Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) is a palliative procedure performed in the preoperative management of patients with transposition of great arteries (TGA), to improve the mixing of blood between the 2 systems. This report describes experience at the Clínica Cardiovascular Santa Maria in Medellin, Colombia. Between 2002 and 2010, 22 patients with TGA underwent BAS. Patient age at the time of the procedure was 21 days on average; 68% of patients were male. Average weight was 2.96 kg and interatrial gradient was between 4 and 12 mm Hg. The average systemic oxygen saturation at the beginning of the procedure was 60%, with a final saturation of 90%. Z5 atrioseptostomy balloons were used in 18 patients (81%), using Rashkind technique; Tyshak balloon catheters were used in 3 patients (13%) with the Shrivastava technique; and static high-pressure peripheral angioplasty balloons were used in 3 patients (13%). Two patients underwent BAS with 2 types of balloons. Although there were no complications clearly attributable to the procedure, 14% of patients had evidence of focal brain injury on the postoperative magnetic resonance image. Six patients died (27%), 5 of them because of postoperative complications and 1 because of infectious complications at another institution. All postoperative deaths occurred before 2006. The BAS is a safe technique for preoperative stabilization of patients with TGA.

resUMen objetivo: Validar en población chilena, el método antropométrico indio de Ladda que estableció en la población chilena una correlación positiva entre la dimensión vertical oclusal y longitud de ciertos dedos de la mano. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de tipo transversal, 151 adultos jóvenes, 76 hombres y 75 mujeres. Se replicó el trabajo referencial, utilizando un pie de metro digital, realizando mediciones de los dedos índice y meñique y la distancia desde la punta del pulgar a la punta del índice de la mano derecha, correlacionando las mediciones obtenidas con la dimensión vertical oclusal y aplicando el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. resultados: La dimensión vertical oclusal presenta correlación estadísticamente significativa con los parámetros estudiados. En hombres, la correlación fue más consistente con la longitud del dedo índice (r=0.908), mientras que, en las mujeres, fue más consistente con la longitud del dedo meñique (r=0.827). conclusiones: Las variaciones obtenidas caen dentro del intervalo de 3-4mm, estando en consonancia con otros métodos antropométricos publicados, confirmando la predictibilidad de la dimensión vertical oclusal obtenida mediante este método objetivo. El procedimiento es sencillo, económico y no invasivo, por lo que podría ser recomendado para la práctica clínica cotidiana. PaLabras cLaveDedos, Pulgar, Dimensión vertical oclusal rev. clin. Periodoncia implantol. rehabil. oral vol. 10(3); 149-152, 2017. abstract objective: The purpose of this study was to validate in the Chilean population, the anthropometric method by Ladda which found a significant correlation between the length of the fingers and the vertical dimension of occlusion. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study, with 151 Chileans: 76 males and 75 females. Anthropometric measurements of vertical dimension of occlusion, length of index finger, length of little finger, and distance from tip of thumb to tip of the index finger of the right hand were recorded clinically using digital Vernier caliper. Correlation was studied using Pearson's coefficient. results: Vertical dimension of occlusion was significantly correlated with all the parameters analyzed. In males, correlation of vertical dimension of occlusion was stronger with the length of the index finger (r=0.908) whereas in females, it was stronger with the length of the little finger (r=0.827). conclusions: Since the variations between vertical dimension of occlusion and finger lengths are within the range of 3-4 mm, as with other anthropometric methods published, VDO prediction through this method is reliable, and reproducible. This method is simple, economic, and non-invasive; hence, it could be recommended for everyday clinical practice. KeyworDsFingers, Thumb, Vertical dimension of occlusion.rev. clin. Periodoncia implantol. rehabil. oral vol. 10(3);