Systemic vasoconstriction and mortality in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: A cohort of patients who underwent non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring.

Advanced heart failure primarily manifests during and after hospitalization for decompensation. Identifying prognostic factors is crucial for distinguishing patients who may benefit from drug therapy from those with end-stage disease. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of systemic vasoconstriction in patients with decompensated heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction.

The use of peripherally inserted central catheter reduced the incidence of phlebitis in heart failure patients: A randomized trial.

Background: During decompensated heart failure, the use of intravenous inotropes can be necessary. With peripheral venous access, prolonged inotrope infusion can cause phlebitis. However, traditional central venous catheters have possible complications.

Infection in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure: In-Hospital Mortality and Outcome.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome, whose advanced forms have a poor prognosis, which is aggravated by the presence of comorbidities.

Objective: We assessed the impact of infection in patients with decompensated HF admitted to a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in the city of São Paulo.

Methods: This study assessed 260 patients consecutively admitted to our unit because of decompensated HF.

Thermal vasodilation using a portable infrared thermal blanket in decompensated heart failure.

Adjunctive and non-pharmacological therapies, such as heat, for the treatment of heart failure patients have been proposed. Positive results have been obtained in clinically stable patients, but no studies of the use of thermal therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure (DHF) have been reported. An open randomized clinical trial was designed in patients with DHF and controls.

Short-term add-on therapy with angiotensin receptor blocker for end-stage inotrope-dependent heart failure patients: B-type natriuretic peptide reduction in a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate angiotensin receptor blocker add-on therapy in patients with low cardiac output during decompensated heart failure.

Methods: We selected patients with decompensated heart failure, low cardiac output, dobutamine dependence, and an ejection fraction <0.45 who were receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

Role of BNP levels on the prognosis of decompensated advanced heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a condition with poor outcome, especially in advanced cases. Determination of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels is useful in the diagnosis of cardiac decompensation and has also been proving useful in the prognostic evaluation.

Objectives: To verify whether BNP levels are able to identify patients with a poorer outcome and whether it is an independent prognostic factor considering age, gender, cardiac and renal functions, as well as the cause of heart disease.

Continuous noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring in decompensated heart failure.

Background: The clinical and hemodynamic assessment at the bedside and the use of pulmonary artery catheter for the estimation of hemodynamic data have been used in decompensated heart failure. However, there are no data on the use of continuous noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring.

Objective: To compare the data obtained through noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring with invasive ones in patients with decompensated heart failure and refractory to treatment.

Haemodynamic effects of aliskiren in decompensated severe heart failure.

Aim: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has dual pathways to angiotensin II production; therefore, multiple blockages may be useful in heart failure. In this study, we evaluated the short-term haemodynamic effects of aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, in patients with decompensated severe heart failure who were also taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

Materials And Methods: A total of 16 patients (14 men, two women, mean age: 60.

Predictors of low cardiac output in decompensated severe heart failure.

Objective: To identify predictors of low cardiac output and mortality in decompensated heart failure.

Introduction: Introduction: Patients with decompensated heart failure have a high mortality rate, especially those patients with low cardiac output. However, this clinical presentation is uncommon, and its management is controversial.

Relationship between depression, BNP levels and ventricular impairment in heart failure.

Background: Depression is a common comorbidity in heart failure (HF); however, the mechanisms related to a poorer outcome of depressed patients with HF remain unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the role of severe depression in the outcome of patients with decompensated HF.

Methods: A total of 43 patients with advanced HF, EF < 40.

[Chagas cardiomyopathy: prognosis in clinical and hemodynamic profile C].

Background: patients with heart failure (HF) who are admitted showing poor perfusion and congestion (clinical-hemodynamic profile C) are the group that evolves with the worst prognosis in decompensated heart failure. However, there is little information in literature on the etiology of cardiopathy influences the outcome of patients in advanced stage.

Objective: to assess the outcome of patients admitted with clinical and hemodynamic profile C and verify the role of the etiology in this phase.

[Anemia in patients with advanced heart failure].

Background: anemia is linked with worsening of progress in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there are few studies of anemia in patients with advanced HF.

