Self-Appraisal of Clinical Competence in Echocardiography of Chinese Intensivists Post Basic Echocardiography Training / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objectives To learn the echocardiography skills of intensivists after receiving a basic critical care echocardiography training course, and investigate factors that may influence their performance. Methods We completed a web-based questionnaire that assessed the skills in ultrasound scanning techniques of intensivists who took a training course on basic critical care echocardiography held in 2019 and 2020. Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the factors which might affect their performance on image acquisition, recognizing clinical syndrome, and measuring the diameter of inferior vena cava, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular outflow tract velocity-time integral.Results We enrolled 554 physicians from 412 intensive care units across China. Among them, 185 (33.4%) reported that they had 10%-30% chance of being misled by critical care echocardiography when making therapeutic decision, and 34 (6.1%) reported that the chance was greater than 30%. Intensivists who performed echocardiography under the guidance of a mentor and finished ultrasound scanning more than 10 times per week reported significant higher scores in image acquisition, clinical syndrome recognition, and quantitative measurement of inferior vena cava diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular outflow tract velocity-time integral than those without mentor and performing echocardiography 10 times or less per week respectively (all P < 0.05).Conclusion The skills in diagnostic medical echocardiography of Chinese intensivists after a basic echocardiographic training course remain low, and further quality assurance training program is clearly warranted.

3-Dimensional Echocardiography and 2-D Strain Analysis of Left Ventricular, Left Atrial and Right Ventricular Function in Healthy Brazilian Volunteers / Análise da Função Ventricular Esquerda e Direita e Atrial Esquerda pelo Ecocardiograma Tridimensional e Análise da Deformação Bidimensional em Voluntários Saudáveis Brasileiros

Abstract Background: New echocardiographic techniques are used in the diagnosis and prognosis of many heart diseases. However, reference values in different populations are still needed for several of these new indexes. We studied these new echocardiographic parameters in a group of Brazilians with no known cardiovascular disease. Objective: To study values for new echocardiographic indexes in Brazilians without known cardiovascular disease and their correlation with age. Methods: Cross-sectional study that included healthy individuals who underwent three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) strain (e) analysis. Left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) function were analyzed by 3DE and STE, and right ventricular (RV) function by STE. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Seventy-seven subjects (46.7% men; 40.4 ± 10.4 years) were included. Maximum, minimum and pre-atrial contraction (pre-A) LA volumes (ml/m2) were 21.2 ± 5.5, 7.8 ± 2.5, and 11.0 ± 3.1, respectively. Peak positive global LA e (LAScd), peak negative global LA e and total global LA e (LASr) were 17.4 ± 5.2%, -13.2 ± 2.0% and 30.5 ± 5.9%, respectively. LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (ml/m2) measured 57 ± 12 and 24 ± 6, and 3D LV ejection fraction measured 58 ± 6%. Global LV longitudinal, circumferential and radial e were -19 ± 2%, -19 ± 3%, and 46 ± 12%, respectively. LV torsion measured 1.6 ± 0.70 /cm. Global longitudinal RV e (RV-GLS) and RV free wall strain were -22 ± 3% and -24 ± 5%. Minimum LA and pre-A volumes, LV apical rotation, torsion and RV-GLS increased with age, while total and passive LA emptying fractions, LAScd, LASr, LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes decreased with age. Conclusion: Values for new echocardiographic indexes in Brazilians without known cardiovascular disease and their correlation with age are presented.

