Avaliação ecocardiográfica do paciente com choque circulatório: uma abordagem contemporânea / Echocardiographic evaluation of a patient in circulatory shock: a contemporary approach

O choque circulatório é caracterizado por um estado de ineficiência da oferta de oxigênio tecidual e disfunção múltipla de órgãos. Necessita de diagnóstico e terapias rápidas e assertivas para redução de sua alta letalidade. O ecocardiograma já se estabeleceu como método fundamental no manejo do paciente com choque circulatório. Auxilia de forma crucial no diagnóstico etiológico, prognóstico, monitorização hemodinâmica e estimativa volêmica desses pacientes, tendo como potenciais vantagens a portabilidade, ausência de contraste ou radiação, baixo custo e avaliação em tempo real e de forma seriada. Em ambiente de UTI, demonstra alta correlação com formas invasivas (cateter de artéria pulmonar) e minimamente invasivas (termodiluição transpulmonar) de monitorização hemodinâmica. Atualmente, outras técnicas, como ultrassom pulmonar e VExUS score, têm se agregado à avaliação ecocardiográfica, tornando o método mais abrangente e acurado. Essas técnicas acrescentam dados relevantes na estimativa da volemia do paciente crítico, influenciando na decisão probabilística de fluidoresponsividade e agregando informações no raciocínio diagnóstico das causas do choque, otimizando o prognóstico desses pacientes. O point of care ultrasound (POCUS) tem como objetivo tornar mais acessível, ao médico não especialista em radiologia, habilidades para se obter informações a beira leito, por meio do ultrassom, que o ajudem na tomada de decisões. Esse artigo aborda as diversas aplicabilidades do ecocardiograma em pacientes com choque circulatório, incluindo avaliação prognóstica e diagnóstico etiológico por meio dos parâmetros encontrados nas principais causas de choque, além da monitorização hemodinâmica, avaliação de fluido-responsividade e utilização prática do ultrassom pulmonar.(AU)

Circulatory shock is characterized by a state of inefficient tissue oxygen supply and multiple organ dysfunction. Patients with circulatory shock require fast and assertive diagnosis and therapies to reduce its high lethality. Echocardiography has already been established as a fundamental method in managing patients with circulatory shock. It provides crucial assistance in etiological diagnosis, prognosis, hemodynamic monitoring, and volume estimation in these patients; its potential advantages include portability, absence of contrast or radiation, low cost, and real-time serial assessment. In the intensive care unit setting, it demonstrates a high correlation with invasive (pulmonary artery catheter) and minimally invasive (transpulmonary thermodilution) forms of hemodynamic monitoring. Currently, other techniques, such as pulmonary ultrasound and VExUS score, have been added to echocardiographic assessment, making the method more comprehensive and accurate. These techniques add relevant data to blood volume estimation in critical patients, influencing the probabilistic decision of fluid responsiveness and providing additional information in the diagnostic reasoning of the causes of shock, thus optimizing these patients' prognosis. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) aims to make abilities to obtain information at the bedside more accessible to physicians who are not specialists in radiology, by means of ultrasound, which assists them in decision-making. This article addresses the diverse applications of echocardiography in patients with circulatory shock, including prognostic evaluation and etiological diagnosis by means of the parameters found in the main causes of shock, in addition to hemodynamic monitoring, evaluation of fluid responsiveness, and practical use of pulmonary ultrasound.(AU)

Como eu faço no Coração de Atleta: avaliação dos diferentes tipos de adaptação ao exercício / My approach to "Athlete'S Heart": evaluation of the different types of adaptation to exercise

A prática regular de esportes pode induzir adaptações no coração, sendo essa condição comumente chamada de "coração de atleta". As alterações observadas incluem dilatação das câmaras cardíacas, aumento da espessura miocárdica, melhora do enchimento ventricular, aumento da trabeculação do ventrículo esquerdo (VE), dilatação da veia cava inferior, entre outras. Essas alterações também podem ser observadas em algumas doenças cardíacas, como cardiomiopatia (CMP) dilatada, hipertrófica e outras. Dessa forma, os exames de imagem cardíaca são fundamentais na identificação dessas alterações e na diferenciação entre o "coração de atleta" e uma possível cardiopatia.(AU)

