High-Definition Video Recording: Taking Sport Technology to the Operating Room.

Filming surgeries for teaching purposes, publications, and patient records has become increasingly popular as the systems for digital recording have evolved, becoming high-quality systems, both smaller and lighter. Digital recording allows long-term storage, retrieval, and database organization. In addition, sharing digital contents has also become easier since video sharing sites and social networks make it possible to upload these contents onto the Internet. We describe a simple and economical system for surgeons to record surgeries in high definition under sterile conditions without any interference with the surgeon's line of vision.

Percutaneous coronary interventions and bypass surgery in patients with cardiac allograft vasculopathy: a single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a major impediment to long-term survival after heart transplantation (HT). Limited data exist regarding the impact of coronary revascularization in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of revascularization procedures in patients with CAV compared with patients who did not undergo revascularization. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 249 patients who underwent HT at our center between June 1998 and December 2009 and who were examined by coronary angiography after HT. We included patients with moderate or severe CAV according to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) nomenclature to evaluated outcomes after revascularization or diagnostic angiography. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) comprised death, acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization, admission because of heart failure not due to an acute rejection episode, and cardiac retransplantation. RESULTS: Moderate or severe CAV was detected in 43 patients. Twelve (27.9%) underwent coronary revascularization: eight percutaneous interventions and four bypass surgeries. Indications for revascularization were symptomatic ischemia or noninvasive evidence of ischemia (n = 6, 14.0%) or high-risk asymptomatic CAV (n = 6; 14.0%), namely, lesions located in the left main or proximal anterior descending arteries or multivessel disease with left ventricular dysfunction. The remaining 31 (72.1%), who did not undergo revascularization showed an absence of ischemia during exercise echocardiography (n = 11; 25.6%) or diffuse disease not amenable to revascularization (n = 20; 46.5%). During a mean follow-up of 3.0 ± 2.4 years, MACE occurred in three revascularized patients (25.0%), in one with absence of stress-induced ischemia (9.1%) and in 13 with nonrevascularizable disease (65%; P = .012). CONCLUSIONS: Revascularization procedures were effective in HT patients with evidence of ischemia or high-risk CAV. Patients with absence of stress-induced ischemia have a good prognosis without revascularization. On the other hand, diffuse nonrevascularizable CAV is associated with a poor prognosis.

Prevalence of donor-transmitted coronary artery disease and its influence on heart transplant outcomes.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether donor-transmitted coronary artery disease (DTCAD) affects heart transplant (HT) recipients. METHODS: This retrospective analysis includes records of all patients who underwent a HT at our center over an 8-year period, who survived for at least 1 month, and who were examined by coronary angiography within 2 months post-HT. We distinguished angiographically from keep ultrasonography (IVUS) detected DTCAD. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) comprised death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary revascularization, and admission because of heart failure not due to an acute rejection episode. RESULTS: Among the 171 patients of mean age 53±13 years and including 83% men, 65 (38%) were evaluated by IVUS. Donors were aged 40±14 years (range=14-73). Angiographic DTCAD affected seven patients (4.1%), and IVUS-detected DTCAD, 35 (53.8% of those examined by IVUS). DTCAD donors were older than non-DTCAD donors, by an average of 13 years (P=.001) for angiographic DTCAD and 18 years (P<.0001) for IVUS-detected DTCAD. Two patients underwent percutaneous revascularization upon detection of angiographic DTCAD. The angiographic- and IVUS-detected DTCAD groups did not differ significantly from the corresponding non-DTCAD groups as regards MACE incidence during 54±41 and 38±20 months follow-up, respectively. Cox regression analysis with adjustment for relevant confounders confirmed that IVUS-detected DTCAD was not a predictor of MACE (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 0.2-8.1). CONCLUSIONS: Among HT patients surviving≥1 month, angiographic- and IVUS-detected DTCAD showed prevalences of <10% and >50%, respectively. Neither detection method was associated with a greater long-term incidence of MACE.

Independent predictors of renal dysfunction after heart transplantation in patients with normal pretransplant renal function.

BACKGROUND: Renal dysfunction (RD) is a common complication after heart transplantation (HT), but predictors of post-HT RD have not been clearly identified. METHODS: We studied 262 HT patients (mean age 54 years, 221 men) with normal baseline renal function. Potential risk factors examined were age, sex, pre-HT ischemic cardiomyopathy, pre- and post-HT diabetes mellitus, pre- and post-HT arterial hypertension, initial immunosuppressive protocol (before 1998 [high cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone] vs after 1998 [low cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone]), occurrence of rejection episodes > or =ISHLT Grade 3A, and creatinine level 1 month after HT. RD was considered mild if creatinine level was 1.5 to 2.5 mg/dl, moderate if creatinine level was >2.5 mg/dl, and severe if dialysis or kidney transplant was required. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of RD (creatinine >1.5 mg/dl) was 35% at 12 months, 42% at 24 months, and 47% at 60 months (mean follow-up 59 +/- 31 months). Only 1% of patients had severe RD 60 months after HT. Independent predictors of RD 24 months after HT were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.1 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0-1.1]; p = 0.001), male sex (OR 3.3 [95% CI 1.3-8.1]; p = 0.008), pre-1998 immunosuppressive protocol (OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.4-5.4]; p = 0.003), and creatinine level 1 month after HT (OR 3.2 [95% CI 1.0-5.4]; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative incidence of RD in HT patients treated with calcineurin inhibitors increased with time after HT. Age, male sex, an immunosuppressive protocol with relatively high cyclosporine levels and creatinine level 1 month after HT were independent predictors of the presence of RD 24 months after HT.

