18F-FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation.

The diagnosis of cardiovascular infection and inflammation by [18F]FDG PET/CT in Nuclear Cardiology is of growing interest, because with respect to echocardiography this technique has improved the certainty in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in patients with prosthetic valves, the increasing number of patients with implantable cardiac devices because of the progressive ageing of the population, as well as in patients with suspected large vessel vasculitis. All are serious clinical situations which require correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment as soon as possible, because they can cause severe complications, high mortality and also increased health care costs. We review the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation, including the clinical point of view and the contribution of other image modalities. We focus on the appropriate methodology for this exploration, patient preparation, image acquisition and correct interpretation and the quantification possibilities, defining the specific characteristics of the diagnosis in patients with prosthetic valves, implantable cardiac devices and large vessel vasculitis in the initial diagnosis as well as during follow-up to assess treatment response. We analyze the possible causes of false positive and false negative results and emphasize the special value of a multidisciplinary team for optimal management of these patients.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la endocarditis infecciosa activa / Active infective endocarditis: surgical treatment

Resumen: La endocarditis infecciosa, la infección cardiovascular en general, es una enfermedad médico-quirúrgica compleja que requiere un tratamiento multidisciplinario precoz, específico y agresivo. A pesar de los avances médicos, ésta sigue siendo una enfermedad con una morbi-mortalidad elevada, por lo que el tratamiento antibiótico se complementa en un 40-50% de los pacientes mediante intervención quirúrgica. Por lo tanto, es necesario conocer las opciones que pueden llegar a ser utilizadas para extirpar el tejido infectado. El objetivo de este trabajo es discutir aspectos de interés en la cirugía de la endocarditis infecciosa.

Abstract: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach and early and aggressive treatment. Despite médical and surgical advances, this disease still has high morbidity and mortality. The antibiotic treatment is complemented in 40-50% of the cases with surgical intervention. Thus, it is useful to be aware of the possibilities that might be contemplated in order to excise the infected tissues. The aim of this work is to discuss current surgical aspects of interest in the surgery IE.

PET/TC con 18F-FDG en la sospecha de infección asociada a dispositivos intracardiacos: rendimiento y utilidad diagnóstica / PET/CT with 18F-FDG in suspected intracardiac device-related infections: analysis of performance and diagnostic usefulness

Introducción y objetivos Las infecciones relacionadas con dispositivos intracardiacos (i-DIC) son potencialmente graves y requieren un diagnóstico precoz y certero. Los objetivos del estudio son analizar el rendimiento de la tomografía por emisión de positrones con tomografía computarizada (PET/TC) ante sospecha de i-DIC y los cambios que induce sobre el diagnóstico inicial e identificar el escenario con mayor beneficio de uso. Métodos Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes valorados mediante PET/TC por sospecha de i-DIC desde 2011 a 2018. Se calcularon valores de rendimiento diagnóstico de la PET/TC y la concordancia entre diagnóstico inicial y post-PET y el diagnóstico definitivo. Se analizaron los cambios diagnósticos considerando la sospecha clínica inicial para identificar a los pacientes con mayor beneficio. Resultados Se incluyó a 44 pacientes. La prevalencia de endocarditis fue del 57%. La sensibilidad y la especificidad de la 18F-FDG-PET/TC para el diagnóstico de endocarditis fueron 0,84 y 0,95. El diagnóstico tras la PET mejoró el inicial un 45%. De los pacientes con sospecha de infección local, la PET/TC reclasificó adecuadamente al 57% por detección de infección profunda. Conclusiones La PET/TC muestra elevado rendimiento diagnóstico ante la sospecha de i-DIC y mejora significativamente el diagnóstico convencional, sobre todo en el grupo de pacientes con sospecha de infección limitada al bolsillo. (AU)

