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Beta-blocker therapy in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the setting of left ventricular dysfunction.

Although several studies suggest beta blockers (BB) are effective in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias, less is known about their role in the treatment of patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with impaired left ventricular function. To assess the tolerance and efficacy of these agents, 32 patients presenting with either ventricular fibrillation (18) or sustained ventricular tachycardia (14) were studied during BB therapy. Left ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction 29%) was present as a consequence of coronary artery disease (26) or cardiomyopathy (6). Baseline arrhythmia assessment revealed recurrent ventricular tachycardia in all patients. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy including BB was guided by programmed stimulation (10), exercise testing (8), ambulatory monitoring (12), or was given empirically (2). Beta blockers were well tolerated, as measured by exercise duration, which improved significantly, and by long-term maintenance, which continued in 23 of 32 (72%) patients. Over a mean follow-up of 668 days, patients treated with BB had a relatively low incidence of both sudden (3%) and nonsudden (9%) death. Thus, BB can be effective and well tolerated adjunct therapy in patients with a history of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the setting of impaired left ventricular function.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Cardiovascular profile of 5 novel nitrate-esters: a comparative study with nitroglycerin in pigs with and without left ventricular dysfunction.

1. Four cumulative 10 min intravenous infusions of 0.05, 0.2, 0.5 and 2.0 mg min-1 were used to compare the cardiovascular profile of 5 novel nitrate-esters dissolved in Intralipid 10% to that of nitroglycerin (GTN) in conscious pigs. 2. Infusion of Intralipid 10% alone had no effect on any of the systemic haemodynamic parameters. GTN infusions decreased mean arterial blood pressure dose-dependently from 94 +/- 2 mmHg to 79 +/- 3 mmHg (P less than 0.05) and raised cardiac output from 2.74 +/- 0.09 l min-1 to 3.40 +/- 0.18 l min-1 (P less than 0.05) due to an increase in heart rate (by up to 43 +/- 3%), as stroke volume decreased slightly. Systemic vascular resistance decreased (by 32 +/- 3%) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure fell from 5.2 +/- 0.4 mmHg to 2.2 +/- 0.5 mmHg (both P less than 0.05). 3. The novel compounds CEDO 8811, CEDO 8834 and CEDO 8901 increased cardiac output only at the highest dose (7%, 8% and 9%, respectively). There was no change in mean arterial blood pressure as the increase in cardiac output was counterbalanced by arterial vasodilatation. All three compounds reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure slightly. 4. CEDO 8816 was a more potent arterial and venodilator than the aforementioned CEDO compounds, as the decreases in systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were already significant at lower doses. The fall in stroke volume was fully compensated by the increase in heart rate and as a result cardiac output increased by 11 +/- 3% (P less than 0.05) at the highest dose. 5. CEDO 8956 was the most potent vasodilator of the novel compounds and exhibited a cardiovascular profile similar to that of GTN. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased significantly during infusion of 0.2mgmin-'. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased by 11 +/- 2% (P < 0.05) in spite of an increase in cardiac output by up to 20 +/- 2% (P < 0.05), due to a decrease (by 27 +/- 1%, P <0.05) in systemic vascular resistance. The increases in heart rate (20 +/- 5%, P < 0.05) and LVdP/dtmax (38 +/- 4%, P < 0.05) were, however, considerably less after CEDO 8956 than after GTN. 6. The potential of CEDO 8956 in the treatment of chronic left ventricular dysfunction was evaluated during administration to conscious pigs (21-23 kg), in which the left circumflex coronary artery was ligated 4 weeks earlier. In these animals, baseline values for cardiac output and LVdP/dtx were lower and those of systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were higher than in the first group of experiments. 7. Both GTN and CEDO 8956 in doses of 0.05 to 2.0 mg inm increased cardiac output dosedependently (by up to 34% and 19%, respectively). The decrease in systemic vascular resistance was larger with GTN (35%) than with CEDO 8956 (17%), which resulted in a 13% decrease in mean arterial pressure during infusion of GTN, whereas there was no change in mean arterial pressure during infusion of CEDO 8956. Both compounds increased LVdP/dt,,,,X (by 48% and 30%, respectively) and lowered left ventricular end-diastolic pressure to normal levels. 8. At a dose of 1.0Omg min- 1, both GTN and CEDO 8956 increased left ventricular blood flow parallel to the increase in myocardial oxygen demand. At this dose, GTN also caused vasodilatation in the vascular beds of the brain, kidneys and adrenals. With CEDO 8956 no significant changes were achieved. 9. We conclude that the cardiovascular profile of CEDO 8956 in both normal animals and in animals with chronic left ventricular dysfunction warrants further study on its usefulness in the treatment of a number of cardiovascular disorders.