Objective: to evaluate the characteristics of anemia in HF at an advanced stage.

[Is it necessary to suspend betablockers in decompensated heart failure with low output?].

Background: there is evidence that the suspension of betablockers (BB) in decompensated heart failure may increase mortality. Dobutamine (dobuta) is the most commonly used inotrope in decompensation, however, BB and dobuta act with the same receptor with antagonist actions, and concurrent use of both drugs could hinder compensation.

Objective: to evaluate whether the maintenance of BB associated with dobuta difficults cardiac compensation.

Angiotensin II receptor blocker add-on therapy for low cardiac output in decompensated heart failure.

Background: During heart failure (HF) decompensation, an intense activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system occurs; however, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) cannot block it completely. Otherwise, the addition of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) can be useful when the inotropic dependence occurs. We evaluated the efficacy of the ARB-ACEI association on dobutamine withdrawal in advanced decompensated HF.

Delirium in hospitalized elderly patients and post-discharge mortality.

Objective: To determine the impact of delirium on post-discharge mortality in hospitalized older patients.

Introduction: Delirium is frequent in hospitalized older patients and correlates with high hospital mortality. There are only a few studies about its impact on post-discharge mortality.

Microneurography and venous occlusion plethysmography in heart failure: correlation with prognosis.

Background: Microneurography and venous occlusion plethysmography can be considered methods of assessment of the sympathetic activity.

Objective: To evaluate the intensity of the sympathetic activity through microneurography and venous occlusion plethysmography in patients with heart failure (HF) and correlate this intensity with prognosis.

Methods: 52 patients with HF (ejection fraction < 45% at the echocardiogram): 12 with FCII and 40 with FCIV.

Hyperkalemia during spironolactone use in patients with decompensated heart failure.

Background: The incidence of hyperkalemia related to spironolactone use is low in stable heart failure; however, it has not been studied during decompensation.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of spironolactone on serum potassium in decompensated heart failure (HF).

Methods: In a cohort study, patients that had been hospitalized due to decompensated HF, with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 0.

Subjective global assessment of nutritional status in cardiac patients.

Objective: To analyze the performance of Subjective Global Assessment of Nutritional Status (SGA) in diagnosing malnutrition in patients with heart disease.

Methods: One hundred and six hospitalized patients (53 with heart failure) completed an SGA questionnaire on their nutritional history (changes in body weight, dietary intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, functional capacity, and diagnosis) and underwent physical examination. Then, anthropometric measurements were obtained (body weight, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and arm muscle circumference).

[Exercise stress test: prognostic value for elderly patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis].

Objective: To study the prognostic value of exercise stress test variables in elderly patients with coronary atherosclerosis and exercise-induced ischemia.

Methods: Sixty-four elderly patients (61 men, 73 +/- 5 years old) with coronary atherosclerosis, verified by cardiac catheterization, that were clinically stable, had a left ventricle ejection fraction greater than or equal to 0.40 and developed myocardial ischemia during the exercise stress test were studied.

[Eikenella corrodens infective endocarditis].

The HACEK microorganisms (Haemophilus spp, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae) account for 3% of the cases of endocarditis. They have the following similar clinical and microbiological properties: are Gram-negative bacilli, more easily isolated in aerobic media; their cultures require prolonged incubation time for growing (mean, 3.3 days); and may be considered part of normal flora of upper respiratory tract and oropharynx.

Uric acid renal excretion and renal insufficiency in decompensated severe heart failure.

Objective: To evaluate uric acid renal excretion, hyperuricemia, renal dysfunction, and prognosis in patients with decompensated severe heart failure, as there are few data available.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients, hospitalized for heart failure decompensation, in NYHA class IV, were classified into 3 groups as follows. Pilot group [ejection fraction (EF) View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Correlation between evolution of the cognitive function and mortality after hospital discharge in elderly patients with advanced heart failure].

Objective: To assess the relation between the evolution of cognitive performance and the prognosis of elderly patients after compensation of advanced heart failure.

Methods: Thirty-one patients older than 64 (68 +/- 7) years and admitted with New York Heart Association class IV heart failure and ejection fraction = 0.45 (0.