Resumo Fundamentos: Novas técnicas ecocardiográficas são utilizadas no diagnóstico e prognóstico de diversas cardiopatias. No entanto, muitos desses novos índices ainda carecem de valores de referência em diferentes populações. Estudamos esses novos parâmetros ecocardiográficos em um grupo de brasileiros sem doença cardiovascular conhecida. Objetivo: Estudar valores dos novos índices ecocardiográficos em brasileiros sem doença cardiovascular conhecida e sua correlação com a idade. Métodos: Estudo transversal composto por indivíduos saudáveis que realizaram ecocardiograma tridimensional (E3D) e ecocardiograma bidimensional com análise de deformação (e) por speckle tracking (EST). Foram analisadas as funções atrial esquerda (AE) e ventricular esquerda (VE) por E3D e EST, e a função ventricular direita (VD) por EST. Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados significantes. Resultados: Foram incluídos setenta e sete indivíduos (46,7% homens; 40,4 ± 10,4 anos). Os volumes AE máximo, mínimo e pré-contração atrial (pré-A) (ml/m2) foram 21,2 ± 5,5, 7,8 ± 2,5 e 11,0 ± 3,1, respectivamente. O pico da e global positiva do AE (LAScd), pico da e global negativa do AE e e global total do AE (LASr) foram 17,4±5,2%, -13,2 ± 2,0% e 30,5 ± 5,9%, respectivamente. Os volumes diastólico final e sistólico final do VE (ml/m2) mediram 57 ± 12 e 24 ± 6 e a fração de ejeção tridimensional do VE mediu 58 ± 6%. A e longitudinal, circunferencial e radial global do VE foi de -19 ± 2%, -19 ± 3% e 46 ± 12%, respectivamente. A torção do VE mediu 1,6 ± 0,7(0)/cm. A e longitudinal global do VD (SLG-VD) e a deformação da parede livre do VD foram de -22 ± 3% e -24 ± 5%. Os volumes mínimo e pré-A do AE, rotação apical do VE, torção e SLG-VD aumentaram com a idade, enquanto as frações de esvaziamento total e passivo do LA, LAScd, LASr, volumes diastólico final e sistólico final do VE diminuíram com a idade. Conclusão: Apresentam-se os valores para os novos índices ecocardiográficos em brasileiros sem doença cardiovascular conhecida e sua correlação com a idade.

Low prevalence of relevant findings in inappropriate echocardiograms and discordant perceptions between cardiologists and patients

Complementary examinations are "inadequate" whenever the likelihood of benefits from their indication is lower than the negative results. The low benefit is a result of poor performance in detecting relevant changes that lead to improved behavior. However, inadequate examinations are prevalent and little is known about patients' notions of the usefulness of such indications. The aim of this study was to describe relevant findings in inappropriate echocardiograms and to assess the level of agreement between patients and cardiologists regarding their usefulness. Adults without known cardiovascular disease who were referred for echocardiogram by inappropriate criteria according to the American College of Cardiology were selected. Relevant findings were defined by any change in the degree of moderate to severe, according to the American Society of Echocardiography. We tested the level of agreement between the patients who underwent echocardiographic examination and the physicians who requested the exam through a standard questionnaire. Five hundred patients were included, with average age of 52±17 years (47% males). Only 17 patients had any relevant changes (3.4%, 95%CI=2 to 5.4%). The most frequent alterations included valve changes in 8 and diastolic dysfunction grade II in 6 patients. Eighty-seven examinations were performed to determine the level of agreement between patients and cardiologists. For the question "Is this test really necessary?", 92% of patients responded positively, compared with 5% of cardiologists (Kappa negative 0.04; P=0.01). The frequency of relevant findings was low in inadequate echocardiograms and patients and cardiologists had a different perception regarding its usefulness.

Estratificación de disfunción diastólica y patrones de llenado del ventrículo izquierdo en pacientes llevados a ecocardiografía en un centro de tercer nivel según las Guías de la Sociedad Americana de Ecocardiografía y la Asociación Europea de Imágenes Cardíacas 2016 / Echocardiographic diastolic disfunction and left ventricle filling patterns in patients studied in a terciary level center according to American Society of echocardiography/ European association of cardiovascular imaging 2016 Guidelines

