Cardiopulmonary bypass causes an inflammatory response and consumption of coagulation factors, increasing the risk of bleeding and neurological and renal complications. Its use during lung transplantation may be due to pulmonary hypertension or associated cardiac defects or just for better exposure of the pulmonary hilum. We describe a simple technique, or open pericardium retraction, to improve hilar exposure by lifting the heart by upward retraction of the pericardial sac. This technique permits lung transplantation without cardiopulmonary bypass when bypass use is recommended only for better exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Experimental studies on lung preservation have always been performed using animal models. We present ex vivo lung perfusion as a new model for the study of lung preservation. Using human lungs instead of animal models may bring the results of experimental studies closer to what could be expected in clinical practice. METHOD: Brain-dead donors whose lungs had been declined by transplantation teams were used. The cases were randomized into two groups. In Group 1, Perfadex®was used for pulmonary preservation, and in Group 2, LPDnac, a solution manufactured in Brazil, was used. An ex vivo lung perfusion system was used, and the lungs were ventilated and perfused after 10 hours of cold ischemia. The extent of ischemic-reperfusion injury was measured using functional and histological parameters. RESULTS: After reperfusion, the mean oxygenation capacity was 405.3 mmHg in Group 1 and 406.0 mmHg in Group 2 (p = 0.98). The mean pulmonary vascular resistance values were 697.6 and 378.3 dyn·s·cm-5, respectively (p =0.035). The mean pulmonary compliance was 46.8 cm H20 in Group 1 and 49.3 ml/cm H20 in Group 2 (p =0.816). The mean wet/dry weight ratios were 2.06 and 2.02, respectively (p=0.87). The mean Lung Injury Scores for the biopsy performed after reperfusion were 4.37 and 4.37 in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 1.0), and the apoptotic cell counts were 118.75/mm² and 137.50/mm², respectively (p=0.71). CONCLUSION: The locally produced preservation solution proved to be as good as Perfadex®. The clinical use of LPDnac may reduce costs in our centers. Therefore, it is important to develop new models to study lung preservation.

FUNDAMENTO: O nível da atividade nervosa simpática é um dos mais importantes determinantes prognósticos em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca. OBJETIVO: O propósito dessa investigação foi realizar um estudo de viabilidade do emprego do bloqueio simpático esquerdo por toracoscopia em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca (IC) para avaliar a segurança e os efeitos imediatos. MÉTODOS: Quinze pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada e fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) < 40%, classe funcional II ou III (NYHA) e frequência cardíaca > 65 bpm, a despeito do uso adequado de beta-bloqueadores ou intolerantes a eles, forma selecionados. Dez pacientes foram submetidos à clipagem do espaço inter-espinhal em nível de T3-T4 e da porção inferior dos gânglios estrelados esquerdos através de videotoracocopia, enquanto outros cinco pacientes foram randomizados para um grupo controle. RESULTADOS: Nenhum dos pacientes operados apresentou qualquer evento cardiovascular adverso relacionado ao procedimento cirúrgico no período perioperatório. Dois pacientes do grupo cirúrgico morreram devido a tromboembolismo pulmonar ou infarto do miocárdio nos 6 meses de seguimento inicial, enquanto três pacientes do grupo controle apresentaram progressão da IC e morreram ou desenvolveram choque cardiogênico no mesmo período. Nos pacientes tratados, houve melhora na qualidade de vida, nível de atividade física e FEVE (de 25 ± 9% para 32 ± 8%, p=0,024) aos 6 meses de seguimento, enquanto esses parâmetros não se alteraram nos pacientes do grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO: O bloqueio simpático esquerdo via toracoscopia é factível e parece ser seguro em pacientes com IC grave. Esse estudo inicial sugere que esse procedimento pode ser uma abordagem alternativa eficaz para o bloqueio simpático no tratamento de cardiomiopatias dilatadas.

BACKGROUND: The level of sympathetic nervous activity is a major determinant of prognosis in patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to perform a proof-of-principle trial of therapeutic endoscopic left thoracic sympathetic blockade in heart failure patients to assess safety and immediate effects. METHODS: Fifteen patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%, New York Heart Association functional class II or III, and heart rate > 65 bpm, despite either adequate betablocker use or intolerant to it, were enrolled. Ten patients underwent left infra-stellate ganglion plus T3-T4 interspinal space clipping through videothoracoscopy, while the other five patients were randomized to a control group. RESULTS: None of the treated patients had any procedure-related adverse cardiovascular events at the perioperative period. Two patients from the surgical group died due to pulmonary thromboembolism or myocardial infarction within 6 months of the initial follow-up, while three patients from the control group had heart failure progression and died or developed cardiogenic shock during the same period. Treated patients presented improvement in quality of life, level of physical activity and LVEF (from 25 ± 9% to 32 ± 8%, p=0.024) at 6 months of follow-up, whereas these parameters did not change in control patients. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic left thoracic sympathetic blockade is feasible and appears to be safe in severe heart failure patients. This initial study suggests that this procedure might be an effective alternative approach to sympathetic blockade in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathies.

