Remote Monitoring for Follow-Up of Patients with Implantable Cardiac Devices

O aumento significativo registado nas implantações de dispositivos cardíacos, sobretudo como consequência dos benefícios demonstrados com a utilização de cardioversoresdesfibrilhadores e sistemas de ressincronização cardíaca na redução da mortalidade, trouxe para a prática clínica hospitalar o problema da gestão de recursos para responder ao crescimento exponencial do número de doentes em consultas regulares de seguimento especializado. A era das tecnologias da comunicação permitiu desenvolver sistemas de monitorização à distância, que são hoje uma realidade em franca expansão na Europa e nos Estados Unidos, com diversas vantagens e níveis de eficácia e segurança bem documentados. A sua utilização tem permitido obter um elevado grau de satisfação para o doente e médico, reduzindo o número de visitas hospitalares e os custos inerentes ao seguimento desta população. Os resultados dos diferentes estudos têm mostrado elevada capacidade na deteção mais precoce de problemas clínicos, arrítmicos ou de descompensação da insuficiência cardíaca, e de anomalias no funcionamento do dispositivo implantado. Apesar da experiência favorável com o recurso a esta metodologia de follow-up, são necessários estudos para avaliar o seu impacto clínico a longo prazo, em comparação com as consultas convencionais, bem como a introdução e adaptação da legislação referente a este tipo de evolução tecnológica aplicada à saúde. No presente artigo, revimos os aspetos técnicos e a evidência recente da relevância clínica da monitorização à distância em portadores de dispositivos cardíacos implantados

Copd Phenotypes On Computed Tomography And Its Correlation With Selected Lung Function Variables In Severe Patients

Computed tomography (CT) phenotypic characterization helps in understanding the clinical diversity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but its clinical relevance and its relationship with functional features are not clarified. Volumetric capnography (VC) uses the principle of gas washout and analyzes the pattern of CO2 elimination as a function of expired volume. The main variables analyzed were end-tidal concentration of carbon dioxide (ETCO2), Slope of phase 2 (Slp2), and Slope of phase 3 (Slp3) of capnogram, the curve which represents the total amount of CO2 eliminated by the lungs during each breath. Objective: To investigate, in a group of patients with severe COPD, if the phenotypic analysis by CT could identify different subsets of patients, and if there was an association of CT findings and functional variables. Subjects and methods: Sixty-five patients with COPD Gold III-IV were admitted for clinical evaluation, high-resolution CT, and functional evaluation (spirometry, 6-minute walk test [6MWT], and VC). The presence and profusion of tomography findings were evaluated, and later, the patients were identified as having emphysema (EMP) or airway disease (AWD) phenotype. EMP and AWD groups were compared; tomography findings scores were evaluated versus spirometric, 6MWT, and VC variables. Results: Bronchiectasis was found in 33.8% and peribronchial thickening in 69.2% of the 65 patients. Structural findings of airways had no significant correlation with spirometric variables. Air trapping and EMP were strongly correlated with VC variables, but in opposite directions. There was some overlap between the EMP and AWD groups, but EMP patients had signicantly lower body mass index, worse obstruction, and shorter walked distance on 6MWT. Concerning VC, EMP patients had signicantly lower ETCO2, Slp2 and Slp3. Increases in Slp3 characterize heterogeneous involvement of the distal air spaces, as in AWD. Conclusion: Visual assessment and phenotyping of CT in COPD patients is feasible and may help identify functional and clinically different subsets of patients. VC may provide useful information about the heterogeneous involvement of lung structures in COPD.1150351

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Os autores apresentam um caso de esteatohepatite não alcoólica numa mulher obesa, não diabética, que evoluiu para cirrose hepática. A propósito desta entidade revêem a literatura discutindo a sua história natural e os principais processos patológicos a ela associados. Destacam a importância da obesidade no desenvolvimento da esteatohepatite e da vantagem, em casos seleccionados, da execução de biópsia hepática, como técnica de diagnóstico fundamental

