Central venous line and acute neurological deficit: a case series

Central venous catheter [CVC] insertion is a practical way to assess patients hemodynamic specially in cardiovascular surgery but this relatively simple junior level procedure is not risk free and its common reported complications include; pneumothorax, hydrothorax, hemothorax, local hematoma, cardiac tamponade, vascular injury, thrombosis, embolism, and catheter disruption. Here in this article we are going to present 6 patients with very unusual presentation of CVC complication which was neurological deficit presented by agitation, unconsciousness, disorientation to time and place and hemiparesis. All patients undergone neurologic consult and brain computed tomography. Final diagnosis was brain ischemic damage and finally we kept them on conservative management; fortunately we did not have any permanent damage

Positive family history as the single traditional risk factor for developing extensive very premature coronary artery disease: a case report

Although coronary artery disease [CAD] is not common among individuals younger than 40-45 years of age, a small percentage of this age group needs to undergo surgical revascularization because of CAD. Why some people are at higher risk of developing premature CAD is not clearly known. Increased number of traditional risk factors or genetic predisposition may play significant roles in this regard. A 22-year-old man with a negative history for all traditional risk factors except for a family history of premature CAD referred to our center due to an episode ofmyocardial infarction of one month s duration. He had no congenital heart disease and no hypercoagulable state, and there was a negative history of drug abuse. His coronary angiography showed extensive CAD. He underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and he left the hospital in good healthy condition. One year after surgery, his follow-up showed that he was symptom free and he still had no new traditional risk factor. It seems that a positive family history of premature CAD is an important and independent risk factor for developing premature CAD and individuals with this type of history should be treated more cautiously

Knowledge management in cardiac surgery: the second Tehran heart center adult cardiac surgery database report

The Adult Cardiac Surgery Databank [ACSD] of Tehran Heart Center was established in 2002 with a view to providing clinical prediction rules for outcomes of cardiac procedures, developing risk score systems, and devising clinical guidelines. This is a general analysis of the collected data. All the patients referred to Tehran Heart Center for any kind of heart surgery between 2002 and 2008 were included, and their demographic, medical, clinical, operative, and postoperative data were gathered. This report presents general information as well as in-hospital mortality rates regarding all the cardiac procedures performed in the above time period. There were 24959 procedures performed: 19663 [78.8%] isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries [CABGs]; 1492 [6.0%] isolated valve surgeries; 1437 [5.8%] CABGs concomitant with other procedures; 832 [3.3%] CABGs combined with valve surgeries; 722 [2.9%] valve surgeries concomitant with other procedures; 545 [2.2%] surgeries other than CABG or valve surgery; and 267 [1.1%] CABGs concomitant with valve and other types of surgery. The overall mortality was 205 [1.04%], with the lowest mortality rate [0.47%] in the isolated CABGs and the highest [4.49%] in the CABGs concomitant with valve surgeries and other types of surgery. Meanwhile, the overall mortality rate was higher in the female patients than in the males [1.90% vs. 0.74%, respectively]. Isolated CABG was the most prevalent procedure at our center with the lowest mortality rate. However, the overall mortality was more prevalent in our female patients. This database can serve as a platform for the participation of the other countries in the region in the creation of a regional ACSD.

Demographics and angiographic findings in patients under 35 years of age with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction

ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] is a major cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. There are differences between very young patients with STEMI and their older counterparts. This study investigates the demographics and clinical findings in very young patients with STEMI. Through a review of the angiography registry, 108 patients aged 35 years [Group II] who underwent coronary angiography after STEMI. Group I patients were more likely to be male [92.6%], smokers, and have a family history of cardiovascular diseases [34.6%]. The prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension was higher in the old patients. Triglyceride and hemoglobin were significantly higher in Group I. Normal coronary angiogram was reported in 18.5% of the young patients, and in 2.1% of the older patients. The prevalence of single-vessel and multi-vessel coronary artery disease was similar in the two groups [34.3% vs. 35.2%]. The younger subjects were more commonly candidates for medical treatment and percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] [84.2%], while coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] was considered for the 39.5% of their older counterparts. In the young adults with STEMI, male gender, smoking, family history, and high triglyceride level were more often observed. A considerable proportion of the young patients presented with multi-vessel coronary disease. PCI or medical treatment was the preferred treatment in the younger patients; in contrast to their older counterparts, in whom CABG was more commonly chosen for revascularization