Exercise-induced adaptation may occur in amateur and professional athletes. This condition is commonly named "athlete's heart". The alterations observed include dilation of the heart chambers, increased myocardial thickness, improved ventricular filling, increased left ventricular trabeculation, dilation of the inferior vena cava, among others. These changes can also be observed in some heart diseases, such as dilated, hypertrophic and other cardiomyopathies (CMP). Thus, cardiac imaging tests are fundamental in identifying these alterations and in differentiating between "athlete's heart" and possible heart disease. (AU)

Coração em Criss-Cross: um relato de caso / Criss-Cross Heart: a case report

Coração em criss-cross (ou coração entrecruzado) foi descrito pela primeira vez em 1974. Trata-se de uma malformação cardíaca congênita, rara, ocorrendo 8 casos a cada 1.000.000 de crianças, e representando somente 0,1% das malformações congênitas. Os métodos diagnósticos de escolha são o ecocardiograma transtorácico, a ressonância magnética cardíaca (RMC), a angiotomografia (TC) e, eventualmente, o cateterismo cardíaco. Neste relato, descreve-se o caso de um recém-nascido com coração em criss-cross somado à dupla via de saída do ventrículo direito (VD), com vasos mal posicionados, além de comunicação interatrial (CIA), comunicação interventricular (CIV), displasia de valva tricúspide e veia cava superior esquerda persistente. Não se sabe a etiologia exata dessa malformação, mas parece ocorrer pela rotação dos ventrículos em seu eixo longitudinal, não acompanhada das rotações atrial e das valvas atrioventriculares (AV). Esse movimento produz uma alteração das vias de entrada dos ventrículos, determinando que o VD se posicione em plano superior e o esquerdo em plano inferior. Apesar de ainda não se saber a exata causa dessa anomalia, acredita-se que uma alteração genética possa estar levando a esses casos: a mutação do gene Cx43. O diagnóstico do caso em questão foi dado pela ecocardiografia transtorácica e da TC de aorta e artérias pulmonares, que mostraram, além do criss-cross, outras alterações, como dupla via de saída do VD, CIA e CIV amplas.(AU)

Criss-cross heart was first described in 1974. It is a rare congenital heart malformation that occurs in 8 cases per 1,000,000 children, and represents only 0.1% of congenital malformations. The diagnostic methods of choice are transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), computed tomography angiography (CT) and, sometimes, cardiac catheterization. This report describes the case of a newborn with a criss-cross heart in addition to double-outlet right ventricle (RV), with poorly positioned vessels, in addition to atrial septal defect (ASD), interventricular septal defect, tricuspid valve dysplasia and persistent left superior vena cava. The exact etiology of this malformation is not known, but it seems to occur due to rotation of the ventricles in their longitudinal axis, not accompanied by rotation of the atrial and atrioventricular (AV) valves. This movement produces abnormal ventricular inlets, determining that the RV be positioned on a superior plane and the left ventricle on an inferior plane. Although the exact cause of this anomaly is still unknown, it is believed that a genetic abnormality may be leading to these cases: mutation of the Cx43 gene. Diagnosis of the case concerned was given by transthoracic echocardiography and computed CT of the aorta and pulmonary arteries, which showed, in addition to the criss-cross heart, other abnormalities, such as double-outlet RV, large ASD and ventricular septal defect (VSD).(AU)

Mecanismos de adaptação do coração em atletas de elite do sexo feminino: comparação com indivíduos sadios e tempo de treinamento / Heart adaptation mechanisms in elite female athletes: comparison with healthy individuals and time of training

