Consultorio de orientaciòn de cardilogía: epidemiología y perfil de la población / Cardiology guidance clinic: Epidemiology and profile of the population

Introducción: Las cardiopatías congénitas (CC) son las anomalías congénitas más frecuentes. Representan el 0,8-1,2% de todos los defectos del nacimiento y tienen una prevalencia de alrededor de 5,8 por cada 1000 personas. El Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Garrahan es un centro de referencia nacional y de países limítrofes donde se realizan 18000 consultas anuales. Los pacientes que concurren por primera vez se atienden en el consultorio de orientación. Objetivo: Describir la epidemiologia y perfil de los pacientes que asisten diariamente al consultorio de orientación de cardiología infantil en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel de Buenos Aires. Métodos: Entre septiembre de 2017 y febrero de 2018 se recolectaron los datos de 1000 pacientes atendidos en forma consecutiva en el consultorio de orientación de cardiología. A la totalidad de los pacientes se les realizó anamnesis, examen físico cardiovascular, electrocardiograma, y en los casos en los que se consideró necesario, saturometría, radiografía de tórax y/o ecocardiograma. Las variables a considerar fueron edad, procedencia, presencia o ausencia de cardiopatías congénitas o adquiridas, soplo, cianosis, insuficiencia cardíaca, estado nutricional, síndromes genéticos asociados, métodos diagnósticos e indicaciones terapéuticas implementadas. Se subdividió la población en cinco grupos: Grupo A (pacientes con cardiopatía congénita), Grupo B (cardiopatías operadas), Grupo C (miocardiopatías), Grupo D (arritmias), Grupo E (corazón sano). Resultados: La edad mediana fue 4.86 años (0.03 a 18.9 años). El 64% de los pacientes procedían de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Los motivos de consulta fueron: interconsultas internas 29.5%, derivación por cardiopatía 27.2%, soplo 17.6%, síncope 7%, segunda opinión 5.1%, arritmias 4.8%, precordialgia 3.1%, palpitaciones 2.6%, episodio paroxístico 1.4%, cardiomegalia 0.7%, disnea 0.5%, mal progreso de peso 0.3%. El 10.6% tenían un síndrome genético. Grupo A: 252 pacientes con una edad mediana de 1.9 años. Las cardiopatías acianóticas con hiperflujo pulmonar fueron las más frecuentes (66.66%, 168/252). Grupo B: 51 pacientes, 23.52%(12/51) fueron Fallot reparados en otra institución. Grupo C: 22 pacientes, siendo la miocardiopatía hipertrófica la más frecuente. Grupo D: 47 pacientes, la preexcitación ventricular fue el hallazgo más frecuente (34,04%, 16/47). Grupo E: 628 pacientes, 45.70% (287/628) derivados por pediatras del área ambulatoria, principalmente para valoración de pacientes con enfermedades sistémicas o síndromes genéticos. Conclusión: Los motivos de derivación al consultorio de orientación de cardiología fueron muy diversos. La mayoría de los pacientes provenían de provincia de Buenos Aires. Solamente el 37.2% presentó algún problema cardiológico de base. El 91% de los pacientes que consultaron por soplo, no tuvieron cardiopatía. El grupo correspondiente a los pacientes con cardiopatías no operadas (grupo A) fue el de menor edad (mediana de 1.9 años) y las cardiopatías simples no cianóticas con hiperflujo pulmonar representaron el 66.66% de las cardiopatías. La implementación del ecocardiograma portátil en el consultorio de orientación permitió confirmar el diagnóstico y definir la conducta terapéutica en el 29.4% de los pacientes durante la primer consulta (AU)