Women and coronary artery disease. Part I: basic considerations

Women die of cardiovascular disorders even more than a combination of breast cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Recent data show that while 1 out of 2.6 women die of coronary artery disease [CAD], only 1 out of 4.6 die from cancer. Whereas some studies show an increase in the age-adjusted mortality of CAD in both women and men, some other studies report an increase in mortality amongst young women. There is a significant decrease in sudden cardiac death in men without significant change in women, and more women die of CAD before their arrival at the emergency room of hospitals than do men. It is, therefore, regrettable that many women and their physicians are not sufficiently aware of the problem and this unawareness is believed to be a major culprit for the existing gender disparities and inaction on the part of women as regards risk modification. What is more, the bulk of our knowledge, preventive measures, diagnostic strategies, and treatment plans are on the basis of studies conducted chiefly in men, when powerful evidence-based gender-specific recommendations call for efforts to enroll more women in order to reach a desirable level of sex representation. Given the significance of CAD assessment in women, it is essential that an acceptable risk score system be devised to estimate the risk of coronary events. The Framingham Risk Score, which has been used for this purpose for a long time, is no longer suitable for women and the Reynolds Risk Score seems to be a more appropriate tool. Finally, from a pathophysiological point of view, endothelial and microvascular dysfunctions are the most salient contributors to the development of CAD in women by comparison with men and they give rise to non-obstructive CAD. Lamentably, most of the relevant studies conducted hitherto have focused predominantly on men; any attempt to redress the balance would be of great value in the endeavors to decrease the risk in women

Screening of carotid artery stenosis in coronary artery bypass grafting patients

We sought to evaluate the routine echo-Doppler screening of carotid artery stenosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. A total of 2179 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting alone or with other cardiac surgery at Tehran Heart center, Tehran-Iran, between January 2005 and January 2006 were included in this retrospective study. Carotid Doppler was performed for 1604 [81.48%] of these patients. The patients' age ranged between 20 and 84 years [mean: 58.33, SD: 10.08 years]. Of the 1604 patients studied, 1186 [73.9%] were men, 592 [36.9%] had diabetes, 598 [37.3%] were smokers, and 194 [12.1%] cases had significant left main stenosis. Twenty-one [1.3%] patients had significant carotid stenosis [> 60% stenosis], which constituted 0.9% of all the bypass surgery candidates. Post-operative cerebrovascular accident was not detected in any of the patients with significant carotid stenosis, but cerebrovascular accident occurred in 22 [1.4%] of the patients without carotid stenosis. Magnetic resonance angiography [MRA] was conducted in 15 patients. In our univariate analysis, female gender [p value = 0.023], hypertension [p value 0.055], peripheral vascular disease [p value < 0.001], and age [p value = 0.001] were significant in the development of carotid stenosis. Pre-operative duplex carotid screening seems to be necessary in patients when there is hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, .female gender, and advanced age

Ultrasonographic screening of the carotid artery in coronary artery bypass surgery

The incidence of stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] is between 0.9% and 6.7%, which significantly increases in-hospital and out-hospital costs. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of significant carotid stenosis and its risk factors in CABG. In total, 2044 consecutive patients undergoing elective CABG were investigated through a pre-operative duplex scanning of the carotid arteries. The relation of age, sex, smoking, hypertension diabetes, dyslipidemia, and coronary disease with carotid stenosis was evaluated. The prevalence of carotid stenosis was 7.6%. The multivariate analysis showed that age over 55 and left main coronary disease were significant independent risk factors for carotid stenosis. Female gender, smoking hypertension, and diabetes were the risk factors in the univariate logistic regression model. Carotid stenosis is prevalent in CABG candidates. It seems that age >/= 55 years and left main coronary disease are the independent risk factors for carotid stenosis in CABG patients

Impact of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting on non-organic tricuspid regurgitation severity

