumor, 25 thrombolysis of ischemic stroke, 18 vertebroplasties and 13 embolizations of arteriovenous malformations of the face. Results A total of 4,084 procedures performed, 21,811 vessels studied, average vase 7.62/2.82 vessel and patient/procedure. Of these, 2,536 were diagnostic procedures and 1,548 angiographic controls. Of the total, 1,188 patients received only an angiogram, 27.14% of which were therapeutic procedures. We obtained a total of 3.89% complications: 2.33% reflection vasovagal, 0.56% allergic skin reaction, anaphylactic shock 0.07%, 0.27% femoral hematoma, 0.26% transient neurological deficit, 0.12% permanent neurological deficit and no case of death. Conclusion Cerebral angiography in adults, children and infants is a safe procedure with low risk of permanent neurological complications.

Reseña histórica de la cardiología en el Estado Falcón / Cardiology in Falcón State a historical review

A partir de un pequeño y precario hospital construido en Coro a fines del siglo XVI hasta el moderno Hospital Universitario Alfredo Van Grieken, la medicina y la cardiología falconianas han recorrido un largo periplo. Con menguado recursos en sus comienzos, los médicos del Estado Falcón han sabido sobreponerse a todas las vicisitudes y dificultades para llevar adelante la tarea de ayuda de sus pacientes. Su perseverante afan por el progreso queda demostrado al ocupar el 2° lugar (antes que Caracas) entre los primeros en emplear los Rayos X confines diágnósticos. Sus mejores esfuerzos fueron dedicados a la construcción de hospitales públicos y no privados, lo cual nos habla de un encomiable espíritu en procura del bien colectivo. Este trabajo va dirigido a los jóvenes profesionales médicos de hoy, para que, inspirados en el interés social de que hicieron gala sus predecedores, se encaminen por la honrosa senda de un ejercicio genuinamente humanitario.

Medicine and cardiology in Falcon have made a long journey, from their beginning at a small, modest hospital built in Coro at the end of the 16 th century to themodern Alfredo Van Grieken University Hospital. With only limited resource in their early days, the doctors of the State of Falcón have managed to overcome all kinds of vicissitudes and dificulties in order to perform the tesk of helpíng their patients. Proof of their persistent desire for progress is the fact that Falcón was among the first states to employ x-reys for diagnostic purposes, coming second (ahead of Caracas). Their most admirable efforts were in the construction of public and non-private hospitals, which speaks of praiseworthy public spiritedness. This paper is aimed at today´s young medical professionals so that, inspired by the lack of interest in monetary gain displayed by their predecessors, they travel the honorable path of practicing their profession in a genuinely humanitarian manner.

A history of cardiology in Jamaica

The history of cardiology in Jamaica is conveniently considered in decades beginning in the 1950s. The decade of the 1950s was characterized by early descriptions of the pattern of cardiac disease in adults and children in Jamaica, the establishment of a cardiac clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies and early cardiac surgical landmarks. Extensive preparatory experimental work in the canine laboratory with respect to cardiopulmonary bypass in the early to mid-1960s culminated in the successful completion of the first open heart surgical procedure in April, 1968. Cardiac catheterization was also increasingly developed in the decade of the 1960s. A highlight of the decade of the 1970s was the establishment of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica which began contributing greatly to preventive cardiology in Jamaica by providing a variety of programmes of prevention. In the decade of the 1980s, non-invasive cardiac diagnostic facilities in Jamaica were considerably enhanced by the introduction and development of echocardiography, treadmill exercise testing and ambulatory electrocardiography. In addition, the very important National Rheumatic Fever prevention programme was established. The cardiac catheterization laboratory was re-opened in the 1990s, thus allowing the performance of coronary arteriography in Jamaica for the first time, and interventional cardiology procedures soon followed. The Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac disease was also established in this decade. The vision for the new millennium of [quot ]A heart healthy Jamaica in the 21st century[quot ] is achievable, but will require appropriate emphasis on expanded preventive and curative cardiology programmes