OBJECTIVE: Characterize the degree of diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular filling patterns according to the 2016 ASE Guidelines applied in a population of patients taken to echocardiography in a reference center in the city of Medellín between February and June 2017. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was performed in patients undergoing echocardiography. Patients with atrial fibrillation, pacemaker implantation, AV block, mitral ring calcification, any degree of mitral stenosis, mitral insufficiency were excluded. An initial descriptive explora tory analysis was carried out by frequencies and percentages for the categorical variables and measures of central tendency (mean or median according to the normal distribution of the data) for the quantitative variables. Subsequently, it is compared with the different degrees of diastolic dysfunction with respect to age by t-Student test and with respect to categorical variables by 2. RESULTS: A total of 610 patients were recruited, of which 75 were withdrawn from the sample by the exclusion criteria, 530 patients were included of which 198 (37%) were classified as grade I diastolic dysfunction, 63 (11.7%) grade II, 29 (5.4%) grade III, 38 (7.1%) undetermined and 207 (39%) without diastolic dysfunction. The age of the patients stratified in any degree of diastolic dysfunction was significantly higher in comparison with patients without diastolic dysfunction (p < 0.001). Hypertension was the most important associated comorbidity in patients with diastolic dysfunction grade I (in 54%), grade II (in 50%), while coronary disease was the most frequent concomitant in the presence of diastolic dysfunction grade III (in 48%). The E/e' ratio greater than 14 was present in 35% of cases with grade II diastolic dysfunction and in 72% of cases with grade III diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Diastolic dysfunction is a very frequent finding (323/530, 61%). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity associated in grades I, II of diastolic dysfunction, while coronary disease with grade III. The increase in the E/e' > 14 ratio as an indicator of increased population pressure was present in 35% of patients with grade II diastolic dysfunction and in 72% of patients with grade III dysfunction. Diastolic function was classified as undetermined in 7.1% of the total patient population. The ASE/EACVI Guidelines allowed the classification in different degrees of diastolic dysfunction in the majority of patients evaluated (94%). Other methods of diagnostic evaluation are necessary to adequately classify the group of patients with indeterminate diastolic function.

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar el grado de disfunción diastólica y patrones de llenado del ventrículo izquierdo según las Guías ASE/EACVI 2016 aplicadas en una población de pacientes llevados a ecocardiografía en un centro de referencia de la ciudad de Medellín entre febrero y junio de 2017. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en pacientes llevados a ecocardiografía. Fueron excluidos pacientes con fibrilación auricular, implante de marcapasos, bloqueo AV, calcificación del anillo mitral, cualquier grado de estenosis mitral, insuficiencia mitral severa y válvula mitral protésica. Se realizó un análisis exploratorio inicial de tipo descriptivo mediante frecuencias y porcentajes para variables categóricas y medidas de tendencia central (media o mediana según la distribución normal de los datos) para variables cuantitativas. Posteriormente, se compararon los diferentes grados de disfunción diastólica respecto a la edad mediante prueba t-Student y respecto a variables categóricas mediante 2. RESULTADOS: Se reclutaron un total de 610 pacientes, de los cuales 75 fueron retirados de la muestra por cumplir criterios de exclusión, se incluyeron 535 pacientes de los cuales 198 (37%) se estratificaron como disfunción diastólica grado I, 63 (11,7%) grado II, 29 (5,4%) grado III, 38 (7,1%) indeterminado y 207 (38,6%) sin disfunción diastólica. La edad de los pacientes estratificados en cualquier grado de disfunción diastólica fue significativamente mayor en comparación con los pacientes sin disfunción diastólica (p < 0,001). La hipertensión arterial fue la comorbilidad asociada más importante en los pacientes con disfunción diastólica grado I (en 54%), grado II (en 50%), mientras que la enfermedad coronaria fue la más frecuente comorbilidad encontrada en la presencia de disfunción diastólica grado III (en 48%). La relación E/e' mayor a 14 estuvo presente en el 35% de los casos con disfunción diastólica grado II y en el 72% de los casos con disfunción diastólica grado III. CONCLUSIÓN: La disfunción diastólica es un hallazgo muy frecuente (323/530, 61%). La hipertensión arterial fue la comorbilidad más frecuentemente asociada en los grados I, II de disfunción diastólica, mientras que la enfermedad coronaria con el grado III. El aumento de la relación E/e´ >14 como parámetro indicativo de aumento de la presión de llenado estuvo presente en el 35% de los pacientes con disfunción diastólica grado II y en el 72% de los pacientes con disfunción grado III. La función diastólica se clasificó como indeterminada en el 7,1% de la población total de pacientes. Las Guías ASE/EACVI permitieron la clasificación en diferentes grados de disfunción diastólica en la mayoría de los pacientes evaluados (94%). Otros métodos de evaluación diagnóstica serán necesarios para clasificar adecuadamente al grupo de pacientes con función diastólica indeterminada.

Intraoperative echocardiography guidelines in Brazil - Is it time for a task force? / Diretrizes da ecocardiografia intraoperatória no Brasil - Chegou a hora de uma força-tarefa?