Moderate non-organic tricuspid regurgitation [TR] concomitant with coronary artery disease is not uncommon, Whether or not TR improves after pure coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], however, is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of isolated CABG on moderate non-organic TR. This study recruited 50 patients [40% female, mean age: 65.38 +/- 8.01 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]: 45.74 +/- 13.05%] with moderate non-organic TR who underwent isolated CABG. TR severity before and after CABG was compared. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure [PAPs] > 30mmHg and LVEF < 50% were considered elevated PAPs [EPAPs] and LV systolic dysfunction, respectively. Presence of Q-wave in leads II, III, and aVF was considered inferior myocardial infarction [inf. MI]. Pre-operatively, 81.5% of the patients had EPAPs, 16% right ventricle [RV] dilation, and 50% left ventricle [LV] and 16% RV systolic dysfunction. TR severity improved in 64% after CABG, whereas it remained unchanged or even worsened in others [P value < 0.001]. Patients with inf. MI showed no improvement in TR, while patients without inf. MI had significant TR regression after CABG [P value= 0.050]. Improvement of TR severity after CABG was not related to pre-operative RV size and function, LV systolic function, or PAPs reduction. Although TR severity decreased remarkably after isolated CABG, a considerable number of the patients had no TR regression. In addition, only absence of inf. MI was significantly correlated to TR improvement after CABG. Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up needed to determine the other factors predicting TR regression after isolated CABG

Determinant factors of renal failure after coronary artery bypass grafting with on-pump technique

The aim of the present study was to investigate the determinant factors of acute renal failure [ARF] after isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]. This was a retrospective study of 13, 315 adult patients who underwent isolated CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB] in Tehran Heart Center from May 2002 to May 2007. The exclusion criteria were age <18, concomitant cardiac and/or noncardiac surgical operations, history of renal failure before surgery, and chronic renal failure requiring dialysis. Preoperative and operative variables were measured, and a multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to identify the independent risk factors for developing renal failure after on-pump CABG. Of the 13,315 patients, 3,347 [25.4%] and 90,883 [74.6%] were females and males, respectively, with a mean age of 58.63 +/- 9.48 years. ARF was detected in 85 [0.6%] of the patients with isolated on-pump CABG. The mean age of the patients was 58.63 +/- 9.48 years, and 25.5% of them were female. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age [OR = 1.035; p = 0.002], female gender [OR = 1.622; p = 0.037], history of peripheral vascular disease [PVD] [OR = 2.579; p = 0.042], diabetes mellitus [OR = 1.918; p < 0.001], emergent and urgent surgery [OR = 1.744 and OR = 7.901, respectively; p = 0.003], CPB time >70 min [OR = 1.944; p = 0.007], and intra-aortic balloon pump [IABP] insertion [OR = 10.181; p < 0.001] as the independent risk factors for ARF. The data showed that age, female gender, positive history of diabetes and PVD, urgent and emergent surgery, CPB time >70 min, and need for IABP were the independent determinant factors of ARF after on-pump CABG

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation program on heart rate recovery after percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program on heart rate recovery [HRR] in patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] or coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]. Two hundred forty patients, who completed 24 sessions of a cardiac rehabilitation program [phase 2] after PCI [n=62] or CABG [n=178] at the rehabilitation department of Tehran Heart Center were included in the present study. Demographic and clinical characteristics and exercise capacity at baseline and at follow-up were compared between the two groups. The main outcome measurements were: Resting heart rate, peak heart rate, and HRR. All the patients showed significant improvements in heart rate parameters from the baseline to the last sessions. The profile of atherosclerotic risk factors [except for diabetes mellitus] was similar between the PCI and CABG subjects. After eight weeks of cardiac rehabilitation, HRR increased averagely about 17 and 21 bpm among the CABG and PCI patients, respectively [p=0.019]. The results of the present study were indicative of an increase in HRR over 1 minute in patients irrespective of their initial revascularization modality [i.e. PCI or CABG] after the completion of cardiac rehabilitation. Be that as it may, the PCI patients achieved greater improvement in HRR by comparison with the CABG patients

Coronary artery fistula from left circumflex to coronary

In this paper, we describe a case of an aneurysmal circumflex artery connected to the coronary sinus through a fistula in a 40-year-old man with a two-year history of palpitation and chest pain. We discussed surgical management for patients with coronary artery fistula [CAF], particularly for asymptomatic patients with a small left-to-right shunt

Coronary artery bypass grafting combined with total occlusion of internal carotid artery

