Igor Gorski Benedetto

A insuficiência cardíaca direita (ICD) é uma condição grave caracterizada pela falência do ventrículo direito em gerar débito suficiente para a circulação pulmonar, resultando em congestão sistêmica e hipoperfusão. O manejo adequado da ICD é essencial para melhorar prognóstico e qualidade de vida, sendo necessário um tratamento individualizado baseado na avaliação hemodinâmica. Este artigo revisa fisiopatologia, diagnóstico e opções terapêuticas para a ICD, incluindo estratégias de otimização da pré-carga, redução da pós-carga e suporte circulatório avançado. Além disso, apresenta-se um caso clínico de uma paciente com ICD grave secundária a tromboembolismo pulmonar crônico e insuficiência tricúspide primária tratada com abordagem híbrida envolvendo angioplastia pulmonar por balão e tromboendarterectomia pulmonar associada a plastia valvar cirúrgica, resultando em melhora funcional significativa. Esta revisão reforça a importância de estratégias personalizadas e terapias combinadas na abordagem da ICD avançada.

Right heart failure (RHF) is a serious condition characterized by the inability of the right ventricle (RV) to generate sufficient output for pulmonary circulation, leading to systemic congestion and hypoperfusion. Proper management of RHF is essential to improve prognosis and quality of life, requiring individualized treatment based on hemodynamic assessment. This article reviews pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic options for RHF, including strategies for preload optimization, afterload reduction, and advanced circulatory support. Additionally, it presents a clinical case of a [...] Abstract Right heart failure (RHF) is a serious condition characterized by the inability of the right ventricle (RV) to generate sufficient output for pulmonary circulation, leading to systemic congestion and hypoperfusion. Proper management of RHF is essential to improve prognosis and quality of life, requiring individualized treatment based on hemodynamic assessment. This article reviews pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic options for RHF, including strategies for preload optimization, afterload reduction, and advanced circulatory support. Additionally, it presents a clinical case of a

Objective: To assess the prevalence and type of residual lung abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) and pulmonary function testing (PFT) variables in patients with respiratory symptoms related to post-COVID-19 condition at 12 months of follow-up, and to analyze associations between CT findings and PFT parameters. Materials and Methods: The CT findings were evaluated by two radiologists, who calculated semiquantitative CT scores. The PFTs included spirometry, plethysmography, and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Results: Thirty-seven patients were included in the study. On CT scans of the chest acquired at 12 months of follow-up, 78.3% of the patients exhibited residual abnormalities, including reticular opacities, in 75.7%; traction bronchiectasis/bronchiolectasis, in 43.2%; and fibrosis-like findings, in 43.2%. The mean overall CT score was 9.30 ± 2.59. Patients with fibrosis-like findings had significantly lower total lung capacity (68.6% vs. 80.6% of the predicted value; p = 0.018). A moderate negative correlation was found between the overall CT score and total lung capacity (rs = −0.49; p = 0.003). Conclusion: It seems that a significant proportion of patients with respiratory symptoms related to post–COVID-19 condition demonstrate residual lung abnormalities on chest CT at 12 months of follow-up, with a substantial prevalence of fibrosis-like findings. Such abnormalities are associated with restrictive lung disease.

Objective: To investigate the impact of impaired pulmonary function on patient-centered outcomes after hospital discharge due to severe COVID-19 in patients without preexisting respiratory disease. Methods: This is an ongoing prospective cohort study evaluating patients (> 18 years of age) 2-6 months after hospital discharge due to severe COVID-19. Respiratory symptoms, health-related quality of life, lung function, and the six-minute walk test were assessed. A restrictive ventilatory defect was defined as TLC below the lower limit of normal, as assessed by plethysmography. Chest CT scans performed during hospitalization were scored for the presence and extent of parenchymal abnormalities. Results: At a mean follow-up of 17.2 ± 5.9 weeks after the diagnosis of COVID-19, 120 patients were assessed. Of those, 23 (19.2%) reported preexisting chronic respiratory diseases and presented with worse lung function and exertional dyspnea at the follow-up visit in comparison with their counterparts. When we excluded the 23 patients with preexisting respiratory disease plus another 2 patients without lung volume measurements, a restrictive ventilatory defect was observed in 42/95 patients (44%). This subgroup of patients (52.4% of whom were male; mean age, 53.9 ± 11.3 years) showed reduced resting gas exchange efficiency (DLCO), increased daily-life dyspnea, increased exertional dyspnea and oxygen desaturation, and reduced health-related quality of life in comparison with those without reduced TLC (50.9% of whom were male; mean age, 58.4 ± 11.3 years). Intensive care need and higher chest CT scores were associated with a subsequent restrictive ventilatory defect. Conclusions: The presence of a restrictive ventilatory defect approximately 4 months after severe COVID-19 in patients without prior respiratory comorbidities implies worse clinical outcomes.

Chronic unexplained dyspnea and exercise intolerance represent common, distressing symptoms in outpatients. Clinical history taking and physical examination are the mainstays for diagnostic evaluation. However, the cause of dyspnea may remain elusive even after comprehensive diagnostic evaluation-basic laboratory analyses; chest imaging; pulmonary function testing; and cardiac testing. At that point (and frequently before), patients are usually referred to a pulmonologist, who is expected to be the main physician to solve this conundrum. In this context, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), to assess physiological and sensory responses from rest to peak exercise, provides a unique opportunity to unmask the mechanisms of the underlying dyspnea and their interactions with a broad spectrum of disorders. However, CPET is underused in clinical practice, possibly due to operational issues (equipment costs, limited availability, and poor remuneration) and limited medical education regarding the method. To counter the latter shortcoming, we aspire to provide a pragmatic strategy for interpreting CPET results. Clustering findings of exercise response allows the characterization of patterns that permit the clinician to narrow the list of possible diagnoses rather than pinpointing a specific etiology. We present a proposal for a diagnostic workup and some illustrative cases assessed by CPET. Given that airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary vascular disorders, which are within the purview of pulmonology, are common causes of chronic unexplained dyspnea, we also aim to describe the role of bronchial challenge tests and the diagnostic reasoning for investigating the pulmonary circulation in this context.

Risk stratification has long been used in the management of acute conditions and acute exacerbations of chronic diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and asthma exacerbation. The objectives of stratifying patients into risk groups are as follows: to inform patients about the course of their disease; to identify lower-risk patients who can be discharged early or even receive home treatment (given that novel oral anticoagulants such as apixaban and rivaroxaban do not require a heparin bridge); to identify higher-risk patients requiring treatments that are more aggressive, such as exogenous thrombolysis and embolectomy; to select patients for clinical drug trials; and to compare hospitals by means of severity-adjusted quality health care outcomes.²