Background and Objective: Off pump coronary artery bypass graft can be done with or without using intracoronary shunt. We have compared these two methods in early postoperative period, in this study. Materials and Methods: 208 candidate patients for off pump coronary artery bypass graft were devided in to two groups randomly for using intracoronary shunt or not. Variables including peri and postoperative changes in electrocardiography and echocardiography, rate of myocardial infarction, mortality, morbidity, and cardiac enzymes, were estimated. Results: There was no significant difference between two groups in electrocardiographic changes, myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction,hospital mortality and intensive care unit stay but Creatine Kinase Myocardial Band enzymes were higher in group not using intracoronary shunt. In contrast troponin I was increased in group using intracoronary shunt. Conclusion: Using intracoronary shunt in off pump coronary artery bypass graft leads to lesser change in cardiac enzymes but does not impact peri and postoperative evidence of myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction,mortality and morbidity. Using intra coronary shunt is suggested however because of simpler surgical procedure and less intra operative hemodynamic changes.

Background and Objective: Esophageal cancer is the 6th common cancer in Iran. Affected patients have a relatively short lifetime, as this cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages. This study was conducted to estimate survival and factors related to it in patients with esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: All patients definitely diagnosed as esophageal cancer, registered in Fars Cancer Registry Center, were investigated. Required information was gathered from cancer registry forms and other resources. 1- to 5-year survival rates were estimated using life-table method. Wilcoxon test was used to compare survival rates between subgroups. All data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: Of 161cases, 61.5% were male. Mean age of patients was 64.6±13.10 years and 57.6±11.9 years in male and female, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1- to 5-years after diagnosis were: 58, 33, 18, 15 and 9 percent, respectively. Factors such as age at time of diagnosis, Presence of metastasis, histologic grade, type of first treatment, occupation in males, ethnicity and number of household showed to have a significant effect on prognosis. Conclusion: According to this study and similar studies carried out, screening and early detection of patients (in lower ages, and lower stages) is emphasized.