Evaluation of Regional Myocardial Function by Strain and Strain Rate before and after Surgical Repair of Congenital Heart Anomalies.

Tissue Doppler imaging yields useful information about regional myocardial function. The purpose of this study was to investigate myocardial function by strain and strain rate in a group of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) before and after cardiac surgery. Three consecutive tissue Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed on 25 patients with CHD, who underwent open-heart surgery.

Optimal method for early detection of cardiac disorders in thalassemia major patients: magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography?

Background: Heart failure resulting from myocardial iron deposition is the most important cause of death in β-thalassemia major (TM) patients. Cardiac T2*magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiography, and serum ferritin level serve as diagnostic methods for detecting myocardial iron overload. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the above-mentioned methods.

A prospective observational study of paediatric cardiac surgery outcomes in a postoperative intensive care unit in Iran.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of complications, morbidity and mortality, and the associated risk factors with mortality at a Paediatric Cardiology Intensiv Care Unit of a developing country.

Methods: The prospective observational study was conducted at Shahid Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from August 2009 to July 2010. A total of 202 patients were monitored from the time they entered the Paediatric Cardiology Intensive Care Unit till their final discharge.

The Relationship between Coronary Artery Aneurysm and QT Interval Dispersion in Acute Phase of Kawasaki Disease.

Objective: QT dispersion (QTd) has been proposed as a marker of ventricular repolarization inhomogeneity and several investigations have proved the relationship between it and cardiac ischemia, ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between coronary artery involvement and QTd, and QTc dispersion (QTcd) in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: We studied 65 patients with acute KD.

Discharge of children from hospital against medical advice.

Background: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) from hospital may have negative effects on the well-being of the patients. In pediatric patients the decision for DAMA is made by the parent(s). The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of DAMA and examine the reasons for DAMA provided by the parents.

Late cardiotoxic effects of anthracycline chemotherapy in childhood malignancies.

Objective: To determine the frequency of changes in left ventricular function in patients, at least 5 years after completion of anthracycline-therapy for childhood malignancy.

Methods: Echocardiographic examination was performed on 58 patients (36 males and 22 females) with mean age of 17.5+/-4.

Risk factors in congenital heart disease.

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the risk factors of congenital heart disease (CHD). The cases were 346 children with CHD who were admitted to a university hospital in Tehran from 1995 to 2000 and controls (n=346) were randomly selected from children without CHD who were admitted during the same period. The medical records of both cases and controls were reviewed.