Fundamento: O exercício intenso e continuado em atletas provoca fenótipos de remodelamento adaptativo, cujos parâmetros podem ser avaliados pela ecocardiografia convencional, e de deformação miocárdica. Assim, foi comparado o remodelamento miocárdico em atletas do sexo feminino (grupo atletas) com mulheres sedentárias da mesma faixa etária (grupo-controle) e entre atletas com maior e menor tempo de treinamento. Métodos: Foram selecionadas 57 futebolistas femininas (grupo atletas) e 25 mulheres sadias sedentárias (grupocontrole). As atletas foram divididas em dois grupos: grupo principal, com 32 atletas, e grupo sub-17, com 25 atletas. Foram determinadas, através de ecocardiografia, as dimensões, a função sistólica e diastólica das câmaras cardíacas e a deformação miocárdica (strain longitudinal, circunferencial, radial e mecânica rotacional), utilizando a estatística Z com significância de p < 0,05. Resultados: A idade dos grupos atletas, controle, principal e sub-17 foi de 22,1±6,3; 21,2±5,0; 26,5±5,1; e 16,5±0,6, respectivamente. O peso, o índice de massa corporal e a frequência cardíaca foram menores no grupo atletas. A espessura das paredes, o índice de massa do ventrículo esquerdo (VE), o volume do átrio esquerdo (AE), a fração de ejeção e as dimensões do ventrículo direito (VD) foram maiores no grupo atletas, mas dentro de valores normais. A deformação miocárdica mostrou diminuição do strain radial, da rotação basal, da rotação apical e do twist, sugerindo mecanismo de reserva contrátil. Esses parâmetros foram menores no grupo principal, que também apresentava maior espessura das paredes, maior volume do AE e maior tamanho do VD, sugerindo que o aumento da reserva contrátil se relaciona com maior tempo de treinamento. Conclusões: As atletas do sexo feminino com treinamento intenso de longa duração apresentam remodelamento adaptativo das câmaras cardíacas e aumento da reserva contrátil observada em repouso, com esses parâmetros mais acentuados nas atletas com maior tempo de treinamento.(AU)

Background: Intense continuous exercise provokes adaptive remodeling phenotypes in athletes, the parameters of which can be evaluated through conventional echocardiography and myocardial deformation. We compared myocardial remodeling in female athletes (athlete group) with sedentary women of the same age range (control group) and between older and younger athletes. Methods: A total of 57 female soccer players and 25 healthy sedentary women were selected. The athlete group was subdivided into a main group and those under 17 years of age (< 17 group). The dimensions and systolic and diastolic function of the cardiac chambers and myocardial deformation (longitudinal and circumferential, as well as radial strain and rotational mechanics) was determined through echocardiography, using the Z statistic with a significance level of p< 0.05. Results: The mean age of the athlete, control, main, and < 17 groups was 22.1 (SD, 6.3); 21.2 (SD, 5.0); 26.5 (SD, 5.1); 16.5 (SD, 0.6) years, respectively. Weight, body mass index and heart rate were lower in the athlete group. Wall thickness, left ventricular mass index, left atrial (LA) volume, ejection fraction, and right ventricular dimensions were higher in athlete group, but remained within normal ranges. Regarding myocardial deformation, there was decreased radial strain, basal rotation, apical rotation, and twisting in the athlete group, suggesting a contractile reserve mechanism. These parameters were lesser in the main athlete group, who also had greater wall thickness, greater volume in the left atrium (LA) and larger size in the right ventricle (RV), suggesting that increased contractile reserve is related to longer time spent in the sport. Conclusions: In female athletes who had undergone intense long-term training, we observed adaptive remodeling of the cardiac chambers and increased contractile reserve (at rest), and these changes were more pronounced in those with longer involvement in the sport.(AU)

Monitorización hemodinámica integrada: clínica, gasométrica y ecocardiográfica / Integrated hemodynamic monitoring: clinical, gasometric and echocardiographic / Monitorização hemodinâmica integrada: clínica, gasométrica e ecocardiográfica