The presence of significant carotid stenosis in coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] patients increases the risk of either transient ischemic attack or stroke. However, there is a dearth of data on the risk for patients with unilateral total occlusion of the carotid artery. We herein report our results of cardiac surgery in patients with unilateral total occlusion of the carotid artery. We examined 10,000 patients who underwent carotid artery duplex scanning before CABG or other cardiac procedures between January 2001 and September 2006 at Tehran Heart Center. The occlusions were detected via carotid Doppler screening and were confirmed through conventional or MR angiography. Among these patients, 15 [0.15%] patients had unilateral total occlusion of the internal carotid artery, and all of them underwent elective cardiac surgery. During cardiopulmonary bypass, the mean arterial pressure was maintained at above 60 mmHg with vasopressure drugs and increasing flow pump. There were 4 patients with left and 11 patients with right carotid occlusions. Four patients had a history of cerebrovascular accident. The mean cross-clamp time [min] and perfusion time [min] was 50.7 +/- 17.3 and 94.2 +/- 26.7, respectively. The mean graft number was 4.1 +/- 0.9. One of these patients expired intraoperatively because of low cardiac output. In one [6.66%] patient, postoperative cerebrovascular accident occurred on the contralateral side of the totally occluded region. All the patients recovered uneventfully. Our results suggest that CABG can be performed in patients with unilateral total occlusion of the internal carotid artery without ipsilateral stroke using our strategies

Repair versus replacement for ischemic mitral regurgitation

This study was undertaken to compare the outcome in patients with moderate to severe ischemic mitral regurgitation [IMR] undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] with either mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement. Between March 2002 and February 2005, 49 consecutive patients [mean age: 62.84 +/- 8.42 years; mean EuroSCORE: 10.03 +/- 3.12] with coronary artery disease and moderate to severe IMR underwent CABG plus mitral valve replacement or mitral valve repair. The patients with annulus dilatation were more likely to undergo repair. The mean follow-up period was 18.89 +/- 2.1 months. 40.8% of the patients underwent CABG plus mitral valve replacement, and 59.2% had CABG concomitant with mitral valve repair. The total rate of mortality in our population was 14.9% [7 patients] including 10.3% [3 patients] early mortalities; all the deceased patients were in the repair group. Both groups had a similar EuroSCORE, but more patients in the repair group had a recent episode of unstable angina [65.5% vs. 35.0%, respectively; P=0.035] and diabetes mellitus [44.8% vs. 10.0%, respectively; P=0.009]. After the follow-up period, in the repair group, 11.5% had no features of Mitral regurgitation [MR]; while 50% had mild MR, 23.1% moderate MR, 11.5% moderately severe MR, and 3.8% severe MR. Overall, 68.9% had no or mild MR, which we defined as successful repair, and 31.1% had moderate to severe MR. Success of repair and mortality were not statistically related to preoperative ejection fraction [39.2 +/- 7.8% vs. 32.5 +/- 8.5%; P=0.057]. Early mortality was higher in the repair group than that in the replacement group, but this may have been due to the higher frequency of diabetes mellitus and unstable angina in the former group. Future studies are required to determine the benefit of repair versus replacement concomitant with CABG in IMR patients

Quality of life in coronary artery disease: SF-36 compared to WHOQOL-BREF

The Short Form Health Survey [SF-36] and WHO Quality of Life-BREF [WHOQOL-BREF] questionnaires are two common tools to assess changes in quality of life [QOL] over the course of treatment, especially in patients with coronary artery disease [CAD]. However, the value of these two instruments among CAD patients has not been studied and compared. The objective of the present study was; therefore, to compare the SF-36 with the WHOQOL-BREF in these patients. Between May and September 2006, patients with a final diagnosis of CAD who were candidates for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] and hospitalized in Tehran Heart Center were randomly divided into two groups of 268 patients [for assessment of QOL with the SF-36] and 275 patients [for assessment of QOL with the WHOQOL-BREF]. The correlations between the WHOQOL-BREF domains and SF-36 subscales, in addition to those between the SF-36 components summary scores and WHOQOL-BREF domains, were examined with Pearson's correlation coefficients. The correlations between the physical, psychological, and social domains of the WHOQOL-BREF and physical functioning, mental health, and social functioning of the SF-36 were weak with Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.015, -0.036, and 0.042, respectively [r < 0.3]. There were also poor correlations between the physical component summary of the SF-36 and physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF [r=0.001], and between the mental component summary of the SF-36 and mental domain of the WHOQOL-BREF [r=-0.082]. The correlation between the two questionnaires of the SF-36 and WHOQOL-BREF in the evaluation of QOL in CAD patients is weak

Discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis: severity of aortic regurgitation and rate of recurrence at midterm follow-up after surgery

