Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Physiotherapy intervention in anal incontinence in elderly

The objective of this study was to group and update knowledge related to physical therapy intervention in anal incontinence in the elderly. The literature research was done in electronic databases: Medline, Lilacs, Cochrane, PubMed and Scielo, from January 2006 to July 2011. The keywords used in various combinations were anal incontinence, fecal incontinence, elderly, physical therapy, physiotherapy, exercises, electrotherapy and rehabilitation. The physiotherapy intervention includes assessment of anal incontinence constituted by signs and symptoms, physical examination and laboratory tests, including anorectal manometry, retosigmoidoscopia, defecography, anorectal electromyography, endoanal ultrasonography and terminal motor latency of the pudendal nerve; exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, biofeedback, rectal balloon training and electrostimulation are the mainstay of treatment. This update showed the scarcity of studies addressing this theme; only five studies published in recent years were found, which mostly emphasize the procedures already established in the literature to treat these patients. However, a considerably new mode of treatment, sacral neurostimulation, has been investigated with apparently positive results, raising the need for further studies with specific methodological designs on this problem.</p

Atuação fisioterapêutica na lesão medular em unidade de terapia intensiva: Atualização de literatura

Objective. Collate and update knowledge in relation to physical therapy in spinal cord injury (SCI) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Method. We performed a literature update in the databases Lilacs, PubMed and Scielo, crossing the descriptors spinal cord injury, cinesiotherapy, physiotherapy, mobilization, rehabilitation, intensive care unit, respiratory therapy and electrotherapy in the period of 2005 to 2010. Results. We found 21 studies, however, only five articles met the inclusion criteria. Kinesiotherapy is essential since the phase of spinal shock, since it favors the maintenance of joint range of motion and flexibility, and to prevent circulatory complications caused/ resulted from prolonged immobilization in bed. Respiratory therapy promotes bronchial hygiene, correction of abnormal respiratory patterns and respiratory diseases. The electrotherapy is a feature still little used by physiotherapists in the intensive care units. Conclusions. The physical therapy in SCI in ICU is focused on motor rehabilitation through kinesiotherapy and intervention through the respiratory bronchial hygiene and training of respiratory muscles. New treatment modalities such as electrotherapy, there have been in intensive environment, there is a need for more studies to confirm benefits and risks of this feature in the spinal cord

Fisioterapia respiratória no pré e pós-operatório de cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio Respiratory physiotherapy in the pre and postoperative myocardial revascularization surgery

As doenças cardiovasculares estão entre as principais causas de morte no mundo desenvolvido, e sua ocorrência tem aumentado de forma epidêmica nos países em desenvolvimento. Apesar das inúmeras alternativas para o tratamento da doença arterial coronariana; a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio é uma opção com indicações precisas de médio e longo prazo, com bons resultados. Pode proporcionar a remissão dos sintomas de angina e, também, contribui para o aumento da expectativa e melhora da qualidade de vida. Pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio desenvolvem, em sua maioria, disfunção pulmonar pós-operatória com redução importante dos volumes pulmonares, prejuízos na mecânica respiratória, diminuição na complacência pulmonar e aumento do trabalho respiratório. A redução dos volumes e capacidades pulmonares contribui para alterações nas trocas gasosas, resultando em hipoxemia e diminuição na capacidade de difusão. Dentro deste contexto, a Fisioterapia tem sido cada vez mais requisitada tanto no pré quanto no pós-operatório deste tipo de cirurgia. Este estudo teve como objetivo atualizar os conhecimentos em relação à atuação da Fisioterapia respiratória no pré e pós-operatório de cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio, com ênfase na prevenção de complicações pulmonares. A Fisioterapia no período pré-operatório atua por meio de inúmeras técnicas, entre as quais, pode-se destacar: a espirometria de incentivo, exercícios de respiração profunda, tosse, treinamento muscular inspiratório, deambulação precoce e orientações fisioterapêuticas. Enquanto que no pós-operatório, tem como objetivo o tratamento das complicações pulmonares instaladas, realizado por meio de manobras fisioterapêuticas e dispositivos respiratórios não invasivos, visando melhorar a mecânica respiratória, a reexpansão pulmonar e a higiene brônquica. A Fisioterapia respiratória é parte integrante na gestão dos cuidados do paciente cardiopata, tanto no pré quanto no pós-operatório, pois contribui significativamente para um melhor prognóstico desses pacientes por meio de técnicas específicas.<br>The cardiovascular diseases are among the main death causes in the developed world. They have been increasing epidemically in the developing countries. In spite of several alternatives for the treatment of the coronary artery disease; the surgery of the myocardial revascularization is an option with proper indications of medium and long-term with good results. It provides the remission of the angina symptoms contributing to the increase of the expectation and improvement of the life quality. Most of patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery develop postoperative lung dysfunction with important reduction of the lung volumes, damages in the respiratory mechanism, decrease in the lung indulgence and increase of the respiratory work. The reduction of volumes and lung capacities can contribute to alterations in the gas exchanges, resulting in hypoxemia and decrease in the diffusion capacity. Taking this into account, the Physiotherapy has been requested more and more to perform in the pre as well as in the postoperative period of this surgery. This study aimed at updating the knowledge regarding the respiratory physiotherapy performance in the pre and postoperative period of the myocardial revascularization surgery enhancing the prevention of lung complications. The Physiotherapy uses several techniques in the preoperative period; such as: the incentive spirometry, exercises of deep breathing, cough, inspiratory muscle training, earlier ambulation and physiotherapeutic orientations. While in the postoperative period, the objective is the treatment after lung complications took place, performed by means of physiotherapeutic maneuvers and noninvasive respiratory devices, aiming at improving the respiratory mechanism, the lung reexpansion and the bronchial hygiene. Respiratory physiotherapy is an integral part in the care management of the patient with cardiopathy, either in the pre or in the postoperative period, since it contributes significantly to a better prognosis of these patients with the use of specific techniques

