Repercusión de la pandemia COVID-19 en la práctica de la cardiología intervencional en Chile: datos aportados por la encuesta del grupo Stent-Save a Life! LATAM working group / Decrease in the activity of interventional cardiology in Chile: a report from the "Stent-Save a Life! LATAM working group"

RESUMEN: Introducción: El Stent-Save a Life! (SSL) LATAM working group diseñó una encuesta para objetivar la reducción de la actividad de los laboratorios de hemodinamia en Latinoamérica durante la pandemia COVID-19. Ante la amenaza de nuevos confinamientos en Chile, nos propusimos objetivar las consecuencias de la primera ola de contagios en nuestra actividad. Objetivos: Discutir la repercusión de la pandemia en la cardiología intervencional en Chile. Métodos: El grupo SSL realizó una encuesta telemática a todos los países de Latinoamérica incluido Chile. Se registraron las coronariografías (CAG), intervenciones coronarias percutáneas (ACTP) e intervenciones estructurales, comparando dos períodos determinados por el confinamiento por la pandemia, cada uno de dos semanas. Pre-COVID-19: período previo al confinamiento, y COVID-19: período durante el confinamiento. Se analizan, a partir de esta encuesta, los resultados aplicados a nuestro país. Resultados: Se obtuvo respuesta de trece centros. Hubo una reducción en el número global de procedimientos entre período Pre-COVID-19 y COVID-19 de un 65,1%. Se reportó una disminución de 67% en las CAG, de un 59,4% en las ACTP y de un 92% en los procedimientos terapéuticos estructurales. Entre ambos períodos se redujo la consulta por Síndrome Coronario Agudo por elevación del segmento ST (SCACEST) en 40,8%. Conclusiones: En nuestro país se objetivó una reducción marcada de la actividad asistencial de la cardiología intervencional durante la pandemia COVID-19 y una disminución significativa en el número de pacientes tratados por SCACEST. Los resultados de nuestro país son similares a los reportados por países de Latinoamérica, Europa y Norteamérica.

ABSTRACT: Background: The Stent-Save a Life! (SSL) LATAM working group designed a survey to demonstrate the reduction in the activity of cardiac catheterization laboratories in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the risk of a new confinement in Chile, we decided to assess the impact of the first wave of contagions on our activity. Aims: To discuss the repercussion of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity of interventional cardiology in Chile. Methods: The SSL group conducted a telematic survey in all Latin American countries. Coronary angiography, coronary interventions (PCI) and structural interventions were registered, comparing two periods of two weeks duration each: before and during COVID-19 confinement. Results obtained in Chile are analyzed. Results: Thirteen centers in Chile answered the survey. There was an overall decrease of 65.1% in the number of procedures between the pre and the post COVID-19 periods. Coronary angiographies decreased 67%, PCI 59.4% and therapeutical structural procedures 92%. The reduction in acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation (STEMI) was 40,8% between periods. Conclusions: In Chile, a significant reduction in healthcare activity related to interventional cardiology and a significant decrease in the number of patients treated with STEMI was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are similar to those reported by Latin American, European and North American countries.

Implantación percutánea transeptal de válvula protésica aórtica sobre bioprótesis mitral degenerada

Reintervention of a mitral degenerated bioprosthesis has a high surgical risk, especially in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. We report a 74 years old female with two previous cardiac surgical procedures and a new structural mitral bioprosthesis deterioration with severe mitral regurgitation. Considering her high-surgical risk, a fully percutaneous treatment was performed with a balloon-expandable aortic valve in mitral position (valve-in-valve) through a transseptal approach with a favorable outcome. This technique is an attractive and effective option with a relatively low rate of complications that could solve this challenging and complex disease.

