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Biomedical subjects

J E Sousa

Publications and source records attributed to J E Sousa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[The use of primary coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction in patients over 70 years of age].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of primary coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients older than 70 years, evolving with acute myocardial infarction, without the previous administration of thrombolytic agents. METHODS: Forty-two patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and more than 70 years of age (m = 76.4y). There were 54.7% men and 43% of them had anterior MI. PTCA was carried out during the first 12 hours of evolution and in the first 3 hours of duration in 47% of them. PTCA was done only to the AMI related artery, which was the left descending artery in 43%, the right coronary artery in 47% and the left circumflex in the remaining patients. Nineteen percent of these patients were in Killip class III e IV. RESULTS: Primary success was achieved in 86%. The in hospital mortality was 14.2%, and it was superior in female gender (26.3%), in Killip class III and IV (37.5%), in those with multivessel coronary disease (16.6%) and in those where primary PTCA failed (33%). There were 9.3% of reinfarction, but no major hemorrhages happened. Late angiography was done in 50% of patients, showing 72% of patency in the AMI related artery, and a significant improval of global ejection fraction and of the wall motion, particularly, in those who maintained arterial patency. CONCLUSION: Primary PTCA, without former use of thrombolytic agents, when applied early in elderly patients evolving with AMI, has a high success rate and low mortality rate in this subset of high risk patients. It also shows no major hemorrhagic complications.

Aged

[Mitral valvuloplasty with double balloon catheter. Analysis of 200 cases].

PURPOSE: To study the immediate clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic results of 200 patients who underwent percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMV) with double balloon technique. METHODS: Two hundred patients were submitted to PVM for treatment of congestive heart failure secondary to severe mitral stenosis, between August 1987 to July 1991. Their mean age was 35.2 years, and 86.5% were female patients: 81% of them was in functional class, New York Heart Association (NYHA) III or IV; 4% was in atrial fibrilation and 4% had previous surgical commissurotomy. RESULTS: PMV was successfully performed in 89% of the patients. The mitral valve area, by pressure half time method, increased from 0.91 +/- 0.27 to 2.10 +/- 0.47 cm2, p < 0.001; the mean mitral gradient decreased from 20.86 +/- 6.16 to 4.26 +/- 3.13 mmHg, p < 0.001; the left atrium and mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 22.3 +/- 7.1 to 11.9 +/- 8.3 and 36.47 +/- 12.93 to 24.56 +/- 9.98 mmHg, p < 0.001, respectively. Complications related to transeptal technique occurred in 12 patients, which resulted in cardiac tamponade in 5 and death in 1. In 19 patients the punction of the atrial septum could not be performed. Mitral regurgitation (MR) immediately after PMV appeared 1+ or more grade in 50 patients, increased in 8 patients and remained unchanged in 11 patients. Ten patients needed mitral valve replacement in the first 48h after PMV, for treatment of severe MR. CONCLUSIONS: PMV produces excellent immediate results and can be considered an alternative to surgery for the relief of mitral stenosis.

Balloon Occlusion

[Meningitis and other neurological complications in infectious endocarditis].

PURPOSE: To study the localization, etiological agents and the respective prognosis in patients with infective endocarditis with or without neurological complications, with emphasis on the association of endocarditis and meningitis. METHODS: 222 patients with clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory diagnosis of infective endocarditis were treated at Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia from 1985 to 1990. They were classified in two groups: group A-116 patients without neurological complications, ages 4 months-76 (mean 30) years old and 66.3% males. group B-56 patients with neurological complication, ages 1-71 (mean 31) years old and 46.4% males. A third group, group C, comprised 17 patients, ages 8-51 (mean 23.7) years old and 9 patients (52.9%) male, assisted at Hospital Emilio Ribas, which is specialized at infectious diseases, which presented meningitis as the unique manifestation of neurological complication associated to the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE). In all patients the diagnosis of IE was based on the presence of at least two of three essential findings: echocardiogram with vegetations or valvar dysfunctions, positive hemocultures and the compatible clinical picture. For the comparative analysis among the groups was employed through the chi-square test corrected according to Yates. RESULTS: No differences of sex and age of the patients were found among the three groups. Predominated the Staphylococcus aureus as etiological agent. The localization of cardiac lesions was similar in the three groups, except for the tricuspid valve affected in 16.3% of patients of group A and 2.3% of group B. There was a greater association of the structures on the left side of the heart with IE of group B (p < 0.05). Group B and C showed a general mortality rate greater than group A (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Meningitis and other neurological complications showed interrelationship between the presence of "Staphylococcus aureus" as etiological agent of endocarditis and the association with infection of the left heart side.