Introducción: la monitorización hemodinámica constituye un conjunto de técnicas y parámetros que permiten valo rar si la función cardiovascular es la adecuada para mantener la perfusión y la oxigenación tisular que permita sa tisfacer las demandas metabólicas del organismo, valorar el estado y el comportamiento del sistema cardiovascular, orientando sobre la mejor estrategia terapéutica. La presente revisión busca proporcionar una descripción general e integrada de las diferentes técnicas de monitorización, así como aspectos fisiológicos relevantes para su entendi miento y empleo terapéutico. La monitorización hemodinámica acompañada de un adecuado conocimiento de la fisiología cardiovascular permite determinar el estado del sistema cardiovascular, la condición hemodinámica del paciente y la estrategia terapéutica requerida. Su interpretación debe partir de la integración y la correlación de diversos parámetros hemodinámicos.

Introduction: hemodynamic monitoring is a set of techniques and parameters that allow evaluating whether cardio vascular function is adequate to maintain tissue perfusion and oxygenation to satisfy metabolic demands of the or ganism, assess the condition and behavior of the cardiovascular system, providing guidance on the best therapeutic strategy. This review seeks to provide a general and integrated description of the different monitoring techniques, as well as physiological aspects relevant to their understanding and therapeutic use. Hemodynamic monitoring accompanied by an adequate knowledge of cardiovascular physiology allows to determine the state of the cardiovascular system, hemodynamic condition of the patient and therapeutic strategy required, its interpretation must start from the integration and correlation of different hemodynamic parameters.

Introdução: a monitorização hemodinâmica constitui um conjunto de técnicas e parâmetros que permitem avaliar se a função cardiovascular é adequada para manter a perfusão e oxigenação tecidual que permite satisfazer as exi gências metabólicas do organismo, avaliar o estado e comportamento do sistema cardiovascular, orientando sobre a melhor estratégia terapêutica. Esta revisão procura fornecer uma descrição geral e integrada das diferentes técnicas de monitorização, bem como aspectos fisiológicos relevantes para a sua compreensão e utilização terapêutica. A monitorização hemodinâmica acompanhada de um conhecimento adequado da fisiologia cardiovascular permite determinar o estado do sistema cardiovascular, a condição hemodinâmica do doente e a estratégia terapêutica neces sária, a sua interpretação deve partir da integração e correlação de vários parâmetros hemodinâmicos.

Agreement analysis of stroke volume and cardiac output measurement between a oscillometric device and transthoracic echocardiogram in normotensive individuals: a preliminary report

Abstract Introduction The evaluation of stroke volume (SV) is useful in research and patient care. To accomplish this, an ideal device should be noninvasive, continuous, reliable, and reproducible. The Mobil-O-Graph (MOG) is a noninvasive oscillometric matrix validated for measuring aortic and peripheral blood pressure, which through conversion algorithms can estimate hemodynamic parameters. Objectives To compare the MOG measurement of stroke volume, cardiac output, and cardiac index with the transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Methods Healthy volunteers aged 18 years or older were included. Two-dimensional TTEs were performed by a single operator. Subsequently, the measurement of noninvasive hemodynamics with MOG was performed with the operator blind to the results of the echocardiogram. Correlation analyses between stroke volume, cardiac output, and cardiac index parameters were performed. The degree of agreement between the methods was verified using the Bland-Altman method. Results A total of 38 volunteers were enrolled with a mean age of 27.6 ± 3.8 years; 21 (55%) were male The SV by TTE was 76.8 ± 19.5 mL and 75.7 ± 19.3 mL by MOG, Rho = 0.726, p< 0.0001. The CO by TTE was 5.04 ± 0.8 mL.min-1 and 5.1 ± 0.8 mL.min-1 by MOG Rho = 0.510, p= 0.001. Bland-Altman plots showed a good concordance between the two techniques. Conclusions Our study shows that the measurement of SV and CO by noninvasive hemodynamics with the MOG device offers a good concordance with the TTE with very few values beyond the confidence limits.