Introduction: Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common congenital abnormalities. They account for 0.8-1.2% of all birth defects and have a prevalence of around 5.8 per 1000 people. The Department of Cardiology of Garrahan Hospital is a national and bordering-country reference center, receiving 18000 consultations annually. Patients seen for the first time are assessed at the cardiology guidance clinic. Objective: To describe the epidemiology and profile of patients who seen daily at the child cardiology guidance clinic of a third-level pediatric hospital in Buenos Aires. Methods: Between September 2017 and February 2018, data from 1000 patients consecutively seen at the cardiology guidance clinic were collected. All patients underwent anamnesis, cardiovascular physical examination, electrocardiogram and, if considered necessary, pulse oximetry, chest x-ray, and/or echocardiogram. The variables considered were age, place of origin, presence or absence of congenital or acquired heart disease, murmur, cyanosis, heart failure, nutritional status, associated genetic syndromes, diagnostic methods, and treatment. The population was divided into five groups: Group A (patients with congenital heart defects), Group B (operated cardiopathies), Group C (myocardiopathies), Group D (arrhythmias), Group E (healthy heart). Results: Median age was 4.86 years (0.03 to 18.9 years). Overall, 64% of patients came from the province of Buenos Aires. The reasons for consultation were: internal consultations 29.5%, cardiac shunt 27.2%, murmur 17.6%, syncope 7%, second opinion 5.1%, arrhythmias 4.8%, precordialgia 3.1%, palpitations 2.6%, paroxysmal episode 1.4%, cardiomegaly 0.7%, dyspnea 0.5%, 0.3% poor weight gain. A genetic syndrome was identified in 10.6%. Group A: 252 patients with a median age of 1.9 years. Acyanotic congenital heart defect with pulmonary hyperflow was the most common (66.66%, 168/252). Group B: 51 patients, 23.52% (12/51) had tetralogy of Fallot repaired at another institution. Group C: 22 patients, in whom hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was the most common. Group D: 47 patients, in whom ventricular preexcitation was the most common finding (34.04%, 16/47). Group E: 628 patients, 45.70% (287/628) referred by pediatricians from the outpatient clinics, mainly for the assessment of systemic diseases or genetic syndromes. Conclusion: The reasons for referral to the cardiology guidance clinic were varied. Most of the patients came from the province of Buenos Aires. Only 37.2% had an underlying heart disease. Of the patients who consulted because of a murmur, 91% did not suffer from heart disease. The group of patients with congenital heart disease who had not undergone surgery (group A) was the youngest (median 1.9 years) and simple non-cyanotic heart disease with pulmonary hyperflow accounted for 66.66% of heart diseases. The implementation of the portable echocardiography in the guidance clinic confirmed the diagnosis and defined the management in 29.4% of patients during the first consultation (AU)

Efficacy of echocardiographic criteria for diagnosis of carditis in acute rheumatic fever.

Background: There is a great need forECHOcriteria for accurate diagnosis of carditis in acute rheumatic fever. Aim: To propose and test the efficacy of ECHO criteria for accurate diagnosis of carditis. Material and Methods: The 333 cases underwent detailed clinical examination, laboratory tests and meticulous Echocardiographic study.Vijay’s ECHO criteria for the diagnosis of carditis / subclinical valvulitis was used. 220 (66.06%) cases were both Jones’ positive and ECHO positive [True +ve], 52 cases (15.61%), probably had subclinical carditis as murmur was not heard (Jones’-ve) but ECHO was positive [False - ve]. Four cases, clinically diagnosed as carditis were Jones’+ve ,but ECHO showed congenital heart disease [False +ve]. 57 cases (17.11%) were clinically , echocardiographically and Jones’ negative were taken as control (True –ve). Sensitivity is81%and specificity is 93%. Conclusions: Precise diagnosis of both carditis /subclinical valvulitis is possible with Vijay’s ECHO criteria. ECHO should be included as a major criterion in Jones’criteria.

Comunicação interventricular pequena: conduta clínica expectante em longo prazo / Comunicación interventricular pequeña: conducta clínica expectante a largo plazo / Small ventricular septal defect: long-term expectant clinical management