Adolescent

[The usefulness of digital angiography in performing coronary angioplasty. An analysis of 100 cases].

PURPOSE: To analyse the actual contribution of digital angiography in the angioplasty setting and to assess its utility to optimize angioplasty results. METHODS: One hundred patients with single vessel coronary artery disease, without previous angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, who underwent angioplasty from January to December 1990. Views were obtained in standard films and also in digitized angiograms. The latter was acquired before angioplasty in order to precisely quantify the stenosis and also to measure the reference diameter of the artery that was used and to choose the balloon catheter for each case. New acquisitions were done during and after the end of the procedure to confirm the residual stenosis and to measure the final diameter. RESULTS: The mean stenosis pre angioplasty was 78.2%, the mean reference diameter 2.8 mm and the mean diameter at the stenotic site 0.8 mm. The balloon artery relation was 0.9:1. After angioplasty the residual stenosis was 13.6% and the dilated segment had a final diameter of 2.6 mm. There were no complications in any patient. CONCLUSION: Digital angiography is a useful method for laboratories devoted to coronary interventions for it allows confirmation of the severity of the stenosis, optimizes the balloon/artery relation, monitors partial results and measures the residual stenosis as well as the final diameter.

Adult

Effectiveness of percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, medically refractory congestive heart failure due to mitral stenosis continues to present a clinical challenge and optimal management remains controversial. Thirteen women underwent balloon mitral valvotomy for control of functional class III or IV congestive heart failure due to mitral stenosis during pregnancy. The mean gestational age at the time of valvotomy was 25 +/- 6 weeks. Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy was performed successfully in all patients. No maternal or fetal mortality occurred. The mean mitral valve area assessed by Doppler echocardiography increased from 0.9 +/- 0.3 cm2 before to 2.1 +/- 0.3 cm2 after valvotomy. The mean mitral valve gradient decreased from 20 +/- 7 to 4 +/- 2 mm Hg. This was associated with a decrease in the pulmonary artery systolic pressure from 62 +/- 24 to 32 +/- 14 mm Hg. Currently, 12 of the 13 patients have delivered at an average gestational age of 38 +/- 0.5 weeks. Symptoms of congestive heart failure improved in all women and all were in New York Heart Association functional class I at the time of delivery. One patient is still pregnant and symptom free. Eleven singlet pregnancies resulted in the birth of full-term, healthy infants (mean birth weight 3.2 kg). The woman carrying a twin pregnancy improved from New York Heart Association class IV to class I after balloon mitral valvotomy but delivered prematurely at 32 weeks. The premature twin infants weighed 1.0 and 1.5 kg and died from respiratory failure at 48 hours. Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy can be performed safely during pregnancy and is effective in relieving symptoms of severe congestive heart failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

[Coronary angioplasty in a 12-year-old child].

