Influence of the tilt angle of Percutaneous Aortic Prosthesis on Velocity and Shear Stress Fields.

Background: Due to the nature of the percutaneous prosthesis deployment process, a variation in its final position is expected. Prosthetic valve placement will define the spatial location of its effective orifice in relation to the aortic annulus. The blood flow pattern in the ascending aorta is related to the aortic remodeling process, and depends on the spatial location of the effective orifice.

Analysis of the Economic Impact of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Last Five Years in Brazil.

Background: There is growing concern about the economic impact of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Brazil and worldwide.

Objective: To estimate the economic impact of CVD in Brazil in the last five years.

Methods: The information to estimate CVD costs was taken from national databases, adding the direct costs with hospitalizations, outpatient visits and benefits granted by social security.

Trimetazidine and inflammatory response in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Organic inflammatory response is a pathophysiological mechanism present at every coronary artery bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation (CABG-ECC), the release of inflammatory mediators being one of its defense mechanisms.

Objective: To assess, in a prospective double-blind randomized and placebo-controlled study, the effects of trimetazidine (Tmz) on the inflammatory response, by using the variation in interleukins 6 and 8, TNF-α, complements C3 and C5, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) levels in the pre- and post-operative periods.

Methods: This study assessed 30 patients undergoing CABG-ECC with intermittent hypothermic cardioplegia, and having, at most, mild ventricular dysfunction.

Trimetazidine on ischemic injury and reperfusion in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The ischemia and reperfusion ischemia is a common physiopathological mechanisms, which has difficult control during Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass, the critical moment of which happening by the end of surgery, when there is declamping of aorta and release of hyperoxic radicals causing the injury.

Objective: Evaluate, in a randomized double-blind prospective study, controlled with placebo, the effects of Trimetazidine (Tmz) on ischemic injury and myocardial reperfusion, identifying the change in plasma markers of a myocardial aggression (troponin T and CPK-MB), and echocardiographic changes of ventricular function.

Methods: We studied 60 patients divided in two groups (placebo and Tmz) with mild ventricular dysfunction at the most, stratified by echocardiography and receiving medication/placebo at a dose of 20 mg/3 x/day, starting from 12 to 15 days after pre-operative period up to 5 to 8 days after post-operative period.

Case reports: hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of cerebral air embolism.

Cerebral air embolism is one of the most deleterious disorders that may affect divers, but it is also a possible complication of surgeries and medical procedures. We report our experience with iatrogenic cerebral air embolism and hyperbaric oxygen treatment.