Comparative Study of Electrical Stimulation of the Heart with VDD and DDD Pacemakers as to the Evolution to Atrial Fibrillation.

Introduction: The pacemaker implantation VDD is considered simpler, faster, less expensive and causes fewer complications compared to DDD. However, the VDD pacemaker has not been widely used in many centers, perhaps for fear of dysfunction of the sinus node and the reduction of atrial sensitivity by the pacemaker during follow-up after implantation.

Objective: To compare patients with DDD and VDD pacemakers regarding the evolution of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and length of stay outside this postoperative arrhythmia.

Oral anticoagulation in carriers of mechanical heart valve prostheses: experience of ten years.

Background: Published data suggest that rates of thromboembolism and bleeding, in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses, can be very small by optimizing current anticoagulant therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of complications in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses undergoing anticoagulant therapy optimized through specialized clinics.

Methods: We studied the occurrence of complications over 10 years in 261 anticoagulated patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses, followed in specialized clinics.

Cystatin C and glomerular filtration rate in the cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare cystatin C versus creatinine as a marker for acute kidney injury in patients submitted to cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting were studied. Renal function was evaluated by serum cystatin C and creatinine.

Primary idiopathic chylopericardium--case report.

The accumulation of chyle in the pericardial space, or chylopericardium, is a condition occurring most frequently after trauma, cardiac and thoracic surgery, or in association with tumors, tuberculosis or lymphangiomatosis. When its precise cause cannot be identified, it is called primary or idiopathic chylopericardium. This is a rare clinical entity.

Partial absence of the inferior vena cava associated with bowel malformation.

A 6-year-old female child sought medical service due to a gastrointestinal malformation. During medical follow-up, partial absence of the inferior vena cava was diagnosed, a rare congenital alteration affecting the vascular drainage from the inferior segment of the body. Imaging exams were accomplished, contributing to evaluation and description of the case.

Preoperative risk factors for the development of acute renal failure in cardiac surgery.

Objective: To evaluate clinical risk factors for the development of Acute Renal Failure (ARF) in patients who undergo cardiac surgery.

Method: Over a period of 21 consecutive months, one hundred and fifty patients who underwent cardiac surgery were studied. There was a slight prevalence of men (57%) and the average age was 56 +/- 14.