Background: Induction of short episodes of ischemia to remote organs, namely upper or lower limbs, literally known as remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been suggested as a preconditioning approach to ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). RIPC has been demonstrated to effectively protect various vital organs, including heart, against the next ischemic events in preclinical studies. However, human studies are required to approve its clinical applicability. Present study was performed to evaluate the effect of RIPC on the myocardial protection and inflammatory response markers in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 43 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients from Imam Hossein educational hospital were allocated in two groups, RIPC (21 patients) and control (22 patients). Serum level of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, and IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ and Cardiac Troponin-I (cTnI) were measured in (1) after induction of anesthesia (before incision of skin), (2) after separation from CPB and (3) 24 hours after ICU arrival. Results: increase pack cell transfusions were observed in control group in ICU. Serum level of IL-10 at 24 hours after ICU admission was significantly higher in the RIPC group. Significantly lower amounts of IL-8 at post-CPB time were observed in the RIPC group in comparison with control. Conclusion: RIPC regulates the circulatory inflammatory cytokines, IL-8 decrement and IL-10 elevation, which could be translated into protection against IRI. However, further studies with larger sample sizes with careful consideration of parameters such as use of propofol as an anesthetic in the patients should be conducted to consolidate the findings from the current study.

Abdominal procedures are suggested to be done with cardiac surgery at the same time with laparoscopic technique to reduce mortality and morbidity in these patients.

Introduction: Use of risk scoring systems in patients with acute coronary syndrome helps with summarizing important prognostic data of the disease and facilitates calculating confidence limits and comparing survival rates between different treatments. In the present study, the researchers first aimed at assessing mid-term outcome of patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and then determining main predictors of this outcome to improve definitive criteria for designing a risk scoring system in the population. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 124 patients with NSTEMI, diagnosed according to ACC/AHA guidelines and hospitalized in an academic hospital in 2013, were consecutively assessed. Baseline characteristics were collected via interviewing, physical examination, and reviewing the recorded files. All the patients were followed for one and six months to assess mid-term outcomes regarding mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). MACE is defined as the occurrence of at least one of the events of death, myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization, or re-hospitalization. Results: One-month death occurred in 3.2%, re-hospitalization in 4.0%, and myocardial infarction in none of the patients. In addition, regarding the six-month outcomes status, mortality rate was determined in 6.4%, re-hospitalization in 22.6%, and myocardial infarction in 4.8% of patients. Hence, one-and six-month MACE rates were 7.3% and 27.4%, respectively. Furthermore, three-and six-month survival rates were estimated to be 96.8% and 93.6%, respectively. According to the Cox-proportion hazard modeling, only reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR = 0.909, P = 0.017), history of chronic kidney injury (HR = 8.884, P = 0.005), and Inotrope use (HR = 35.759, P = 0.012) could predict the six-month MACE. None of the other indexes including general coronary risk factors, echocardiography parameters, and level of cardiac enzymes could predict mortality rate. Conclusions: Patients with NSTEMI may face high six-month MACE which can be predicted by low LVEF, history of renal injury and use of inotrope. Therefore, to define risk stratification system, these indicators should be considered as well.

Background Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with MI who are candidates for early coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can affect intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DAPT up to the day before CABG on the outcomes during and after surgery in patients with MI. Methods In this prospective cohort study, 224 CABG candidate patients with and without MI were divided into two groups: (A) patients without MI who were treated with aspirin 80 mg/day before surgery (noMI-aspirin group; n = 124) and (B) patients with MI who were treated with aspirin 80 mg/day before surgery and clopidogrel (Plavix brand) at a dose of 75 mg/day (MI-DAPT group; n = 120). Dual or mono-antiplatelet therapy continued until the day before surgery. Patients were followed to assess in-hospital and 6-months outcomes. Results The in-hospital mortality in MI-DAPT group was similar with noMI-aspirin group (OR 4.2; 95% CI 0.9–20.5; p = 0.071). The prevalence of CVA (p = 0.098), duration of hospital stay (p = 0.109), postoperative ejection fraction level (p = 0.693), diastolic dysfunction grade (p = 0.651) and postoperative PAP level (p = 0.0364) did not show difference between two groups. No mild or severe bleeding was observed in the patients. Six-month follow up showed that number of readmissions (p = 0.801), number of cases requiring angiography (p = 0.100), cases requiring re-PCI (p = 0.156), need for re-CABG (p > 0.999) and CVA (p > 0.999) did not differ between the two groups. During the 6-month follow-up, out-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.446). Conclusions A 6-month follow-up showed that DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel before CABG in patients with MI has no effect on postoperative outcomes more than mono-APT with aspirin. Therefore, DAPT is recommended in the preoperative period for these patients.