Abstract Background and objectives: The Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) has been promoting continuing education in intraoperative echocardiography in Brazil since 2011, with the implementation of an Intraoperative Echocardiography Course (ETI/SBA). Although echocardiography is a reality of anesthesiology practice in Brazil, we still do not have an established policy on the area of expertise, job training, and recognition by the other societies, such as the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC). The aim of this paper is to contextualize the anesthesiology in the intraoperative echocardiography in Brazil and promote a discussion on the formation of a Task Force along with the SBC to begin drawing up the Brazilian Guidelines on Intraoperative Echocardiography. Case report: The first reports on the involvement of anesthesiology in Brazil with intraoperative echocardiography are from the 80s and 90s. However, this technique implementation in routine practice in the Brazilian anesthesiology occurred in 2011 with the formation of the ETI/SBA Course. Since then, the SBA has been promoting a continuing education of its members and disseminating the ETI/SBA Course throughout Brazil. More than 200 associates have taken this course, and the vast majority works with cardiac surgery. Conclusion: Intraoperative echocardiography is a reality in the practice of the Brazilian anesthesiology, and the ETI/SBA Course has been promoting its continuing education, however, we still do not have a grounded guideline. As occurred in major worldwide centers, we have to promote a Task Force along with the SBC in order to begin the drawing up of the Brazilian Guidelines on Intraoperative Echocardiography.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: A Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia (SBA) vem promovendo a educação continuada em ecocardiografia intraoperatória no Brasil desde 2011, com a implantação do Curso de Ecocardiografia Intraoperatória (ETI/SBA). Apesar de a ecocardiografia ser uma realidade do anestesiologista brasileiro, ainda não temos uma diretriz estabelecida no que diz respeito à área de atuação, capacitação profissional e ao reconhecimento junto às demais sociedades, como, por exemplo, a Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC). O objetivo deste artigo é contextualizar a anestesiologia na ecocardiografia intraoperatória no Brasil e promover uma discussão sobre a formação de uma força-tarefa junto à SBC para iniciarmos a formação das Diretrizes Brasileiras em Ecocardiografia Intraoperatória. Relato do caso: Os primeiros relatos do envolvimento da anestesiologia no Brasil com a ecocardiografia intraoperatória são da década de 1980 e 90. Contudo, a implantação dessa técnica na prática rotineira na anestesiologia brasileira ocorreu em 2011, com a formação do Curso ETI/SBA. Desde então, a SBA vem promovendo a educação continuada de seus associados e divulgando o Curso ETI/SBA em todo o Brasil. Já fizeram esse curso mais de 200 associados. A grande maioria trabalha com cirurgia cardíaca. Conclusão: A ecocardiografia intraoperatória é uma realidade na anestesiologia brasileira e o Curso ETI/SBA vem promovendo a sua educação continuada. Contudo, ainda não temos uma diretriz fundamentada. Como ocorreu nos grandes centros mundiais, temos de promover uma força-tarefa junto à SBC a fim de iniciarmos a formulação das Diretrizes Brasileiras em Ecocardiografia Intraoperatória.

Echocardiography in PICU: when the heart sees what is invisible to the eye / Ecocardiografia na UTIP: quando o coração vê o que é invisível aos olhos

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Echocardiography has become an indispensable bedside diagnostic tool in the realm of pediatric intensive care units (PICU). It has proven to be an influential factor in the formula of clinical decision-making. This study aimed to delineate the impact of echocardiography on the management of critically ill pediatric patients in the PICU at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a five-bed PICU. Patients admitted to the PICU from January of 2011 to December of 2012 were reviewed. Those who have undergone bedside echocardiography during their ICU stay were recruited. Electronic patient record was used as data source. RESULTS: Over a-24-month period, 424 patients were admitted in this PICU. One hundred and one clinically indicated transthoracic echocardiograms were performed. 81.8% of these presented new findings (n = 82) that significantly impacted the clinical decision of patient management, namely, alteration in drug therapy and procedure, whereas no difference in the management was yielded in the remaining 17.8% of the studied cases. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography had a significant impact on the management of PICU patients. Such salutary effect was consequently reflected on the outcome. Pediatric intensivists are encouraged to acquire such bedside skill.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: A ecocardiografia se tornou uma ferramenta de diagnóstico relevante, indispensável no âmbito das unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica (UTIP). Ela se tornou um fator influente na tomada de decisões clínicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi delinear o impacto da ecocardiografia sobre o manejo de pacientes pediátricos gravemente doentes na UTIP do Hospital Universitário Sultan Qaboos, em Omã. MÉTODO: Este é um estudo de coorte retrospectivo feito em uma UTIP de cinco leitos. Foram analisados pacientes internados na UTIP entre janeiro de 2011 e dezembro de 2012. Foram recrutados os pacientes que passaram por ecocardiografia durante sua internação na UTI. O registro eletrônico dos pacientes foi usado como fonte de dados. RESULTADOS: Em 24 meses, 424 pacientes foram internados em nossa UTIP, 101 pacientes foram encaminhados para ecocardiografias transtorácicas, 81,8% deles tiveram novos achados (n = 82) que afetaram significativamente a decisão clínica, como a terapia medicamentosa e os procedimentos, ao passo que não houve diferença no manejo nos outros 17,8% dos casos estudados. CONCLUSÕES: A ecocardiografia teve um impacto significativo sobre o manejo de pacientes da UTIP. Esse efeito refletiu-se nos resultados. Os intensivistas pediátricos devem ser incentivados a adquirir essa habilidade relevante.