Introduction and objectives Cardiac device-related infections (CDRI) may be life-threatening and require early and accurate diagnosis. The aims of this study were to analyze the performance of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in suspected CDRI, to assess changes to the initial diagnosis, and to identify a clinical subgroup deriving the greatest benefit from this imaging modality. Methods Retrospective study including patients evaluated by PET/CT for suspected CDRI from 2011 to 2018. We assessed PET/CT performance and the agreement between the initial, post-PET and definitive diagnoses. We also assessed changes in the diagnosis, depending on initial clinical suspicion, to identify patients deriving the greatest benefit from PET/CT. Results We included 44 patients. The prevalence of endocarditis was 57%. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis were 0.84 and 0.95, respectively. Post-PET diagnosis improved the initial diagnosis by 45%. PET/CT correctly reclassified 57% of patients with initial suspicion of generator pocket infection by detecting lead infection. Conclusions PET/CT showed high diagnostic performance in suspected of CDRI and significantly improved the conventional diagnostic approach, especially in patients with initial suspicion of focal infection. (AU)

PET/CT with 18F-FDG in suspected intracardiac device-related infections: analysis of performance and diagnostic usefulness.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac device-related infections (CDRI) may be life-threatening and require early and accurate diagnosis. The aims of this study were to analyze the performance of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in suspected CDRI, to assess changes to the initial diagnosis, and to identify a clinical subgroup deriving the greatest benefit from this imaging modality. METHODS: Retrospective study including patients evaluated by PET/CT for suspected CDRI from 2011 to 2018. We assessed PET/CT performance and the agreement between the initial, post-PET and definitive diagnoses. We also assessed changes in the diagnosis, depending on initial clinical suspicion, to identify patients deriving the greatest benefit from PET/CT. RESULTS: We included 44 patients. The prevalence of endocarditis was 57%. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis were 0.84 and 0.95, respectively. Post-PET diagnosis improved the initial diagnosis by 45%. PET/CT correctly reclassified 57% of patients with initial suspicion of generator pocket infection by detecting lead infection. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT showed high diagnostic performance in suspected of CDRI and significantly improved the conventional diagnostic approach, especially in patients with initial suspicion of focal infection.

Caracterización clínico-epidemiológica con enfoque quirúrgico de la endocarditis infecciosa en la región central de Cuba / Clinico-epidemiological characterization with a surgical approach of infective endocarditis in the central region of Cuba

RESUMEN Introducción: La endocarditis infecciosa no ha disminuido su incidencia y mortalidad en los últimos 30 años. Objetivo: Caracterizar los pacientes operados por diagnóstico de endocarditis infecciosa activa. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo que incluyó a 109 pacientes con diagnóstico de esta enfermedad y fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente en el Cardiocentro Ernesto Che Guevara (Cuba) desde julio de 2010 hasta junio de 2018. La información se obtuvo de las historias clínicas y el informe operatorio. Resultados: La endocarditis infecciosa sobre válvula protésica fue diagnosticada en 15 pacientes (13,8%), pero la más frecuente fue la relacionada con la colonización de dispositivos intracardíacos (51,4%), razón por la que el procedimiento quirúrgico más utilizado fue el cambio de sistema de estimulación. La principal indicación quirúrgica fue la infección incontrolada en 63 casos (57,8%), seguida por la insuficiencia cardíaca (38 pacientes; 34,9%) y en 67 casos (61,5%) los hemocultivos resultaron negativos. La sustitución de la válvula nativa por una prótesis mecánica se realizó en 28 pacientes (25,7%), de los cuáles 15 (13,8%) fueron en posición mitral. El recambio de una prótesis mecánica por otra de igual características se llevó a cabo en 14 (12,8%) casos, 8 (7,3%) de ellos mitrales. La mortalidad global fue de 17,4%, más evidente en aquellos con endocarditis sobre válvula protésica izquierda (7/15). Conclusiones: Predominaron el sexo masculino y la edad mayor de 60 años, así como la presencia de vegetaciones sobre dispositivos intracardíacos y los hemocultivos negativos. La endocarditis sobre válvula protésica se asoció significativamente con la mortalidad.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Infective endocarditis has not decreased its incidence and mortality in the last 30 years. Objective: To characterize patients operated on due to diagnosis of active infective endocarditis. Method: A retrospective, descriptive study was carried out, which included 109 patients with a diagnosis of this disease, who underwent surgery at Cardiocentro Ernesto Che Guevara (Cuba), from July 2010 to June 2018. The information was obtained from the medical records and the surgical report. Results: Prosthetic valve infective endocarditis was diagnosed in 15 patients (13.8%), but the most frequent was the one related to intracardiac device colonization (51.4%), reason why the most used surgical procedure was the change of the electrical stimulation system. The main surgical indication was the uncontrolled infection in 63 cases (57.8%), followed by heart failure (38 patients; 34.9%) and in 67 cases (61.5%), the blood cultures were negative. The native valve replacement for a mechanical prosthetic valve was performed in 28 patients (25.7%), of which 15 (13.8%) were in mitral position. The replacement of a mechanical prosthetic valve for another with the same characteristics was carried out in 14 (12.8%) cases, 8 (7.3%) of them were mitral. Overall mortality was of 17.4%, more evident in those with left-side prosthetic valve endocarditis (7/15). Conclusions: Male gender and age over 60 years old predominated, as well as the presence of vegetations on intracardiac devices, and negative blood cultures. The prosthetic valve endocarditis was significantly associated with mortality.

