Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research

Isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of infective endocarditis cases globally. Numerous surgical procedures ranging from simple vegetectomy, creation of neoleaflets or complete replacement by a prosthetic valve have been described. We aimed to evaluate our experience in surgical management of this entity and to formulate an approach for timing, appropriateness and extent of surgery. Patients operated on semi elective/emergency basis had adverse outcome with residual regurgitation and had longer ICU stay...

Introduction: Autonomic changes play an essential role in the genesis of neurally mediated syncope (NMS). The aim of this study was to compare the changes of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) by measuring spectral indices of beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure and heart rate variability (SBPV and HRV) in ranges of low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and the LF/HF ratio during head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with and without a syncope response. Methods: In this case-control study of 46 patients with a suspected history of unexplained syncope, data were recorded separately during the typical three phases of HUTT...

Introduction: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) are treatments of choice for severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). Data regarding the long-term outcomes of patients who underwent PTMC and MVR are limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with severe rheumatic MS who underwent PTMC or MVR between 2010 to 2020. The primary outcome comprised of all-cause death, stroke or systemic embolism, heart failure hospitalization and re-intervention...

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective but underutilized intervention. Strategies have been identified to increase its use, but there is paucity of data testing them in low-resource settings. We sought to determine the effect of automatic referral post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on CR enrollment. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study assessing cardiac patients referred to CR at a tertiary center in Southeast Asia from 2013 to 2019. The paper-based pathway was introduced at the end of 2012...

Introduction: Slow flow/no reflow (SF/NR) phenomenon during emergency percutaneous revascularization is a feared complication associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes. CHA2 DS2 -VASc score has been proposed for the risk stratification but a very limited evidences are available regarding the accuracy of this system. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the predictive value of CHA2 DS2 -VASc score for predicting SF/NR phenomenon during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 596 consecutive patients undergoing PCI for STEMI at a tertiary care cardiac center of Karachi, Pakistan...

Introduction: Transradial coronary angiography (TRA) is associated with a lower incidence of bleeding rate and access site complications and is associated with better outcomes compared to transfemoral angiography. However, radial artery spasm (RAS) is an important limitation of TRA procedures. Little is known regarding the relationship of serum vasodilator and inflammatory markers with RAS. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between serum adropin level and RAS in patients undergoing TRA...

Esophageal Intramural Haematoma (EIH) is a rare entity usually caused by repeated emesis or trauma. It is diagnosed on the basis of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and radiology. Treatment is conservative unless hemodynamic instability prevails. Use of anticoagulation or thrombolytic therapy is believed to be a risk factor rather than a causative etiology. However, a review of literature shows only few cases occurring post-thrombolysis. We report about a patient of myocardial infarction who was thrombolyzed with streptokinase...

We report a case of a newborn with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) due to meconium aspiration syndrome with associated lung collapse. Echocardiogram revealed features of persistent pulmonary hypertension. He was treated with compounded oral sildenafil. Oral sildenafil has proven to be effective and safe in the management of PPHN in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, in situations where inhaled nitric oxide is not available it may be used as an alternative therapy in PPHN. Further randomized controlled studies are needed to determine its efficacy and pharmacokinetics...

Pancreaticopleural fistulas (PPF) are a rare etiology of pleural effusions. We describe a case of a 61-year-old man, with left chest pain with six months of progression who presented with a large volume unilateral pleural effusion. A thoracentesis was performed, which showed a dark reddish fluid(exudate) and high content of pancreatic amylase. After that an abdominal computed tomography (CT)and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was done, revealing fistulous pathways that originated in the pancreas...

Introduction: Although, some evidence has shown that obestatin, ghrelin, and neurotrophic factors can be involved in the development of cardio-metabolic risk factors, there are some contradictions in this regard. We aimed to investigate the association of serum neurotrophic factors and some gastric hormones with cardio-metabolic risk factors among apparently healthy women. Methods: In the present study, 90 apparently healthy women were recruited by a convenient sampling method from the nutrition counseling clinic in Tabriz, Iran...

