The Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) in Chile: lessons learned from a year of coordinated efforts

Informing the health policymaking process with the best available scientific evidence has become relevant to health systems globally. Knowledge Translation Platforms (KTP), such as the World Health Organization's Evidence Informed Policy Networks (EVIPNet), are a recognized strategy for linking research to action. This report describes the experience of implementing EVIPNet in Chile, from its objectives, organizational structure, strategy, activities, and main outputs, to its evolution over the course of its first year. Lessons learned are also covered. Of the activities initiated by EVIPNet-Chile, the Rapid Response Service proved to be a good starting point for engaging policymakers. Capacity building workshops and policy dialogues with relevant stakeholders were also successful. Additionally, EVIPNet-Chile developed a model for engaging academic institutions in policymaking through a network focused on preparing evidence briefs. A number of challenges, such as changing methods for producing rapid evidence syntheses, were also identified. This KTP implementation model located in a Ministry of Health could contribute to the development of similar initiatives in other health systems.

[Ebstein's anomaly with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]. / Anomalía de Ebstein con síndrome de Wolff-Parkinson-White.

Thirty-three patients were studied with Ebstein's anomaly, associated to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with the purpose of analyze their electrophysiologic characteristics. In this patients the right preexcitation was before the activation of the right ventricle mass, overshadowing the manifestations of the right bundle branch block (usual in patients with Ebstein's anomaly without preexcitation). In conclusion the absence of manifestations of right bundle branch block in the presence of Ebstein's anomaly diagnosed by hemodynamic study or echocardiography let us think in the coexistence of the preexcitation and suggest the pertinent electrophysiologic study; as the association of supraventricular tachycardia in this group is very high (94%) most of them paroxysmal orthodromic tachycardia.

[Disorders of the rhythm and conduction in patients operated on for a total correction of tetralogy of Fallot]. / Trastornos del ritmo y de la conducción en pacientes operados de corrección total de tetralogía de Fallot.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the incidence of arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in 81 patients after total surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The study was done at the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez" from 1974 to 1989. Sixty five patients (78.9%) developed a pattern of right bundle block and ten patients (12.3%) had additional left anterior hemiblock following surgery. Two patients had complete heart block so pacemaker was implanted. The incidence of serious ventricular arrhythmias was found in 11 patients often polymorphic ventricular premature complexes. One case sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. Electrophysiological study demonstrated that it source was the scar of the right ventricle outflow tract. This tachycardia is now under control with specific antiarrhythmic therapy.