Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) and associated risk factors in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in our cardiac center during a 2-year period. Materials and Methods: Retrospective case–control analysis for 80 patients who underwent isolated cardiac surgery CABG. These patients were divided into the SSI study group (n = 40) and the noninfected control group (n = 40). Eight potential perioperative risk variables were compared between the two groups using univariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Univariate analysis was carried out for eight potential risk factors. The risk factors found to be significant were: Impaired estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.011) and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.015). However, Factors found to have no significant influence on the incidence of SSIs were: Perioperative length of hospital stay (days), urgency of surgery, use of bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) grafting, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration, elevated body mass index. Conclusions: Patients with comorbidities of impaired renal function and/or impaired left ventricular systolic function are at high risk of developing SSI. There appears to be a relationship between SSIs in CABG patients and impaired renal or LV function (low ejection fraction). CABG with BIMA grafting could be performed safely even in diabetics. Future studies should consider further scrutiny of these and other factors in relation to SSIs in a larger surgical population.

Background: Heracleum persicum is a common dietary spice with several traditional medicinal properties important for cardiovascular health including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study explored the effects of supplementation with H. persicum fruit on the angiographic findings of patients with minimal coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Subjects who were diagnosed with <50% stenosis in any of their coronary arteries by angiography were selected for this trial and randomly assigned to H. persicum hydroalcoholic fruit extract (n = 15; 300 mg/day) or placebo (n = 12) for 6 months. At the end of the trial, participants underwent a second coronary angiography in order to evaluate the progression of their disease. Results: Posttrial angiography did not reveal any improvement in the number of stenosed vessels after consumption of H. persicum extract versus placebo (P > 0.05). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of disease progression and chest pain score (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The present results do not support any clinically significant benefit of supplementation with H. persicum extract on the angiographic findings of in patients with minimal CAD.

Eating disorders have multiple medical sequelae, including potentially life-threatening cardiovascular complications. This article describes our cardiology practice experience of treating adults with eating disorders in the outpatient setting and documents baseline cardiac findings in this complex patient population. We describe our findings in patients across the spectrum of eating disorders; past studies have generally focused on anorexia only. This article also includes a review of the current literature on cardiovascular complications associated with disordered eating.

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by deep ventricular trabeculations thought to be due to an arrest of myocardial morphogenesis. Integration of various cardiac imaging modalities such as echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging help in the diagnosis of this rare clinical entity. We describe a child with rare variant of LVNC with predominant involvement of interventricular septum resulting in multiple ventricular septal defects.

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is the most common primary tumor of cardiac valves and predominantly located on the left side. Its origin from non-valvular endocardium is extremely rare. We describe a case of an 81-year-old Caucasian male who presented with a mobile right atrial mass at the junction of right atrial wall and superior vena cava (SVC). Initially it was thought to be a thrombus and the patient was treated with anti-coagulation therapy without any change in size of the mass. Surgical excision was performed to establish the diagnosis and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of PFE. In conclusion, this case is unique due to location of the tumor and its attachment with superior vena cava. Physicians should consider this unusual location of PFE in the differential diagnoses of an intra-atrial mass.

To present a case of a rare congenital coronary anomaly in an adult patient, which was not reported before in Palestine, review the literature, and compare with previously reported cases.

An isolated single coronary artery (SCA) is a rare anomaly. A SCA originating from the left sinus of Valsalva is even rarer than one arising from the right. Most patients with a congenital coronary artery anomaly are asymptomatic. Herein, we report an extremely uncommon variant, where the right coronary artery arose from the distal segment of the left circumflex artery with slow coronary flow leading to myocardial ischemia.

We report two young patients with symptomatic sick sinus syndrome admitted for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). On evaluation with echocardiography, one of them was found to have persistent left superior vena cava and venography showed absent right superior vena cava also. He underwent PPI with leads inserted via left superior vena cava, coronary sinus, right atrium and right ventricle. The other patient was incidentally found to have interrupted inferior vena cava with azygos continuation while being planned for temporary pacemaker implantation. She underwent successful PPI. We would like to stress the importance of having a high suspicion for these systemic venous anomalies in patients presenting with sick sinus syndrome especially at young age. If we could diagnose preoperatively, we can avoid on table surprises.

Candida endocarditis is an emerging infectious disease, usually involving patients with intravascular prosthetic devices, and associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. A 28-year-old primigravida at 32 weeks of gestation was admitted with low-grade fever and lower abdominal pain for 2 weeks. She had undergone open appendicectomy 2 months before admission. Echocardiogram showed a pedunculated 24 mm × 21 mm mass attached to the undersurface of anterior mitral leaflet near the tip and moderate mitral regurgitation. Repeated blood cultures showed growth of nonalbicans candida. She was immediately started on liposomal amphotericin and was taken up for surgery, but despite all efforts she succumbed to her illness.