Comparative study between suprasternal and apical windows: a user-friendly cardiac output measurement for the anesthesiologist

Abstract Introduction Transthoracic echocardiography is a safe and readily available tool for noninvasive monitoring of Cardiac Output (CO). The use of the suprasternal window situated at the sternal notch can be an alternative approach for estimating blood flow. The present study aimed to compare two methods of CO calculation. We compared the descending aorta Velocity-Time Integral (VTI) measurement from the suprasternal window view with the standard technique to determine CO that uses VTI measurements from the LVOT (Left Ventricular Outflow Tract) view. We also aimed to find out whether after basic training a non-echocardiographer operator can obtain reproducible measurements of VTI using this approach. Methods In the first part of the study, 26 patients without known cardiovascular diseases were evaluated and VTI data were acquired from the suprasternal window by a non-echocardiographer and an echocardiographer. Next, 17 patients were evaluated by an echocardiographer only and VTI and CO measurements were obtained from suprasternal and apical windows. Data were analyzed using the Bland and Altman method (BA), correlation and regression. Results We found a strong correlation between measurements obtained by a non-expert and an expert echocardiographer and detected that an inexperienced trainee can acquire VTI measurements from the suprasternal window view. Regarding agreement between CO measurements, data obtained showed a positive correlation and the Bland and Altman analysis presented a total variation of 38.9%. Conclusion Regarding accuracy, it is likely that TTE (Transthoracic Echocardiogram) measurements of CO from the suprasternal window view are comparable to other minimally invasive techniques currently available. Due to its user-friendliness and low cost, it can be a convenient technique for obtaining perioperative hemodynamic measurements, even by inexperienced operators.

Recognition of abnormal changes in echocardiographic videos by an artificial intelligence assisted diagnosis model based on 3D CNN / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic efficiency and clinical application value of an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis model based on a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D CNN) on echocardiographic videos of patients with hypertensive heart disease, chronic renal failure (CRF) and hypothyroidism with cardiac involvement. Methods: This study is a retrospective study. The patients with hypertensive heart disease, CRF and hypothyroidism with cardiac involvement, who admitted in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2019 to October 2021, were enrolled. Patients were divided into hypertension group, CRF group, and hypothyroidism group. Additionally, a simple random sampling method was used to select control healthy individuals, who underwent physical examination at the same period. The echocardiographic video data of enrolled participants were analyzed. The video data in each group was divided into a training set and an independent testing set in a ratio of 5 to 1. The temporal and spatial characteristics of videos were extracted using an inflated 3D convolutional network (I3D). The artificial intelligence assisted diagnosis model was trained and tested. There was no case overlapped between the training and validation sets. A model was established according to cases or videos based on video data from 3 different views (single apical four chamber (A4C) view, single parasternal left ventricular long-axis (PLAX) view and all views). The statistical analysis of diagnostic performance was completed to calculate sensitivity, specificity and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The time required for the artificial intelligence and ultrasound physicians to process cases was compared. Results: A total of 730 subjects aged (41.9±12.7) years were enrolled, including 362 males (49.6%), and 17 703 videos were collected. There were 212 cases in the hypertensive group, 210 cases in the CRF group, 105 cases in the hypothyroidism group, and 203 cases in the normal control group. The diagnostic performance of the model predicted by cases based on single PLAX view and all views data was excellent: (1) in the hypertensive group, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of models based on all views data were 97%, 89% and 0.93, respectively, while those of models based on a single PLAX view were 94%, 95%, and 0.94, respectively; (2) in the CRF group, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of models based on all views data were 97%, 95% and 0.96, respectively, while those of models based on a single PLAX view were 97%, 89%, and 0.93, respectively; (3) in the hypothyroidism group, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of models based on all views data were 64%, 100% and 0.82, respectively, while those of models based on a single PLAX view were 82%, 89%, and 0.86, respectively. The time required for the 3D CNN model to measure and analyze the echocardiographic videos of each subject was significantly shorter than that for the ultrasound physicians ((23.96±6.65)s vs. (958.25±266.17)s, P<0.001). Conclusions: The artificial intelligence assisted diagnosis model based on 3D CNN can extract the dynamic temporal and spatial characteristics of echocardiographic videos jointly, and quickly and efficiently identify hypertensive heart disease and cardiac changes caused by CRF and hypothyroidism.

