Background: There are different risk factors that affect the intensive care unit (ICU) stay after cardiac surgery. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate possible risk factors influencing prolonged ICU stay in a large referral hospital. Patients and Methods: We conducted a case-control study to determinate causes of prolonged ICU stay in 280 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery in a tertiary care center for cardiovascular patients, Tehran, Iran. These patients were divided into two groups according to ICU stay ≤ 96 and > 96 hours. We evaluated perioperative risk factors of ICU stay > 96 hours. Results: Among the 280 patients studied, 184 (65.7%) had stayed ≤ 96 hours and 96 (34.3%) had stayed > 96 hours in ICU. Frequency of prolonged ICU stay was 34.2% in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), 30.8% in patients with valve surgery, and 44.8% in patients with CABG plus valve surgery. Patients with > 96 hours of ICU stay received more blood transfusion and intravenous inotropes. They also had longer anesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass, and postoperative intubation time. There were higher incidence of postoperative tamponade, re-exploration, re-intubation, hemodialysis, and hypotension in this group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions: In this study, about one-third of patients had prolonged ICU stay. Factors influencing prolonged ICU stay were medical and some non-medical factors. In the present study, up to 30% of the patients had a prolonged ICU stay of > 96 hours. Additional data from well-designed investigations are needed for further assessment of the factors influencing prolonged ICU stay after cardiac surgery.

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Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment in patients with end-stage heart failure and wide QRS complex. However, about 30% of patients do not benefit from CRT (non-responder). Recent studies with tissue Doppler imaging yielded disappointing results in predicting CRT responders. Phase analysis was developed to allow assessment of LV dyssynchrony by gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPS). Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate the role of quantitative GMPS-derived LV dyssynchrony data to predict CRT responder. Patients and Methods: Thirty eligible patients for CRT implantation underwent GMPS and echocardiography. Response to CRT was evaluated six months after the device implantation. Clinical response to CRT was defined as 50 meters increase in 6-minute walking test (6-MWT) distance. Echocardiographic response to CRT was defined as ≥ 15% decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV). The lead position was considered concordant if it was positioned at the area of latest mechanical activation, and discordant if located outside the area of latest mechanical activation. Results: Clinical response to CRT was observed in 74% of patients. However, only 57% of patients were responder according to the echo criteria. There were statistically significant differences between CRT responders and non-responders for GMPS-derived variables, including phased histogram bandwidth (PHB), phase SD (PSD), and Entropy. Moreover, a cutoff value of 112° for PHB with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 70%, a cutoff value of 21° for PSD with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 74%, and a cutoff of 52% for Entropy with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 80% were considered to discriminate responders and non-responders. CRT response was more likely in patients with concordant LV lead position compared to those with discordant LV lead position. Conclusions: GMPS-derived LV dyssynchrony variables can predict response to CRT with good sensitivity and specificity.

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Background: Echocardiography is a well-established diagnostic tool for a safe, reproducible and accurate evaluation of cardiac anatomy, hemodynamics and function in clinical practice. Objectives: We sought to demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of M-mode echocardiography to evaluate cardiac structure and function in normal and MI-induced adult rats. Materials and Methods: All animal procedures were approved by the ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the investigation conformed to the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” published by the United States National Institutes of Health. Forty-eight male Wistar rats weighing 280-300 grams were obtained from a single breeding colony. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0. Results: Echocardiographic measurements were possible in all rats before and after the operation. In our survey, we studied echocardiographic alterations in rats after MI induction. Changes can be seen in all echocardiographic mean values after myocardial infarction (MI), but significant decrease (P < 0.01) of Fractional shortening and Ejection Fraction as well as significant increase (P < 0.05) of end systolic diameter and systolic volume after left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation can be good signs of MI induction. Conclusions: In light of our results, it can be concluded that we succeeded in establishing a precise echocardiographic method to confidently assess the success of LAD ligation surgery in rats. It is feasible to thoroughly monitor the functional efficiency of regional therapeutic interventions such as intra-myocardial stem cell injection.

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Background: Cardiac autonomic dysfunction, clinically expressed by reduced heart rate variability (HRV), is present in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and is related to the degree of left ventricular dysfunction. In athletes, HRV is an indicator of ability to improve performance. No similar data are available for CHF. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether HRV could predict the capability of CHF patients to improve physical fitness after a short period of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Patients and Methods: This was an observational, non-randomized study, conducted on 57 patients with advanced CHF, admitted to a residential cardiac rehabilitation unit 32 ± 22 days after an episode of acute heart failure. Inclusion criteria were sinus rhythm, stable clinical conditions, no diabetes and ejection fraction = 35%. HRV (time-domain) and mean and minimum heart rate (HR) were evaluated using 24-h Holter at admission. Patients' physical fitness was evaluated at admission by 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and reassessed after two weeks of intensive exercise-based CR. Exercise capacity was evaluated by a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Results: Patients with very depressed HRV (SDNN 55.8 ± 10.0 ms) had no improvement in their walking capacity after short CR, walked shorter absolute distances at final 6MWT (348 ± 118 vs. 470 ± 109 m; P = 0.027) and developed a peak-VO2 at CPET significantly lower than patients with greater HRV parameters (11.4 ± 3.7 vs. an average > 16 ± 4 mL/kg/min). Minimum HR, but not mean HR, showed a negative correlation (ρ = -0.319) with CPET performance. Conclusions: In patients with advanced CHF, depressed HRV and higher minimum HR were predictors of poor working capacity after a short period of exercise-based CR. An individualized and intensive rehabilitative intervention should be considered for these patients.

