Abstract Background: The indiscriminate use of blood transfusion in surgery has been associated with increased risk of infection and increased length of hospital stay. Objective: To identify the average amount of bleeding and rates of transfusion of blood products in the postoperative period of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in a cardiology center. Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent myocardial revascularization surgery and/or heart valve replacement with use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were analyzed. Perioperative data such as CPB time, […]

Special interest in surgical bleeding and methods to limit its occurrence is growing after the possibility that transfusion of blood products might be causally related to complications and negative outcomes has been raised. In the same vein, studies have been conducted to evaluate whether limiting blood product transfusions (ie, being more conservative in the indication for it) would increase the safety of transfusion or even reduce some patterns of complications. The current study is a contribution to this larger discussion. […]

Abstract Background: Conventional aerobic training is the first choice in cardiac rehabilitation for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be an alternative, although it has little evidence. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of continuous aerobic training (CAT) or HIIT on exercise tolerance in CHF patients. Methods: Retrospective study with 30 patients, of both genders, members of a 10-week CAT or HIIT program. The control group (CON) consisted of patients who did not participate voluntarily […]

It is well recognized that chronic heart failure (CHF) is a multifactorial syndrome that reduces physical exercise tolerance. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program is on the frontline of non-pharmacological therapies for CHF patients, counterbalancing the disease-induced issues of physical capacity. Since a successful exercise rehabilitation program should be efficient and safe, the search for optimal combinations of exercise volume and intensity has sparked interest in the current literature. Although studies have shown feasible combinations of low volume and high intensity, and […]

Abstract Background: Stroke related to atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high recurrence and mortality rates. Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) is associated with fewer vascular risk factors, less disability, and a high recurrence rate. Objective: To compare risk factors, functional outcomes and the occurrence of primary endpoint (a composite of recurrent stroke, cardiovascular death, and myocardial infarction) between AF stroke and ESUS patients. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted including all consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke admitted […]

Abstract Background: Fontan circulation can be associated with significant morbidity, especially Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE). Echocardiographic parameters can provide valuable diagnostic information about a patient’s risk of developing PLE after Fontan surgery. Objectives: To describe echocardiographic/ultrasonographic parameters associated with PLE in patients after Fontan surgery through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Methods: A literature search was performed in electronic databases to identify relevant studies about echocardiographic parameters and PLE prediction in children after Fontan surgery. The search terms used were: “echocardiography”, […]

Abstract Background: The use of androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) is prevalent among young bodybuilders, motivated by aesthetic results. Although the medical community condemns this practice for its potential deleterious effect, we must recognize the need for more scientific research on the likelihood and magnitude of the adverse events. Objective: To evaluate whether high-quality, scientific evidence supports that AAS negatively affect lipid profile and promote muscle hypertrophy in resistance training practitioners. Methods: A systematic review of the literature of randomized clinical […]

Abstract Background: Increased level of physical activity (PA) and health education are known as non-pharmacological treatments of hypertension (HP). There is a lack of studies investigating the influence of HP knowledge on the level of PA among hypertensive patients. Objective: To examine the influence of patient’s knowledge about HP on PA level and the relationship between these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in in a primary care center located in a city in the southern Brazil. A total […]

Abstract Background: Sizeable proportion of patients have discordant low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C). It has been shown that discordance of LDL-C and NHDL-C either underestimates or overestimates coronary risk. Objectıve: We assessed whether this discordance has an impact on GRACE and TIMI risk scores in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 198 consecutive patients with AMI. Fasting serum lipid profiles were recorded, GRACE and TIMI scores were calculated. […]

Abstract Background: Treatment time in the emergency room for acute myocardial infarction is very important and can be life-saving if one understands the importance of a patient’s chest pain. Objetice: The aim of this study is to evaluate how much patients entering the emergency room due to acute myocardial infection (AMI) know about chest pain and thrombolytic therapy. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty patients (126 males,14 females) from three different institutes with complaints of chest pain were randomly chosen […]

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), that assumed pandemic proportions in March 2020, mainly affects the respiratory tract, causing severe interstitial pneumonia in adults. Worldwide data indicate that COVID-19 tends to be more benign in children, which is evidenced by a high incidence of asymptomatic or mild upper airways’ infection cases in this population. However, recent studies have been associating Kawasaki-like symptoms as a nonclassical presentation of coronavirus disease in pediatrics. It is suggested that the intense cytokine cascade, promoted by […]

The understanding of SARS-CoV-2 related syndromes in the pediatric population needs to grow worldwide. In its severe presentation, COVID-19 is a systemic disease characterized by hyperinflammation, cytokine storm and increased myocardial injury markers. Cardiac involvement in seen in 20-30% of hospitalized adult patients and accounts for about 40% of deaths. An intriguing aspect of the COVID-19 is the fact that most children and adolescents have mild or asymptomatic forms of the disease, perhaps related to a lower expression of virus […]

The disease caused by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity, including pulmonary and cardiac adverse sequelae.1–3 It began in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, and quickly became a pandemic, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 of 2019.4 By early September 2020, more than 28 million patients have been confirmed infected by COVID-19 in more than 200 countries.3 […]

Background The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is considered a global health emergency. The global impact of this viral infection is of great concern to everyone. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to appear unstoppable, preventive and hygiene measures have been implemented to safeguard against infection. Among these precautions, social isolation is considered to have the greatest potential for reducing contagion, at least until a vaccine becomes available. This isolation measure works as a kind of “necessary evil” for preventing […]

Abstract Heart failure (HF) is the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH), and reduced exercise capacity and exertional dyspnea are the most frequent concerns in patients with PH-HF. Indeed, carbon dioxide end-tidal partial pressure (PETCO 2 ) during exercise is a well-established noninvasive marker of ventilation/perfusion ratio in PH. We aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise training on PETCO 2 response during exercise in a 59-year-old woman with PH secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The patient with […]

Introduction Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is defined as a rapid rhythm with continuously changing ventricular activation. In the absence of QT interval prolongation, its evaluation is a challenging activity with a series of differential diagnoses. The present study reports on a case of a young man who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and and who later presented an episode of exercise-induced polymorphic VT. A rational investigation is discussed based on the patient’s clinical findings and baseline ECG. […]