FUNDAMENTO: A comunicação interventricular (CIV) pequena apresenta geralmente boa evolução clínica, mesmo em longo prazo. OBJETIVO: Verificar evolução clínica de pacientes com CIV pequena, a fim de determinar continuidade ou não da conduta expectante, em vista do baixo risco operatório, o que ocasiona maior liberalidade da indicação cirúrgica. MÉTODOS: No período de outubro de 1976 a dezembro de 2007, foram examinados 187 casos com CIV pequena (diâmetro menor que 3 mm pelo ecocardiograma) e seguidos 155 deles em longo prazo. Estudaram-se a época de exteriorização do sopro e aspectos evolutivos como fechamento espontâneo do defeito (grupo I) - 64 casos, continuidade do tamanho inicial (grupo II) - 74 casos e diminuição do mesmo (grupo III) -17 casos, além de intercorrências clínicas. RESULTADOS: A exteriorização do sopro ocorreu na maioria no primeiro mês de vida, correspondendo a 48 (75 por cento), 54 (72,9 por cento) e 12 (70,5 por cento) pacientes, nos três grupos respectivos, e acima do primeiro ano em 11 (5,8 por cento) pacientes. Fechamento espontâneo ocorreu no primeiro ano em 48 casos (75 por cento), média de 7,6 m e de 1 a 5,5 anos em 15 pacientes (23,4 por cento), em acompanhamento máximo de 18 anos. Verificou-se continuidade do defeito até 40 anos. A diminuição do defeito ocorreu em média de 15 meses, seguidos até 9 anos. Probabilidade de fechamento da CIV, pela curva actuarial, foi de 34,38 por cento em 1 ano e de 49,89 por cento em 5 anos. Não houve intercorrências clínicas. CONCLUSÃO: Evolução favorável da CIV pequena em longo prazo dispensa intervenção operatória, com preocupação da profilaxia antibiótica rigorosa.

BACKGROUND: The small ventricular septal defect (VSD) usually presents good clinical evolution, even at long-term follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical evolution of patients with small VSD in order to determine the continuation or not of the expectant conduct, considering the low operative risk, which results in a more liberal indication for surgery. METHODS: From October 1976 to December 2007, 187 cases of small VSD (diameter < 3 mm at the echocardiogram) were evaluated and 155 of them were assessed at long-term follow-up. Time of the clinical manifestation of the murmur and evolution aspects such as the spontaneous closure of the defect (group I) - 64 cases, persistence of the initial size (group II - 74 cases and decrease in the size of the defect (group III) - 17 cases, in addition to clinical complications, were studied. RESULTS: The clinical manifestation of the murmur occurred, in the majority of cases, during the first month of life, corresponding to 48 (75 percent), 54 (72.9 percent) and 12 (70.5 percent) patients, in the three groups, respectively and after the first year of life in 11 (5.8 percent) patients. Spontaneous closure occurred in the first year of life in 48 cases (75 percent), mean of 7.6 months and from 1 to 5.5 years in 15 patients (23.4 percent), with a maximum follow-up of 18 years. The persistence of the defect until 40 years of age was observed. The decrease in the size of the defect occurred on a mean of 15 months, followed for up to 9 years. The probability of VSD closure by the actuarial curve was 34.38 percent in 1 year and 49.89 percent in 5 years. There were no clinical complications. CONLCUSION: A favorable evolution of the small VSD at long-term follow-up does not require surgical intervention, with concerns regarding the strict antibiotic prophylaxis.

FUNDAMENTO: La comunicación interventricular (CIV) pequeña presenta generalmente buena evolución clínica, aun a largo plazo. OBJETIVO: Verificar la evolución clínica de pacientes con CIV pequeña, a fin de determinar continuidad o no de la conducta expectante, en vista del bajo riesgo operatorio, resultando una mayor liberalidad de la indicación quirúrgica. MÉTODOS: En el período de octubre de 1976 a diciembre de 2007, se examinaron 187 casos con CIV pequeña (diámetro menor que 3 mm por el ecocardiograma) y se siguieron a 155 de ellos a largo plazo. Se estudiaron la época de exteriorización del soplo y los aspectos evolutivos, como cierre espontáneo del defecto (grupo I): 64 casos; continuidad del tamaño inicial (grupo II): 74 casos; y disminución del mismo (grupo III):17 casos; además de intercurrencias clínicas. RESULTADOS: En la mayoría de los casos, la exteriorización del soplo tuvo lugar en el primer mes de vida, correspondiendo a 48 (75 por ciento), 54 (72,9 por ciento) y 12 (70,5 por ciento) pacientes, en los tres grupos respectivos, y después del primer año en 11 (5,8 por ciento) pacientes. Cierre espontáneo ocurrió en el primer año en 48 casos (75 por ciento), promedio de 7,6 m y de 1 a 5,5 años en 15 pacientes (23,4 por ciento), en seguimiento máximo de 18 años. Se verificó continuidad del defecto hasta 40 años. La disminución del defecto ocurrió en promedio de 15 meses, seguidos hasta 9 años. Probabilidad de cierre de la CIV, por la curva actuarial, fue de un 34,38 por ciento en 1 año y de un 49,89 por ciento en 5 años. No hubo intercurrencias clínicas. CONCLUSIÓN: Evolución favorable de la CIV pequeña a largo plazo dispensa intervención operatoria, con preocupación de la profilaxis antibiótica rigurosa.