Animals

Right ventricular dysfunction: an independent predictor of adverse outcome in patients with myocarditis.

To assess the predictive value of right ventricular systolic function in patients with active myocarditis, the echocardiograms of 23 patients with biopsy-confirmed myocarditis were reviewed. Right ventricular systolic function was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by descent of the right ventricular base. Patients were divided into those with normal right ventricular function, in whom right ventricular descent was 1.9 +/- 0.1 cm, and those with abnormal right ventricular function, in whom right ventricular descent was 0.8 +/- 0.1 cm (p < 0.001). There were no differences between the two groups in age, duration of symptoms, baseline hemodynamics, or histologic assessment. Initial left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in patients with depressed right ventricular function (27.5 +/- 4.9%) compared with that in patients with normal right ventricular function (47.5 +/- 6.3%) (p = 0.01). The likelihood of an adverse outcome, defined as death or need for cardiac transplantation, was greater in patients with abnormal right ventricular function (right ventricular descent < or = 1.7 cm) than in patients with normal right ventricular function (right ventricular descent > 1.7 cm) (p < 0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that right ventricular dysfunction as quantified by right ventricular descent was the most powerful predictor of adverse outcome.

Female

Complex ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction during convalescence and follow-up: a harbinger of multi-vessel coronary disease, left ventricular dysfunction and sudden death.

Sixty-one medically treated patients had coronary and left ventricular angiography and 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring 10-24 days after myocardial infarction, and then had serial 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring during the 13 +/- 11 months after myocardial infarction. Complex ventricular arrhythmias (2 or more sequential ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs), multiform VPDs, bigeminy) during follow-up were associated with a high mortality rate and occurred most commonly in the setting of three-vessel coronary disease, proximal left anterior descending coronary disease and low left ventricular ejection fraction. By contrast, patients without complex VPDs in either the late hospital or posthospital phase of myocardial infarction had no mortality during the year following myocardial infarction; furthermore, these patients had a higher incidence of single-vessel coronary disease and less left ventricular dysfunction. These results emphasize the adverse prognostic significance of complex ventricular arrhythmias in the year after myocardial infarction and their association with extensive coronary artery disease and left ventricular damage.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac

Left ventricular dysfunction induced by occlusion of coronary arteries in conscious dogs.

The aim of the present study was to investigate stable left ventricular dysfunction resulting from severe myocardial ischemia in conscious dogs, in order to evaluate the action of cardiotonic agents under pathological conditions mimicking moderate cardiac failure. Mongrel dogs with a catheter implanted in the left ventricle were trained on a treadmill and subjected to a standardized exercise before and after a Harris-type ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in two stages. Two weeks later the lower third of the left circumflex coronary branch was also occluded, and the exercise test repeated for at least two additional weeks to evaluate the changes in the left ventricular function indicated by left ventricular systolic pressure, end-diastolic pressure, heart rate, positive and negative dP/dtmax and dP/dt/P. Noninvasive radionuclide investigations of the left ventricular function and myocardial perfusion were done before and after the development of cardiac failure. Following occlusion of the anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries, the baseline end-diastolic pressure increased from 7.6 +/- 2.3 mmHg to 23.3 +/- 3.0 mmHg (p < 0.05) and increased even further during exercise (to 49.2 +/- 3.5 mmHg, p < 0.05). After the development of cardiac failure, no substantial change occurred in the end-diastolic pressure, either during rest or repeated exercise tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

[Analysis of left ventricular function early after coronary artery bypass grating in patients with left ventricular dysfunction].

We analyzed left ventricular (LV) function early after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with LV dysfunction, whose LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was less than 0.4. 11 patients were divided into two groups: Group-A patients (G-A: n = 6) improved LVEF (post-op LVEF > 0.4) and Group-B patients (G-B: n + 5) did not improve LVEF (post-op LVEF < 0.4) one month after CABG. Preoperative status of coronary artery disease, cardiac function, operative procedure, and postoperative cardiac function were compared between two groups. All patient had old myocardial infarction. There were no differences in preoperative LVEF (0.30 +/- 0.06 in G-A and 0.31 +/- 0.06 in G-B), CI, and LVEDP between two groups. LVEDVI (85 +/- 19 in G-A and 159 +/- 50 ml/m2 in G-B) and LVESVI (60 +/- 14 in G-A and 113 +/- 49 ml/m2 in G-B) values were higher in G-B, respectively. Number of grafts was not different between two groups (2.3 in G-A and 2.4 in G-B). Postoperative LVEF value (0.53 +/- 0.07 in G-A and 0.34 +/- 0.04 in G-B) was lower in G-B. Thus, it might be difficult to obtain the recovery of LV function in patients with LV dilatation, early after CABG.

