Impact of a Stress Reduction, Meditation, and Mindfulness Program in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Heart Failure is a significant public health problem leading to a high burden of physical and psychological symptoms despite optimized therapy. To evaluate primarily the impact of a Stress Reduction, Meditation, and Mindfulness Program on stress reduction of patients with Heart Failure. A randomized and controlled clinical trial assessed the effect of a stress reduction program compared to conventional multidisciplinary care in two specialized centers in Brazil.

Severe tricuspid stenosis during percutaneous occlusion of perimembranous ventricular septal defect with the new Amplatzer device.

Background: The new Amplatzer device has been used with success for occlusion of the perimembranous ventricular septal defects and the index of complications is very low.

Results: The reported case corresponds to a very rare severe acute tricuspid stenosis, caused by adherence of the prosthesis to the anterior tricuspid leaflet.

Conclusion: Device release was achieved by manipulation on the tricuspid apparatus.

[Percutaneous occlusion of interventricular septal defects. Initial experiment].

Objective: To assess the initial experiment with percutaneous closure of interventricular septal defects (IVSD), especially perimembranous IVSD (PMIVSD) with the new Amplatzer prosthesis.

Methods: Eleven patients were submitted to the procedure. Six of them had perimembranous IVSD (PMIVSD) and five with muscular IVSD (MIVSD).

Initial experience in Brazil with the Helex septal occluder for percutaneous occlusion of atrial septal defects.

Objective: To evaluate the initial clinical experience with the Helex septal occluder for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects.

Methods: Ten patients underwent the procedure, 7 patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) with hemodynamic repercussions and 3 patients with pervious foramen ovale (PFO) and a history of stroke. Mean age was 33.