[Follow-up of the patient with pacemakers: Interrogation and basic programming]

Permanent pacemakers are a frequently used therapeutic modality. Its use has had a great impact on the morbidity and mortality and quality of life of patients with heart rhythm disturbances, with an exponential increase observed in recent decades. The use of this strategy presents different phases, in which follow-up throughout the useful life of the device is a fundamental and determinant pillar of the efficacy and safety of this therapeutic modality. This review seeks to provide a clear and structured update of the fundamental aspects to consider in the follow-up of all patients with pacemakers. The follow-up of the patient with a pacemaker must follow a complete, systematic and periodic protocol, evaluating aspects and parameters related to the patient and the pacemaker, in order to ensure the proper and safe operation of the device adapted to the person.

[Coronary lithotripsy in calcified lesions: fragmented calcium]

Background

Complex calcified coronary lesions are a frequent finding during percutaneous coronary intervention, representing for decades a challenge and limitation in patients with indication of revascularization, due to suboptimal angiographic results, high incidence of perioperative complications and long-term adverse events despite the multiple strategies employed, such as the use of cutting balloon, high-pressure balloons or rotational or orbital atherectomy, interventions with limitations that have hindered its routine use, recently a new plaque modification technique known as coronary intravascular lithotripsy has burst into the treatment of this complex entity, which consists in the use of a specially modified balloon for the emission of pulsatile mechanical energy (sonic pressure waves) that allows modifying the calcified plate.

Clinical case

By presenting a series of clinical cases and reviewing the literature, our initial experience is presented, key elements are summarized and discussed in the understanding of this new intervention technique necessary for decision making.

Conclusion

Coronary intravascular lithotripsy is projected as a promising technique for the modification and preparation of superficial and deep calcified coronary lesions, through microfractures that allow the apposition and effective expansion of the stent, strategy that according to different trials (Disrupt CAD series, SOLSTICE assay) and records presents a high efficiency and good safety profile, data consistent with our initial experience.

Clinical characteristics of takotsubo syndrome: a series of cases

INTRODUCTION

takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a recently recognized entity that resembles an acute coronary syndrome. Its epidemiology has been studied in various populations around the world. The most frequent trigger is an emotional stressful event.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical characteristics of a series of cases with TTS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. The variables of age, gender, clinical characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, triggering factors, biomarkers, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and angiographic findings in the clinical records of a group of cases of patients with TTS were evaluated.

RESULTS

19 cases of TTS were included. There were 16 women and 3 men, the average age was 62 ± 14 years; the main cardiovascular risk factor was sedentary lifestyle in 13 cases. The emotional trigger was present in most cases. The most frequent symptom was chest pain, eight cases presented data of shoCKP and heart failure. The most common variant by echocardiography was apical ballooning in 79%, as well as by ventriculography. The most common complication was cardiogenic shoCKP.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical characteristics of our population are like those previously described in the literature. TTS is a transient and reversible cardiomyopathy with a good prognosis.

[Ebstein's anomaly with ventricular preexcitation in an adult patient]

BACKGROUND

Ebstein's anomaly is a rare complex congenital heart disease, first described in 1866 by physician Wilhelm Ebstein, characterized by anatomical and functional malformations of the tricuspid valve and the right ventricle because of inadequate delaminization of the tricuspid valve tissue. By presenting a clinical case and reviewing the literature, we analyzed the approach of an adult patient with Ebstein anomaly with ventricular preexcitation.

CLINICAL CASE

We describe the case of a 34-year-old male patient, with a clinical history of palpitations and dyspnea, and his paraclinics documented Ebstein type B anomaly associated with patent foramen oval and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, Successful radiofrequency ablation was performed and tricuspid valvuloplasty was proposed.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that Ebstein's anomaly is complex with clinical, morphological and physiopathological heterogeneous spectrum. Manifested from severe symptomatic forms in the neonatal period to asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic ones detected incidentally. Its diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and confirmed by echocardiography or imaging studies. The therapeutic strategy may be based on medical management in its mild asymptomatic forms up to surgical interventions that include tricuspid valvuloplasty, palliative surgery, valve replacement or cardiac transplantation.