Efficacy of cardiac resynchronization with defibrillator insertion in patients undergone coronary artery bypass graft: A cohort study of cardiac function.

Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a proven therapeutic method in selected patients with heart failure and systolic dysfunction which increases left ventricular function and patient survival. We designed a study that included patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), with and without CRT‑defibrillator (CRT‑D) inserting and then measured its effects on these two groups. Patients and Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, we conducted a prospective cohort study on 100 coronary artery disease patients where candidate for CABG. Then based on the receiving CRT‑D, the patients were categorized in two groups; Group 1 (n = 48, with CRT‑D insertion before CABG) and Group 2 (n = 52 without receiving CRT‑D). Thereafter both of these groups were followed‑up at 1–3 months after CABG for mortality, hospitalization, atrial fibrillation (AF), echocardiographic assessment, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class level. Results: The mean age of participants in Group 1 (48 male) and in Group 2 (52 male) was 58 ± 13 and 57 ± 12 respectively. Difference between Groups 1 and 2 in cases of mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) changes and NYHA class level was significant (P > 0.05). Hospitalization (P = 0.008), mortality rate (P = 0.007), and AF were significantly different between these two groups. Conclusions: The results showed that the increase in LVEF and patient’s improvement according to NYHA‑class was significant in the first group, and readmission, mortality rate and AF was increased significantly in the second group.

Coronary angiography findings in lung injured patients with sulfur mustard compared to a control group.

Aims and Objectives: We evaluated the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Sulfur mustard (SM) exposed veterans. We also evaluated the relationship between exposure to SM and angiography findings and compared angiography findings of SM exposed individuals with unexposed ones after two decades from the time of exposure to SM. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 200 consecutive patients (100 SM exposed vs. 100 unexposed) undergoing angiographic assessments due to CAD. Results: The coronary angiography findings between two groups were significantly different ( P < 0.001). Ninety two (92%) patients in SM exposed group and 82 (82%) in unexposed group had abnormal findings in their coronary arteries ( P = 0.031). Conclusions: The incidence of CAD and angiographic changes were significantly increased with exposure to SM. Further studies on cardiovascular effects of SM are needed.