correlation between left and right ventricular ejection fractions in patients with ischemic heart disease, documented by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction: The correlation between right and left ventricular ejection fractions [RVEF and LVEF, respectively] has been studied in only a small number of patients with a marked decrease in RVEF and LVEF. The aim of the present study was to compare LVEF and RVEF in patients with ischemic heart disease. RVEF and LVEF were measured by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance [CMR] imaging

Materials and Methods: This observational study was done in Ghaem general hospital in 2014. LVEF and RVEF were measured in a series of 33 patients with ischemic heart disease, undergoing CMR for the evaluation of myocardial viability. The correlation between RVEF and LVEF in patients with ischemic heart disease was studied, using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis

Results: Right ventricular end diastolic volume [186.33 +/- 58.90] and left ventricular end diastolic volume [121.72 +/- 61.64] were significantly correlated [r=0.223, P=0.005]. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between right ventricular end systolic volume [88.18 +/- 40.90] and left ventricular end systolic volume [140.96 +/- 35.33] [r=0.329, P=0.000]. The most significant association was observed between RVEF and LVEF [r=0.913, P=0.000]

Conclusion: Based on the findings, RVEF and LVEF were significantly correlated in patients with ischemic heart disease, although this association was not always present in all cardiac patients. The cause of this discrepancy is still unknown

Optimal stent expansion by stent balloon multiple inflation at nominal pressure in resistant lesions: a new technique

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of four-time inflation of the stent balloon at nominal pressure on optimal stent expansion in resistant lesions

Materials and Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 39 patients with coronary artery lesions, in whom Zotarolimus-eluting stents [N=20], Paclitaxel-eluting stents [N=11] and other stents [N=8] were deployed four times at nominal inflation pressure and increased inflation times [5, 15, 30 and 45 seconds]. After the deployments, enhanced stent visualization imaging technique [IC stent] was used to assess stent placement and artery expansion

Results: In this study, early success rate was estimated at 79.5% using the enhanced stent visualization imaging technique. In addition, major adverse cardiac event [MACE] was determined at 2.6%. Also, conventional methods resulted in lower success rate and higher MACE in resistant lesions

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, four-time stent balloon inflation at nominal pressure could allow adequate stent expansion in resistant lesions leading to lower MACE