Síndrome de tako-tsubo, caracterización clínica y evolución a un año plazo / Tako-tsubo syndrome: analysis of 37 cases

Background: Tako-tsubo Syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient regional systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV), mimicking myocardial infarction. It accounts for 0.9-1.2% of all acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Aim: To describe the incidence and characteristics of TTS within our population. Material and Methods: All patients diagnosed with ACS and TTS were selected from a clinical registry of all the coronary angiographies done in our hospital. Clinical features during initial presentation, hospital evolution and one year follow-up were analyzed. Results: The first case diagnosed in our hospital occurred in 2001. Since then, 4,433 coronary angiographies were done to patients with ACS until 2014 and 37 corresponded to TTS (0.83% incidence). The mean age of patients was 64 years, 73% were female, and 62% had hypertension. All patients had an identifiable trigger factor, abnormal EKG and elevated troponin. The coronary angiography did not show lesions in 97%. However, all had the characteristic extensive segmental-motility alteration with a mean ejection fraction of 44%. All patients were treated initially as an ACS. Seven patients had complications, namely acute cardiac failure in six and stroke in one. No patient died. At one year of follow-up, 100% showed normal segmental motility and ejection fraction, no patient had a new episode of TTS and all were alive. Conclusions: TTS is rare and the incidence found in this study is slightly lower than that reported elsewhere. TTS mimics ACS and it should be suspected by its clinical, electrocardiographic and enzymatic particularities. Coronary angiography helps to rule out other diagnosis. All patients normalize motility and ventricular function, which is the definitive differential feature respect to ACS.

Nacimiento anómalo de las arterias coronarias en 10.000 pacientes adultos sometidos a coronariografía / Coronary artery origin anomalies. Analysis of 10.000 coronary angiographies

Background: Between 0.3 and 1.3 percent of coronary arteries, have anomalous origins. Circumflex artery has the higher frequency of anomalies. Aim: To study the frequency of congenital anomalous origins of coronary arteries among adult patients subjected to a coronary angiography. Material and Methods: Analysis of reports of 10,000 coronary angiographies performed in a clinical hospital. Patients with congenital heart disease were excluded. Results: One hundred twenty nine patients (1.3 percent), aged 59 ± 12years (70 percent males) had congenital anomalies in the origin of coronary arteries. The most common anomaly was the origin of right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus in 75 percent, followed from the origin of circumflex artery from the right side in 20 percento. No association between origin anomalies and atherosclerosis or aortic valve disease, was observed. Conclusions: In this series of patients, origin anomalies of coronary arteries were not associated with aortic valve disease or atherosclerosis, differing from other published reports. Right coronary artery had the highest frequency of anomalies.

Angiografía coronaria: indicación, resultados y complicaciones en 5.000 pacientes consecutivos / Coronary angiography: indications, results and complications in 5.000 consecutive patients

Background: There are guidelines about equipment, premises, personnel, indications and complications rates for coronary angiography, that every center performing this procedure should adhere. Aim: To report the experience with 5.000 coronary angiographies and to assess the compliance of the center with the current guidelines. Material and methods: Prospective registry of 5.000 patients aged 60±11 years (3.475 males) subjected to coronary angiography since 1992, assessing all aspects of the procedure with special emphasis on complications. Results: The indications for 80 percent of procedures was suspected coronary atherosclerosis. The main risk factors were hypertension and smoking. Coronary atherosclerosis was demonstrated in 62 percent, mainly one vessel disease. These were two deaths due to the procedure (0.04 percent), three patients (0.06 percent) had an acute myocardial infarction or a stroke. These figures are lower than referential values. Conclusions: In this center, coronary angiography is a safe procedure, with complications rates that are even lower than referential values.