Background: Mitral valve stenosis (MS), which could be progressive, is one of the most important valvular disorders in developing countries. Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) is a well-accepted treatment option for dealing with symptomatic MS. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been used as a prognostic marker for clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome routinely. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between BNP levels and hemodynamic parameters in patients with MS who underwent PTMC. Methods: In this case-control study, 90 patients with severe isolated rheumatic mitral stenosis and undergoing PTMC were enrolled. In the study group, BNP levels were measured by performing radioimmunoassay on all participants 30 minutes before PTMC and 24 hours after PTMC. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Fifty patients with MS who underwent PTMC were included in this study. The level of BNP before PTMC was 473.78 ± 66.95 pg/dL in patients with MS. The level of BNP in patients after PTMC reached 341.54 ± 48.3 pg/dL, which was indicative of a significant reduction in the level of BNP after PTMC (P-value = 0.006). Conclusions: A considerable decline was observed in the serum level of BNP following a successful PTMC, which was indicative of an improvement in clinical and hemodynamic status; hence, it was reasonably suggested that the serum level of BNP was effective in evaluating the response from patient with severe MS to PTMC.

Background Heart rate variability (HRV) plays an important role in predicting poor prognosis after acute myocardial infarction, but whether this parameter is able to predict long-term adverse outcomes following revascularization procedures is still not clear. We investigated the value of HRV in predicting post-procedural adverse outcome (mortality and major adverse cardiovascular event or MACE) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and referred to intensive care unit. Methods This prospective cohort study was performed on 258 consecutive patients underwent elective isolated CABG. All patients required intensive care unit referring before discharge from the hospital. All patients were planned for a 3-week cardiac rehabilitation program with a 24-hour electrocardiogram Holter monitoring. HRV was analyzed by computer and over-read manually. Within a follow-up period ranged 1 to 3 years, the patients were asked by phone for long-term outcome including death and MACE (including myocardial infarction, reoperation, or brain stroke). Results overall, 4.3% of patients died due to cardiovascular events and 15.1% suffered from long-term MACE. Comparing HRV indicators between non-survived and survived subgroups showed significantly lower mean RR, lower mean SDNN, lower LF and lower HF in former group. However, the comparison of HRV between the subgroups with and without long-term MACE showed no difference in HRV indicators between the two groups. Using Cox proportional hazard analysis, lowering HRV (SDNN) could effectively predict long-term death in patients underwent CABG. Conclusion Lower postoperative HRV can effectively predict long-term death after CABG in patients admitted to intensive care unit.

Background Myocardial protection during operations with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross clamping is vital. For this purpose, Del Nido (DN) and Custodiol cardioplegia (CC) solutions are used for single-dose cardioplegia in cardiac surgical procedures with CPB. Present study aimed to compare the effects of DN and CC on peri-operative clinical outcomes in pediatrics with Tetralogy of Fallot (TF) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods Present randomized clinical trial was performed in two trial groups with parallel design. One group received DN and another group received CC. We assessed circulatory Troponin-I (cTnI) and coronary sinus lactate level as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were ventilation time, electrolytes levels, pump time, cross-clamp time and other clinical parameters. Results Duration of CPB and cross-clamp were the same in both groups. There were no significant differences in hemodynamic parameters, left ventricular ejection fraction after the surgery and discharge time between the two trial groups. Ventilation time (8.5 vs. 18; p = 0.001), ICU stay, Troponin-I in ICU admission and Coronary sinus lactate level ( p = 0.001) were significantly higher among patients of Custodiol group compared to other trial group. Electrolytes Na, Cl and K levels, during CPB, were significantly less in Custodiol group. Conclusion When used for inducing cardiac arrest during CPB, DN solution offers better maintenance of the electrolyte balance during CPB, and is associated with less circulatory cTnI and coronary sinus lactate level compared with the CC.

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