Pioneer of Cardiothoracic Surgery - Luiz Tavares da Silva

ABSTRACT Luis Tavares revolutionized cardiac surgery, always bringing the most modern instruments and equipment from his travels to England - surgical forceps, scissors, scalpels, etc. He always insisted that he was not just a thoracic surgeon, for his work extended over a wide field and created three important cardiac surgery centers which promoted a great development of cardiology. He carried out the first open heart surgery (atrial septal defect) employing extracorporeal circulation and closure of a ventricular septal defect with deep surface hypothermia of north and northeast Brazil. He promoted an intense scientific exchange program between Recife and England, resulting in significant advances in medicine, and participated directly in the creation of HEMOPE), leading to radical changes and improvements in blood therapy in the whole country. The PROCAPE, inaugurated in 2006, was the result of the cardiac center created by him in early 1970 at Hospital Oswaldo Cruz and can be considered the second largest public-university cardiology center in Brazil. He is thus widely regarded as an outstanding name in medicine in the 20th century and one of the fathers of modern cardiac surgery in Brazil.

Pioneer of Cardiothoracic Surgery - Joaquim Cavalcanti

ABSTRACT Joaquim de Souza Cavalcanti was a pioneer among us - the Brazilian State of Pernambuco and North-Northeast region - in cardiac surgery in its initial phase (Blalock-Taussig surgery and mitral valvulotomy), in thoracic surgery (pneumectomy, lung lobectomy and segmentectomy, lung decortication, and mediastinal tumor resection), and in numerous techniques and operative tactics in general surgery.

Mesothelioma in a developing country: a retrospective analysis of the diagnostic process / Mesotelioma em um país em desenvolvimento: análise retrospectiva do processo diagnóstico

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the process of diagnosing patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving patients referred to a tertiary-care cancer center in Brazil between 2009 and 2020. The diagnostic process was divided into four steps: onset of symptoms, referral to a specialist visit, histopathological diagnosis, and beginning of treatment. The intervals between each phase and the factors for delays were evaluated. Data including clinical status, radiological examinations, staging, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes were collected. Results: During the study period, 66 patients (mean age = 64 years) were diagnosed with MPM and underwent treatment. Only 27 (41%) of the patients had knowledge of prior exposure to asbestos. The median number of months (IQR) between the onset of symptoms and the first specialist visit, between the specialist visit and histopathological characterization, and between definite diagnosis and beginning of treatment was, respectively, 6.5 (2.0-11.4), 1.5 (0.6-2.1), and 1.7 (1.2-3.4). The knowledge of prior asbestos exposure was associated with a shorter time to referral to a specialist (median: 214 vs. 120 days; p = 0.04). A substantial number of nondiagnostic procedures and false-negative biopsy results (the majority of which involved the use of Cope needle biopsy) were found to be decisive factors for the length of waiting time. The mean overall survival was 11.9 months. Conclusions: The unfamiliarity of health professionals with MPM and the patient's lack of knowledge of prior asbestos exposure were the major factors to cause a long time interval between the onset of symptoms and beginning of treatment. An overall survival shorter than 1 year is likely to have been due to the aforementioned delays.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o processo de diagnóstico de pacientes com mesotelioma pleural maligno (MPM) em um hospital terciário. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo envolvendo pacientes encaminhados a um centro oncológico terciário no Brasil entre 2009 e 2020. O processo diagnóstico foi dividido em quatro etapas: início dos sintomas, encaminhamento para consulta especializada, diagnóstico histopatológico e início do tratamento. Foram avaliados os intervalos entre as etapas e os fatores de atraso. Os dados coletados incluíram estado clínico, exames radiológicos, estadiamento, modalidades de tratamento e resultados de sobrevida. Resultados: Durante o período do estudo, 66 pacientes (média de idade = 64 anos) foram diagnosticados com MPM e submetidos a tratamento. Apenas 27 (41%) dos pacientes tinham conhecimento de exposição prévia ao amianto. A mediana de meses (IIQ) entre o início dos sintomas e a primeira consulta especializada, entre a consulta especializada e a caracterização histopatológica e entre o diagnóstico definitivo e o início do tratamento foi, respectivamente, de 6,5 (2,0-11,4), 1,5 (0,6 -2,1) e 1,7 (1,2-3,4). Conhecimento de exposição prévia ao amianto associou-se a menor tempo para encaminhamento a um especialista (mediana: 214 vs. 120 dias; p = 0,04). O número substancial de procedimentos não diagnósticos e as biópsias falso-negativas (a maioria envolvendo o uso de biópsia com agulha de Cope) foram considerados fatores decisivos para o tempo de espera. A sobrevida global média foi de 11,9 meses. Conclusões: A falta de familiaridade dos profissionais de saúde com o MPM e o desconhecimento dos pacientes em relação à exposição prévia ao amianto foram os principais fatores que ocasionaram um longo intervalo de tempo entre o início dos sintomas e o início do tratamento. A sobrevida global inferior a 1 ano provavelmente se deve aos atrasos supracitados.

