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- Clinical Outcome of a Single Procedure Cryoballoon Ablation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: a Real-World Multicenter Experience in PortugalPublication . Silva Cunha, P; Fonseca, P; Laranjo, S; Montenegro Sá, F; Valente, B; Portugal, G; Gonçalves, H; Nogueira da Silva, M; Brandão, L; Oliveira, MM; Primo, JBackground: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been growing as an alternative technique, not only in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) but also in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Cryoballoon ablation has demonstrated encouraging acute and mid-term results. However, data on long-term follow-up of CB-based PVI are scarce. Objective: We sought to examine efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of CBA in PAF and persistent AF in four Portuguese centers. Methods: All patients that were treated with the cryoballoon catheter according to routine practices with a second-generation 28-mm CB in four centers were included. This was a retrospective, non-randomized analysis. Patients were followed-up for >12 months and freedom from atrial arrhythmias (AA) was evaluated at the end of follow-up. Results: Four hundred and six patients (57.7±12.4 years, 66% men) participated. AF was paroxysmal in 326 patients (80.2%) and persistent in 80 (19.7%). The mean procedure time duration was 107.7±50.9 min, and the fluoroscopy time was 19.5±9.7 min. Procedural/periprocedural complications occurred in 30 cases (7.3%), being transient phrenic nerve palsy the most frequent incident (2 out of 3 complications). Anatomic variations of the PV were present in 16.1% of cases. At a mean follow-up of 22.0±15.0 months, 310 patients (76.3%) remained in stable sinus rhythm, with at least one AF episode recurrence documented in 98 cases (24.1%). The recurrence rate was 20.5% in the PAF group and 37.8% in the persistent AF group. Conclusion: In this multicenter experience, a single CBA procedure resulted in 75.9% freedom from AF at a 22-month follow-up. This technique was demonstrated to be a safe and effective option in experienced centers for the treatment of PAF and PersAF.
- Reproducibility and Validity of the Portuguese Edmonton Frail Scale Version in Cardiac Surgery PatientsPublication . Castro, ML; Alves, M; Martins, A; Papoila, AL; Botelho, MA; Fragata, JIntroduction: Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome characterized by the loss of functional reserve, associated with higher mortality and less functional survival in cardiac surgery patients. The Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) is a comprehensive tool devised for brief frailty detection. To the best of our knowledge, there are no culturally adapted and validated frailty screening tools that enable the identification of vulnerability domains suited for use in the preoperative setting in Portugal. This was the motivation for this study. Objectives: To assess the validity and reproducibility of the Portuguese version of the EFS. Methods: Prospective observational study, in a sample of elective cardiac surgery patients. The Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) translation and backtranslation were performed. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the translated EFS translated, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Mini Mental State Examination Portuguese versions, Katz and Clinical Frailty Scales were administered. To assess validity Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, marginal homogeneity test and Kappa coefficient were employed. Reproducibility was assessed estimating kappa coefficient for the frailty diagnosis and the 11 EFS items. Intra-class correlation coefficients and the corresponding 95% confidence interval were estimated using linear mixed effects model. Results: The EFS Portuguese version revealed construct validity for frailty identification, as well as criterion validity for cognition and mood domains. Reproducibility was demonstrated, with k=0.62 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.82) and intraclass correlation (ICC)=0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.97) in inter-observer test and k=0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.70) and ICC=0.85 (95% CI 0.72-0.92) in intra-observer test. Conclusions: The EFS Portuguese version is valid and reproducible for use, suiting pre-operative frailty screening in a cardiac surgery setting.
- Single Puncture Approach Guided by Transesophageal Echocardiography for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in a Patient with Prior Percutaneous Septal Closure: Case ReportPublication . Oliveira, M; Sousa, L; Trindade, A; Nogueira da Silva, MBackground: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is associated with a risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) higher than in the general population, even after percutaneous or surgical septal closure. Catheter ablation is an effective treatment strategy for preventing recurrences and reducing the AF burden. However, electrophysiologists are faced with technical difficulties and the risk of complications with the left atrium access in patients with prior ASD percutaneous closure. Case summary: We report a case of a patient with highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF, with an ASD, closed percutaneously many years before, who underwent a successful catheter AF ablation, using a single transeptal (TSP) approach guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Discussion: In patients with ASD and an occluder device implanted, there is a potential risk for septal tear during the TSP passage, device dislodgement, or thrombus formation on the device. Atrial fibrillation ablation in this subset of patients has often been protracted and scarcely reported. TEE and intra-cardiac echocardiography have been increasingly used for interventional procedure guidance during AF ablation. As described here, AF ablation using a simplified single TSP guided by TEE is feasible, safe, and effective after device ASD closure.