Compound Danshen Dripping Pills pretreatment protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury by enhancing autophagic flux

Abstract Compound Danshen Dripping Pills (CDDPs) have been used in clinical treatment to protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury for many years. However, the underlying mechanism implicated in the protective effects remains to be explored. Here, we determined the effects of CDDPs in Sprague-Dawley rats with the IR model. Cardiac function in vivo was assessed by echocardiography. Transmission electron microscopy, histological and immunohistochemical techniques, Western blotting and recombinant adeno-associated virus 9 transfection were used to illustrate the effects of CDDPs on IR and autophagy. Our results showed that pretreatment with CDDPs decreased the level of serum myocardial enzymes and infarct size in rats after IR. Apoptosis evaluation showed that CDDPs significantly ameliorated the cardiac apoptosis level after IR. Meanwhile, CDDPs pretreatment increased myocardial autophagic flux, with upregulation of LC3B, downregulation of p62, and increased autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Moreover, the autophagic flux inhibitor chloroquine could increase IR injury, while CDDPs could partially reverse the effects. Furthermore, our results showed that the activation of AMPK/mTOR was involved in the cardioprotective effect exerted by CDDPs. Herein, we suggest that CDDPs partially protect the heart from IR injury by enhancing autophagic flux through the activation of AMPK/mTOR.

Insuficiencia cardíaca de novo: Un reto diagnóstico / Di novo heart failure: A diagnostic challenge

Introducción: El término insuficiencia cardíaca de novo hace referencia a pacientes sin diagnóstico previo de dicha enfermedad. La revisión de este tema deviene de un problema real, pues muchos pacientes acuden a la atención secundaria sin diagnóstico previo de insuficiencia cardíaca y además en estadios avanzados. Objetivo: Describir los elementos claves para el diagnóstico precoz de insuficiencia Cardíacas. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica en las siguientes bases de datos: Pubmed, SciELO, ESBCO, Cochrane y BVS, así como en diferentes webs médicas durante tres meses entre febrero de 2021 al 31 de mayo de 2021. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico precoz de insuficiencia cardíaca permitió disminuir el número de pacientes que llegan a la Atención Secundaria sin diagnóstico previo. Existen clasificaciones que identifican estadios tempranos de la enfermedad y la de la ACC/AHA es relevante para lograr este objetivo. En atención primaria esto es un reto si no se emplean pruebas diagnósticas como el ecocardiograma. Es importante la determinación de las concentraciones circulantes del péptido natriurético tipo B (BNP) y del fragmento N-terminal de su protohormona (N-terminal BNP). Este biomarcador debería estar accesible en las consultas ambulatorias para pacientes que presentan sospecha clínica de insuficiencia cardíaca «de novo»(AU)

Introduction: The term di novo heart failure refers to patients without a previous diagnosis of this disease. The review of this issue comes from a real problem, since a group of patients attend secondary care without a previous diagnosis of heart failure and also have in advanced stages. Objective: The objective is to provide a clue that facilitates the early diagnosis of heart failure. Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out in the following databases: Pubmed, SciELO, ESBCO, Cochrane and BVS, as well as in different medical websites for three months (February 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021). Conclusions: The early diagnosis of heart failure will allow us to reduce the number of patients who arrive at Secondary Care without a previous diagnosis. There are classifications that identify early stages of the disease, being in our opinion the ACC / AHA classification the one that should carry the most weight. In primary care this can be a challenge if diagnostic tests such as echocardiography are not used. Dosification of serum levels of type B natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of its protohormone (N-terminal BNP) is very useful. This biomarker should be accessible in outpatient clinics for patients with clinical suspicion of di novo heart failure(AU)

