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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Heart failure surgery in Brazil
Noedir A G Stolf1, Luiz Felipe P Moreira, Milton A Meier
1Heart Institute University of São Paulo.
Insights
This review of 835 heart transplant patients in Brazil found idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy most common. Unexpectedly, Chagas disease showed better outcomes, while palliative surgeries offered limited long-term benefits for heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart failure presents a significant morbidity and mortality challenge in Brazil.
- Understanding heart transplantation and palliative surgical outcomes is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review heart transplantation experience in Brazil.
- To analyze palliative surgical procedures for heart failure in Brazil and South America.
Main Methods:
- Review of 835 heart transplantation cases in Brazil.
- Literature analysis of cardiomyoplasty, ventriculectomy, and mitral valve correction for cardiomyopathy.
Main Results:
- Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy was the most frequent indication for heart transplantation.
- Early mortality was higher than in other series; age and gender did not influence survival.
- Chagas disease cardiomyopathy unexpectedly demonstrated better outcomes.
- Palliative procedures showed potential for clinical improvement but were limited by recurrence of heart failure or sudden death.
Conclusions:
- Heart transplantation in Brazil faces challenges with early mortality but shows promise.
- Palliative surgical interventions offer temporary benefits but do not fully resolve heart failure progression or sudden death risks.
Abstract:
Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil as in other western countries. The authors review the experience with heart transplantation in the country based on 835 patients showing that the most frequent indication was idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy followed by ischemic and Chagas disease cardiomyopathy. Early mortality was higher than other series and differently from literature, age and gender had no influence in survival. Unexpectedly, Chagas disease had better results. In regard to palliative surgical procedures it is made an analysis of the results literature of cardiomyoplasty in Brazil and South America comparing with data from literature. Following, it is reviewed the experience with ventriculectomy, showing its benefits and limitations and finally, correction of mitral insufficiency in cardiomyopathy, through valvoplasty or replacement, is considered. In summary, it is shown that palliative procedures can lead to improvement of clinical condition and ventricular function but are limited by recurrence of heart failure or sudden death.
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