Ultrasound use after cardiac surgery.

Surgical complexity as well as comorbidities in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is increasing. Early detection and management of post-surgical complications are key points to reduce morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound technique plays a main rol in cardiopulmonary, hemodynamic and etiological assessment of the critically ill, providing immediate, reliable and, sometimes, conclusive information, clarifying many clinical situations with an inappropiate therapeutic response.

Factors associated with vasoplegic shock in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery and influence on morbidity and mortality of the use of arginine vasopressin as rescue therapy.

Objectives: Analyzing associated factors with vasoplegic shock in the postoperative period of Cardiac Surgery. Analyzing the influence of vasopressin as rescue therapy to first-line treatment with norepinephrine.

Design: Cohort, prospective and observational study.

Benefit of primary percutaneous coronary interventions in the elderly with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) has demonstrated its efficacy in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, patients with STEMI ≥75 years receive less P-PCI than younger patients despite their higher in-hospital morbimortality. The objective of this analysis was to determine the effectiveness of P-PCI in patients with STEMI ≥75 years.

Predictive power of the grace score in population with diabetes.

Introduction: Current clinical practice guidelines recommend risk stratification in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) upon admission to hospital. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is widely recognized as an independent predictor of mortality in these patients, although it is not included in the GRACE risk score.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to validate the GRACE risk score in a contemporary population and particularly in the subgroup of patients with diabetes, and to test the effects of including the DM variable in the model.

Long-term prognosis of patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias induced by coronary artery spasm.

Aims: Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Much controversy remains regarding the best therapeutic interventions for this specific patient subset. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with a history of life-threatening VA due to CAS with various medical interventions, as well as the need for ICD placement in the setting of optimal medical therapy.

Changes in the severity of aortic regurgitation at peak effort during exercise.

Background: Chronic aortic regurgitation can be well tolerated for a long time. Some patients with normal ventricular function can even reach high levels of sporting performance. How the severity of regurgitation may change during exercise, however, is little known, although some studies suggest it diminishes.