FUNDAMENTO: El nivel de la actividad nerviosa simpática es uno de los más importantes determinantes pronósticos en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca. OBJETIVO: El propósito de esta investigación fue realizar un estudio de viabilidad del empleo del bloqueo simpático izquierdo por toracoscopia en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) para evaluar la seguridad y los efectos inmediatos. MÉTODOS: Quince pacientes con cardiomiopatía dilatada y fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo (FEVI) < 40%, clase funcional II o III (NYHA) y frecuencia cardíaca > 65 lpm, a despecho del uso adecuado de betabloqueantes o intolerantes a ellos, fueron seleccionados. Diez pacientes fueron sometidos a clipaje del espacio interespinal a nivel de T3-T4 y de la porción inferior de los ganglios estrellados izquierdos a través de videotoracocopia, mientras que otros cinco pacientes fueron randomizados para un grupo control. RESULTADOS: Ninguno de los pacientes operados presentó ningún evento cardiovascular adverso relacionado al procedimiento quirúrgico en el período perioperatorio. Dos pacientes del grupo quirúrgico murieron debido a tromboembolismo pulmonar o infarto de miocardio en los 6 meses de seguimiento inicial, mientras tres pacientes del grupo control presentaron progresión de la IC y murieron o desarrollaron shock cardiogénico en el mismo período. En los pacientes tratados, hubo mejora en la calidad de vida, nivel de actividad física y FEVI (de 25±9% a 32±8%, p=0,024) a los 6 meses de seguimiento, mientras que esos parámetros no se alteraron en los pacientes del grupo control. CONCLUSIÓN: El bloqueo simpático izquierdo vía toracoscopia es factible y parece ser seguro en pacientes con IC grave. Este estudio inicial sugiere que este procedimiento puede ser un abordaje alternativo eficaz para el bloqueo simpático en el tratamiento de cardiomiopatías dilatadas.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare spirometry data between patients who underwent single-lung or double-lung transplantation the first year after transplantation. INTRODUCTION: Lung transplantation, which was initially described as an experimental method in 1963, has become a therapeutic option for patients with advanced pulmonary diseases due to improvements in organ conservation, surgical technique, immunosuppressive therapy and treatment of post-operative infections. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of the 39 patients who received lung transplantation in our institution between August 2003 and August 2006. Twenty-nine patients survived one year post-transplantation, and all of them were followed. RESULTS: The increase in lung function in the double-lung transplant group was more substantial than that of the single-lung transplant group, exhibiting a statistical difference from the 1st month in both the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) in comparison to the pre-transplant values (p <0.05). Comparison between double-lung transplant and single lung-transplant groups of emphysema patients demonstrated a significant difference in lung function beginning in the 3rd month after transplantation. DISCUSSION: The analyses of the whole group of transplant recipients and the sub-group of emphysema patients suggest the superiority of bilateral transplant over the unilateral alternative. Although the pre-transplant values of lung function were worse in the double-lung group, this difference was no longer significant in the subsequent months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Although both groups demonstrated functional improvement after transplantation, there was a clear tendency to greater improvement in FVC and FEV1 in the bilateral transplant group. Among our subjects, double-lung transplantation improved lung function.