Introduction: This research investigates the impact of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF -I)and exercise on mediators associated with angiogenesis (VEGF-A, TSP-1, and NF-кβ) and capillarization status of the diabetic rats' hearts. Methods: Splitting of forty Wistar male rats into five groups occurred as following: control,diabetes, diabetes+IGF-I, diabetes+exercise, and diabetes+exercise+IGF-I.Through intraperitoneal administration of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin, the condition of Type 1diabetes was escalated...

Introduction: Heart failure(HF) related hospitalization constitutes a significant proportion of healthcare cost. Unchanging rates of readmission during recent years, shows the importance of addressing this problem. Methods: Patients admitted with heart failure diagnosis in our institution during April 2018to August 2018 were selected. Clinical, para-clinical and imaging data were recorded. All included patients were followed up for 6 months. The primary endpoints of the study were prevalence of early readmission and the predictors of that...

Introduction: The autologous pericardium, treated or fresh, is used in reconstructive cardiovascular surgery. We aimed to describe the features of fresh pericardium utilized in right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction, years after the initial surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 72 patients (65.3% male, mean age =18.68 ± 9.63 y) with a history of RVOT reconstruction with the fresh autologous pericardium who underwent reoperation. During the surgery, a 1 × 1 cm sample was cut from the previous pericardial patch, and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was conducted...

Introduction: Pneumomediastinum (PM) is a self-limiting disease with a good prognosis. Mediastinitis is a rare but potentially fatal complication of PM. Identification of risk factors for mediastinitis is essential for better management. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study conducted in a university hospital. Adult patients with PM between January 2016 and June 2020 were involved in the study. The data about age, gender, symptoms, signs, treatment, development of mediastinitis, hospital stay, and mortality were investigated...

HIV/AIDS is a multisystemic disorder and occurrence of cardiovascular disease is higher compared to non-HIV individuals. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) remains a rare and underdiagnosed cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), even in modern day era. SCAD is predominantly seen in young to middle aged females and present as a non-atherosclerotic cause of myocardial ischaemia, infarction or sudden cardiac death (SCD); with or without ventricular arrythmias. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) can sometimes be the initial presentation of SCAD...

Introduction: The goal of this study was to elucidate harmful complications of intraoperative hyperglycemia following children cardiac surgery and benefits of insulin administration for accurate blood sugar controlling. Methods: this study is a Randomized clinical trial. We conducted this study in the operating room of shahid madani hospital. Fifty patients who were children under 12 years old undergone cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Intraoperative insulin infusion was administered intravenously targeting blood sugar levels of 110-140 mg/dL...

Introduction: Owing to the imposed burden of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),the need for stratifying the prognosis of patients has never been timelier. Hence, we aimed to ascertain the value of CHADS2 , CHA2 DS2 -VASc, and CHA2 DS2 -VASc-M (one point for male instead of female) scores to predict unfavorable outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients above 18 years of age with confirmed COVID-19,who were admitted between February 16 and November 1, 2020. The primary endpoint of this study was three-month all-cause mortality...

Introduction: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is a catastrophic condition with in-hospital mortalities up to 89%. Patient survival depends on multiple factors; however, prompt surgery is essential to prevent mortality. We report the in-hospital outcomes of RAAA at a high-volume and teaching vascular surgery center in Iran. Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with infrarenal RAAA during February 20, 2012 to December 21, 2019 at Shohada-Tajrish Medical Center, Tehran,Iran...

Introduction: Given that some plant-based foods, such as potatoes, adversely affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, this study was performed to assess the association between plant dietary patterns and these risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 371 healthy 18 to 50 year-old Iranian women. Participant dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Nineteen food groups were ranked in deciles and received scores from 1 to 10. An overall plant-based dietary index (PDI), a healthy plant-based dietary index (hPDI), and an unhealthy plant-based dietary index (uPDI) were calculated...

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a very rare differential diagnosis of a posterior Mediastinum mass. We report a patient with an AVM mimicking a mediastinal tumour and describe the radiological, pathological findings and the treatment options.