Surgery for acute type a aortic dissection in a pregnant woman at 28 weeks' gestation

Abstract A 27-year-old woman with sudden back pain was transported to our hospital. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed pregnancy of 28 weeks' gestation. Computed tomography demonstrated a type A aortic dissection. Because of progressive fetal deterioration, an emergency cesarean section was forced to perform. The next day, simple hysterectomy followed by an aortic procedure was completed. Valve-sparing aortic replacement and total arch replacement were employed as central operations. The mother and baby are well 9 months postoperatively. Although the strategy for acute type A aortic dissection during pregnancy is controversial, collaborations among neonatologists, obstetricians, and cardiovascular surgeons can ensure mother and infant survival.

Non-fluoroscopic radiofrequency ablation of left atrial appendage tachycardia during early pregnancy

Abstract Management of symptomatic atrial tachycardia (AT) during pregnancy seems challenging, especially those originating from left atrial appendage (LAA), which easily tend to be incessant and mediate cardiomyopathy. It's contradictory between therapy and pregnancy. In this study, we report a case of a woman who presented with persistent AT, which lead to heart failure, during early pregnancy. She underwent successful catheter ablation using CartoSound and electroanatomic mapping without fluoroscopy. An electrophysiology (EP) study confirmed a focal LAA tachycardia. Soon after, left ventricular function of her heart normalized, and the patient successfully delivered a healthy child.

Miocardiopatia não compactada em gestante com linfoma não Hodgkin. Relato de caso / Non-compaction cardiomyopathy in pregnant women with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report

A miocardiopatia não compactada é uma doença congênita rara, que pode ocorrer isoladamente ou associada a outros defeitos, por falha no processo de compactação das fibras miocárdicas, resultando na persistência de trabeculações e recessos profundos. A associação entre a miocardiopatia não compactada e gestação é incomum na literatura, assim como a relação com macroglobulinemia de Waldenstrom, um tipo de linfoma não Hodgkin. Descrevemos aqui a rara associação destas três patologias. Trata-se de paciente do sexo feminino, sem antecedentes hematológicos, neoplasias ou cardiopatias, que procurou o serviço com queixa de astenia progressiva, dores no corpo, perda ponderal importante e anemia. Na investigação diagnóstica, a imunoeletroforese de proteína constatou pico monoclonal em IgM Kappa, com inventário medular por imunofenotipagem e biópsia de medula óssea com Kappa+, CD19+, CD20+, CD38 e CD79b, confirmando diagnóstico de neoplasia de linfócitos B maduros. Na terapêutica, optou-se pelo esquema de primeira linha com dexametasona, rituximabe e ciclofosfamida (DRC) − este último considerado agente alquilante cardiotóxico. Em triagem pré-quimioterápica, o eletrocardiograma mostrou alteração da repolarização ventricular anterosseptal. O ecocardiograma transtorácico evidenciou trabeculações excessivas no ápice do ventrículo esquerdo, sugerindo não compactação do miocárdio. A ressonância magnética confirmou o diagnóstico. Foi iniciada terapia com metoprolol e ácido acetilsalisílico. Todavia, após o último ciclo de terapia quimioterápica, paciente descobriu gravidez (G1P1A0). O período gestacional e o puerpério evoluíram sem manifestações clínicas de insuficiência cardíaca, em classe funcional I (New York Heart Association), mesmo com redução da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo ao ecocardiograma transtorácico. (AU)

Non-compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare congenital disease that can occur in isolation or associated with other defects, due to failure in compaction of myocardial fiber, resulting in persistence of myocardial trabeculations and deep recesses. The association between non-compaction cardiomyopathy and gestation, as well as the relationship with Waldenstrom's macrobulinemia, a type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), are not common in the literature. This study describes the rare association of these three pathologies. This is the case of a female patient with no history of hematological, neoplastic, or heart diseases, who sought the service with complaints of progressive weakness, body aches, important weight loss, and anemia. During the diagnostic investigation, protein immunoelectrophoresis showed a monoclonal peak in IgM Kappa monoclonal gammopathy, with a medullary inventory by immunophenotyping and bone marrow biopsy with Kappa+, CD19+, CD20+, CD38 and CD79b, confirming the diagnosis of mature B-cell lymphocyte neoplasm. The first line therapy chosen was dexamethasone, rituximab, and cyclophosphamide (CKD), with the latter being considered a cardiotoxic alkylating agent. At pre-chemotherapy screening, the electrocardiogram showed an alteration of the anteroseptal ventricular repolarization. Transthoracic echocardiography (ETT) showed excessive trabeculations at the apex of the left ventricle (LV), suggesting no compaction of the myocardium. The magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis.Therapy with metoprolol and acetylsalicylic acid was started. However, after the last cycle of chemotherapy, the patient found she was pregnant (G1P1A0). The gestational and puerperium period progressed with no clinical manifestations of heart failure, in functional class I (New York Heart Association), albeit the reduction of the ejection fraction of the left ventricular shown in the transthoracic echocardiography. (AU)