Discrete subaortic stenosis [DSS] is a progressive condition. Controversy still rumbles on as to whether the subaortic membrane causes aortic regurgitation [AR] and whether membrane resection reduces AR severity. We investigated the association between the left ventricular outflow tract peak gradient [LVOT-PG] and AR severity preoperatively and changes in AR severity and obstruction recurrence after surgery in DSS patients. Twenty patients were evaluated before and after surgery for DSS [mean follow-up time: 13.60 +/- 9.61 months]. The patients were evaluated via transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography, if necessary. The cut-off point for surgery was LVOT-PG ?50 mmHg or the presence of progressive AR. The mean age of the patients was 28.55 +/- 15.23 years, and 35% of them were male. LVOT-PG decreased from a mean of 80.83 +/- 42.72 mmHg preoperatively to 19.14 +/- 14.03 mmHg postoperatively and to 25.47 +/- 16.10 at follow-up. AR was identified in 15 [75%] patients preoperatively: mild in 8 [40%] and moderate in 7 [35%]. The postoperative change in AR severity was insignificant. The correlation between preoperative LVOT-PG and the incidence and severity of preoperative AR was not significant. AR severity had no correlation with age. Membrane recurrence occurred in 25% of the patients. Our results indicated no relationship between AR severity and LVOT-PG and the patient's age. Patient selection for surgery can, therefore, be carried out on the basis of LVOT-PG or AR severity separately. Subaortic resection may reduce AR severity in some patients, but this reduction is not significant. Future studies are required to elucidate whether or not the presence of the AR is an indication for surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery versus medical treatment in patients with low ejection fraction and coronary artery disease

We compared the outcomes in patients with a low ejection fraction [EF] and multivessel coronary artery disease [CAD] who either underwent coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or received medical treatment [MT] after a viability study via dobutamine stress echocardiography [DSE]. We considered patients with CAD and left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 25% [100% vs. 40%, p < 0.05]. The patients with CAD and a low EF had the same survival rate after both CABG and MT at mid-term follow-up. Long-term follow-up is needed to show the survival benefit of CABG in such patients with an acceptable extent of viable myocardium

Do C-reactive protein and lipoprotein [a] have different impacts on the severity of coronary artery disease in diabetic and non-diabetic patients?

The potential role of lipoprotein [a] changes and also inflammation in coronary artery disease [CAD] have rendered these processes one of the most interesting objects of study in patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the current study was to evaluate lipoprotein [a] and other lipid profiles and also C-reactive protein [CRP] as the predictors of cardiovascular disease severity in non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects in comparison with non-diabetic CAD patients. Between June and September 2004, 372 patients with CAD were enrolled at Tehran Heart Center. Non-insulin dependent diabetics accounted for 102 of the cases, and the remaining 270 were non-diabetics. The severity of CAD was evaluated using the Gensini score, and the effect of patient variables such as serum lipid concentrations and CRP on CAD severity in the diabetics was investigated and compared with that of the non-diabetics. The mean of the Gensini score, CRP, and serum concentrations of all the lipid profiles were similar between the diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In the diabetic group, a high CRP concentration [?=0.200, Rs= 0.040; P=0.046] was effective on the Gensini score, whereas lipoprotein [a] and lipid profiles did not influence CAD severity. In the non-diabetics, no significant relationships were found between the Gensini score and all the studied laboratory indices. A high CRP level is an important predictor of the severity of CAD in diabetic patients with CAD

Fractional flow reserve and appropriateness of angioplasty in moderate coronary stenosis

Percutaneous coronary angioplasty [PTCA] of a coronary stenosis without documented ischemia at noninvasive stress testing is often performed, but its benefit is unproven. Coronary pressure- derived fractional flow reserve [FFR] is an invasive index of stenosis severity defined as the ratio of maximal blood pressure in a stenotic vessel to the normal maximal pressure in the same vessel. FFR is a reliable substitute for noninvasive stress testing and values below 75% identifies stenoses with hemodynamic significance. It is a method that can provide a reliable assessment of coronary stenosis especially in those with intermediate lesions. It can highly impact on decision-making in therapeutic planning and prevent many unnecessary procedures that are routinely done in these cases. In the present study, we report the results of FFR measurements in a series of patients, and this is the first report on the FFR measurement in Iran. The FFR measurement was performed for eleven vessels with intermediate stenosis, and in seven lesions [63.6%] it led to changes in the treatment strategy. On the basis of FFR, percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] was changed into medical follow-up in five lesions, medical follow-up changed to PCI in one lesion, and coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] changed to medical follow-up in another