Renal dysfunction after orthotopic heart transplantation: incidence, natural history, and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Renal dysfunction is a common complication after orthotopic heart transplantation (HT). The importance of factors other than exposure to immunosuppressive drugs is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and natural history of renal dysfunction following heart transplantation, and to evaluate a number of variables as risk factors for this condition. METHODS: We examined the creatinine levels at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months in 262 consecutive heart transplant patients who survived at least 1 year. The potential risk factors included pre- and posttransplantation diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and drugs used to control arterial hypertension. RESULTS: 17.2% of patients showed mild renal dysfunction (creatinine 1.5-2.5 mg/dL) and 1.9% moderate dysfunction (creatinine >2.5 mg/dL) at 1 month; 29.8% showed mild and 1.1% moderate dysfunction at 6 months; 33.2% showed mild and 1.9% moderate dysfunction at 1 year; 40% showed mild, 0.9% moderate and 0.4% severe dysfunction (requiring dialysis or renal transplantation) at 2 years; and 43.6% showed mild, 1.7% moderate and 0.9% severe dysfunction at 5 years. None of the conditions analyzed as possible risk factors showed a significant association with renal dysfunction except the use of diuretics. CONCLUSION: The incidence of renal dysfunction after orthotopic heart transplantation was 33.6% within the first year after transplant and 44% within the first five years, although more than 95% of cases were mild. The incidence increased with time after transplantation. Renal dysfunction seems likely to be multifactorial in origin, but no individual risk factors were identified.

Trasplante cardíaco en el anciano. Experiencia del Complejo Hospitalario Juan Canalejo / Heart transplantation in the elderly. Experience of the Juan Canalejo Hospital

INTRODUCCIÓN: La edad límite para la indicación de trasplante cardíaco está sujeta a debate. La limitación en el número de donantes nos lleva a su asignación a aquellos pacientes que más se puedan beneficiar en términos de supervivencia a largo plazo. Por tanto el objetivo de esta publicación es la comparación, en nuestro programa de trasplante, de los resultados obtenidos tras trasplante cardíaco en pacientes mayores y menores de 65 años. RESULTADOS: Hemos realizamos 347 trasplantes cardíacos, 57 (16,5 por ciento) en pacientes con edad igual o superior a 65 años (66,4 ñ 1,47 años de edad media) y 290 (83,5 por ciento) en pacientes más jóvenes (media 51,2 ñ 10,1 años). Se ha realizado un análisis de las variables predictivas de mortalidad en ambos grupos y los resultados en el seguimiento a cinco años. No hemos encontrado diferencias significativas en la supervivencia y sí una menor tasa de rechazos en los pacientes mayores. CONCLUSIÓN: En conclusión, el trasplante cardíaco puede ser realizado en pacientes mayores de 65 años seleccionados con unos resultados idénticos a la población más joven (AU)

[Combined valvular and coronary surgery]. / Cirugía valvular y coronaria asociadas.

Combined valvular and coronary surgery is more common every day. Coexistence of valvular and coronary disease makes a complex setting of physiopathological interactions, specially in the ischemic mitral regurgitation. So an ideal surgical strategy, including a thorough knowledge of valvular shape, ventricular function and myocardial reserve, as well as new mitral repair techniques and cardioplegic myocardial protection is essential. Despite these conditions, combined surgical mortality is higher than in isolated valve or coronary surgery. Severe complications in the early postoperative period and long term follow up are also more frequent. In any case, combined valvular and coronary surgery remains a challenge for surgical groups all over the world.

[Cardiac osteogenic sarcoma with chondroblastic differentiation]. / Sarcoma osteogénico cardiaco con diferenciación condroblástica.

Cardiac tumors are a rare disease. We show here one patient with a heart osteogenic sarcoma with chondroblastic differentiation. The clinical status was initiated with a cadre of cardiac tamponade. Transesophageal echocardiography and thoracic scanner were used to diagnose the cardiac tumor. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed with biopsy. At the present moment, there are very few cases reported in the references on osteogenic sarcoma with chondroblastic differentiation. The methods of diagnosis, the treatment and the histopathology are discussed.

[Pulmonary hypertension and early mortality after orthotopic heart transplantation]. / Hipertensión pulmonar y mortalidad precoz después del trasplante cardíaco ortotópico.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between hemodynamic parameters before heart transplantation and the mortality rate at the first week posttransplant. METHODS: 85 patients had an orthotopic heart transplant. Before the operation we measured: vascular pulmonary resistance, index of vascular pulmonary resistance, pulmonary arterial pressure systolic and median and transpulmonary gradient. Ten patients with values of vascular pulmonary resistance higher than four Wood units and/or pulmonary artery systolic pressure higher than 60 mmHg, had a test of pulmonary vascular reactivity, the result of that test did not contraindicate the transplant. We used the Student's t test and chi 2 with continuity correction and the Fisher's exact test for the analysis of the data. RESULTS: During the study period eight patients were dead (9.4%). The causes of death were: acute disfunction of the graft, 5 patients; multiorgan failure, 2 patients and septic shock, 1 patient. We compared the parameters of both groups of patients live and dead and could find a significant difference between the data with higher values in the death group: pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (p < 0.01); pulmonary arterial median pressure (p < 0.03) and transpulmonary gradient (p < 0.02). We also saw that the relative risk of mortality was 10.4 when the pulmonary artery systolic pressure was > or = 50 mmHg and 5.7 when the pulmonary vascular resistance was > or = 5 Wood units. CONCLUSIONS: It is important a good evaluation of the pulmonary hemodynamic before the heart transplantation for a better selection of the receptor. The severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistance > or = 5 Wood units or pulmonary artery systolic pressure > or = 50 mmHg) was associated with a higher rate of early death.