- Revista de Estomatologia do CHULC OnlinePublication . Vários
- Levosimendan in Outpatients with Advanced Heart Failure: Single-Center Experience of 200 Intermittent PerfusionsPublication . Ferreira Reis, J; Gonçalves, A; Ilhão Moreira, R; Pereira-da-Silva, T; Timóteo, AT; Pombo, D; Carvalho, T; Correia, C; Santos, C; Cruz Ferreira, RIntroduction: Patients with advanced heart failure (HF) have high morbidity and mortality, with only a small proportion being eligible for advanced therapies. Intermittent outpatient levosimendan infusion has been shown to provide symptomatic relief and reduce the rate of HF events. Our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of outpatient levosimendan administration in an advanced HF population. Methods: This is a report of a single-center experience of consecutive advanced HF patients referred for intermittent intravenous outpatient administration of levosimendan, between January 2018 and March 2021. Baseline and follow-up evaluation included clinical assessment, laboratory tests, transthoracic echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Baseline and clinical follow-up data were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: A total of 24 patients (60.8 years, 83% male, mean left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 24%), with a median of 1.5 HF hospitalizations in the previous six months, were referred for outpatient levosimendan pulses, the majority as a bridge to transplantation or due to clinical deterioration. At six-month follow-up there was a significant reduction in HF hospitalizations to 0.4±0.7 (p<0.001). NYHA class IV (52.2% to 12.5%, p=0.025) and NT-proBNP (8812.5 to 3807.4 pg/ml, p=0.038) were also significantly reduced. Exercise capacity was significantly improved, including peak oxygen uptake (p=0.043) and VE/VCO2 slope (p=0.040). LVEF improved from 24.0% to 29.7% (p=0.008). No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Repeated levosimendan administration in advanced HF patients is a safe procedure and was associated with a reduction in HF hospitalizations, functional and LVEF improvement, and reduction in NT-proBNP levels during follow-up.
- Prescrição de Benzodiazepinas e Outros Sedativos na Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo de 2013 a 2020: um Estudo RetrospetivoPublication . Gomes, S; Broeiro-Gonçalves, P; Meireles, C; Caldeira, D; Costa, J; Guerreiro, M; Ribeiro, N; Afonso, RIntroduction: Among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development members, Portugal has the highest reported consumption of anxiolytics, hypnotics, and sedatives, of which a large proportion are benzodiazepines or related drugs. These are known to cause tolerance and dependence. Other drugs with hypnotic effect, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, or anticonvulsants have been identified by some reports as alternatives to benzodiazepines for the treatment of insomnia. In this regard, the aim of this study was to characterize the consumption of benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic, hypnotic or sedative effect drugs and other drugs with the potential to be used off-label to treat insomnia, and the results concerning benzodiazepine consumption related indicators in the primary health care setting in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region. Material and methods: From 2013 to 2020, a census, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted. The evolution of the variables total defined daily doses, defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DHD) and relevant indicators were characterized. Data were extracted from the SIARS platform used in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley regional Health Administration. Results: There was a decrease in the consumption of benzodiazepines (from 57.44 to 63.11 DHD) and an increase of non-benzodiazepines and of drugs with potential off-label use (from 6.56 to 8.56 DHD and from 14.70 to 25.95 DHD, respectively). Among non-benzodiazepines, zolpidem was the most consumed drug, also showing an increasing trend (from 4.86 to 6.96 DHD). For the group of drugs with off-label use potential, there was an increased consumption of trazodone (from 3.81 to 7.92 DHD), mirtazapine (from 3.52 to 6.48 DHD), pregabalin (from 3.15 to 4.87 DHD), quetiapine (from 2.68 to 4.59 DHD) and gabapentin (from 1.32 to 1.90 DHD), which was only the case (or, at least, more significantly) for the lower dose formulations. The median of results of the Primary Health Care setting indicator "proportion of elderly patients without prescription of sedatives, anxiolytics, and hypnotics", was 81.0 in 2015 and increased to 84.9 in 2020. For the indicator "proportion of patients without prolonged prescription of sedatives, anxiolytics, and hypnotics", the median was 93.6 in 2019 and 94.3 in 2020. Conclusion: There was, overall, a decreasing trend in the dispensing of benzodiazepines in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region. Even though this data suggests a change in the therapeutic pattern for insomnia, more robust studies are needed to confirm this observation.
- Microvascular Dysfunction Is Associated With Impaired Myocardial Work in Obstructive and Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Multimodality StudyPublication . Garcia Brás, P; Aguiar Rosa, S; Cardoso, I; Branco, L; Galrinho, A; Valentim Gonçalves, A; Thomas, B; Viegas, JM; Fiarresga, A; Branco, G; Pereira, R; Selas, M; Silva, F; Cruz, I; Baquero, L; Cruz Ferreira, R; Rocha Lopes, LBackground Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography has been shown to correlate with microvascular dysfunction, a hallmark of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We hypothesized that there is an association between myocardial work and left ventricular ischemia, with incremental value to global longitudinal strain, in patients with HCM. Methods and Results We performed a prospective assessment of patients with HCM, undergoing 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance. Results were stratified according to obstructive or nonobstructive HCM and the presence of significant replacement fibrosis (late gadolinium enhancement ≥15% of left ventricular mass). Seventy-five patients with HCM (63% men, age 55±15 years) were evaluated, 28% with obstructive HCM (mean gradient 89±60 mm Hg). Perfusion defects were found in 90.7%, involving 22.5±16.9% of left ventricular mass, and 38.7% had late gadolinium enhancement ≥15%. In a multivariable analysis, a lower global work index (r=-0.519, β-estimate -10.822; P=0.001), lower global work efficiency (r=-0.379, β-estimate -0.123; P=0.041), and impaired global constructive work (r=-0.532, β-estimate -13.788; P<0.001) significantly correlated with ischemia. A segmental analysis supported these findings, albeit with lower correlation coefficients. A global work index cutoff ≤1755 mm Hg% was associated with hypoperfusion with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 71%, while the best cutoff for global longitudinal strain (>-15.5%) had a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 57%. The association between myocardial work and perfusion defects was significant independently of late gadolinium enhancement ≥15% and obstructive HCM. Conclusions Impaired myocardial work was significantly correlated with the extent of ischemia in cardiac magnetic resonance, independently of the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy or fibrosis, with a higher predictive power than global longitudinal strain.