Coronary artery disease is seldom reported in patients under 20 years of age. We present here the case of a 12 years old male, with systemic high blood pressure who had 2 episodes of typical chest pain. He underwent a submaximal exercise treadmill test which was negative. He then underwent cinecoronarography that revealed a 78% (measured by the caliper) obstruction in the proximal segment of the circumflex coronary artery with 3 mm of extension. The left coronary artery and the left ventricle were normal. The patient was subjected to a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, which was successful and left a 12% (measured by caliper) residual stenosis. The late angiographic restudy (5 months after the procedure) showed the maintenance of the immediate success of the procedure.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

[Coronary angioplasty in the 8th and 9th decades of life: an effective technique for myocardial revascularization?].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA), as a revascularization procedure in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease in the 8th and 9th decades of life. METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-two elderly patients (mean age 74.7 years) underwent balloon dilation, between April 1982 and June 1990, at the Institute "Dante Pazzanese" of Cardiology. There were 70.4% male, 34.9% with high blood pressure, 18.8% smoked and 10.8% with diabetes. Ninety-four patients (20.7%) had previous myocardial infarction and systemic disorders were diagnosed in 14% (renal failure 5.1%, respiratory insufficiency 3.1%, rheumatic and bone disorders 1.1%, malignancy 4.2%, haematologic disorders 0.4%). One hundred and seventy-three (38.3%) had multivessel coronary artery disease whereas 84 (18.5%) had moderate to severe dysfunction of the left ventricle. PTCA was done according to the method described by Grüntzig, with the use of a "over the wire" (LPS, USCI, Mini Profile USCI, ACX ACS) balloon or a "on the wire" (Probe USCI, Axcel ACS) System. RESULTS: Primary success was achieved in 406 (89.5%) patients where PTCA was done to dilate one vessel in 412, two vessels in 38 and three vessels in 2, accomplishing 494 dilated vessels. Major complications occurred in 14 (3.1%) patients, due to occlusion of the treated coronary artery. Emergency by-pass surgery was necessary in 5 (1.1%) patients, while 8 patients involved to acute myocardial infarction (1.8%), and 5 (1.1%) died. At the end of the late follow-up (mean 24.5 months) of 349 elderly patients (86% of the 406 successful dilated) 246 (70.5%) were asymptomatic, chest pain had recurred in 101 (28.9%) and 2 (0.6%) had myocardial infarction. Twenty-eight patients died during the follow-up, 14 of them (4.0%) due to cardiac causes. Late restenosis developed in 66 patients and 22 had progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Forty patients underwent a late PTCA, and 33 others underwent a late bypass surgery. CONCLUSION: PTCA in patients in the 8th and 9th decade of life was a safe and efficient procedure (primary success rate about 90% and major complications of 3.1%). The late evolution showed satisfactory clinical results (70.5% of asymptomatic) low myocardial infarction rate (0.3% per year) and low incidence of cardiac death (2% per year). About 2/3 of the patients were free of any cardiac event (angina, myocardial infarction, by-pass surgery or death) at the end of the follow-up.

Aged

[Coronary angioplasty of moderate lesions (50 to 60%)].

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with moderate (50-60%) coronary lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty nine patients, 108 (78%) male, mean age was 55 years, who underwent coronary angioplasty from August 1983 to January 1989. Clinical findings included stable angina in 91 (65%) and unstable angina in 48 (35%). Single vessel disease was the case for 117 (84%), whereas 22 (16%) had two vessel coronary artery disease. RESULTS: Primary success rate was 130 (94%). All patients with two vessel disease had complete revascularization. In the failure group there were 2 acute myocardial infarction (1.4%), and 4 (2.8%) emergency coronary artery by-pass surgery. There were no in-hospital deaths. Of the 130 patients with success, 119 (92%) had late follow-up (mean time 31 months). At the end of the follow-up period we found 85 (71%) asymptomatic, while 27 (23%) had recurrence of symptoms. There were 2 late cardiovascular deaths. Fifty four patients underwent late angiography and 42 (78%) had maintenance of the result while 12 (22%) had restenosis, with a mean degree more severe than pre-coronary angioplasty. CONCLUSION: Coronary angioplasty of moderate lesions has a high success rate (94%); nevertheless the rate of major complications and restenosis is very similar to that of coronary angioplasty for severe stenosis. Such findings led us to reserve the indication of coronary angioplasty for moderate lesions for patients at higher risk with clear evidence of myocardial ischemia.

Angina Pectoris

It is valid to dilate native aortic coarctation with a balloon catheter.