Angioplastía con balón para el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial pulmonar por enfermedad tromboembólica crónica. Resultados hemodinámicos y clínicos inmediatos / Balloon pulmonary angioplasty for the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a therapeutic alternative for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Aim: To report the initial experience with the "refined BPA technique" with the use of intravascular images. Patients and Methods: Between June 2015 and June 2016 we selected fourteen patients with CTEPH who were considered candidates for BPA. Lesions targeted for treatment were further analyzed using intravascular imaging with optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI). We report the immediate hemodynamic results and four weeks of follow-up of the first eight patients of this series. Results: We performed 16 BPA in eight patients aged 61 ± 14 years (88% women). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm) was 48.6 ± 5.8 mmHg. Success was achieved in seven patients (88%). A mean of 2.3 segments per patient were intervened in 11 sessions (1.6 sessions/ patient). Only one patient developed lung reperfusion injury. No mortality was associated with the procedure. After the last BPA session, PAPm decreased to 37.4 ± 8.6 mmHg (p=0.02). Pulmonary vascular resistance (RVP) decreased from 858,6 ± 377,0 at baseline to 516,6 ± 323,3 Dynes/sec/cm−5 (p<0.01) and the cardiac index increased from 2.4±0.6 at baseline to 2.8±0.3 L/min/m2 (p=0.01). At 4 weeks after the last BPA, WHO functional class improved from 3.3±0.5 to 2.5±0.5 (p<0,01) and six minutes walking distance from 331±92 to 451±149 m (p=0.01). Conclusions: BPA guided by OFDI for the treatment of inoperable CTEPH patients is a safe alternative with excellent immediate hemodynamic and clinical results.

Bajos niveles de colesterol HDL es un predictor de mortalidad y de fibrilación auricular postoperatoria posterior a la cirugía de revascularización miocárdica / Low HDL level is a predictor of post operative atrial fibrillation and mortality after coronary artery bypass surgery

Introducción: Se ha demostrado que bajos niveles de colesterol HDL (C-HDL) se asocian a una mayor incidencia de fibrilación auricular y de mortalidad global y cardiovascular. En un estudio observacional previo en nuestro centro, encontramos que un bajo nivel de C-HDL se asoció a mayor riesgo de fibrilación auricular postoperatoria (FAPO) en pacientes sometidos a cirugía de revascularización miocárdica (CRM). Objetivo: Evaluar si el bajo nivel de C-HDL se asocia a mayor incidencia de FAPO y mortalidad en un seguimiento a un año en un estudio controlado. Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo que incluyó a 100 pacientes consecutivos sometidos a CRM por enfermedad coronaria estable sin antecedentes de FA y que ingresaron a la UCI Cardio-quirúrgica en ritmo sinusal. Se definió FAPO como FA con duración mayor a 5 minutos o 5 episodios de FA mayores a 30 segundos de duración en los primeros 5 días post operatorios. Se consideró bajo nivel de C-HDL a un valor < 30mg/dL. Los pacientes se siguieron por un año. Se utilizó un análisis univariado y multivaria-do para identificar factores predisponentes de FAPO y mortalidad. Resultados: 31 pacientes presentaron FAPO. El análisis multivariado mostró un incremento de FAPO con C-HDL <30mg/dL (OR 5.01, IC95% 1.3-18.8, p=0,017) y con albúmina <3,5 gr/dL (OR 6.42, IC95% 1.58-26.0, p=0,009). En un seguimiento de 14.1±1.7 meses. La mortalidad global fue 6% y un C-HDL <30mg/dL resultó ser un predictor independiente (HR 11.1, IC95% 1.1-38.4, p=0,039). Conclusión: En nuestra serie un C-HDL menor a 30mg/dL es un predictor independiente de FAPO y mortalidad posterior a la CRM.

Background: Low C-HDL level has been associated to an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiovascular mortality. Previously, we have observed that low C-HDL had the same type of association with post operative AF (POAF) and mortality following surgery for coronary artery disease. Aim: to evaluate whether a low C-HDL level is a predictor of POAF and mortality following revascularization surgery in a controlled study. Method: A prospective observational study included 100 consecutive patients undergoing revascularization surgery for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) in sinus rhythm and no prior AF. POAF was defined as AF sustained for more than 5 min or the occurrence of 5 or more episodes of AF extending for more than 5 seconds during the first 5 post operative days. A value <30 mg/dl was considered low C-HDL. Patients were followed for one year. Uni and multivariate analysis were used to identify predictors of POAF and mortality. Results: 31 patients developed POAF. A significant (p=0.017) OR of 5.01 (95% CI 1.3 - 18.8) between low C-HDL and POAF was shown. A similar association linked low serum albumin level to POAF (OR 6.4, C.I. 1.6 - 26). After 14.1 ± 1.7 months of follow-up global mortality was 6%. Low C-HDL turned out to be a significant predictor of mortality (H.R. 11.1, C.I. 1.1 - 38.4, p=0.04). Conclusion: Low C-HDL is an independent predictor of POAF and mortality after coronary artery revascularization surgery.