Factors That Impact the Decision to Perform Left Ventriculography in Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Left ventriculography is an invasive method for assessment of left ventricular systolic function. Since the advent of noninvasive methods, its use has been questioned, as it carries some risk to the patient.

Objective: To assess which factors are independently associated with the decision to perform ventriculography in patients with coronary artery disease.

Therapeutic versus prophylactic anticoagulation for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration (ACTION): an open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: COVID-19 is associated with a prothrombotic state leading to adverse clinical outcomes. Whether therapeutic anticoagulation improves outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 is unknown. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of therapeutic versus prophylactic anticoagulation in this population.

Factors Associated with Recurrence in Takotsubo Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by a temporary systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) related to a stressful event. However, the factors associated with its recurrence are still not well established.

Objective: To analyze the main factors associated with TTS recurrence.

Evaluation of the Bleeding Intensity of Patients Anticoagulated with Warfarin or Dabigatran Undergoing Dental Procedures.

Background: Thrombotic disorders remain one of the leading causes of death in the Western world. Dabigatran appeared as an alternative to warfarin for anticoagulation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The risk associated with bleeding due to its use has been documented in several randomized clinical trials, but no large study has examined in detail the risk of bleeding during dental extraction and other dental procedures involving bleeding.

Implementation of a Regional Network for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Care and 30-Day Mortality in a Low- to Middle-Income City in Brazil: Findings From Salvador's STEMI Registry (RESISST).

Background: Few data exist on regional systems of care for the treatment of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in developing countries. Our objective was to describe temporal trends in 30-day mortality and identify predictors of mortality among STEMI patients enrolled in a prospective registry in Brazil.

Methods And Results: From January 2011 to June 2013, 520 patients who received initial STEMI care at 23 nonspecialized public health units or hospitals, some of whom were transferred to a public cardiology referral center, were identified through a regional STEMI network supported by telemedicine and the local prehospital emergency medical service.

Decompensated chagasic heart failure versus non-chagasic heart failure at a tertiary care hospital: Clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate clinical and epidemiological characteristics and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure (DHF), with a comparison between Chagas and non-Chagas disease.

Method: This is a retrospective cohort study involving 136 patients consecutively admitted with DHF between January 1 and December 31, 2011, with the following outcomes: acute renal failure, cardiogenic shock, rehospitalization, and hospital death. Individuals aged ≥ 18 years with DHF were included while those with more than 10% of missing data regarding outcomes were excluded.

Agreement between three perioperative risk scores.

Objective: To evaluate the agreement between the three scores proposed by the II Guideline for Perioperative Evaluation of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC): the American College of Physicians algorithm (ACP), the Multicenter Study of Perioperative Evaluation (EMAPO) and Lee's Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI).

Method: Patients evaluated preoperatively for non-cardiac surgery by the anesthesiology service were classified as low, moderate or high-risk according to the 3 algorithms suggested by the II Guideline. To calculate the strength of agreement between the scores, the kappa agreement index was used.

Highlights from the fifth international symposium of thrombosis and anticoagulation (ISTA V), October 18-19, 2012, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

To discuss and share knowledge about advances in the care of patients with thrombotic disorders, the Fifth International Symposium of Thrombosis and Anticoagulation was held in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on October 18-19, 2012. This scientific program was developed by clinicians for clinicians and was promoted by three major clinical research institutes: the Brazilian Clinical Research Institute, the Duke Clinical Research Institute of the Duke University School of Medicine, and Hospital do Coração Research Institute. Comprising 2 days of academic presentations and open discussion, the symposium had as its primary goal to educate, motivate, and inspire internists, cardiologists, hematologists, and other physicians by convening national and international visionaries, thought-leaders, and dedicated clinician-scientists.

1st Guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology on processes and skills for education in cardiology in Brazil--executive summary.

This article summarizes the "1st Guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology on Processes and Skills for Education in Cardiology in Brazil," which can be found in full at: View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Use of beta-blockers for the treatment of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia: a systematic review.

Introduction: Advanced Life Support guidelines recommend the use of epinephrine during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), as to increase coronary blood flow and perfusion pressure through its alpha-adrenergic peripheral vasoconstriction, allowing minimal rises in coronary perfusion pressure to make defibrillation possible. Contrasting to these alpha-adrenergic effects, epinephrine's beta-stimulation may have deleterious effects through an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and a reduction of subendocardial perfusion, leading to postresuscitation cardiac dysfunction.

Objective: The present paper consists of a systematic review of the literature regarding the use of beta-blockade in cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Ventricular fibrillation during sport activity successfully treated.

Survival after out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest is estimated at less than 5%. We report a case of ventricular fibrillation during sports activity. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated early by a layperson, and defibrillation was successfully performed within less than three minutes, with an automated external defibrillator.

Reasons related to the choice of critical care medicine as a specialty by medical residents.

Objectives: Critical Care Medicine is a relatively new specialty, which in recent years has made significant progress in Brazil. However, few physicians are willing to acquire this specialization. The main objective of this study was to describe the factors associated with choice of Critical Care Medicine as a specialty by medical residents of Salvador-BA.

Lipid transfer to HDL in type-2 diabetic patients: associations with microalbuminuria, statin, and insulin.

Background: Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an isolated risk factor for coronary artery disease, especially when associated with microalbuminuria (MA). Structural and functional changes in lipoproteins have not yet been fully elucidated in this context.

Objective: To assess lipid transfer (T) to HDL in type-2 diabetic patients and its association with microalbuminuria and treatment with statins or insulin.