[Prognostic value of syncope in the presentation of pulmonary embolism]. / El síncope como forma de presentación de la embolia de pulmón: valor pronóstico.

OBJECTIVE: Although the prognostic value of syncope has not been specifically addressed, it has generally been considered an indicator of poor prognosis in pulmonary embolism. The objective of this study was to carry out a prospective evaluation of the risk of recurrence and/or death in patients with pulmonary embolism that presents with syncope. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 168 patients had a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Twelve were lost to follow up and did not enter statistical analysis. The mean follow-up period was 5 months. RESULTS: The prevalence of syncope in the patients studied was 22%. Of the 34 patients who presented syncope, objectively confirmed recurrence occurred in 2 (5.9%). In the patients who did not present syncope, recurrence was confirmed in 8 (6.6%; P=.8). Death occurred in 2 patients (5.9%) from the group presenting syncope and 15 (12.3%) from the remaining patients in the series (P=.4). The relative risk of recurrence and/or death associated with presentation of syncope was 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-1.8). A similar risk was obtained following adjustment for the presence or absence of cancer or deep vein thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pulmonary embolism that presents with syncope do not have an increased risk of recurrence and/or death.

El síncope como forma de presentación de la embolia de pulmón: valor pronóstico / Prognostic value of syncope in the presentation of pulmonary embolism

Objetivo: Clásicamente se ha considerado que el síncope es un factor de mal pronóstico en la tromboembolia de pulmón (TEP), aunque esta cuestión no se ha estudiado de forma específica. El objetivo de nuestro estudio ha sido evaluar de forma prospectiva el riesgo de recurrencia y/o muerte en pacientes con síncope como forma de presentación. Pacientes y métodos: Estudiamos a 168 pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de TEP durante una media de 5 meses. Resultados: La prevalencia de síncope en la serie estudiada fue de un 22%. Entre los 34 pacientes que sufrieron un síncope, se produjo una recurrencia objetivamente confirmada en 2 pacientes (5,9%). En el resto de los pacientes se objetivaron 8 recurrencias (6,6%) (p = 0,8). Se produjeron 2 fallecimientos en el grupo de pacientes con síncope (5,9%) y 15 (12,3%) en el resto de la serie (p = 0,4). El riesgo relativo de recurrencia y/o muerte asociado al síncope fue de 0,5 (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 0,2-1,8). El riesgo fue similar después de ajustarlo a la presencia o ausencia de cáncer o de trombosis venosa profunda. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con síncope como forma de presentación de la TEP no tienen un riesgo aumentado de recurrencia y/o muerte respecto al resto

Objective: Although the prognostic value of syncope has not been specifically addressed, it has generally been considered an indicator of poor prognosis in pulmonary embolism. The objective of this study was to carry out a prospective evaluation of the risk of recurrence and/or death in patients with pulmonary embolism that presents with syncope. Patients and Methods: A total of 168 patients had a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Twelve were lost to follow up and did not enter statistical analysis. The mean follow-up period was 5 months. Results: The prevalence of syncope in the patients studied was 22%. Of the 34 patients who presented syncope, objectively confirmed recurrence occurred in 2 (5.9%). In the patients who did not present syncope, recurrence was confirmed in 8 (6.6%; P=.8). Death occurred in 2 patients (5.9%) from the group presenting syncope and 15 (12.3%) from the remaining patients in the series (P=.4). The relative risk of recurrence and/or death associated with presentation of syncope was 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-1.8). A similar risk was obtained following adjustment for the presence or absence of cancer or deep vein thrombosis. Conclusions: Patients with pulmonary embolism that presents with syncope do not have an increased risk of recurrence and/or death

Etiology and frequency of gas exchange abnormalities in cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: gas exchange abnormalities are frequent in cirrhosis. These abnormalities can be considered an indication or contraindication for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the etiology and frequency of these alterations. METHOD: seventy-eight patients with cirrhosis and 20 healthy subjects were selected randomly. Arterial basal blood gases, diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLco), pulmonary function test (PFT) and contrast transthoracic echocardiography (CTTE) with 0. 9% saline were done. RESULTS: patients showed lower DLco (79 +/- 23. 2 vs 96 +/- 20; p < 0.01), lower PaCO2 levels (32.2 +/- 4.5 vs 37.5 +/- 4; p < 0.001) and higher alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (AaPaO2) (22.5 +/- 11.4 vs 12 +/- 7.4; p < 0.001) than controls, but the difference between groups in mean PaO2 levels was not significant. Twenty-three patients (29.5%) had pulmonary vasodilatation (PV) and 28 (36%) altered PFT. Hypocapnia was the most frequently observed alteration in gas exchange (73.4%). Hypoxemia and decreased DLco were more frequent in the presence of altered PFT than in the presence of PV. Both PFT abnormalities and PV were associated with increased AaPaO2. Child stage was higher in patients with PV (7.9 +/- 2.3 vs 9.2 +/- 2; p = 0.01) than in those without PV. CONCLUSIONS: gas exchange abnormalities are frequent in cirrhosis. The most frequent alteration is hypocapnia, which is associated with PV. The main cause of severe hypoxemia in these patients is PFT abnormality. Pulmonary vasodilatation is more frequent and more severe in patients with advanced hepatocellular dysfunction.

Diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome with contrast transesophageal echocardiography: advantages over contrast transthoracic echocardiography.

The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in cirrhotic patients, comparing the results obtained using contrast transthoracic echocardiography (CTTE) and contrast transesophageal echocardiography (CTEE) in the demonstration and grading of pulmonary vasodilatation (PV). We also analyzed the correlation between gas-exchange abnormalities and PV when it was demonstrated with both techniques. The prevalence of PV and HPS with CTEE in the 88 cirrhotic patients was 28% and 22%, respectively, and with CTEE, 42% (P < 0.05) (middle PV: 35% and significant PV: 7%) and 30% (P < 0.05), respectively. Fifty-six percent of patients diagnosed with PV and with CTTE presented with hypoxemia as did 49% using CTEE (83% of patients with significant PV had hypoxaemia). PaCO2 and diffusing capacity of CO were significantly more decreased in patients with PV than in patients without PV when CTEE was employed. We conclude that CTEE is superior to CTTE in the diagnosis and grading of PV in the diagnosis of HPS in cirrhotic patients, being more sensitive and presenting a better correlation with gas-exchange abnormalities. Given its high sensitivity, CTEE should be carried out in all patients with suspicion of HPS and normal or uncertain CTTE.

Endobronchial hamartoma resected by rigid bronchoscope.

Endobronchial hamartomas are not very common and they are usually symptomatic because of bronchial obstruction. The diagnosis is made by fiberoptic bronchoscopy of thoracotomy and there are several possibilities of treatment but until now the most common has been surgical resection. We report the case of a man with an endobronchial hamartoma who was diagnosed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy and successfully treated by rigid bronchoscopy.