Prevalência de estenose da artéria subclávia em pacientes candidatos a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio: registro multicêntrico / Prevalence of stenosis of the left subclavia artery in CABG candidates: a multicenter registry

Introdução: Aproximadamente 90 por cento dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM) recebem enxerto de artéria torácica interna esquerda. A ocorrência de estenose da artéria subclávia esquerda pode resultar em falência do enxerto por limitação de fluxo coronário. A prevalência de estenose da artéia subclávia esquerda em pacientes com aterosclerose coronária grave, considerados candidatos a CRM, não é conhecida. Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência e a eficácia da avaliação clínica para diagnóstico a estenose da artéria subclávia esquerda em candidatos a CRM. Método: Em um registro multicêntrico, realizou-se angiografia seletiva da artéria subclávia esquerda em pacientes com indicação de CRM na ocasião da cinecoronariografia. Estenoses maiores ou iguais a 50 por cento antes da origem da artéria torácica interna foram considerdas significativas. Resultados: Dos 205 pacientes estudados, 16 (7,8 por cento) apresentavam estenose significativa da artéria subclávia esquerda. A medida da pressão arterial não-invasiva diferencial entre...

Background: Approximately 90% of the patients submitted to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) receive a left internal thoracic artery (LITA) graft. Stenosis of the left subclavian artery can result in graft failure due to restricted coronary flow. The prevalence of stenosis of the left subclavian artery in patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis, deemed candidates to CABG, is not known. Objective: To assess the prevalence of stenosis of left subclavian artery in CABG candidates, as well as the diagnostic effectiveness of clinical evaluation. Methods: In a multicenter registry, selective angiography of the left subclavian artery was carried out in patients considered candidates to CABG during coronary cineangiography. Stenoses ≥ 50% proximal to the origin of the LITA were considered significant. Results: A total of 205 patients were included. Significant stenosis of the left subclavian artery was observed in 16 (7.8%) patients. Noninvasive differential arterial blood pressure measurement ≥ 10 mmHg between both arms showed low sensitivity (37.5%) and low positive predictive value (13.3%) for stenosis identification. No clinical predictors of significant stenosis were identified by univariate analysis. Conclusion: Stenosis of the left subclavian artery is not uncommon in CABG candidates. Noninvasive blood pressure gradient between both arms has low diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, in patients candidates to CABG, selective angiography of the left subclavian artery should be considered, because of the risk of reduced flow and coronary-subclavian steal syndrome in patients with non-diagnosed stenosis of the subclavian artery who receive a LITA graft.

Early discharge using five french guiding catheter for transfemural coronary stenting: a feasibility and safety study (EDU 5Fr study).

This study assessed the safety and efficacy of early discharge after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using 5Fr guiding catheters with a femoral approach in 100 patients undergoing elective coronary stenting. Patients were treated with aspirin and thienopyridines for 72 hours before PCI, and unfractionated heparin 70 IU/kg (< or = 5,000 IU) intravenously after arterial puncture. PCI was performed by femoral access using 5Fr guiding catheters and immediate postprocedural arterial sheath removal. Patients were discharged within 8 to 12 hours. No closure devices were used. Early discharge using 5Fr catheters was successful in 97% of cases. No deaths, myocardial infarction, or vascular complications occurred at 24 hours and 30 days.

Avulsion of the mitral valve leaflet during percutaneous commissurotomy.

Percutaneous mitral valve commissurotomy offers a safe alternative to treat mitral valve stenosis in a select group of patients, and has produced good results. Recently, a new metallic commissurotomy device was made available for clinical use. A rare, life-threatening complication associated with this new technique is described.

Effect of rosiglitazone on restenosis after coronary stenting in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Thiazolidinediones have been shown to have an antiproliferative vascular effect in experimental models. We sought to study the effect of rosiglitazone on in-stent restenosis in patients with established type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Patients with treated type 2 diabetes (mean duration 5.5 +/- 7.5 years) referred for coronary stenting were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive oral rosiglitazone or placebo for 6 months. Quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound data were obtained at baseline and follow-up. Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were prospectively measured. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled. There were no significant differences in follow-up in-stent luminal diameter stenosis measured by quantitative coronary angiography or in-stent luminal area stenosis and neointimal volume index obtained by intravascular ultrasound, nor were there any differences in plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels after long-term use despite improvement in diabetes control and insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Rosiglitazone, given at the time of stent implantation in treated diabetics, did not reduce in-stent restenosis in this small series. The vascular biological effects of this agent await further clarification in humans and evaluation in larger clinical trials.

Estudo post-mortem da prevalência da litíase vesicular em uma populaçäo cirrótica / Postmortem study of prevalence of vesicular lithiase in a cirrhotic population

Num estudo retrospectivo em necrópsias de 1964 a 1989, foi apreciada a prevalência de litíase vesicular em pacientes com e sem cirrose. Nos cirróticos, a freqüência de litíase foi de 13,23//, em comparaçäo com 8,35// na populaçäo näo cirrótica. Näo houve significância estatística. Entretanto, essa conclusäo näo pode ser considerada como definitiva, por ter sido pequena a populaçäo cirrótica estudada. Encontramos maior prevalência de esplenomegalia entre os cirróticos com litíase do que nos cirróticos sem colelitíase