Trombolisis sistémica complicada en embolia cerebral múltiple por trombo intraventricular / Systemic thrombolysis following multiple embolic cerebral lesions in a patient with myocardial infarction and intraventricular thrombus

RESUMEN Se presenta un caso de trombólisis sistémica complicada con transformación hemorrágica en paciente con evento isquémico cerebral sintomático por embolia múltiple a partir de trombo intraventricular en contexto de infarto agudo de miocardio por oclusión total de arteria descendente anterior con deterioro severo de función sistólica de ventrículo izquierdo.

ABSTRACT: We describe a case of complicated systemic thrombolysis with hemorrhagic transformation in a patient with a cerebral ischemic event due to multiple embolisms from intraventricular thrombus in the context of acute myocardial infarction due to total occlusion of the anterior descending artery and severe deterioration of left ventricular systolic function.

Frecuencia de hipertensión pulmonar en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Frequency of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica es uno de los padecimientos pulmonares más frecuente a nivel mundial. Tiene repercusión sobre la mortalidad, causa importante discapacidad y afecta un número considerable de sujetos en edad productiva. La hipertensión pulmonar es una complicación usual de las enfermedades respiratorias crónicas y en particular de la pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Objetivo: Caracterizar a pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y sospecha de hipertensión pulmonar. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo en 50 pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico desde noviembre 2016 a enero 2018. Se analizaron variables tales como la edad, el sexo, la prueba de función ventilatoria, la radiografía de tórax, el electrocardiograma y el ecocardiograma. Resultados: De 700 pacientes portadores de enfermedad pulmonar crónica, se sospechó hipertensión pulmonar en 7 por ciento y fue confirmada en 34. Las frecuencias por sexo fueron similares y primaron los mayores de 60 años. El 41,6 por ciento de los pacientes tuvo afectación respiratoria severa, 70,6 por ciento presentó hipertensión pulmonar ligera y 64,7 por ciento tenía disnea grado 3. Los índices kappa entre las técnicas utilizadas para el diagnóstico de la hipertensión pulmonar superaron la cifra de 0,74. Conclusiones: La frecuencia de hipertensión pulmonar en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica fue elevada. Primaron pacientes con afectación severa de la función respiratoria e hipertensión pulmonar ligera. El grado de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica no determinó la severidad de hipertensión pulmonar. Los mayores valores de concordancia entre las técnicas diagnósticas se obtuvieron para la radiografía y el ecocardiograma(AU)

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most frequent, worldwide. It has impact on mortality, causing significant disability and affecting a considerable number of subjects of productive age. Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of chronic respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Objective: To describe patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and suspected pulmonary hypertension. Methods: A descriptive, prospective study was carried out in 50 patients treated at Benéfico Jurídico Pneumological Hospital from November 2016 to January 2018. Variables such as age, sex, ventilatory function test, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and the echocardiogram were analyzed. Results: Out of 700 patients with chronic lung disease, pulmonary hypertension was suspected in 7 por ciento and confirmed in 34. The frequencies by sex were similar and those older than 60 years prevailed. 41.6 por ciento of the patients had severe respiratory involvement, 70.6 por ciento had mild pulmonary hypertension and 64.7 por ciento had grade 3 dyspnea. The kappa indices between the techniques used for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension exceeded the figure of 0.74. Conclusions: The frequency of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was high. Patients with severe impairment of respiratory function and mild pulmonary hypertension predominated. The degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease did not determine the severity of pulmonary hypertension. The highest concordance values between diagnostic techniques were obtained for radiography and echocardiography(AU)