Estudo comparativo entre cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica com e sem circulação extracorpórea em mulheres / Comparative study between on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass graft in women

INTRODUÇÃO: Tem sido bem documentado que mulheres têm taxas de morbimortalidade mais altas que homens submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (CRM). Em vista desta evidência, é necessário saber se há benefício da CRM sem circulação extracorpórea (CEC) em comparação à CRM com CEC. OBJETIVOS: Comparar desfechos de morbimortalidade entre CRM sem CEC e CRM com CEC. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo. Nossa investigação analisa comparativamente o perfil clínico, 13 complicações relativas ao procedimento e mortalidade de uma população de 941 mulheres submetidas à CRM (549 sem CEC e 392 com CEC) em dois hospitais, no período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2005. RESULTADOS: A taxa de mortalidade em mulheres submetidas à CRM sem CEC é menor que mulheres submetidas à CRM com CEC, entretanto, a diferença não é estatisticamente significativa (3,1 por cento vs. 5,3 por cento; P=0,134). As taxas de complicações analisadas (choque hemorrágico, neurológicas, respiratórias, insuficiência renal aguda, síndrome da angústia respiratória do adulto, septicemia, pneumonia, fibrilação atrial) foram menores (diferença estatisticamente significativa) em mulheres do grupo CRM sem CEC em comparação ao grupo CRM com CEC, com exceção das complicações baixo débito cardíaco e infecção de ferida operatória. CONCLUSÕES: As evidências sugerem que CRM sem CEC pode beneficiar as mulheres em comparação com CRM com CEC, pois parece reduzir as taxas de morbimortalidade. Dez das 13 complicações investigadas demonstraram uma significativa vantagem das mulheres submetidas à CRM sem CEC em relação àquelas submetidas à CRM com CEC.

BACKGROUND: It has been well documented that women have higher morbidity and mortality rates than men following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In view of this evidence, it is necessary to know if there is benefit to off-pump CABG surgery in women in comparison to on-pump CABG. OBJECTIVES: Compare outcomes between off-pump CABG and on-pump CABG in women. METHODS: Retrospective study. Our investigation analyzes comparatively clinical profile, thirteen procedure complications and mortality of a population of 941 consecutive women undergoing CABG surgery (549 off-pump and 392 on-pump) at two hospitals for the period January 2000 to December 2005. RESULTS: Mortality rate for women undergoing off-pump CABG surgery is lower than for women undergoing on-pump surgery, however, not statistically significant (3.1 percent vs 5.3 percent; P=0.134). The complication rates analyzed (hemorrhagic shock, neurologic, respiratory, acute renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, septicemia, pneumonia, atrial fibrillation) were lower (significant statistically difference) for women off-pump than women on-pump, with the exception of low cardiac output and wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that off-pump CABG surgery may be better for women than on-pump CABG surgery because it appears to reduce morbimortality rates. Ten of 13 complications investigated demonstrated an advantage for women undergoing off-pump surgery relative to those receiving on-pump surgery.