Síncope e Padrão de Brugada Intermitente

A síndrome de Brugada é uma síndrome rara, com uma prevalência aproximada na Europa de 1-5/10 000 habitantes, mas cuja apresentação clínica inicial pode ser morte súbita. Embora com um padrão eletrocardiográfico típico, este é por vezes intermitente. Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de um doente de sexo masculino, de 32 anos, sem fatores de risco pessoais conhecidos e história familiar de morte súbita, que recorre ao Serviço de Urgência por síncope sem pródromos. O primeiro eletrocardiograma (ECG) em ritmo sinusal documenta a presença de uma elevação isolada e inespecífica do segmento ST em V2. Da restante investigação diagnóstica realizada, salienta-se a repetição do ECG, que revelou a presença de padrão de Brugada tipo 1. Este mesmo padrão é exacerbado posteriormente numa situação de infeção respiratória. O doente foi submetido a estudo eletrofisiológico, seguido de implantação de cardiodesfibrilhador (CDI), tendo tido um episódio de fibrilhação ventricular convertido com choque via CDI 2 meses após a implantação

False Positive Responses to Head-Up Tilt Testing in Elderly Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a role as a modulator in the pathogenesis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The clinical pattern of vagally mediated PAF has been observed mainly in young patients. Neurocardiogenic responses during orthostatic stress are related to autonomic reflexes in which the vagal influence predominates. AIM: To evaluate the susceptibility of elderly patients with PAF to activation of vasovagal syncope mechanisms. METHODS: We performed passive head-up tilt testing (HUT) in 34 patients (62% women, aged 72 +/- 7 years), with > or = 1 year of clinical history of PAF--19 without structural heart disease, 11 with hypertensive heart disease and 4 with coronary artery disease (who had no previous myocardial infarction, had undergone myocardial revascularization, and had no documented ischemia) (PAF group), and compared the results with those obtained in a group of 34 age-matched patients (53% women, aged 74 +/- 6 years), who underwent HUT due to recurrent syncope (Sc group). In this group, 21 had no documented heart disease and none had a clinical history of AF. There was no diabetes, congestive heart failure or syncope in the PAF group. After a supine resting period, the subjects were tilted at 70 degrees for 20 minutes while in sinus rhythm. No provocative agents were used to complement the HUT. ECG and blood pressure were continuously monitored (Task Force Monitor, CNSystems). The test was considered positive when syncope or presyncope occurred with bradycardia and/or arterial hypotension. Abnormal responses were classified as cardioinhibitory, vasodepressor or mixed. RESULTS: HUT was positive in seven patients of the PAF group--vasodepressor response in five and mixed in two (20.5% of the total; 26.3% of those without heart disease)--and in eight patients (vasodepressor in six and mixed in two) of the Sc group (p=NS). During HUT, three patients of the PAF group had short periods of self-limited PAF (in one, after vasodepressor syncope). There were no differences in gender distribution, age or heart disease. No cardioinhibitory responses or orthostatic hypotension were observed. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with PAF, a significant number of false positive results during passive HUT may be expected, suggesting increased vasovagal reactions despite aging. This suggests that ANS imbalances may be observed in this population

Head-Up Tilt Testing with Different Nitroglycerin Dosages: Experience in Elderly Patients with Unexplained Syncope

AIMS: Protocols using sublingual nitrates have been increasingly used to improve diagnostic accuracy of head-up tilt testing (HUT). Nevertheless, exaggerated responses to nitrates have been frequently described, particularly in elderly patients. The aim of this article is to evaluate, in an elderly population with unexplained syncope, whether the impact of sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) used as a provocative agent is dose-dependent. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and twenty consecutive elderly patients submitted to HUT using NTG after an asymptomatic drug-free phase were studied. Patients were divided into three groups according to the NTG dosage: 500, 375 and 250 microg. The test was considered positive when there was reproduction of symptoms with bradycardia and/or arterial hypotension. A gradual decrease in the blood pressure after NTG was considered an exaggerated response to nitrates. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics of the different subgroups. A positive test was obtained in 50% of the patients in each group. The rate of exaggerated responses was identical in all groups and ranged between 15 and 17%. CONCLUSION: In an elderly population with syncope of unknown origin submitted to HUT, the response to NTG is not dose-dependent, and no difference was found in the rate of exaggerated responses to nitrates with different NTG dosages

Construcción y validación de un programa de enfermería de rehabilitación para ancianos frágiles

