RESUMO

The use of echocardiography by physicians who are not echocardiographers has become common throughout the world across highly diverse settings where the care of acutely ill patients is provided. Echocardiographic evaluation performed in a point-of-care manner can provide relevant information regarding the mechanism of causes of shock, for example, increasing the rates of correct diagnosis and allowing for faster informed decision-making than through evaluation methods. Considering that the accurate diagnosis of life-threatening situations is essential for professionals working with acutely ill patients, several international associations recommend that physicians responsible for critically ill patients acquire and develop the ability to perform bedside ultrasound examinations, including echocardiographic examinations. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding which specific applications should be included in the list of skills for nonechocardiographer physicians. Taking into account the multiplicity of applications of echocardiography in different scenarios related to acutely ill patients; the differences in the published protocols, with regard to both the teaching methodology and competence verification; and the heterogeneity of training among highly diverse specialties responsible for their care at different levels, this consensus document aimed to reflect the position of representatives of related Brazilian medical societies on the subject and may thus serve as a starting point both for standardization among different specialties and for the transmission of knowledge and verification of the corresponding competencies.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Echocardiography in critically ill patients has become essential in the evaluation of patients in different settings, such as the hospital. However, unlike for other matters related to the care of these patients, there are still no recommendations from national medical societies on the subject. The objective of this document was to organize and make available expert consensus opinions that may help to better incorporate echocardiography in the evaluation of critically ill patients. Thus, the Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, the Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Emergência, and the Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Hospitalar formed a group of 17 physicians to formulate questions relevant to the topic and discuss the possibility of consensus for each of them. All questions were prepared using a five-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined a priori as at least 80% of the responses between one and two or between four and five. The consideration of the issues involved two rounds of voting and debate among all participants. The 27 questions prepared make up the present document and are divided into 4 major assessment areas: left ventricular function, right ventricular function, diagnosis of shock, and hemodynamics. At the end of the process, there were 17 positive (agreement) and 3 negative (disagreement) consensuses; another 7 questions remained without consensus. Although areas of uncertainty persist, this document brings together consensus opinions on several issues related to echocardiography in critically ill patients and may enhance its development in the national scenario.

Assuntos

RESUMO

ABSTRACT The use of echocardiography by physicians who are not echocardiographers has become common throughout the world across highly diverse settings where the care of acutely ill patients is provided. Echocardiographic evaluation performed in a point-of-care manner can provide relevant information regarding the mechanism of causes of shock, for example, increasing the rates of correct diagnosis and allowing for faster informed decision-making than through evaluation methods. Considering that the accurate diagnosis of life-threatening situations is essential for professionals working with acutely ill patients, several international associations recommend that physicians responsible for critically ill patients acquire and develop the ability to perform bedside ultrasound examinations, including echocardiographic examinations. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding which specific applications should be included in the list of skills for nonechocardiographer physicians. Taking into account the multiplicity of applications of echocardiography in different scenarios related to acutely ill patients; the differences in the published protocols, with regard to both the teaching methodology and competence verification; and the heterogeneity of training among highly diverse specialties responsible for their care at different levels, this consensus document aimed to reflect the position of representatives of related Brazilian medical societies on the subject and may thus serve as a starting point both for standardization among different specialties and for the transmission of knowledge and verification of the corresponding competencies.

RESUMO O emprego da ecocardiografia por médicos não ecocardiografistas tem se tornado comum em todo o mundo nos mais diversos ambientes em que se dá o cuidado do paciente agudamente doente. A avaliação ecocardiográfica realizada de forma point-of-care pode fornecer informações pertinentes em relação ao mecanismo das causas de choque, por exemplo, incrementando as taxas de diagnóstico correto e possibilitando a tomada de decisão fundamentada de forma mais rápida do que por meio dos métodos tradicionais de avaliação. Considerando que o diagnóstico preciso de situações ameaçadoras à vida é indispensável a profissionais atuando junto a pacientes agudamente enfermos, diversas entidades associativas internacionais recomendam que médicos responsáveis por pacientes gravemente doentes devam adquirir e desenvolver a habilidade para realizar exames ultrassonográficos à beira do leito, inclusive ecocardiográficos. Entretanto, não há consenso na literatura acerca de quais aplicações específicas devam compor o rol de habilidades do médico não ecocardiografista. Levando-se em consideração a multiplicidade de aplicações da ecocardiografia em diversos cenários relativos ao paciente agudamente enfermo; as diferenças nos protocolos publicados, tanto no que diz respeito à metodologia de ensino como de verificação de competências, bem como a heterogeneidade da formação entre as mais diversas especialidades responsáveis pelo seu cuidado em diferentes níveis, este documento de consenso teve o objetivo de refletir o posicionamento de representantes de sociedades médicas brasileiras afins acerca do tema, podendo, assim, servir de ponto de partida para a uniformização entre diferentes especialidades, bem como para a transmissão de conhecimento e a verificação das competências correspondentes.