Methodological Gaps in Left Atrial Function Assessment by 2D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography / Lacunas Metodológicas na Avaliação da Função do Átrio Esquerdo por Ecocardiografia Bidimensional com Speckle Tracking

Abstract The assessment of left atrial (LA) function is used in various cardiovascular diseases. LA plays a complementary role in cardiac performance by modulating left ventricular (LV) function. Transthoracic two-dimensional (2D) phasic volumes and Doppler echocardiography can measure LA function non‑invasively. However, evaluation of LA deformation derived from 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a new feasible and promising approach for assessment of LA mechanics. These parameters are able to detect subclinical LA dysfunction in different pathological condition. Normal ranges for LA deformation and cut-off values to diagnose LA dysfunction with different diseases have been reported, but data are still conflicting, probably because of some methodological and technical issues. This review highlights the importance of an unique standardized technique to assess the LA phasic functions by STE, and discusses recent studies on the most important clinical applications of this technique.

Resumo A avaliação da função do átrio esquerdo (AE) é utilizada em várias doenças cardiovasculares. O AE tem um papel complementar no desempenho cardíaco através da modulação da função do ventrículo esquerdo (VE).A ecocardiografia com Doppler e a ecocardiografia transtorácica bidimensional (2D) de volumes de fase podem medir a função do AE de forma não-invasiva. No entanto, a avaliação da deformação do AE derivada da ecocardiografia bidimensional com speckle tracking (EST) é uma abordagem nova, promissora e factível para avaliar a mecânica do AE. Estes parâmetros são capazes de detectar disfunção do AE subclínica em diferentes patologias. Há relatos da variação normal da deformação do AE e dos valores de corte para o diagnóstico de disfunção do AE em diferentes doenças, mas os dados ainda são conflitantes, provavelmente devido a alguns problemas técnicos e metodológicos. Esta revisão destaca a importância de uma técnica única padronizada para a avaliação das funções fásicas do AE por EST, e discute estudos recentes sobre as aplicações clínicas mais importantes desta técnica.

Os critérios para classificação da insuficiência mitral não foram adequados na cardiomiopatia dilatada / Criteria for mitral regurgitation classification were inadequate for dilated cardiomyopathy

