Application of cardiac assist device and its biomechanics research for heart failure / 生物医学工程学杂志

As an important means of treating heart failure (HF), cardiac assist device has been widely used in clinic. This paper reviews the application status, existing problems and future development trend of cardiac assist devices, including the classification of cardiac assist devices, representative research achievements and indications of the assist devices. It also summarizes the biomechanical indexes of the heart and the new approaches and methods for treating heart failure, as well as the hemodynamic studies of cardiac assist devices in recent years. The research findings provide references for further optimization of cardiac assist device structure and clinical application of the device.

Miocarditis eosinofílica como causa de disfunción ventricular izquierda reversible / Eosinophilic myocarditis as a cause of reversible left ventricular dysfunction

Resumen La miocarditis eosinofílica es una entidad poco difundida ya que su diagnóstico histopatológico se realiza en casos de mayor severidad, donde la biopsia endomiocárdica es mandatoria. No obstante, dado que esta entidad suele superponerse a muchas patologías: las infecciosas, las inmunológicas, o asociadas a la hipersensibilidad y esto se asocia con la reversibilidad, es importante tenerla presente como entidad nosológica en cuadros agudos de la disfunción ventricular izquierda. Puede o no estar asociada a la eosinofilia periférica, su ausencia no descarta la enfermedad. Se presenta un paciente joven (35 años de edad), con un cuadro clínico de la falla cardiaca aguda que progresa rápidamente a choque cardiogénico con poca respuesta al manejo inicial instaurado (inodilatadores, vasopresores), requiriendo el uso de soporte circulatorio extracorpóreo. Como antecedente: la reciente finalización del tratamiento para leishmaniasis mucocutánea, con antimoniato de meglumina (glucantime). Informe del servicio de patología: miocarditis eosinofílica. Se logra el destete del soporte circulatorio, presenta mejoría de la función sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo con recuperación total del cuadro clínico. Este caso es relevante en cuanto a diagnóstico de disfunción ventricular aguda, con una asociación previamente no descrita con antimoniato de meglumina (glucantime), nos recuerda la importancia de realizar: la biopsia endomiocárdica para definir la etiología, la toma de decisiones de terapias avanzadas, conociendo que en ciertas circunstancias puede presentarse reversibilidad de la disfunción miocárdica y mejoría del cuadro clínico.

Abstract Eosinophilic myocarditis is a little-known entity as its histopathological diagnosis is conducted in the most severe cases, where an endomyocardial biopsy is mandatory. However, because this condition is usually overlaps with many pathologies -infectious, immunological, or associated to hypersensitivity, and this is related to reversibility- it is important to keep it in mind as a nosological entity in acute presentations of left ventricular dysfunction. It may or may not be associated to peripheral eosinophilia, though its absence does not rule out the condition. A case of a young male patient (35 year-old) with clinical features of acute cardiac failure which progresses rapidly into cardiogenic shock with low response to initial management (inodilators, vasopressors) requiring the use of extracorporeal circulation support is presented. Previous history: recent completion of treatment for ucocutaneous leishmaniases with meglumine antimoniate (glucantime). Pathology service report: eosinophilic yocarditis. Weaning from circulatory support is achieved, presenting an improvement of systolic function of the left ventricle with complete recovery of the symptomatology. This case is relevant due to the diagnosis of acute ventricular dysfunction with an association with meglumine antimoniate (glucantime) that was previously not described. It reminds of the importance of carrying out an endomyocardial biopsy in order to define the aetiology and the decision-making on advances therapies, knowing that in some circumstances there can be a reversibility of the myocardial function and an improvement of the symptomatology.

Reporte del primer caso de implante exitoso de asistencia ventricular izquierda HeartMate II como terapia de destino en Suramérica / Report of the first successful case of HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device placement as a destination therapy in South America

Resumen Se describe el caso de una paciente de sexo femenino de 55 años de edad, con insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva descompensada secundaria a cardiopatía dilatada idiopática y con contraindicación para trasplante cardiaco, en quien se implanta de manera exitosa el primer dispositivo de asistencia ventricular izquierda HeartMate II en Suramérica.

Abstract The case of a 55 year-old woman with decompensated congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is described. Cardiac transplantation was contraindicated, and the first HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device was placed in South America.