Experience of ECMO in primary graft dysfunction after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Background: Primary graft dysfunction is the main cause of early mortality after heart transplantation. Mechanical circulatory support has been used to treat this syndrome.

Objective: Describe the experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to treat post-transplant primary cardiac graft dysfunction.

Addition of long-distance heart procurement promotes changes in heart transplant waiting list status.

Objective: Evaluate the addition of long-distance heart procurement on a heart transplant program and the status of heart transplant recipients waiting list.

Methods: Between September 2006 and October 2012, 72 patients were listed as heart transplant recipients. Heart transplant was performed in 41 (57%), death on the waiting list occurred in 26 (36%) and heart recovery occurred in 5 (7%).

Intraoperative evaluation and surgical planning in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

A male, 45 year old patient, with diagnosis of septum hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, having undergone a cardiofibrilator implant in the past. Despite the optimized clinical treatment, he evolved to a progressive clinical deterioration that led to invasive treatment. However, there was not an important gradient in the exit pathway of the left ventricle (EPLV) at the echocardiogram in rest and the challenging test with dobutamine was non conclusive because it did not reach the preconized cardiac frequency.

Results of the establishment of an organizational model in a cardiovascular surgery service.

Objective: Increasing complexity of patients referred to cardiac surgery demands more effective heart centers, in order to maintain the same quality. The aim of this study is to examine the short-term effect of adoption of an organizational model on surgical outcomes.

Methods: From January 2006 to June 2007, 367 consecutive adult patients underwent cardiovascular surgery.

Acute effects of the use of estrogens in association with progestogens on postprandial triglyceridemia and vascular reactivity.

Objective: To assess whether hormone replacement therapy with estrogens in association with progestogens in postmenopausal hypertensive women alters postprandial triglyceridemia and vascular reactivity.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was carried out with 15 postmenopausal women (age range: 50 to 70 years, mean = 61.6 +/- 6 years) randomly assigned to 2 weeks of placebo or oral ingestion of 0.

Relation between the behaviors of P-wave and QT dispersions in elderly patients with heart failure.

Objective: To assess the relation between P-wave and QT dispersions in elderly patients with heart failure.

Methods: Forty-seven elderly patients (75.6+/-6 years) with stable heart failure in NYHA functional classes II or III and with ejection fractions of 37+/-6% underwent body surface mapping to analyze P-wave and QT dispersions.