Análisis comparativo de las características clínico-angiográficasy de los resultados inmediatos y tardíos de stents liberadores de drogas vs. no liberadores / Immediate and late clinical an angiographic results of coronary stent implantation: comparison of drug eluting versus bare metal stents

Introducción: La reducción de la reestenosis intrastent ha permitido una gran aceptación de los stents liberadores de drogas (DES). El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido evaluar nuestra experiencia clínica inicial con DES y compararla con aquellos que sólo recibieron BMS (stents no liberadores de drogas). Materiales y Métodos: Se compararon 71 pacientes tratados con DES (Cypher® = 32 o Taxus® = 39) con 903 pacientes tratados sólo con BMS. Además del análisis clínico y angiográfico detallado, se efectuó seguimiento clínico de a lo menos 6 meses. Resultados: Los pacientes tratados con DES con mayor frecuencia eran más complejos y tenían características clínicas y angiográficas desfavorables. Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias en la tasa de éxito angiográfico (100 vs. 99,2 por ciento) ni en las complicaciones isquémicas intrahospitalarias (1,3 vs. 0 por ciento). En el seguimiento los tratados con DES tuvieron menor recurrencia de la angina (8,7 vs. 19,0 por ciento), revascularización del vaso tratado (0 vs. 7,5 por ciento) y menos eventos isquémicos (4,4 por ciento vs. 14,6 por ciento). Conclusiones: A pesar de su empleo en pacientes con características clínicas y angiográficas desfavorables, los DES lograron un mejor resultado a largo plazo en comparación con los BMS.

Background: There has been considerable enthusiasm for drug eluting stents (DES) in coronary angioplasty due to the lower restenosis rate associated to their use. Aim: To compare clinical and angiographic results of DES implantation, compared to traditional bare metal stents (BMS) Methods: 71 patients who received DES (Cypher® = 32; Taxus® = 39) were compared to 903 patients who had received BMS. Detailed clinical and angiographic evaluation and 6 month follow up data were analyzed. T test and X2 analysis were used for comparisons. Results: Compared to the BMS group, the DES group had complex clinical (diabetes mellitus, family history, active smokers) and agiographic findings (lower ejection fraction, longer lesions) in a greater proportion of cases (p < 0.05 vs BMS). The immediate angiographic success rate did not differ between groups (100 percent vs 99.2 percent, respectively). Acute ischemic complications occurred in 1.3 percent in DES patients compared to 0 percent in BMS (pNS). At follow-up, angina recurrence (8.7 percent vs 19 percent, p < 0.043), need for revascularization (0 percent vs 7.5 percent, p < 0.02) and new ischemic events (4.4 percent vs 14.6 percent, p < 0.02) were lower in DES as compared to BMS patients. Conclusion: In spite of the greater clinical and angiographic complexity, patients with DES had better long term clinical results than patients who received BMS.

Incidencia y predictores del deterioro de la función renal en pacientes sometidos a angioplastía coronaria / Incidence and predictors of the renal function deterioration in patients submitted to coronary angioplasty

La insuficiencia renal aguda (IRA) puede ser una complicación de la angioplastia coronaria (AC). En su patogenia participan variables inherentes al paciente como relacionadas al procedimiento. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la incidencia y predictores de IRA en pacientes sometidos a AC. Analizamos a 913 pacientes sometidos a AC entre 08/1998 y 07/2003. Sólo 42 (4,6 por ciento) pacientes desarrollaron IRA (aumento de la creatinemia ≥ 0,5 mg/dl respecto del basal). Los predictores independientes de IRA fueron: edad (p=0,002; OR = 1,04), creatininemia basal (p < 0,001; OR = 4,00), caída del hematocrito (p = 0,001; OR = 1,15), insuficiencia cardiaca (p < 0,01; OR = 7,74), shock (p = 0,006; OR = 8,49) y la cantidad de medio de contraste (p = 0,006; OR = 1,005). Conclusiones: La IRA es una complicación poco frecuente de la angioplastia coronaria. La mayor edad, el daño renal previo, la pérdida sanguínea, el estado hemodinámico y el mayor volumen de medio de contraste usado son los predictores independientes de su ocurrencia.