FUNDAMENTO: A insuficiência mitral (IM) é frequente nos pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada. Não se sabe se os critérios para classificação da IM são adequados para pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada OBJETIVO: Avaliar a concordância entre os quatro métodos ecocardiográficos mais utilizados para classificação da IM. MÉTODOS: Noventa pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada foram incluídos. A IM foi classificada por quatro métodos ecocardiográficos: área do jato regurgitante (AJ), vena contracta (VC), área do orifício regurgitante (AOR) e volume regurgitante (VR). A IM foi classificada em leve, moderada ou importante segundo os critérios da American Society of Echocardiography e também foi dividida em tercis conforme os valores absolutos. O teste de Kappa foi utilizado para avaliar a concordância entre os métodos. O coeficiente de Pearson foi utilizado para avaliar a correlação entre os valores absolutos por cada método. RESULTADOS: A classificação da IM, de acordo com cada método, foi a seguinte: AJ: 26 leve, 44 moderada, 20 importante; VC: 12 leve, 72 moderada, 6 importante; AOR: 70 leve, 15 moderada, 5 importante; VR: 70 leve, 16 moderada, 4 importante. A concordância entre os métodos foi ruim (kappa = 0,11; p < 0,001), porém foi observada uma forte correlação entre os valores absolutos de cada método (0,70 a 0,95; p < 0,01). A concordância foi melhor com a divisão dos valores em tercis (kappa = 0,44; p < 0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Os critérios para classificação da IM não são adequados para os pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada. É necessário estabelecer novos valores de corte para classificar a IM nestes pacientes.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is common in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). It is unknown whether the criteria for MR classification are inadequate for patients with DCM. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the agreement among the four most common echocardiographic methods for MR classification. METHODS: Ninety patients with DCM were included. Functional MR was classified using four echocardiographic methods: color flow jet area (JA), vena contracta (VC), effective regurgitant orifice area (ERO) and regurgitant volume (RV). MR was classified as mild, moderate or important according to the American Society of Echocardiography criteria and by dividing the values into terciles. The Kappa test was used to evaluate whether the methods agreed, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between the absolute values of each method. RESULTS: MR classification according to each method was as follows: JA: 26 mild, 44 moderate, 20 important; VC: 12 mild, 72 moderate, 6 important; ERO: 70 mild, 15 moderate, 5 important; RV: 70 mild, 16 moderate, 4 important. The agreement was poor among methods (kappa=0.11; p<0.001). It was observed a strong correlation between the absolute values of each method, ranging from 0.70 to 0.95 (p<0.01) and the agreement was higher when values were divided into terciles (kappa = 0.44; p < 0.01) CONCLUSION: The use of conventional echocardiographic criteria for MR classification seems inadequate in patients with DCM. It is necessary to establish new cutoff values for MR classification in these patients.

Comparação da adequação de solicitação de ecocardiograma entre hospitais público e privado / Comparison of echocardiography request appropriateness between public and private hospitals

FUNDAMENTO: Buscando aprimorar a utilização dos exames de ecocardiografia, foram criados os Critérios de Adequação (CA) (Appropriateness Criteria), pela Sociedade Norte-Americana de Ecocardiografia (ASE) /Colégio Americano de Cardiologia (ACC). OBJETIVO: Comparar o perfil de adequação de solicitação de ecocardiograma transtorácico (ETT) de acordo com os CA, entre Hospital Público Universitário (HU) e Hospital Privado (HP), e verificar quais características se associam com melhor perfil de solicitação de ETT. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados prospectivamente 779 solicitações consecutivas de ETT no HP (49,8 por cento) e no HU (50,2 por cento). Sendo 55,6 por cento solicitações para mulheres e 44,4 por cento, para homens com 59,1 ± 15,7 anos. As indicações foram classificadas como: apropriadas, inapropriadas ou não classificadas, e a adequação aos CA foi correlacionada com idade, sexo dos pacientes, além do tempo de formado do solicitante. A análise estatística empregou Coeficiente Kappa e teste Qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa no perfil de adequação de solicitações apropriadas de ETT nas duas instituições (71 por cento x 75 por cento; p = 0,3). No HP, os fatores associados a maior taxa de exames apropriados foram: sexo feminino (p = 0,001) e idade menor que 60 anos (p < 0,001). No HU, médicos formados entre 5 e 10 anos apresentaram maior taxa de solicitações inadequadas (p = 0,02). As variáveis que foram preditoras independentes de exames apropriados foram, no HP: sexo feminino (p = 0,001) e idade < 60 anos (p = 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Nesta avaliação, HP e HU apresentaram perfis de adequação de solicitações similares. Sexo feminino, tempo de formado do médico solicitante e a idade do paciente influíram na adequação das solicitações.