RESUMO

ABSTRACT Echocardiography in critically ill patients has become essential in the evaluation of patients in different settings, such as the hospital. However, unlike for other matters related to the care of these patients, there are still no recommendations from national medical societies on the subject. The objective of this document was to organize and make available expert consensus opinions that may help to better incorporate echocardiography in the evaluation of critically ill patients. Thus, the Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, the Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Emergência, and the Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Hospitalar formed a group of 17 physicians to formulate questions relevant to the topic and discuss the possibility of consensus for each of them. All questions were prepared using a five-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined a priori as at least 80% of the responses between one and two or between four and five. The consideration of the issues involved two rounds of voting and debate among all participants. The 27 questions prepared make up the present document and are divided into 4 major assessment areas: left ventricular function, right ventricular function, diagnosis of shock, and hemodynamics. At the end of the process, there were 17 positive (agreement) and 3 negative (disagreement) consensuses; another 7 questions remained without consensus. Although areas of uncertainty persist, this document brings together consensus opinions on several issues related to echocardiography in critically ill patients and may enhance its development in the national scenario.

RESUMO A ecocardiografia do paciente grave tem se tornado fundamental na avaliação de pacientes em diferentes cenários e ambientes hospitalares. Entretanto, ao contrário de outras áreas relativas ao cuidado com esses pacientes, ainda não existem recomendações de sociedades médicas nacionais acerca do assunto. O objetivo deste documento foi organizar e disponibilizar opiniões de consenso de especialistas que possam auxiliar a melhor incorporação dessa técnica na avaliação de pacientes graves. Dessa forma, a Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, a Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Emergência e a Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Hospitalar compuseram um grupo de 17 médicos para formular questões pertinentes ao tópico e debater a possibilidade de consenso de especialistas para cada uma delas. Todas as questões foram elaboradas no formato de escala Likert de cinco pontos. Consenso foi definido, a priori, como um somatório de, ao menos, 80% das respostas entre um e dois ou entre quatro e cinco. A apreciação das questões envolveu dois ciclos de votação e debate entre todos os participantes. As 27 questões elaboradas compõem o presente documento e estão divididas em 4 grandes áreas de avaliação: da função ventricular esquerda; da função ventricular direita; diagnóstica dos choques e hemodinâmica. Ao fim do processo, houve 17 consensos positivos (concordância) e 3 negativos (discordância); outras 7 questões persistiram sem consenso. Embora persistam áreas de incerteza, este documento reúne opiniões de consenso para diversas questões relativas à ecocardiografia do paciente grave e pode potencializar seu desenvolvimento no cenário nacional.

RESUMO

We describe the case of a male patient, aged 76 years, referred for cardiac investigation due to retrosternal chest pain and dyspnea. He had a history of acute myocardial infarction and angioplasties in the last 30 years, including a saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafting (SVCABG). Echocardiogram showed hypoechoic oval formation near the right ventricle, suggesting a pericardial cyst. Computed angiotomography revealed a predominantly fusiform and thrombosed aneurysmal dilation of the SVCABG to the right coronary artery. SVCABG aneurysms are very rare and potentially fatal. They usually appear in the late postoperative period, and patients are often asymptomatic. On radiography, it is frequently presented as enlargement of the mediastinum, with echocardiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging being very useful for diagnosis. Coronary angiography is the gold standard to detect these cases. Our report illustrates a rare situation arising late from a relatively common surgery. Due to its severity, proper recognition in the routine assessment of patients with a similar history is essential.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Summary We describe the case of a male patient, aged 76 years, referred for cardiac investigation due to retrosternal chest pain and dyspnea. He had a history of acute myocardial infarction and angioplasties in the last 30 years, including a saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafting (SVCABG). Echocardiogram showed hypoechoic oval formation near the right ventricle, suggesting a pericardial cyst. Computed angiotomography revealed a predominantly fusiform and thrombosed aneurysmal dilation of the SVCABG to the right coronary artery. SVCABG aneurysms are very rare and potentially fatal. They usually appear in the late postoperative period, and patients are often asymptomatic. On radiography, it is frequently presented as enlargement of the mediastinum, with echocardiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging being very useful for diagnosis. Coronary angiography is the gold standard to detect these cases. Our report illustrates a rare situation arising late from a relatively common surgery. Due to its severity, proper recognition in the routine assessment of patients with a similar history is essential.