We report our experience in 37 patients with aortic coarctation who underwent balloon aortoplasty. Of the 37, the lesion was native in 34 cases. Clinical re-evaluation was possible in 22 patients, with a mean follow-up period of 13 months and, of these, 21 patients were asymptomatic. Haemodynamic and angiographic studies were performed in 13 patients, with a mean period of follow-up of 12 months, showing excellent results in 11 patients. Aneurysmal formation had occurred in one and recoarctation in the other patient. Our experience has proved that balloon aortoplasty is an effective method for treating patients with aortic coarctation. Adequate selection in terms of the morphology of the coarctation and the size of the balloon catheter are crucial factors in the success of the procedure.

Adolescent

[Infective endocarditis. Prospective Doppler-echocardiographic study].

PURPOSE: To study of the Doppler-echocardiographic aspects in patients with IE and its correlation with the prognosis and evolution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with clinical of IE were prospectively studied by Doppler-echocardiography (D-E) in order to determine whether the simple presence of vegetation, its size, mobility and place of attachment could identify high risk groups. Vegetations were classified according to its size (longest axis) into small (veg less than 5 mm), medium (5 mm less than veg less than 10 mm) and large (veg less than 10 mm); according to its kind into "sessible" or "mobile" and according to its appearence into "cotton like" or "calcified". RESULTS: Patients with (84.2%) and without (15.8%) vegetations didn't show any significant difference in the complications incidence (emboli, heart failure or death) and the same happened with its size. However, patients with aortic positioned vegetations showed ligher incidence of HF (Aortic 53.8 x Mitral 31.0% x Tricuspid 3.7%) need for surgery (Aortic 69.2% x Mitral 34.5% x Tricuspid 3.7%) and death (Aortic 30.7% x Mitral 13.7% x Tricuspid 7.4%). Emboli were observed in 81.4% of the patients with tricuspid valve vegetations. Eight patients showed IE on aortic prothesis. Five of them needed surgical treatment and 2 of them died. Among 12 patients with IE on mitral prothesis, 7 needed surgery and 3 died. Pericardial effusion were verified in 51 patients (47.2%), chordal rupture in 14 (12.8%) and valve abcess in 6 (5.5%). All patients with valve abcess were submitted to surgery. CONCLUSION: Doppler-echocardiography is an excellent method in the diagnosis of IE and its aspects may have, sometimes, a positive correlation with the prognosis and patient's evolution.

Adolescent

[Acute myocardial infarction in patients under 40 years of age].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short and long-term prognosis of a group of patients aged 40 and under, who developed an acute myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the last 15 years we studied a group of 73 patients aged 40 and under with a confirmed diagnosis of first acute myocardial infarction. Patients with infarctions caused by coronary embolisms or to revascularization procedures were excluded. RESULTS: Ninety percent were male and mean the age was 35. The most frequent risk factors observed were cigarette smoking in 64 (88%), hypertension in 16 (22%), hypercholesterolemia in 12 (16%) and diabetes in 3 (4%). Seven (9%) patients had no risk factors. The myocardial infarction was anterior em 50 (68%) cases and inferior in the remaining 23 (32%). Severe heart failure (Killip III and IV) was present in 3 (4%). Angiographic studies were performed in 63 (86%). Cineangiography showed critical coronary lesions (obstruction greater than 70%) in one vessel in 38 (60%) patients, multivessel disease in 18 (28%) and 7 (12%) had normal coronary vessels. In-hospital mortality was 5% (3 patients died due to severe heart failure and 1 due to cerebro-vascular accident). The 56 survivors were followed-up to 15 years, with overall survival of 74%. Fourty-nine (71%) were asymptomatic and 7 (10%) had recurrent chest pain. There were 7 (10%) late deaths and follow-up was lost in 6 (9%). Reinfarctions were observed in 5 cases (7%). Revascularization procedures were performed in 12 (17%) patients (bypass-graft surgery in 9 and coronary angioplasty in 3). CONCLUSION: Young patients with acute myocardial infarction have a low mortality rate in the early phase and a favorable outcome after the discharge of the hospital.

