Our results suggest that ApneaLink could be used in clinical practice to identify heart failure patients with high (AHI ≥ 15 events/h) and low (AHI < 5 events/h) probability of having sleep apnea, sparing the need for a diagnostic polysomnography and thus potentially impacting prognosis by providing a more cost-effective and timely diagnosis of this non-cardiac comorbidity.

Background: In total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty occurs a considerable loss of blood, which often requires homologous transfusions of red blood cells. However, homologous transfusions have risks, besides being expensive and a limited resource. Thus, in order to reduce the need for homologous transfusions alternatives strategies have been developed, like post-operative recovery of blood.Objectives: Evaluation of post-operative recovery of blood in postoperatively red blood cells consumption and in hospital stay, by a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty.Material and Methods: Patients (n = 976) were divided in 2 groups: CELL TRANS – after implementation of postoperative recovery of blood and CONT – before implementation of the strategy. The red blood cells requests to Serviço de Imunohemoterapia gave the number of RBC units administered and the length of hospital stay was obtained through the Sistema de Apoio ao Médico. Statistical analysis was performed using the R language, considering significant differences between groups when p values < 0,05.Results: After the introduction of this strategy, 29% of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and 38% of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty received red blood cells in the postoperative period, a number considerably lower to that observed before the implementation of post-operative recovery of blood, 68% and 59% respectively. Concomitantly, there was a statistically significant reduction in the length of stay of 9.0 to 8.3 days in the case of total knee arthroplasty patients and from 9.1 to 8.8 days in the case of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.Conclusion: Post-operative recovery of blood in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty significantly reduces the need for red blood cells transfusion and the length of hospital stay.

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Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation in patients with typical atrial flutter (AFL) has improved in the past years, especially by the use of threedimensional (3D) electroanatomic mapping systems. These mapping tools contributed to reduce radiation exposure, but most ablation procedures still require varying amounts of fluoroscopy. Purpose We aim to examine whether fluoroless CTI ablation is effective and safe in reducing AFL recurrence, compared with CTI ablation using fluoroscopy and a 3D mapping system. Methods A retrospective analysis of CTI ablation procedures performed at a tertiary center between December 2008 and December 2020 was conducted. Cases were divided in two groups: fluoroless and fluoroscopic, according to the use of radiation. Procedural duration, fluoroscopy time (FT), use of 3D mapping system, complications and recurrence rate at one year were analyzed. Results A total of 324 CTI ablations performed on patients with documented typical AFL were included. Mean age was 62.3±14.0, with 78.1% male patients. Fluoroless ablations were performed based on a 3D mapping system, and all fluoroscopic procedures also used 3D electroanatomic mapping. The FT was zero in the fluoroless group - 31 cases (9.6%), and 7.0±4.4 minutes in the fluoroscopic group - 291 cases (90.4%) (p&lt;0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, regarding AFL recurrence at one year (21.7% in the fluoroless group versus 13% in the fluoroscopic group; odds ratio [OD] 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-1.62; p=0.27). Total procedure duration was significantly shorter in the fluoroless group (1h07m versus 1h40m; t-test 4.261, p&lt;0.001, CI 0h16m-0h50m). There were no acute complications for both groups. Conclusion Fluoroless CTI ablation avoids radiation exposure to the patient and operator and can be performed in patients with typical AFL, without compromising duration, safety or efficacy of the procedure.