Resumo Descrevemos o caso de paciente do sexo masculino, 76 anos, em avaliação cardiológica em razão de dor torácica retroesternal e dispneia. Antecedente de infartos agudos do miocárdio e angioplastias nos últimos 30 anos, incluindo um bypass aortocoronário de veia safena (BACVS) ou "ponte de safena". Em ecocardiograma, observou-se formação ovalada alongada hipoecoica junto ao ventrículo direito, podendo sugerir um cisto pericárdico. Angiotomografia computadorizada do tórax evidenciou uma dilatação aneurismática predominantemente fusiforme e trombosada de "ponte de safena" para artéria coronária direita. Aneurismas de BACVS são raríssimos e potencialmente fatais. Geralmente, surgem em um período tardio pós-cirúrgico, sendo seus portadores muitas vezes assintomáticos. Na radiografia, frequentemente se apresentam como alargamento do mediastino, sendo a ecocardiografia, a tomografia computadorizada e a ressonância magnética muito úteis no diagnóstico. A angiografia coronariana é o padrão-ouro na detecção. Este relato ilustra uma situação rara decorrente tardiamente de uma cirurgia relativamente comum, e por causa de sua gravidade torna-se essencial o seu reconhecimento na rotina de avaliação de pacientes com antecedentes semelhantes.

Assuntos

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: A anemia é desordem comum em pacientes graves e as coletas de sangue ocupam papel de destaque como causa. Consequentemente, a transfusão de sangue é freqüente e está relacionada a várias complicações. Na tentativa de reduzir o risco associado à transfusão é necessário minimizar as perdas sanguíneas e para tal, este estudo avaliou o sistema fechado para coleta de sangue como estratégia para diminuir perdas desnecessárias e transfusão sanguínea. MÉTODOS: Estudo clínico prospectivo, randomizado, controlado, multicêntrico, durante 6 meses. Os pacientes foram alocados em dois grupos, grupo VAMP (Venous Arterial Blood Management Protection) que utilizou sistema fechado para coleta de sangue e o grupo controle que não utilizou. O percentual de pacientes transfundidos, assim como a variação da hemoglobina (Hb) e hematócrito (Ht), foram comparados entre os grupos na ao longo de 14 dias. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 127 pacientes, sendo 65 controles e 62 VAMP. Durante a internação na unidade de terapia intensiva, ambos os grupos apresentaram queda nos valores de hemoglobina e hematócrito. Entretanto, quando comparados o Ht final e Hb final entre os grupos houve diferença, com maiores valores no grupo VAMP (p=0,03; p=0,006). Não houve diferença estatística entre a proporção de pacientes transfundidos nos dois grupos, embora o grupo VAMP tenha apresentado redução absoluta de 12 por cento na transfusão sanguínea. CONCLUSÃO: A utilização de sistema fechado para coleta de sangue conseguiu minimizar a queda nos valores hematimétricos sem, contudo, reduzir o número de transfusões.

OBJECTIVE: Anemia is common in severely ill patients, and blood sampling plays a relevant causative role. Consequently, blood transfusions are frequent an related to several complications. Trying to reduce the transfusion-related risk, minimizing blood loss is mandatory. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate a closed blood sampling system as a strategy to spare unnecessary blood losses and transfusions. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter, 6 months, clinical trial. The patients were assigned to either VAMP (Venous Arterial Blood Management Protection) group, using a closed blood sampling system, or control group. The groups' transfusion rate, as well as hemoglobin (Hb) and Hematocrit (Ht) changes were compared for 14 days. RESULTS: Were included 127 patients, 65 assigned to the control group, and 62 to VAMP. During the intensive care unit stay, both groups experienced both hemoglobin and hematocrit drops. However, when the final Ht and Hb were compared between the groups, a difference was identified with higher values in the VAMP group (p=0.03; p=0.006, respectively). No statistical difference was found for both groups transfusion rates, although the VAMP group had an absolute 12 percent blood transfusion reduction. CONCLUSION: The use of a closed blood sampling system was able to minimize blood count values changes, however failed to reduce transfusions rate.

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: Anemia is common in severely ill patients, and blood sampling plays a relevant causative role. Consequently, blood transfusions are frequent an related to several complications. Trying to reduce the transfusion-related risk, minimizing blood loss is mandatory. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate a closed blood sampling system as a strategy to spare unnecessary blood losses and transfusions. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter, 6 months, clinical trial. The patients were assigned to either VAMP (Venous Arterial Blood Management Protection) group, using a closed blood sampling system, or control group. The groups' transfusion rate, as well as hemoglobin (Hb) and Hematocrit (Ht) changes were compared for 14 days. RESULTS: Were included 127 patients, 65 assigned to the control group, and 62 to VAMP. During the intensive care unit stay, both groups experienced both hemoglobin and hematocrit drops. However, when the final Ht and Hb were compared between the groups, a difference was identified with higher values in the VAMP group (p=0.03; p=0.006, respectively). No statistical difference was found for both groups transfusion rates, although the VAMP group had an absolute 12% blood transfusion reduction. CONCLUSION: The use of a closed blood sampling system was able to minimize blood count values changes, however failed to reduce transfusions rate.