High levels of B-type natriuretic peptide predict weaning failure from mechanical ventilation in adult patients after cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE: The failure to wean from mechanical ventilation is related to worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the serum level of B-type natriuretic peptide is a predictor of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of 101 patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. B-type natriuretic peptide was measured postoperatively after intensive care unit admission and at the end of a 60-min spontaneous breathing test. The demographic data, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, fluid balance, need for vasopressor or inotropic support, and length of the intensive care unit and hospital stays were recorded. Weaning failure was considered as either the inability to sustain spontaneous breathing after 60 min or the need for reintubation within 48 h. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients studied, 12 patients failed the weaning trial. There were no differences between the groups in the baseline or intraoperative characteristics, including left ventricular function, EuroSCORE and lengths of the cardiac procedure and cardiopulmonary bypass. The B-type natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher at intensive care unit admission and at the end of the breathing test in the patients with weaning failure compared with the patients who were successfully weaned. In a multivariate model, a high B-type natriuretic peptide level at the end of a spontaneous breathing trial was the only independent predictor of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: A high B-type natriuretic peptide level is a predictive factor for the failure to wean from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. These findings suggest that optimizing ventricular function should be a goal during the perioperative period

Effectiveness of statins used in secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in Acute Coronary Syndrome: Systematic Review

Contexto: a eficácia dos inibidores da 3-hidróxi-3-metilglutaril-coenzima (HMG-CoA) redutase (estatinas) na prevenção primária e secundária na doença cardiovascular é bem estabelecida na literatura. Contudo os benefícios destes fármacos na prevenção secundária de mortalidade e eventos cardiovasculares no paciente com Síndrome Coronariana Aguda (SCA), ainda não foram completamente esclarecidos. Objetivo: analisar os benefícios do uso das estatinas comparadas a placebo ou cuidados usuais nos pacientes com SCA quanto a redução de mortalidade (por todas as causas), infarto agudo do miocárdio (fatal e não-fatal), intervenção coronária percutânea, revascularização cirúrgica do miocárdio e hospitalização. Base de Dados: trata-se de uma revisão sistemática finalizada em 29 de Janeiro de 2012, cuja seleção dos ensaios clínicos controlados e randomizados (ECCR) foi realizada nas bases de dados eletrônicas PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, LILACS e Banco de Teses - CAPES. Coleta de Dados: a extração das informações sobre características basais dos estudos incluídos, avaliação da qualidade metodológica e desfechos não combinados foi realizada por dois investigadores de forma independente. Resultados: foram incluídos na metanálise 18 ECCR, que envolveram 15.370 pacientes com SCA. O uso das estatinas mostrou benefício na redução da mortalidade por todas as causas, diferença de risco (rd) = -0,0066 (IC 95% -0,0121 a -0,001; P=0,8459; I2=0%) e hospitalização rd = -0,0101 (IC 95% -0,0188 a -0,0014; P=2,1496; I2=76%). Quanto aos desfechos mortalidade cardiovascular, infarto agudo do miocárdio fatal e não fatal, intervenção coronária percutânea e revascularização cirúrgica do miocárdio não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos estatinas versus placebo ou cuidados usuais. Conclusões: as evidências disponíveis apontam que as estatinas causam redução na mortalidade por todas as causas e na hospitalização, porém não demonstram diferença quando comparadas ao placebo ou cuidados usuais em outros eventos de importante magnitude clínica e econômica no âmbito dos serviços de saúde e da sociedade.Context: the effectiveness of inhibitors of 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase (statins) in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is well established in the literature. However, the benefits of these drugs in secondary prevention of mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) have still not been fully clarified. Objective: to analyze the benefits of using statins compared to placebo or usual care in patients with SCA on the reduction of mortality (from all causes), myocardial infarction (fatal and non-fatal), percutaneous coronary intervention, revascularization and hospitalization. Database: this is a systematic review completed on January 29, 2012, whose selection of randomized and controlled clinical trials (ECCR) was held in electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed/Cochrane Central, LILACS and Theses database-CAPES. Data collection: two researchers performed the extraction of information about Basal characteristics of included studies, evaluation of methodological quality and outcomes not independently combined. Results: were included in the meta-analysis, involving 18 ECCR 15,370 patients with SCA. The use of statins has shown benefit in reducing mortality from all causes, risk difference (rd) = -0.0066 (CI 95% -0.0121 to -0.001; P = 0.8459; I2 = 0%) and hospitalization rd = -0.0101 (CI 95% -0.0188 to -0.0014; P = 2.1496; I2 = 76%). As to cardiovascular, myocardial infarction fatal and non-fatal coronary intervention, and percutaneous revascularization mortality outcomes, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups statins versus placebo or usual care. Conclusions: the available evidence suggests that statins cause a reduction in mortality from all causes and hospitalization, but do not demonstrate difference when compared to placebo or usual care in other important events within cost-effective clinic and economic magnitude of health services and society