Ardá Bravo M, Cuenca JJ, Juffé A. Cirugía de revascularización coronaria. ¿Se puede prescindir de la circulación extracorpórea?  Enferm Cardiol 2002; 27: 24-29.

Myocardial revascularization without extracorporeal circulation is a good option that came back in the 80s after the improvement of epicardial stabilizers, allowing exposing and immobilizing the heart, achieving a complete revascularization of all coronary arteries.
The aim of this revision is to disclose the revascularization without extracorporeal circulation techniques (also known as "off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting"), and show its advantages and disadvantages in comparison with the coronary surgery with extracorporeal circulation (also known as "on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting ") and also if it is possible nowadays its application in a great number of patients.

Sebastián Bonete ME, Mateu Serrano A, Carrió Garrigues A, Espí Pastor L. Ecocardiograma transesofágico.  Enferm Cardiol 2002; 27: 30-31.

Sebastián Bonete ME,* Mateu Serrano A,* Carrió Garrigues A,* Espí Pastor L.**

* Hospital Universitario de Elche. Elche (Alicante), Spain
** Hospital Universitario de San Juan. Alicante, Spain

One of the main limitations that displays the echocardiography test through the thoracic wall is the bad quality of the images that are observed in certain patients, that sometimes makes it difficult or disable the obtaintion of suitable studies. The transesophageal echocardiogram has been developed with the purpose of correcting these limitations. This device performs the study through a probe introduced in the esophagus, structure closed to the heart, which allows to obtain studies of a very high quality and a great significance, in special in certain pathologies (endocarditis, prothesis of the valve, and more).

Fernández Lucio MA, Figuera Alos P, Companys Luengo MJ, Pinilla Torres C, Muñoz Burguillo MD. Control de la ansiedad y el dolor en el paciente al que se va a implantar un marcapasos.  Enferm Cardiol 2002; 27: 32-38.

Fernández Lucio MA,* Figuera Alos P,** Companys Luengo MJ,** Pinilla Torres C,** Muñoz Burguillo MD.**

Study aim: To diminish anxiety and incidence of transoperative complications through information and control of pain.
Study design: Quantitative, experimental and cross-sectional.
Study scope: Operating room of Cardiac Surgery at the Sanitary and University City of Bellvitge in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, located in Barcelona, catalogued as level III.
Study group: From the total number of patients operated between the months of March and April on 2001, it was obtained a sample of 24 patients by simple random sampling (SRS).
Measurements: As instruments for obtaining data we used the following: data collection questionnaire, pain rating scale (EVA), personal interview designed to value the level of information and the state of anxiety, and evaluation survey on received information and satisfaction degree. It was included in the study the use of Bicarbotate 1 molar (1 cm³), along with local anesthetic Mepivacaine to 1% without vasoconstrictor (9 cm³) in the infiltration of local anesthesia.
Results and conclusions: From the results obtained in the study, we can state that the information, provided during transoperative period, has contributed to diminish the anxiety in patients, and thus the incidence of complications. The information about surgical procedure given in the preoperating room and the use of local anesthetics —along with bicarbonate— has been stablished as protocols in our operating room of Cardiac Surgery, since they have demonstrated that pain diminishes during infiltration.

Lertxundi Arratibel E, Allona Dueñas A, Irigoyen Torres I, Jiménez Pérez R. Perclose®: seguimiento y atención de enfermería.  Enferm Cardiol 2002; 27: 39-41.

Lertxundi Arratibel E, Allona Dueñas A, Irigoyen Torres I, Jiménez Pérez R.

In the historical development of cardiac catheterization, the main complications have been the cardiac and vascular ones. In the practice the first ones are already solved, but the worry persists for vascular complications derived from the percutaneous arterial puncture.
The technical implement of catheters of smaller caliber with better biocompatibility, faster explorations, and the intubators and contrasts with less harmful effects to blood vessels, allow to reduce the times of immobilization after cardiac catheterization. In fact, we could start the mobilization of the most patients 7 hours after the procedure.
The advances in hemostasis have been relevant because of the different systems of percutaneous arterial closure. In this work, we discuss about one of them, the most frequently used in our hospital. The Perclose® system consist of a canister that lodges needles and threads of suture that ties from the outside and advances towards the surface of the femoral artery through a special advancing device.

cardiac catheterization · catheters · percutaneous arterial puncture · percutaneous arterial closure · mobilization · hemostasis · perclose.

Vivas MF, Carreto MA, Gimeno A, Rey A, Constantino AB.  Consumo de tabaco del adolescente en su ámbito social.  Enferm Cardiol 2002; 27: 42-44.

Vivas MF,* Carreto MA,* Gimeno A,*/** Rey A,* Constantino AB.*

As it is known by multiple studies, tobacco is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Our Autonomous Community of Extremadura is one of the first —the third one— in death rate due to tobacco in Spain.
Our aim is to know the toxic habits of young people in our city (Badajoz), that is, to know with whom and when they smoke. The purpose is that sanitary authorities consider the necessity to start up programs of health education, and thus delay the beginning of its consumption, in order to diminish the smoker population and, therefore, to reduce the risks that these toxic habits entail to health.

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