Impact of Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and Angiotensin receptor blockers on mortality of coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: There is controversy over the potential benefits/harms of the usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) as regards the postoperative mortality of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study investigates the correlation between the in-hospital mortality of CABG and the preoperative administration of ACEI/ARB.

Methods: Out of 10055 consecutive patients with isolated CABG from 2006 to 2009, 4664 (46.

Diagnosis of aortic interruption by CT angiography.

Background: Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is a rare congenital malformation of the aortic arch, which might be accompanied with other coexisting cardiovascular anomalies.

Case Report: Many cases with IAA are diagnosed at their neonatal and newborn period but in rare cases the diagnosis is not established until adulthood. The patients may have no clinical symptoms but the signs of heart failure will gradually appear and may cause death.

Etiological characteristics of people with intellectual disability in Iran.

Objective: To describe the etiological characteristics of intellectual disability in one Iranian center.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 64 cases with mental retardation (MR) were examined in the Intellectual Rehabilitation & Welfare Care Center of Vardavard, Iran between April and September 2008. Cases were diagnosed with MR or showed delay/regression of developmental milestones.

Can opium abuse be a risk factor for carotid stenosis in patients who are candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting?

Background: Over the centuries, opium has been the most frequent substance abused in the Middle East. There are many controversial aspects about the effects of opioids on the atherosclerosis process, which is still unclear.

Methods: All patients who were candidates for coronary artery bypass graft in Tehran Heart Center were registered and evaluated for risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking status and duration, opium abuse, involved coronary arteries and left main branch lesion > 50%, carotid stenosis > or = 70%.

Sonographic prediction of body fat volume (subcutaneous and visceral fat) in cardiovascular patients.

Background: Inappropriate body composition represents impaired energy and nutrient intake and can be a risk factor for many diseases, especially for cardiovascular disease. Different methods have been suggested for the estimation of body fat volume and its distribution. However, they may be either expensive or hazardous for some groups of patients.

Ultrasonographic screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in Iranian candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: To evaluate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in Iranian candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery and its associated factors.

Methods: Totally, 2843 consecutive candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery underwent ultrasonography of abdominal aorta. The relation between abdominal aortic aneurysm with gender, age, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and carotid and coronary stenosis was evaluated.

Is preoperative serum creatinine a reliable indicator of outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery?

Objective: Evaluating renal function by calculating creatinine clearance as an alternative measure to serum creatinine may give a better estimation of postoperative renal function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Using our database, we conducted a retrospective review of the records of all 11,884 patients aged 21 years or older undergoing pure bypass grafting who required cardiopulmonary bypass. Preoperative renal function was categorized as normal renal function (serum creatinine View Article and Find Full Text PDF