Hipermobilidade articular em pacientes com prolapso da valva mitral Hipermovilidad articular en pacientes con prolapso de la válvula mitral Joint hypermobility in patients with mitral valve prolapse

Estudos sobre hipermobilidade têm despertado grande interesse, nas últimas décadas, por estarem associados a disfunções músculo-esqueléticas, bem como a anormalidades em vários sistemas orgânicos - como, por exemplo, o prolapso da valva mitral. Neste contexto, buscou-se agrupar e atualizar os conhecimentos da relação entre a hipermobilidade articular e o prolapso da valva mitral. Segundo a literatura, estudos mostram que alterações genéticas na composição do colágeno parecem ser a principal causa desta relação.<br>Studies on hypermobility have aroused great interest in the last decades, as they are associated to musculoskeletal disorders, as well as abnormalities in several organic systems, such as the mitral valve prolapse. Therefore, in this study, data on the association between joint hypermobility and the mitral valve prolapse were investigated and reviewed. Studies in the literature have shown that genetic alterations in the collagen composition seem to be the main cause of this association

Exercícios passivos na reabilitação de pacientes com dor, edema e limitação articular: estudo piloto

Imobilização parcial ou completa leva a diferentes processos de ajuste como perda de força muscular, diminuição do desempenho geral e edema. Objetivo: Avaliar a melhora da dor utilizando de um dispositivo eletromecânico que realiza movimentos passivo nos pacientes com dor, limitação da mobilidade e uso de dispositivos auxiliadores da marcha. Método: Foram avaliados em ensaio clinico prospectivo 20 pacientes, a melhora da dor, fazendo uso de dispositivos auxiliares de locomoção, em pacientes que faziam tratamento convencional por quatro a 12 meses, mas que passaram a fazer diariamente por uma hora e, comparando com exercício passivo realizado com o dispositivo, por duas horas/dia,  por cinco dias, e avaliados pela escala analógica de dor antes e depois no Hospital de Base da Fundação Faculdade de Medicina de São Jose do Rio Preto - FUNFARME de março de 2019 a janeiro de 2020. Resultados: Quando compara a diferença de redução do grupo realizou dispositivo eletromecânico passivo com o grupo convencional houve uma redução de 6,6 na escala analógica de dor e em relação ao grupo convencional de 2, sendo diferente estatisticamente teste t pareado valor p= 0,0001. Conclusão: Exercícios passivos mecânicos, que realizam a drenagem linfática é uma nova opção de tratamento aos pacientes que tem dor e limitação crônica da marcha.Partial or complete immobilization leads to different adjustment processes such as loss of muscle strength, decreased overall performance and edema. Objective: Was to assess pain improvement using an electromechanical passive device in patients with pain, limited mobility and use of gait assistive devices. Method: 20 patients were evaluated in a prospective clinical trial, pain improvement, using auxiliary locomotion devices, in patients who underwent conventional treatment for four to 12 months, but who started doing it daily for an hour and, compared with exercise passive performed with electromechanical passive device, for two hours/day, for five days, and evaluated by the pain scale before and after in Hospital de Base - Fundação Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto - FUNFARME from march 2019 to january 2020. Results: When comparing the difference in reduction of the electromechanical passive device group with the conventional group, there was a reduction of 6.6 in the analogue pain scale and in relation to the conventional group of 2, with a statistically different paired t-test p= 0.0001. Conclusion: Passive mechanical exercises that perform lymphatic drainage are a new treatment option for patients who have pain and chronic gait limitatio