Accuracy of ultrasound to detect thrombosis in pregnancy: A systematic review / Acurácia da ultrassonografia para detectar trombose na gravidez: uma revisão sistemática

Summary Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound to detect deep--vein thrombosis in pregnant patients. Method: We searched Pubmed, LILACS, Scopus, Google Scholar and System for Information on Grey Literature from inception to April 2016. The reference lists of the included studies were analyzed. Original articles from accuracy studies that analyzed ultrasonography to diagnose deep-vein thrombosis in pregnant women were included. Reference standard was the follow-up time. The QUADAS-2 score was used for quality assessment. Results: Titles and summaries from 2,129 articles were identified. Four studies that evaluated deep-vein thrombosis in pregnant women were included. In all, 486 participants were enrolled. High risk of bias was seen in three out of four studies included regarding flow and timing domain of QUADAS-2. Negative predictive value was 99.39%. Conclusion: Accuracy of ultrasonography to diagnose deep-vein thrombosis in pregnant women was not determined due to the absence of data yielding positive results. Further studies of low risk of bias are needed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in this clinical scenario.

Resumo Objetivo: Determinar a acurácia diagnóstica da ultrassonografia para detectar trombose venosa profunda (TVP) em pacientes grávidas. Método: Pubmed, Lilacs, Scopus, Google Acadêmico e System for Information on Grey Literature foram pesquisados do início até abril de 2016. As referências dos estudos incluídos foram avaliadas. Artigos originais de estudos de acurácia que analisaram ultrassonografia para diagnosticar trombose venosa profunda em mulheres grávidas foram incluídos. O teste de referência foi o tempo de seguimento. O escore de QUADAS-2 foi usado para avaliar a qualidade. Resultados: Títulos e resumos de 2.129 artigos foram identificados. Quatro estudos que avaliaram trombose venosa profunda em grávidas foram incluídos. No total, 486 participantes foram selecionadas. Alto risco de viés foi visto em três dos quatro estudos incluídos considerando o domínio fluxo e tempo do QUADAS-2. O valor preditivo negativo foi 99,39%. Conclusão: A acurácia da ultrassonografia para diagnosticar trombose venosa profunda em mulheres grávidas não pôde ser determinada em razão da ausência de dados de resultados positivos. Estudos com baixo risco de viés são necessários para determinar a acurácia diagnóstica da ultrassonografia nesse cenário clínico.

Hemorragia intracraneal asociada a preeclampsia severa / Intracranial haemorrhage associated with severe preeclampsia

La hemorragia intracraneal constituye una patología poco frecuente del embarazo y asociada a pobres resultados materno-fetales. Dentro de sus causas se encuentra, la preeclampsia severa, la cual aumenta la mortalidad en estas pacientes. Se presenta el caso de una gestante que acude al servicio de urgencias con síntomas neurológicos e hipertensión arterial, diagnosticándose preeclampsia severa, con realización de cesárea de urgencia. La tomografía de cráneo mostró hemorragia temporal izquierda, requiriendo manejo en cuidados intensivos con posterior estabilización y alta médica. La hemorragia intracraneal requiere un alto índice de sospecha, monitoreo intensivo y manejo multidisciplinario.

Intracranial hemorrhage is a rare complication during pregnancy, it is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Cerebral haemorrhage caused by pre-eclampsia increases mortality in these patients. We present the case of a pregnant woman who consulted to the service of urgencies with neurological symptoms and hypertension. Severe preeclampsia was diagnosed. She underwent successful emergent cesarean section. The brain scan showed a left temporal hemorrhage. She required intensive care management with subsequent stabilization and discharged from the hospital. Intracranial hemorrhage requires a high index of suspicion, intensive monitoring, and a multidisciplinary approach.

Echocardiographic study of pregnant women with rheumatic mitral valve disease

21 pregnant women with rheumatic mitral valve disease [Rh. MVD] was examined in 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimesters and puerperium 2-4 weeks after labor, 21 patients were fulfilled the 4 examination settings, age range was 17 - 40 years with mean of 28.47 +/- 5.84 years. There were 3 cases mitral reurge [MR], 8 cases mitral stenosis [MS], 10 cases mixed [MR + MS], echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function [LVE], pulmonary artery pressure [PAP], mitral valve area [MVA] and flow by M mode 2D, Doppler ultrasound. The study revealed increased ejection fraction [EF], fractional shortening [FS] during pregnancy, huge left atrial [LA] dilatation predispose to LA thrombus, atrial fibrillation [AF], immediate postpartum pulmonary edema