Aortic dissection after mitral valve replacement: the role of intraoperative echocardiography in this diagnosis

According to the most recent guidelines, the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in valvular surgeries is well established, as well as its use in the diagnosis, management, and rescue of perioperative complications. The aim of this case report is to illustrate a condition in which its intraoperative use had a positive influence on the outcome. Resumo: O uso da ecocardiografia transesofágica no intraoperatório em cirurgias valvulares é bem estabelecido de acordo com os guidelines mais recentes, assim como o seu uso no diagnóstico, manuseio e resgate de complicações perioperatórias. O objetivo deste relato de caso é ilustrar uma situação em que o seu uso no intraoperatório influenciou de maneira positiva o seu desfecho. Keywords: Intraoperative echocardiography, Aortic dissection, Mitral valve replacement, Palavras-chave: Ecocardiografia intraoperatória, Dissecção de aorta, Troca valvar mitra

Rare Complication of non-Treated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Extensive Thrombus in Right Cardiac Chambers

Abstract A 78-year-old patient presented with shortness of breath after falling down. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed an extensive thrombus in the right atrium (RA), extensive thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A magnetic resonance confirmed the thrombosis of the RA extending to the IVC, which was apparently fused to the abdominal aortic aneurysm (compression? erosion?). This case illustrates a severe and rare complication of a non-treated AAA. There probably was IVC erosion by the aortic aneurysm, leading to blood stasis and extensive thrombosis of the IVC and right cardiac chambers

Terminologia da ausculta pulmonar utilizada em publicações médicas brasileiras, no período de janeiro de 1980 a dezembro de 2003 Pulmonary auscultation terminology employed in Brazilian medical journals between January of 1980 and December of 2003

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a adequação de uso de termos semiológicos da ausculta pulmonar em publicações médicas brasileiras sobre doenças respiratórias, no período de janeiro de 1980 a dezembro de 2003. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo descritivo, analisando-se três revistas médicas: Jornal de Pneumologia, Jornal de Pediatria e Revista Médica Brasileira. Foram selecionados os artigos originais e relatos de casos sobre doenças respiratórias, de onde foram extraídos os termos semiológicos da ausculta pulmonar. Foi avaliada a adequação dos termos na descrição dos ruídos adventícios. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se maior inadequação no uso dos termos de ruídos descontínuos, comparado com o uso dos termos de ruídos contínuos (87,7% versus 44%, p = 0,0000). Não houve diferença significativa entre relatos de pneumologistas e de outros especialistas quanto à inadequação no uso dos termos (56,5% versus 62,0%, p = 0,26). Também não observamos diferença significativa entre as regiões do país e os períodos antes e após a divulgação da nomenclatura internacional. CONCLUSÃO: O uso inadequado dos termos para descrever ruídos adventícios na ausculta pulmonar continua sendo um fenômeno freqüente e geral nas publicações médicas brasileiras.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the appropriateness of the use of auscultation terminology in Brazilian respiratory disease-related medical journals published between January of 1980 and December of 2003. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted, evaluating three medical journals: the Jornal de Pneumologia (Journal of Pulmonology), Jornal de Pediatria (Journal of Pediatrics) and Revista Brasileira de Medicina (Brazilian Journal of Medicine). Original articles and case reports about respiratory diseases were selected, and auscultation terminology was extracted from these articles. The appropriateness of terms used to describe adventitious sounds was assessed. RESULTS: We found that the inappropriate use of terms was more frequent when intermittent sounds were described than when continuous sounds were described (87.7% versus 44.0%; p = 0.0000). No significant difference was observed between the inappropriate use of terms by pulmonologists and that observed for other specialists (56.5% versus 62.0%; p = 0.26). In addition, there were no significant differences among the various regions of the country or between the periods prior to and after the dissemination of international nomenclature. CONCLUSION: Inappropriate use of pulmonary auscultation terms describing adventitious sounds remains common and widespread in Brazilian medical publications