Embarazo ectópico en cicatriz de cesárea anterior: comunicación de un caso y revisión de la literatura

We present the case of a pregnant woman with an 8-week history of amenorrhea and insertion of a gestational sac over a previous cesarean section scar. Methotrexate treatment was unsuccessful and laparotomy was performed. We provide a literature review and update on the incidence, diagnostic methods and current treatment options of this entity.     

Embarazo ectópico sobre cicatriz de cesárea previa. Caso clínico

Ectopic cesarean scar pregnancy is a very rare process that has the potential for very severe complications. However, due to the low frequency of this entity, there are no clear protocols for its treatment and many different treatment plans, both medical and surgical, are currently applied.We report the case of a patient with an ectopic pregnancy in a previous cesarean scar, diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound scan and treated by total abdominal hysterectomy, since the patient did not wish to preserve her fertility.     

Técnicas de imagen en la evaluación de la función y cicatriz tras el infarto

Imaging techniques are essential in the clinical evaluation of patients with a myocardial infarction. They are of value for both initial assessment of the ischemic injury and for detection of the subgroup of patients at higher risk of developing cardiovascular events during follow-up. Echocardiography remains the technique of choice for the initial evaluation, owing to its bedside capability to determine strong predictors, such as ventricular volumes, global and regional systolic function, and valvular regurgitation. New techniques for evaluating ventricular mechanics, mainly assessment of ventricular deformation, are revealing important aspects of post-infarction ventricular adaptation. The main alternative to echocardiography is cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This technique is highly accurate for determining ventricular volumes and ventricular function and has the additional advantage of being able to characterize the myocardium and demonstrate changes associated with the ischemic insult such as necrosis/fibrosis, edema, microvascular obstruction, and intramyocardial hemorrhage. These features not only allow detection and quantification of the infarct size, but also reveal additional characteristics of the scar tissue with prognostic value.     

Determinação do Tecido Cicatricial do Miocárdio no Fenômeno de Fluxo Coronário Lento e a Relação entre a Quantidade de Tecido Cicatricial e o Nt-ProBNP

BackgroundPathophysiology and prognosis are not clearly determined in patients with the coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP). These patients present with various clinical conditions ranging from being asymptomatic to being admitted with sudden cardiac death.ObjectivesWe aimed at assessing the findings of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as an indicator of myocardial fibrosis. We also aimed at determining the relationship between the presence of myocardial fibrosis and NT-proBNP levels in patients with CSFP in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).MethodsA total of 35 patients were enrolled within an age range of 31-75. The study patients (n=19) had normal epicardial coronary arteries at angiography, but they presented with CSFP in the LAD. The control group patients (n=16) had normal epicardial coronary arteries and TIMI scores at normal levels in angiography. In both groups, the patients were examined with CMR for the presence of myocardial fibrosis. In addition, plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe rate of myocardial fibrosis was significantly higher in CMR in the patients with CSFP (p=0.018). A variable amount of myocardial scar tissue was detected at the left ventricular apex in 7 patients and at the inferior and inferolateral regions in 3 patients. There was no difference in the level of NT-proBNP in patients with CSFP. However, the NT-proBNP levels were higher in patients with CSFP, who had scar tissue in CMR (p=0.022).ConclusionsIn conclusion, LGE in CMR showed that ischemic myocardial scarring may exist in patients with CSFP. These results indicate that CSFP may not always be innocent. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(3):540-551)     

Cicatrices renales en menores de 36 meses ingresados por pielonefritis aguda

Introduction

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is one of the most common causes of serious bacterial infection in infants. Renal scarring is the most prevalent long-term complication.