The journal of Tehran Heart Center
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J Tehran Heart Cent · Jan 2013
Cardiac variables as main predictors of endotracheal reintubation rate after cardiac surgery.
Reintubation in patients after cardiac surgery is associated with undesirable consequences. The purpose of the present study was to identify variables that could predict reintubation necessity in this group of patients. ⋯ These findings reveal that cardiac variables are more common and significant predictors of reintubation after cardiac surgery in adult patients than are respiratory variables. The incidence of this complication, reintubation, is low, although it could result in significant postoperative morbidity and mortality.
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J Tehran Heart Cent · Jan 2013
Effect of Hypertonic Saline Infusion versus Normal Saline on Serum NGAL and Cystatin C Levels in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and life-threatening complication following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and Cystatin C have shown to be good predictive factors for AKI. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of hypertonic saline in cardiac operations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic anti-inflammatory effect of hypertonic saline (Group A) infusion versus normal saline (Group B) on serum NGAL and Cystatin C levels as the two biomarkers of AKI in CABG patients. ⋯ Pre-treatment of CABG patients with hypertonic saline had no significant effect on serum NGAL and Cystatin C levels compared to the normal saline-receiving group. Our present data, albeit promising, have yet to fully document outcome differences.
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J Tehran Heart Cent · Jan 2013
The role of echocardiography in coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction.
Echocardiography is a non-invasive diagnostic technique which provides information regarding cardiac function and hemodynamics. It is the most frequently used cardiovascular diagnostic test after electrocardiography and chest X-ray. ⋯ Echocardiography is a versatile imaging modality for the management of patients with chest pain and assessment of left ventricular systolic function, diastolic function, and even myocardial and coronary perfusion and is, therefore, useful in the diagnosis and triage of patients with acute chest pain or dyspnea. This review has focused on the current applications of echocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.