Adolescent

[Visualization of coronary artery obstructions by echocardiography].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of 2D ECO in identifying proximal and medial obstruction of the coronary artery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Sixty five patients with coronary artery disease were studied. In thirty three patients with previous coronary angiography the echocardiographer had knowledge of the topography and the degree of the coronary obstruction (group I) but in thirty two patients he didn't (group II). The mean age of group I was 54.4 years (44 to 76) and the mean age of the group II was 58 years (42 to 74). Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at short-axis cross-sectional of aortic valve and images were frozen at end-diastole and reject settings were used to best visualize the coronary artery. RESULTS: It was possible to observe by 2D ECO the left main coronary artery in all patients. It was also possible to identify the proximal segment of the three main arteries. The detection of obstruction was overestimated by 2D ECO when it was in the left main coronary artery. In the proximal segment, in group I, the detection of obstruction in LAD, RCA and CXA was 87.5%, 66.6% and 50% and in group II, 77.7%, 100% and 50% respectively. In the medial segment, in group I, the detection of obstruction in LAD and CXA was respectively 100% and 33.3% and in group II, 60% and 75%. These results show that the sensitivity and specificity to detect obstruction was highest in the LAD. The method overestimated the presence of obstruction in the medial segment of RCA in both groups. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that 2D ECO is a feasible noninvasive method in assessing obstruction of the main coronary arteries with good sensitivity and specificity.

Cineangiography

[Angioplasty of the anterior descending artery with abnormal origin: use of a new low-profile catheter balloon. A case report].

It is possible to perform transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA) in thin vessels presenting severe obstructions. One of the achievements that made such procedure possible is the development of a new generation of balloon catheters. In this case report the TCA was performed in a very thin left anterior descending artery with an anomalous origin, a quite rare situation that represents a major problem to the traditional dilator system. The catheter used was a Probe (USCI), which differs of the traditional balloons in a number of characteristics. The authors consider the procedure in detail pointing out the advantages of using of the new generations and discuss the impact that newer technological developments will have in enlarging the indications for TCA and improving the results.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

Results of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a cardiology hospital.

The authors analysed a series of 557 consecutive patients who suffered cardiorespiratory arrest at the Dante Pazzanese Institute of Cardiology (DPIC) during a period of 5 years in order to examine factors predicting successful resuscitation and long-term survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers were tried in 536 patients, with the following results: 284 patients (53%) died immediately, another 102 (19%) died within the first 24 h after the cardiac arrest and 150 patients (28%) survived more than 24 h. Among these, 65 (12.1%) died in the first month after cardiac arrest and other 29 (5.4%) died after that period. There were 43 late survivors (8%). Thirteen patients (2.4%) were lost to follow-up. After 9 years, the accumulative life expectancy was 8.7%. Coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy and valvular heart disease were the most frequent underlying diseases. None of the 49 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease survived. The heart arrest was mostly caused by heart failure (55.8%) and primary arrhythmia (17.2%) in the whole group, whereas the survivor group showed primary arrhythmia in 81.7% and heart failure in 7.3%. In those patients where the initial mechanism of cardiac arrest was ventricular fibrillation, 33.2% survived more than 1 month, while among those on ventricular asystole, only 3.4% survived more than 1 month.

Brazil

[Use of isosorbide-5-mononitrate in acute myocardial infarction].

Isosorbide mononitrate in a dose of 20 mg t.i.d. was used in 25 patients admitted few hours after acute myocardial infarction. The following parameters were analysed: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, clinical features, and laboratory data. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure remained unchanged, however systolic blood pressure was slightly reduced (p less than 0.01). There was a reduction in the angina episodes post-AMI. None of the patients included in the study had clinical deterioration or showed infarction extension. There were no changes in laboratory data. After the interruption of the drug, one patient died on the 6th day with acute mitral insufficiency. In conclusion, isosorbide mononitrate can be safely used during an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, without the risk of haemodynamic deterioration, and helps to prevent post-infarction angina.

Adult