Objective: To evaluate patients' quality of life aspects after pacemaker implantation, relating it to gender, age, and implantation timespan.Methods: A total of 107 clinically stable patients of both genders (49.5% women and 50.5% men) over 18 years old (average 69.3±12.6 years) and presenting an implantation timespan of three to 12 months (average 6.36±2.99 months) were evaluated. The evaluation included personal, clinical, and implant data as well as quality of life questionnaires (AQUAREL and SF-36). Statistical analysis was conducted using the t test and Pearson correlation. with a 5% significance level.Results: The lowest SF-36 score referred to physical aspects, and the highest score referred to social aspects. In AQUAREL. the lowest score referred to dyspnea, and the highest referred to discomfort. There was a significant association between gender and quality of life in SF-36 (physical functioning and emotional aspects) and in AQUAREL (dyspnea). A negative correlation was observed between age and quality of life (functional capacity in SF-36, and discomfort in AQUAREL) in relation to implantation timespan, a correlation with vitality from SF-36. Conclusion:Lower quality of life scores were found in physical aspects and dyspnea; and higher scores in social aspects and discomfort. Men presented higher quality of life scores related to physical functioning, emotional aspects and dyspnea. As age increases, quality of life worsens regarding functional capacity and discomfort; and the longer the pacemaker implantation timespan, the worse quality of life when it comes to vitality. Gender, age, and implantation timespan influence quality of life; thus, these variables must be considered in strategies for improving quality of life of patients with pacemakers. Descriptors

ObjectiveTo provide a brief review of the development of cardiopulmonary bypass.MethodsA review of the literature on the development of extracorporeal circulation techniques, their essential role in cardiovascular surgery, and the complications associated with their use, including hemolysis and inflammation.ResultsThe advancement of extracorporeal circulation techniques has played an essential role in minimizing the complications of cardiopulmonary bypass, which can range from various degrees of tissue injury to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Investigators have long researched the ways in which cardiopulmonary bypass may insult the human body. Potential solutions arose and laid the groundwork for development of safer postoperative care strategies.ConclusionSteady progress has been made in cardiopulmonary bypass in the decades since it was first conceived of by Gibbon. Despite the constant evolution of cardiopulmonary bypass techniques and attempts to minimize their complications, it is still essential that clinicians respect the particularities of each patient's physiological function.

RBCCV 44205-847 Avaliação da intensidade de dor e da funcionalidade no pós-operatório recente de cirurgia cardíacaPain intensity and postoperative functional assessment after heart surgery Abstract Objective: To evaluate, in patients submitted to heart surgery, the intensity of pain and the level of functionality during the preoperative period, on the 7 th postoperative day and at hospital discharge. A secondary objective was to evaluate any possible relationship between pain and functionality taking into account the following variables: gender, age, first heart surgery or re-interventions, use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), type of surgery and physiotherapeutic follow-up.Method: Forty-one patients who had undergone elective heart surgery at the Teaching Hospital of Botucatu/UNESP were studied. Pain intensity was measured using the VAS scale and functionality by the FIM scale (Functional Independence Measure) in the physical domain.Results: It was observed that the intensity of pain was higher on the 7 th postoperative day when compared with the preoperative period and at hospital discharge. No pain rating score was shown in the preoperative period, while a median pain intensity of 3 (moderate pain), was noted at hospital discharge. The highest levels of functional loss occurred on the 7 th postoperative day compared to the total scores obtained in the preoperative period and at hospital discharge. A significant correlation between pain and functionality was observed; a decrease in level of pain between the 7 th postoperative day and hospital discharge contributed to an increase in the functional levels.Conclusion: The evaluations performed in the BORGES, JBC ET AL -Pain intensity and postoperative functional assessment after heart surgery Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 21(4): 393-402

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A 6-year-old female child sought medical service due to a gastrointestinal malformation. During medical follow-up, partial absence of the inferior vena cava was diagnosed, a rare congenital alteration affecting the vascular drainage from the inferior segment of the body. Imaging exams were accomplished, contributing to evaluation and description of the case. Conservative treatment with oral anticoagulant was maintained. The patient presents good evolution after long-term cardiovascular follow-up.