Comparative Analysis of Conventional and Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Variables between Patients with Unrejected Heart Transplants and Healthy Individuals.

Background: Echocardiography is essential for the assessment of patients with heart transplants. However, normal values in such individuals are not clearly defined.

Objectives: To compare conventional echocardiographic and speckle tracking variables between patients with unrejected heart transplants and healthy individuals.

Metabolomic insights in advanced cardiomyopathy of chronic chagasic and idiopathic patients that underwent heart transplant.

Heart failure (HF) studies typically focus on ischemic and idiopathic heart diseases. Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is a progressive degenerative inflammatory condition highly prevalent in Latin America that leads to a disturbance of cardiac conduction system. Despite its clinical and epidemiological importance, CCC molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood.

Acute Cellular Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients: Insights of Global Longitudinal Strain, Myocardial Work, and an Exclusive Group of Chagas Disease.

Background: Echocardiographic markers associated with asymptomatic acute cellular rejection (ACR) in patients with orthotopic heart transplant (HT) are still under investigation. The aim of our study was to determine clinical and myocardial strain imaging (MSI) variables evaluated by echocardiography associated with ACR in the first year of HT. A separate analysis was performed to compare variables during the first 6 months of HT, when ACR has a prevalence in 60% of patients.

Combined Heart and Kidney Transplantation: Initial Clinical Experience.

Introduction: Combined solid organ transplantation is infrequently performed in Brazil. The objective of this article is to present our initial experience with combined heart and kidney transplantation.

Methods: From January 2007 to December 2019, four patients were submitted to combined heart and kidney transplantation.

Innovative Approaches to Assess Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk Subjects: A Review From Clinical to Metabolomics Strategies.

Current risk stratification strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD) have low predictive value in asymptomatic subjects classified as intermediate cardiovascular risk. This is relevant because not all coronary events occur in individuals with traditional multiple risk factors. Most importantly, the first manifestation of the disease may be either sudden cardiac death or acute coronary syndrome, after rupture and thrombosis of an unstable non-obstructive atherosclerotic plaque, which was previously silent.

Recurrent Cardiac Sarcoma Resection With Modified Partial Autotransplantation.

Primary cardiac sarcomas are very aggressive, being a challenge to cardio-oncology specialty. Surgical planning and innovative techniques have enhanced the possibility of resection. We have described a case of recurrent primary left atrium angiosarcoma, successfully resected with a modified partial autotransplantation technique, planned using a 3-dimensional model created from computed tomography.

Correction: Mortality risk prediction in high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: Are traditional risk scores accurate?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Left Ventricular Remodeling Shortly after Open Mitral Valve Replacement for Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis.

Introduction: Left ventricular dysfunction after surgical treatment of mitral stenosis is uncommon. We intend to determine the pattern of left ventricular remodeling, shortly after open mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral stenosis, with in-hospital postoperative outcomes and the determinants of postoperative worsening of left ventricular ejection fraction.

Methods: From January 2008 to January 2015, 107 adult patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis were submitted to open mitral valve replacement.

Outcomes of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation in the Setting of Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Replacement Therapy.

Objective: Heart transplantation in the setting of renal insufficiency is controversial. The objective of this study was to perform a descriptive analysis of patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation and renal replacement therapy (RRT) due to acute kidney injury (AKI).

Design: An observational cohort study with retrospective data collection.

Mortality risk prediction in high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: Are traditional risk scores accurate?

Background: The performance of traditional scores is significantly limited to predict mortality in high-risk cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of STS, ESII and HiriSCORE models in predicting mortality in high-risk patients undergoing CABG.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis in the international prospective database of high-risk patients: HiriSCORE project.

Does the anthropometric profile influence infection morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting?

Background: Infection after cardiovascular surgery is multifactorial. We sought to determine whether the anthropometric profile influences the occurrence of infection after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Between January 2011 and June 2016, 1777 consecutive adult patients were submitted to isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

Rivaroxaban in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and a Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve.

Background: The effects of rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation and a bioprosthetic mitral valve remain uncertain.

Methods: In this randomized trial, we compared rivaroxaban (20 mg once daily) with dose-adjusted warfarin (target international normalized ratio, 2.0 to 3.

A randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with bioprosthetic mitral valve and atrial fibrillation or flutter: Rationale and design of the RIVER trial.

The efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with bioprosthetic mitral valves and atrial fibrillation or flutter remain uncertain. DESIGN: RIVER was an academic-led, multicenter, open-label, randomized, non-inferiority trial with blinded outcome adjudication that enrolled 1005 patients from 49 sites in Brazil. Patients with a bioprosthetic mitral valve and atrial fibrillation or flutter were randomly assigned (1:1) to rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily (15 mg in those with creatinine clearance <50 mL/min) or dose-adjusted warfarin (target international normalized ratio 2.

Is shortage of heart donors a real problem? Insights from a Brazilian Mid-West heart transplant program.

Background And Aim Of The Study: In developed countries, the shortage of viable donors is the main limiting factor of heart transplantation. The aim of this study is to determine whether the same reality applies to Brazil.

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2014, 299 adult heart donor offers were studied in terms of donor profiles and reasons for refusal.

Penetrated inferior vena cava filter retrieved by open surgery with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Background And Aim: Complications of inferior vena cava filters are relatively common, and they vary according to different filter types and designs. We aim to present a case of penetrated inferior vena cava filter into the liver.

Methods: Case report.

Determinants of Aortic Prosthesis Mismatch in a Brazilian Public Health System Hospital: Big Patients or Small Prosthesis?

Background: Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) is associated with worse outcomes.

Objective: Determine the frequency and evaluate preoperatory variables independently associated with severe PPM in a tertiary hospital focused on Public Health Care.

Methods: A total of 316 patients submitted to aortic valve replacement, who had echocardiography performed within the first 30 days after surgery, were retrospectively analyzed.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Brazil: Analysis of the National Reality Through the BYPASS Registry.

Introduction: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most frequently performed heart surgery in Brazil. Recent international guidelines recommend that national societies establish a database on the practice and results of CABG. In anticipation of the recommendation, the BYPASS Registry was introduced in 2015.