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Background: Unnecessary perioperative transfusions are likely to be related to increased morbidity and additional costs in cardiac surgery. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood transfusion practice during and after adult cardiac surgery in a referral university hospital in Iran. Patients and Methods: In a descriptive study, we collected data from 153 adult patients underwent cardiac surgery at Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Tehran, Iran from January to March 2013. The variables were patients' demographic, operative and post-operative data and the numbers of transfused packed red blood cell (PC) units and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during and after cardiac surgery. Then we evaluated patients' and physicians' related causes of relatively increased transfusion rate in our patients and compared them with literature. Results: Of 153 patients, 96.8% received PC and 54.9% transfused FFP during or after surgery. Most of the transfusions were done after operation in intensive care unit (ICU). Also, 20% and 17% of the patients underwent transfusion of more than 6 units of PC and FFP, respectively. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction of the patients was 42.5 ± 10.9%. A significant number of patients had anemia (especially women) or received anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents preoperatively. Thirteen percent of the patients underwent emergency operations and 12.3% had re-exploration. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the cardiac surgery patients receive a relatively greater number of PC or FFP units during and after the operation in our center. This finding may be explained to some extent by the fact that the sicker and more co-morbid patients referred to our center and such patients are more anemic and undergoing more emergent and complex procedures. Moreover, Transfusion strategy or protocol should be updated, especially after the operation in ICU.

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Introduction: Atrial standstill is a rare condition, characterized by absence of atrial electrical and mechanical activity evident in surface electrocardiography echocardiography, or fluoroscopy, which is associated with unresponsiveness of atria to maximal output electrical stimulation. This condition can be present with thromboembolic complication, low cardiac output, and sometimes palpitation. Case Presentation: Here we presented a woman with right atrial stand still and left atrial tachycardia. It was confirmed by electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and intracardiac electrogram in basal state and during maximal output electrical stimulation. We treated her by implanting pacemaker to control bradycardia, oral calcium channel blocker to control palpitation episodes, and anticoagulation. Conclusions: Atrial standstill can be present partially that can be localized in one atrium and is associated with tachycardia in the other atrium.

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Background: Cloning of microorganisms on heart endothelium can lead to infective endocarditis (IE). The prototypic lesion of infective endocarditis, the vegetation is a mass of platelets, fibrin, microcolonies of microorganisms, and scant inflammatory cells. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with IE and also focusing on echocardiographic data and comparison between TTE (transthoracic echocardiography) and TEE (transesophageal echocardiography) of native and prosthetic valve endocarditis and the final impact of IE (infective endocarditis) in these patients with endocarditis. Patients and Methods: All patients with IE admitted to our center between 2007 and 2010 were studied. All echocardiographies were performed by the same echocardiographer. Echocardiography and lab tests were performed for all patients. We used SPSS 16 for data analysis. Results: We studied 35 patients, 45% male and 55% female with a mean age of 56.36 ± 12.44 years. Fever (80%) and chills (65.7%) were the most common symptoms. There was only a positive blood culture and enterococci sensitive to vancomycin and amoxicillin. The most involved valve was mitral (54.2%) and then aortic valve (48.5%) (two patients had vegetation on both aortic and mitral valves). In this study, specificity and sensitivity of TEE were 100% and 88.6%. Six patients (17.1%) died and six patients needed surgery. Conclusions: Endocarditis is an important disease with a high mortality rate if not treated appropriately. Therefore, these patients need more attention. In echocardiography, vegetation and complications of IE such as abscess and paravalvular leakage can be detected.

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Introduction: The Kounis syndrome and acute myocarditis are two distinct clinical entities, which could share nearly the same symptomatology as well as ECG (electrocardiography) and laboratory findings. Case Presentation: First case was a 39-year-old male presented with acute chest pain and inferolateral ST elevation on ECG. The second case was a 29-year-old male presented with chest pain and diffuses ST elevation. Diagnosis of acute myocarditis was achieved by demonstrating subepicardial contrast enhancement as well as atypical involvement in both of our clinical cases. Conclusions: We reported two cases in which specific imaging modalities (cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and speckle-tracking echocardiography) were used when the signs and symptoms were indistinguishable.

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