Endocarditis infecciosa sobre electrodo de marcapasos permanente / Infectious Endocarditis on electrode of permanent pacemaker

Se presenta el caso clínico de un anciano de 84 años, con antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica crónica, que fue remitido a la consulta de cardiología (para atender a los pacientes con marcapasos y arritmias) del Hospital Provincial Docente Saturnino Lora de Santiago de Cuba, donde se le diagnosticó una disfunción sinusal y se le colocó un marcapasos permanente. Un mes después comenzó a presentar fiebre y otras manifestaciones clínicas de modo que reingresó por sospecha de endocarditis infecciosa aguda en la cavidad derecha, relacionada con la implantación del dispositivo intracardíaco, lo cual fue confirmado con los resultados de los hemocultivos y ecocardiogramas efectuados. El paciente evolucionó desfavorablemente y falleció

The case report of a 84 year-old elderly is presented, with history of chronic ischemic heart disease that was referred to the cardiology visit (to assist the patients with pacemakers and arrhythmias) of Saturnino Lora Teaching Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, where he was diagnosed a sinusal dysfuntion and he was inserted a permanent pacemaker. One month later he began to present fever and other clinical manifestations so that he was readmitted due to suspicion of acute infectious endocarditis in the right cavity, related to the placing of the intracardiac device, which was confirmed with the results of the hemoculture and echocardiograms. The clinical course of the patient was unfavorable and he died

Endocarditis infecciosa sobre electrodo de marcapasos permanente / Infectious Endocarditis on electrode of permanent pacemaker

Se presenta el caso clínico de un anciano de 84 años, con antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica crónica, que fue remitido a la consulta de cardiología (para atender a los pacientes con marcapasos y arritmias) del Hospital Provincial Docente Saturnino Lora de Santiago de Cuba, donde se le diagnosticó una disfunción sinusal y se le colocó un marcapasos permanente. Un mes después comenzó a presentar fiebre y otras manifestaciones clínicas de modo que reingresó por sospecha de endocarditis infecciosa aguda en la cavidad derecha, relacionada con la implantación del dispositivo intracardíaco, lo cual fue confirmado con los resultados de los hemocultivos y ecocardiogramas efectuados. El paciente evolucionó desfavorablemente y falleció(AU)

The case report of a 84 year-old elderly is presented, with history of chronic ischemic heart disease that was referred to the cardiology visit (to assist the patients with pacemakers and arrhythmias) of Saturnino Lora Teaching Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, where he was diagnosed a sinusal dysfuntion and he was inserted a permanent pacemaker. One month later he began to present fever and other clinical manifestations so that he was readmitted due to suspicion of acute infectious endocarditis in the right cavity, related to the placing of the intracardiac device, which was confirmed with the results of the hemoculture and echocardiograms. The clinical course of the patient was unfavorable and he died(AU)