Cardiopatia congênita no recém-nascido: da solicitação do pediatra à avaliação do cardiologista / Congenital heart diseases in the newborn: from the pediatrician's request to the cardiologist's evaluation

OBJETIVO: Analisar a importância dos sintomas, como motivo de interconsulta com o cardiologista pediátrico, no diagnóstico de cardiopatias congênitas (CC) em recém-nascidos (RN). MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de RN vivos encaminhados para avaliação cardiológica, com realização de eletrocardiografia, radiografia de tórax e ecocardiografia. Solicitação de interconsulta mediante preenchimento de ficha de múltipla escolha, constando os sintomas e sinais sugestivos de CC. Persistência do canal arterial (PCA) sem repercussão clínica e/ou hemodinâmica não foi considerada cardiopatia. RESULTADOS: Entre 1999 e 2002, foram estudados 358 dentre 3.716 RN, demonstrando 49 casos de CC e 128 de PCA. A prevalência de CC foi de 13,2:1.000 RN. O principal motivo para interconsulta com o cardiologista foi sopro em 256 (72 por cento) dos RN, dentre os quais 39 (15 por cento) eram portadores de CC e 91 por cento dos 128 casos, de PCA. Em 14 (4 por cento) dos RN, o motivo de interconsulta foi cianose, dentre os quais 8 (57 por cento) eram portadores de CC. Insuficiência cardíaca foi o motivo de interconsulta em 37 (10 por cento) dos RN, dentre os quais 17 (46 por cento) eram portadores de CC. Arritmia, malformações congênitas associadas ou cromossomopatias foram os motivos de interconsulta em 14 por cento dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: O principal motivo da interconsulta foi ausculta de sopro. Apesar de cianose e insuficiência cardíaca serem pouco freqüentes como motivo de interconsulta, sua presença indicou alta probabilidade de diagnóstico de cardiopatia. A triagem pediátrica tem papel importante para o diagnóstico.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the importance of symptoms as a reason for referral to pediatric cardiologists in the diagnosis of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in the newborn (NB). METHODS: Prospective study on live NB referred for cardiac evaluation, with performance of electrocardiogram, chest radiography and echocardiography. Cardiology consultation was requested by means of a multiple-choice form including signs and symptoms suggestive of CHD. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) without clinical and/or hemodynamic consequences was not considered a heart disease. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2002, 358 out of 3716 NB were studied, and 49 cases of CHD and 128 of PDA were found. The prevalence of CHD was 13.2:1000 NB. The main reason for referral to the cardiologist was heart murmur in 256 (72 percent) NB, of which 39 (15 percent) had CHD, and in 91 percent of the 128 cases of PDA. In 14 (4 percent) NB, the reason for referral was cyanosis, and eight of these patients (57 percent) had a CHD. Heart failure was the reason for referral in 37 (10 percent) NB, of whom 17 (46 percent) had CHD. Arrhythmia, associated congenital malformations, or chromosome disorders were the reasons for referral in 14 percent of the cases. CONCLUSION: The main reason for referral was detection of a heart murmur on cardiac auscultation. Although cyanosis and heart failure were uncommon reasons for referral, their presence indicated a high probability of the diagnosis of heart disease. Pediatric screening plays a key role in this diagnosis.

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in school children in Bikaner: an echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) using clinical and echocardiographic criteria and to study influence of socioeconomic status (SES) we studied school children in a north-western Indian town. METHODS: 3292 school children, age range 5-14 years, in two private schools, ten middle SES government schools and six low SES government schools were invited to participate in the study. 3002 (1837 boys, 1165 girls) were clinically examined (response 91%) of which 1042 were in private schools, 1002 in middle SES schools and 958 in low SES schools. Prevalence of cardiac murmurs and RHD based on clinical diagnosis was determined in school by a trained team of physicians. Those with a murmur were further evaluated by Doppler-echocardiography in the hospital. Group-specific and age-specific rates (prevalence/thousand) of murmurs and cardiac lesions were determined. RESULTS: A significant cardiac murmur was observed in 55 subjects (18.3/1000) with similar prevalence in boys (20.7) and girls (14.6). The prevalence of murmur was significantly greater in children belonging to low SES schools (29.2/1000) as compared to middle SES (18.9) and higher SES schools (7.6). RHD prevalence based on clinical diagnosis was observed in 50 children (16.7/1000) and was similar in boys (19.1) and girls (12.9). Clinical RHD was more in the low SES school children (28.2/1000) as compared to middle (17.0) and high SES schools (5.8). RHD was demonstrated on echocardiography in 2 children (0.67/1000). Other prevalent cardiac lesions were congenital heart disease in 5 (1.66/1000) and mitral valve prolapse in 37 (12.3/1000). CONCLUSIONS: There is a low prevalence of RHD in school children in this region compared to previous Indian studies. Cardiac murmurs are more prevalent among low SES children.