BACKGROUND: Aiming at improving the use of echocardiography tests, the Appropriateness Criteria (AC) were created by the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)/American College of Cardiology (ACC). OBJECTIVE: To compare the appropriateness profile of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) requests in accordance with the AC, between a public University Hospital (UH) and a Private Hospital (PH), and verify which characteristics are associated with a better TTE request profile. METHODS: We prospectively assessed 779 consecutive TTE requests in a PH (49.8 percent) and a UH (50.2 percent), with 55.6 percent of requests for women and 44.4 percent for men, aged 59.1 ± 15.7 years. The indications were classified as appropriate, inappropriate or non-classified, and adequacy to AC was correlated with age, patient gender, and the time since graduation of the requesting physician. The statistical analysis used Kappa coefficient and chi-square test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference regarding the adequacy profile of appropriate TTE requests in the two institutions (71 percent vs. 75 percent, p = 0.3). At PH, the factors associated with higher rates of appropriate tests were: female gender (p = 0.001) and age younger than 60 years (p <0.001). In the UH, physicians who had graduated between 5 and 10 years before had a higher rate of inappropriate requests (p = 0.02). The variables that were independent predictors of appropriate tests in the PH were: female sex (p = 0.001) and age <60 years (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this evaluation, the PH and the UH profiles showed similar request appropriateness profiles. Female gender, time since graduation of the requesting physician and the patient's age influenced the appropriateness of requests.

Valor prognóstico do Escore de Risco GRACE versus Escore de Risco TIMI em síndromes coronarianas agudas / Prognostic Value of GRACE Scores versus TIMI Score in acute coronary syndromes

FUNDAMENTO: Embora o Escore de Risco TIMI seja o mais utilizado em síndromes coronarianas agudas sem supradesnível do segmento ST (SCA), o Escore GRACE tem potencial superioridade prognóstica, pois foi criado a partir de um registro observacional, parte das variáveis são tratadas de forma semiquantitativa e a função renal é computada em seu cálculo. OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de que o Escore de Risco GRACE tem superior valor prognóstico hospitalar, comparado ao Escore TIMI em pacientes admitidos com SCA. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos indivíduos com angina instável ou infarto do miocárdio sem supradesnível do segmento ST, consecutivamente internados em unidade coronariana entre agosto de 2007 e janeiro de 2009. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 154 pacientes, idade 71 ± 13 anos, 56 por cento do gênero feminino, mediana do GRACE de 117 e mediana do TIMI de 3. Durante o período de internamento, a incidência de eventos foi 8,4 por cento (12 óbitos e 1 infarto não fatal). O teste de Hosmer-Lemeshow aplicado ao Escore GRACE apresentou χ2 de 5,3 (P = 0,72), enquanto Escore TIMI apresentou χ2 de 1,85 (P = 0,60). Desta forma, ambos os escores apresentaram boa calibração. Quanto à análise de discriminação, o Escore GRACE apresentou estatística-C de 0,91 (95 por cento IC = 0,86 - 0,97), significativamente superior à estatística-C de 0,69 do Escore TIMI (95 por cento IC = 0,55 - 0,84) - P = 0,02 para diferença entre os escores. CONCLUSÃO: Em relação à predição de eventos hospitalares em pacientes com SCA, o Escore GRACE tem superior capacidade prognóstica quando comparado ao Escore TIMI.

BACKGROUND: Although the TIMI score is the one most frequently used in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST-segment elevation, the GRACE score has potential prognostic superiority, as it was created based on an observational registry, part of the variables is treated in a semi-quantitative form and renal function is taken into account in its calculation. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the GRACE risk score has superior in-hospital prognostic value, when compared to the TIMI score in patients admitted with ACS. METHODS: Individuals with unstable angina or myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation, consecutively admitted at the Coronary Unit between August 2007 and January 2009, were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 154 patients aged 71 ± 13 years, of which 56 percent were females, with a GRACE median of 117 and a TIMI median of 3 were studied. During the hospitalization period, the incidence of events was 8.4 percent (12 deaths and 1 non-fatal infarction). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test applied to the GRACE score presented an χ2 of 5.3 (P = 0.72), whereas the TIMI score presented an χ2 of 1.85 (P = 0.60). Therefore, both scores presented good calibration. As for the analysis of discrimination, the GRACE score presented a C-statistics of 0.91 (95 percentCI= 0.86 - 0.97), significantly superior to the C-statistics of 0.69 of the TIMI score (95 percentCI = 0.55 - 0.84) - P = 0.02 for the difference between the scores. CONCLUSION: Regarding the prediction of hospital events in patients with ACS, the GRACE score has superior prognostic capacity when compared to the TIMI score.

basics of echocardiography

Cardiac echocardiography is becoming an essential diagnostic tool for a variety of cardiac pathology. Acquiring the necessary knowledge will help non cardiac and the cardiac specialist to understand the echocardiography images and reports and in return will improve the care of the patients. The aim of these of publication is to address the basic knowledge of cardiac echocardiography and the recent advances of its applications