In children, chylothorax occurs mainly after cardiac and thoracic surgeries. One of the recommended postsurgery treatments is ligation of the thoracic tract, when all other conservative treatments have failed. We report 4 cases of chylothorax in patients who were successfully treated with this approach, which resulted in a decrease in pleural drainage without recurrent chylothorax.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a implicação prognóstica da dosagem da creatino-quinase miocárdica (CKMB) e Troponina I (cTn I) em amostras no seio coronariano, na evolução de pacientes submetidos a revascularização do miocárdio (RM), com e sem o pré-condicionamento isquêmico. MÉTODO: Entre outubro de 1998 e maio de 1999, 35 pacientes com insuficiência coronariana foram submetidos a RM foram estudados. No intra-operatório foram coletadas amostras do seio coronariano para dosagem de CKMB e cTn I. Os momentos de coleta foram: momento 1-no início da circulação extracorpórea (CEC), momento 2- após a primeira anastomose e momento 3- no final da CEC. Em maio de 2002, 29 pacientes foram avaliados quanto aos sintomas para classe funcional de angina e de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, número de internações hospitalares, ocorrência de infarto agudo do miocárdio e morte. Os 29 pacientes estavam distribuídos em dois grupos: 15 no grupo pré-condicionamento e 14 no grupo controle. Cada grupo também foi subdividido em: pacientes com sintomas cardiovasculares e assintomáticos. RESULTADOS: Os grupos controle e pré-condicionado não apresentaram diferença estatística para a presença de sintomas cardiovasculares. Houve aumento progressivo nos valores de CKMB e cTn I nos diferentes momentos de coleta. A cTn I no grupo pré-condicionado foi de 1,21 +0,64 ng/ml e 3,19+ 3,21 ng/ml no grupo controle (p<0,05). O grupo controle sintomático foi o que apresentou valor de cTn I mais elevado, de 5,07+3,69 ng/ml, estaticamente maior dos outros grupos (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Houve menor liberação de c Tn I no grupo pré-condicionado. A cTn I pode ser um marcador de evolução tardia em pacientes submetidos a RM.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic implications of myocardial creatine kinase and troponin I (cTn I) in blood samples from the coronary sinus of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass surgery both with and without ischemic preconditioning. METHODS: From October 1998 to May 1999, 35 patients with coronary artery disease who were submitted to coronary artery bypass surgery were studied. Samples containing creatine kinase and cTn I were obtained from the great cardiac vein during surgery at the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass, at the end of the first anastomosis, and at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. In May 2002, 29 patients were evaluated in regards to the angina functional class, congestive heart failure, number of hospitalizations, myocardial infarction and death. There were 15 patients in the Preconditioned group and 14 in the Control group. Each group was subdivided into patients with and without cardiovascular symptoms. RESULTS: The Control and Preconditioned groups were not significantly different in relation to frequency of cardiovascular symptoms. There were progressive increases of the creatine kinase and cTn I levels at different Interval s of the study. The cTn I in the Preconditioned group was 1.21 ± 0.64 ng/mL and 3.19 ± 3.21 ng/mL in the Control group (p<0.05). The Control group with symptoms had the highest level for cTn I of 5.07 ± 3.69 ng/mL, significantly higher than all other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Preconditioned group had the lowest level of cTn I. The cTn I may be a marker for late evolution in patients submitted to coronary artery bypass surgery.

Seqüestro pulmonar é uma anomalia congênita que envolve parênquima e vascularização pulmonar e apresenta-se como extralobar ou intralobar. Objetivo: Descrever os casos de seqüestro pulmonar tratados no InCor e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP no período de 1987 a 1996. Método: Análise retrospectiva dos prontuários. Resultados: Foram tratados nove pacientes, sendo quatro mulheres e cinco homens; duas crianças e sete adultos. Infecção respiratória de repetição e hemoptise foram achados clínicos freqüentes nesses pacientes. Todos os casos eram intralobares. A principal localização foi no lobo inferior esquerdo (66%). Apenas um diagnóstico foi intra-operatório. Nos outros oito casos, o diagnóstico foi suspeitado pela radiografia de tórax (100%) e confirmado pela arteriografia (77%) e/ou tomografia computadorizada (66%). Lobectomia (77%) foi o principal tratamento cirúrgico, com baixa morbidade pós-operatória e sem mortalidade. Exame anatomopatológico foi realizado em sete casos e confirmou a doença. Conclusões: O seqüestro pulmonar é uma entidade incomum, em que a tomografia computadorizada e a arteriografia são os exames que mais informações oferecem para um diagnóstico definitivo e seguro. A ressecção do tecido envolvido leva a excelentes resultados.

Background: Pulmonary sequestration is a congenital anomaly involving the pulmonary parenchyma and its vascularization, and it presents as extralobar or intralobar. Aim: Describe the cases treated at the Institute of Heart (InCor) and Clinical Hospital of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMUSP). Method: Retrospective analyses of the files of the patients treated over the 10-year period taking demographic, clinical and laboratorial data. Results: The patients were recurrent pulmonary infection and hemoptysis were frequent clinical findings in these patients. All cases were intralobar. The main localization was the left lower lobe (66%). Only one diagnosis was made intra-operatively. In the other eight cases, diagnosis was suggested on chest radiographs (100%) and confirmed by angiography (77%) and computed tomography (66%). Lobectomy (77%) was the most common surgical treatment, with low post-operative morbidity, and no mortality. Anatomic and histologic examination was performed in seven cases and confirmed the pathology. Conclusion: Pulmonary sequestration is an uncommon entity, in which the computed tomography and the angiography are the radiological investigations that provide the most information to a definitive and secure diagnosis. Resection of the involved tissue leads to excellent results.