Objective: To build a rehabilitation nursing program to be implemented in the homes of frail elderly people and validate it by rehabilitation nurses. Methods: This is a qualitative, exploratory study, divided into two stages. The first corresponded to an integrative literature review that supported the construction of the program. The second consisted of the program content validity stage, through a focus group, in May 2021. Results: Nine experts participated in the construction and content validation of the rehabilitation nursing program for frail elderly. Two focus groups were carried out, and the final version of the program included training in life activities and particularly self-care, strength, balance, coordination and joint mobility. Final considerations: The program reached content validity, with a minimum set of characteristics that it must integrate, now requiring application in Primary Health Care for clinical validationObjetivo: Construir um programa de enfermagem de reabilitação para ser implementado no domicílio dos idosos fragilizados e validá-lo por enfermeiros de reabilitação. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, exploratório, dividido em duas etapas. A primeira correspondeu a uma revisão integrativa da literatura que sustentou a construção do programa. A segunda consistiu na etapa de validade de conteúdo do programa, por meio de grupo focal, em maio de 2021. Resultados: Nove peritos participaram da construção e validação do conteúdo do programa de enfermagem de reabilitação para idosos fragilizados. Foram realizados dois grupos focais, e a versão final do programa integrou treino de atividades de vida e particularmente autocuidado, força, equilíbrio, coordenação e mobilidade articular. Considerações finais: O programa alcançou a validade de conteúdo, com um conjunto mínimo de características que deve integrar, necessitando agora de aplicação na Atenção Primária à Saúde para validação clínica.Objetivo: Construir un programa de enfermería de rehabilitación para ser implementado en el domicilio de los ancianos frágiles y validarlo por enfermeros de rehabilitación. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, exploratorio, dividido en dos etapas. La primera correspondió a una revisión integrativa de la literatura que sustentó la construcción del programa. La segunda consistió en la etapa de validez de contenido del programa, por medio de grupo focal, en mayo de 2021. Resultados: Nueve peritos participaron de la construcción y validez del contenido del programa de enfermería de rehabilitación para ancianos frágiles. Fueron realizados dos grupos focales, y la versión final del programa integró entrenamiento de actividades de vida y particularmente autocuidado, fuerza, equilibrio, coordinación y movilidad articular. Consideraciones finales: El programa alcanzó la validez de contenido, con un conjunto mínimo de características que debe integrar, necesitando ahora de aplicación en la Atención Primaria de Salud para validación clínica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gestor de Enfermagem em unidades de saúde mental: das atividades à utilização do tempo

Objective: to understand the use of time by nurse managers in psychiatry and mental health units, as they carry out their daily tasks. Methods: cross-sectional study, carried out by 48 managers from public psychiatric units and from the social sector. Data collection was made through an online questionnaire that is part of the Scale of Perception of Nurse Manager Work, including 43 items separated in five functional domains of nurse managers. The responses were in a Likert scale: does not take time, takes little time, takes some time, takes much time. Results: the activities inherent to ethical and legal professional practices and to the management of care and of human resources required more time from the manager when compared to policy interventions, and consulting and professional development. Conclusion: the managers recognize that managing time implies organization, planning work, and establishing priorities in the tasks to be developed.Objetivo: compreender a utilização do tempo dos gestores de enfermagem em unidades de Saúde Mental e Psiquiatria no desempenho das atividades diárias. Métodos: estudo transversal, constituído por 48 gestores de unidades psiquiátricas públicas e do setor social. Coleta de dados por meio de questionário online que integrava a Escala de Percepção do Trabalho dos Gestores em Enfermagem, inclui 43 itens, distribuídos por cinco domínios funcionais dos enfermeiros gestores. Respostas cotadas em escala tipo Likert: não ocupa tempo; ocupa pouco tempo; ocupa algum tempo; ocupa muito tempo. Resultados: as atividades inerentes às competências prática profissional ética e legal, e gestão de cuidados e de recursos humanos consumiam mais tempo ao gestor comparativamente com intervenção política e assessoria e desenvolvimento profissional. Conclusão: os gestores reconhecem que gerir o tempo implica organização, planejamento do trabalho e estabelecer prioridades nas tarefas a desempenhar.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio