Iatrogenic ventricular fibrillation in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is the most common manifestation of ventricular pre-excitation syndrome and is mostly found in individuals with no structural heart disease. Although the risk of malignant arrhythmias is low, sudden cardiac death (SCD) as the first clinical manifestation of WPW syndrome is well documented, and atrial fibrillation (AF) with a rapid ventricular response is the main mechanism involved. Unfortunately, the signs of pre-excitation and arrhythmias are sometimes under-diagnosed and under-treated.

Temporal trends of lipid control in very high cardiovascular risk patients.

Introduction: Since 2011, the European guidelines have included a specific low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target, <70 mg/dl, for very high cardiovascular risk (CVR) patients. However, registries have shown unsatisfactory results in obtaining this level of adequate lipid control.

Objectives: To assess temporal trends in the use of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and attainment of adequate control in very high CVR patients since 2011.

Comparison of levosimendan, NO, and inhaled iloprost for pulmonary hypertension reversibility assessment in heart transplant candidates.

Aims: Assessing reversibility of pulmonary vascular changes through vasoreactivity testing (VRT) optimizes end-stage heart failure patient selection for heart transplant. All efforts should be made to unload the left ventricle and reduce pulmonary vascular resistance to effectively exclude irreversible pulmonary hypertension.

Methods And Results: We reviewed our centre's cardiac transplant registry database (2009-2017) for VRT and compared haemodynamic responses with 40 ppm inhaled NO (n = 14), 14-17 μg inhaled iloprost (n = 7), and 24 h 0.

Cardiac rehabilitation in older patients: Indication or limitation?

Objective: To assess the clinical impact of a cardiac rehabilitation program in an older population.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 731 coronary patients who attended phase 2 of a cardiac rehabilitation program between January 2009 and December 2016. We compared the response to the program of older (≥65 years) and younger (<65 years) patients, analyzing changes in metabolic profile (including body mass index, waist circumference and lipid profile), exercise capacity, cardiac autonomic regulation parameters (such as chronotropic index and resting heart rate), and health-related quality of life scores.

Left ventricular pacing with a temporary pacemaker: Case report.

We report a case of temporary pacemaker lead malposition in the left ventricle crossing the interventricular septum (IVS). The majority of described cases occur due to a patent foramen ovale and are frequently incidental findings. A course across the IVS is rarely found and this complication with temporary leads is not even reported in the literature.

Role of Left Ventricle Function in Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcomes in Stage B Heart Failure Patients.

Purpose: To study the role of left ventricle systolic function in cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) response in stage B heart failure patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed of 691 patients with previous myocardial infarction that underwent a CRP, classified in 3 groups: preserved ejection fraction (pEF), mid-range ejection fraction (mrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (rEF). We compared the response to CRP analyzing the relative changes of estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRFe), resting heart rate (HR), and chronotropic index (CI).

Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Coronary Artery Disease: DOES WEIGHT MATTER?

Purpose: To evaluate the response of patients with obesity to a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP), compared with patients without obesity.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 731 patients who completed phase II of a CRP after an acute coronary syndrome. The response to the CRP was assessed using the relative changes in exercise capacity (EC), resting heart rate (HR), and chronotropic index (CI).

Impact of a brief psychological intervention on lifestyle, risk factors and disease knowledge during phase I of cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: This study examined the efficacy of a brief inpatient psychoeducational intervention on knowledge about acute coronary syndromes (ACS), control of risk factors, and adaptive health habits and lifestyle. The intervention was intended to facilitate rehabilitation after ACS and its short- and medium-term impact was assessed.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-one patients with ACS, admitted to a central cardiology unit in Portugal, were randomized to an experimental group (EG, n=65) or a control group (CG, n=56).

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma: Report of a surgical series.

Introduction: Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a rare primary benign tumor of cardiac origin that predominantly affects the cardiac valves. Although most patients are asymptomatic, serious complications may result given their propensity for embolization. Advances in imaging technology have enabled earlier detection and more accurate characterization of these tumors.

Quality of Care and 30-day Mortality of Women and Men With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Introduction And Objectives: Despite increased awareness of sex disparities in care and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there appears to have been no consistent attenuation of these differences over the last decade. We investigated differences by sex in management and 30-day mortality using the European Society of Cardiology Acute Cardiovascular Care Association quality indicators (QIs) for AMI.

Methods: Proportions and standard errors of the 20 Acute Cardiovascular Care Association QIs were calculated for 771 patients with AMI who were admitted to the cardiology departments of 2 tertiary hospitals in Portugal between August 2013 and December 2014.

Ascending aorta in tetralogy of Fallot: Beyond echocardiographic dimensions.

Background: Late after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair some patients exhibit aortic dilatation and stiffness. Noninvasive assessment of aortic stiffness could contribute to understand this aortopathy and may be important in risk stratification for major aortic event.

Methods: We included prospectively 82 adults after TOF repair and 41 age- and sex-matched normal controls.

Left atrial volume index is critical for the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is now well recognized but the identification of patients with HFpEF can be challenging. We aimed to evaluate the performance of tissue Doppler imaging indexes and left atrial size in HFpEF diagnosis.

Methods And Results: We designed a case-control study in which cases are patients with acute heart failure and controls are age-matched and sex-matched patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors admitted to hospital because of stroke.

Sex differences in presenting symptoms of acute coronary syndrome: the EPIHeart cohort study.

Objectives: Prompt diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a challenge, with presenting symptoms affecting the diagnosis algorithm and, consequently, management and outcomes. This study aimed to identify sex differences in presenting symptoms of ACS.

Design: Data were collected within a prospective cohort study (EPIHeart).

Inequalities in access to cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome: the EPiHeart cohort.

Objectives: To estimate cardiac rehabilitation (CR) referral and participation rates among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to identify their determinants, in two Portuguese regions.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Patients consecutively admitted to the cardiology department of two hospitals, one in the district of Porto and one in the north-east region (NER) of Portugal, were enrolled in the EPIHeart cohort and then followed up for 6 months.