Objetivo: Com a finalidade de estabelecer uma linha de pesquisa em cirurgia redutora de volume pulmonar, foi proposta a reprodução de um modelo experimental de enfisema em ratos através da instilação intratraqueal de papaína. Métodos: Foi feita a instilação orotraqueal de papaína (20mg/kg) dissolvida em 3,5ml/kg de solução fisiológica a 0,9%. Após 40 dias da instilação, os animais foram submetidos a mecânica ventilatória, com medidas de elastância e resistência do sistema respiratório, e sacrificados com retirada dos pulmões. O tecido pulmonar dos animais foi analisado qualitativamente com coloração de hematoxilina-eosina e submetido à análise morfométrica com medida do diâmetro alveolar médio. O tecido pulmonar foi também submetido à coloração de resorcina-fucsina, para identificação de fibras elásticas, que foram quantificadas em septos alveolares através de análise digital de imagem. Resultados: A análise histológica dos pulmões dos animais submetidos à instilação de papaína mostrou um enfisema pan-acinar, com rotura de septos alveolares e hiperdistensão alveolar. A análise morfométrica revelou médias superiores de diâmetro alveolar médio nos pulmões dos animais submetidos à papaína (149,08mim e 100,56mim), em comparação com o grupo de solução fisiológica (64,08mim e 75,90mim). A quantificação de fibras elásticas de septos alveolares de animais tratados com papaína foi 70% menor do que a de animais submetidos à solução fisiológica. A mecânica ventilatória não mostrou diferença na resistência do sistema respiratório de animais submetidos à papaína ou à solução fisiológica. Já no caso da elastância do sistema respiratório, esta foi menor nos animais do grupo com papaína, em comparação com o grupo com solução fisiológica, demonstrando comportamento funcional do grupo com papaína compatível com enfisema pulmonar, apresentando diminuição da capacidade de recolhimento elástico do tecido pulmonar. Conclusão: Foi possível reproduzir um modelo experimental de enfisema pulmonar pan-acinar em ratos, através da instilação de papaína pela árvore respiratória, com comprovação funcional e morfológica.

Objective: The reproduction of an experimental emphysema model in rats by intratracheal instillation of papain was proposed for the evaluation of lung volume reduction surgeries. Method: The study used orotracheal instillation of papain (20 mg/kg) dissolved in 0.9% saline solution. Forty days after instillation, animals underwent mechanical ventilation. Elastance and resistance of the respiratory system were measured, and the rats were sacrificed by having their lungs removed. The pulmonary tissue of the animals was qualitatively analyzed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and submitted to morphometric analysis for the measurement of the mean alveolar diameter. The pulmonary tissue was also subjected to resorcin-fuchsin staining for the identification of elastic fibers, which were quantified in alveolar septa by digital imaging. Results: In the animals instilled with papain, the histological analysis of the lungs showed pan-acinar emphysema, with rupture of alveolar septa and hyperdistention. Morphometric analysis showed higher mean values for mean alveolar diameter in the lungs of the animals submitted to papain (149.08 mm and 100.56 mm) as compared to the group receiving saline solution (64.08 mm and 75.90 mm). The quantification of elastic fibers of alveolar septa of papain-treated animals was 70% lower than in the animals receiving saline solution. Mechanic ventilation did not show differences in respiratory system resistance of animals receiving papain or saline solution. Respiratory system elastance was lower in the group receiving papain than in the group receiving saline solution, showing a functional status compatible with pulmonary emphysema, with decreased elasticity of the pulmonary tissue. Conclusion: The reproduction of an experimental model of pan-acinar pulmonary emphysema in rats was achieved by papain instillation through the respiratory tree with functional and morphologic evidences.

OBJECTIVE: To assess, in a prospective way, the experience with video-assisted pericardioscopy obtained in patients with pericardial effusion of unclear etiology in the preoperative period. METHODS: From January 1998 to June 2000, 20 patients were operated upon with the aid of video-assisted pericardioscopy. On echocardiography, 17 of these patients had significant pericardial effusion, and 3 had moderate pericardial effusion. Video-assisted pericardioscopy was performed through a small incision of the Marfan type. RESULTS: The diagnosis of pericardial effusion was established as follows: idiopathic in 9 (45%) patients, neoplastic in 4 (20%), resulting from hypothyroidism in 3 (15%), tuberculous in 2 (10%), due to cholesterol in 1 (5%), and chylopericardial in 1 (5%). The biopsy was positive in 30% of the patients, and the etiology could not be defined in 45% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted pericardioscopy proved to be a method with low morbidity and a high index of diagnostic positivity. A high percentage of pericardial effusions are caused by viral infections, which are not diagnosed through current methods, being, therefore, classified as idiopathic.