Color-doppler echocardiographic screening of school children in rural Jordan

Screening of schoolchildren for the presence of heart disease is an established epidemiological tool for early detection, further management and follow- up of uncovered congenital or acquired cardiac lesions. Many advances in cardiovascular imaging have occurred, of which two dimensional color flow Doppler echocardiography is the most non- invasive tool that received widespread use. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of various heart lesions in school populations in different parts of rural Jordan, as well as the diagnostic value of additional echocardiography on subjects with cardiac auscultatory findings in further refining the screening process. Materials and methods: A survey was conducted during May and June of 1995 and 1996 as part of a joint Humanitarian Civic Action Project between the Royal Medical Services in Jordan and the Medical Corps of the United States Army. All screening examinations including the use of portable echocardiographic machine were done in the schools in the areas of AI-Mafraq, Zarqa and rural Aqaba. Four thousand one hundred and eighty school children were screened [1697 males, 2483females]. General practitioners and pediatricians performed the physical examinations. Heart murmurs were discovered in 80 subjects [Group I], 37 males and 43 females. A group of one hundred seventeen students [Group II], 86 males and 31 females, in whom physical cardiac examination was negative, were randomly selected and considered as a control group. Both groups I and II underwent further echocardiographic examinations, which were reviewed by the same interpreters. The prevalence of heart disease in our population was 3.8 in 1000. Heart murmurs were detected in 37 males [2.2%] and 43 females [1. 7%]. The murmurs were systolic [pan-, ejection, or long -] in 77 subjects [96.2%], and diastolic in 3 [3.8%]. Echocardiography showed that 76% of the group with murmurs [Group I] were normal, 7.5% had mistral regurgitation, 5% mitral valve prolapse, 5% pulmonary regurgitation, 3.8% tricuspid regurgitation, 2.5% had a small ventricular septal defect, one subject with aortic incompetence and one subject with turbulent pulmonary flow murmur. In the control group [Group II] 109 [93%] were normal, 2.6% had mitral valve prolapse, 2.6% tricuspid regurgitation, and 1.8% pulmonary regurgitation. The prevalence of cardiac lesions detected in our study is similar to other studies performed in healthy children in other parts of the world. Significant cardiac lesions were absent in the population studied. Based on our results; echocardiography is not recommended as part of the medical screening of school children in Jordan

Incidencia de soplos inocentes torácicos en una muestra de 12,009 escolares / Incidence of thoracic innocent murmurs in 12,009 school children

Hemos estudiado un total de 12,009 escolares comprendidos entre los 6 y los 14 años con el fin de determinar en ellos la incidencia de soplos sistólicos inocentes torácicos. Del total 6,816 eran niños y 5,193 niñas. La primera fase del estudio se llevó a cabo en el propio centro escolar y la segundo a fase en nuestro hospital donde fueron sometidos a las exploraciones que se consideraron necesarias para su diagnóstico. La incidencia global de dichos soplos fué de 9.57% con una relación niña/niño: 1.73. Siguiendo la clasificacióm de Fishleder, dichos soplos se agrupan en: soplo sitólico mesocárdico (62%), soplo sistólico pulmonar (26%), soplo protosistólico apexiano (7%), soplo piante (5%). Posteriormente los escolares fueron divididos en dos grupos, según edad y medidas antropométricas, resultando significativo el incremento de la incidencia del soplo sistólico mesocárdico entre los escolares de 6 a 10 años (74%) y del sistólico pulmonar entre los de 10 a 14 años (40%). Finalmente se hace una valoración pormenorizada de estos datos y se hace una revisión de la literatura