[Evaluation the effect of exchange time anesthetic circuit anti- bacterial filters, on microbial culture results of anesthetic circuits in Bouali Hospital operating theaters]

Background: To prevent the anesthesia circuit from bacterial colonization, during the time, we used to have an antibacterial filters with no predicted changing algorithm. In this study, we evaluated the effect of exchange time anesthetic circuit anti- bacterial filters, on microbial culture results of anesthetic circuits in Bouali Hospital operating theaters

Materials and methods: During a descriptive-analytic study, we changed the antibacterial filters in 4 different operating rooms; per patients at 1st room, daily at 2d room, 2times a week at 3rd room and weekly at the last one and kept them for the first week of study. At the rest of time until 10 months, we changed the filters in a manner to equal changing algorithm on all 4 rooms. we had microbial culture exam from the Y-piece and Mount-catheter every week ends

Results: Changing filter algorithm were 243 surgeries [25.5%] per patient [group1], 243 surgeries [25.5%] daily [group2], 237 surgeries [24.6%] twice a week [group3] and 241 surgeries [25%] weekly [group 4]. The positive culture results were obtained on 21 operations [2.2%] in Y-piece and 27 operations [2.8%] in Mount-catheter

Conclusion: When we consider the whole number of surgeries in one day as a unit, positive culture results on Y-piece in each group would be 1[2.6%] for group1, 0 for group 2 , 2 [5%] for group 3, 1[2.5%] for group 4 [P=0.9]. For Mount-catheter positive culture results were 2[5.1%] for group 1, 0 for group 2, 1[2.5%] for group 3 and 1[2.5%] for group 4 [P=0.6]. No differences were found on concomitant positive culture tests from Y and Mount pieces

Optimal method for early detection of cardiac disorders in thalassemia major patients: magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography?

BACKGROUND: Heart failure resulting from myocardial iron deposition is the most important cause of death in beta-thalassemia major (TM) patients. Cardiac T2*magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiography, and serum ferritin level serve as diagnostic methods for detecting myocardial iron overload. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the above-mentioned methods. METHODS: T2*MRI and echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function were performed in 63 patients. Serum ferritin level was measured. The relationships between all assessments were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 40 women and 23 men with a mean age of 23.7+/-5.1 years (range, 15-35 years). There was no statistically significant correlation between serum ferritin level and LV systolic and diastolic function (P=0.994 and P=0.475, respectively). T2*MRI results had a significant correlation with ferritin level; 63.6% of patients with serum ferritin level >2,000 ng/mL had abnormal cardiac MRI, while none of the patients with ferritin level <1,000 ng/mL had abnormal cardiac MRI (P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between MRI findings and LV systolic function (P=1.00). However, we detected a significant difference between LV diastolic function and cardiac siderosis (P=0.03) CONCLUSION: MRI findings are a good predictor of future cardiac dysfunction, even in asymptomatic TM patients; however, diastolic dysfunction may happen prior to cardiac siderosis in some patients, and echocardiography is able to diagnose this diastolic dysfunction while T2*MRI shows normal findings.

Evaluation of angiographic findings of flat panel and conventional methods in patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage [SAH] referred to Imam Khomeini Radiology Center from 2006-2007

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage [SAH], as very common and complicated cerebrovascular disease, is responsible for 30% of cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the angiographic findings of patients with SAH. In this descriptive-analytical study, all 51 patients with SAH who were presented to the Imam Khomeini Imaging Center from 1385-1386 were evaluated. Patients were assessed by either flat panel or conventional method. Saccular aneurysm was the most finding in angiography. The most prevalent site of involvement was ant. communication artery. History of cerebrovascular disorders and history of polycystic kidney disease were significantly associated with pathologic findings of SAH in angiography, while there was no significant correlation between history of cigarette smoking, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure and being treated in ICU and CCU for heart problems, and SAH. Flat panel radiography was superior to conventional method in diagnosis of patients with SAH. This study showed that flat panel studies are superior to conventional methods, and history of cerebrovascular disorders and polycystic kidney disease increases the possibility of developing SAH

Role of Carotid Artery Screening Before Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

The incidence of stroke is 2.1-5.2% in bypass surgery patients with a mortality of 0-38%. This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of significant carotid artery stenosis and its related risk factors in c and idates for coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery. 1045 consecutive c and idates for CABG underwent carotid artery Doppler examination in a prospective study. The relation of age, sex, smoking and diabetes as well as lipid profile and carotid stenosis was evaluated In 1045 CABG c and idates with the mean age of 60 years, the prevalence of significant carotid stenosis [>60%] was 6.9%. In the patients who aged 65 years and older, significant stenosis was 12.5%. Age of 50 years and above, female gender hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus are independent risk factors for significant carotid stenosis. Significant carotid stenosis has an earlier beginning in our study. Cost effectiveness studies are recommended for revising the previous screening protocols