Adult

Repetitively negative changing T waves at 24-h electrocardiographic monitors in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome. Left ventricular dysfunction in a cohort.

This study surveys the occurrence of repetitively negative to flat T waves, alternating with normal upright T waves in 24-h electrocardiographic recordings from a subspecialty infectious diseases outpatient practice during the years 1982 to 1990. Patients with normal resting electrocardiogram in the assayed leads, but with repetitively inverted to isoelectric abnormal T waves at Holter monitors, were considered to have abnormal readings. A total of 300 patients had undergone a 24-h Holter monitor. This group included 24 individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This population was restricted to individuals 50 years old or younger, and the patients with CFS are compared with the patients without CFS. One of the more striking differences between the two groups was the difference in abnormal Holter readings. The patients with CFS all had abnormal Holter readings, while 22.4 percent patients without CFS had abnormal readings (p < 0.01). We further report the occurrence of mild left ventricular dysfunction in 8 of 60 patients in continuing studies of this population with CFS, younger than 50 years old, and with no risk factors for coronary artery disease. All 60 patients with CFS showed repetitively flat to inverted T waves alternating with normal T waves. Stress multiple gated acquisitions (MUGAs) (labeled erythrocytes with stannous pyrophosphate) were abnormal in eight patients with CFS. Although resting ejection fractions (EFs) were normal (mean, 60 percent), with increasing work loads (Kilopon meters [Kpms]), gross left ventricular dysfunction occurred. The fatigue of patients with CFS may be related to subtle cardiac dysfunction occurring at work loads common to ordinary living.

Adult

[Exercise capacity evaluation in patients with mild to moderate left ventricular dysfunction. Influence of captopril].

PURPOSE: To analyse the captopril influence on physical activity on the six or nine minute walk test in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and mild or moderate failure. METHODS: Twenty one patients with functional class II or III heart failure and left ventricular diastolic diameter greater than 55 mm and with ejection fraction less than 45% were studied. Twelve were male, and the patients age range from 34 to 63 years old (mean 48 years). The protocol has 18 weeks of duration, the first two weeks constitute a washout period, and 16 of effective use of captopril 25 mg tid. The patients were submitted to clinical and laboratory evaluations, to echocardiogram study and six and nine minute walk test (distance of walk), before, through out, and after the protocol. RESULTS: The distance of walk on six minute test were 451 m at the beginning, and 476 m in 4 weeks and 504 m at 16 weeks of treatment (p < 0.0001). At nine minute test it was respectively 599, 652 and 692 m (p < 0.001). The echocardiographic evaluation showed significative reduction of the left ventricular diastolic diameter and an increase of the left ventricular ejection fraction. The clinical evaluation after the treatment showed that 45% comes to functional class I, and only 10% stayed in class III. CONCLUSION: Captopril 25 mg tid improves clinical performance significantly, with improvement of walk distance at six or nine minute of test, and with reduction of left ventricular end diastolic diameter and systolic function improvement. The results permits to conclude that captopril improves significantly the physical activity of patients with heart failure, this improves were observed with one months of therapy but is more evident with four months of effective treatment.

Adult

Coronary artery by-pass without cardiopulmonary by-pass for patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB) for patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients with severe LV dysfunction (EF < 35%) underwent CABG without cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB) between December 1991 and December 1993. They comprise 22% of 242 patients operated on without CPB by one of the authors (RM) in this period. There were 45 (85%) males and eight (15%) females. Twelve (23%) patients were over 70 years. Nine (17%) were re-do CABG. Ten (19%) were referred for operation within the first 24 hours of evolving MI, and 13 (25%) up to two weeks after acute MI. Nine (17%) had preoperative EF < 20%, and six patients (11%) were in cardiogenic shock. Mean number of grafts/pt was 1.8 and IMA was used in 41 (77%). Only 14 patients (26%) received a graft to a circumflex marginal artery. Ischemic time was 8 +/- 4 min/graft (mean +/- SD) when anastomosed to the LAD or RCA, and 14 +/- 7 min/graft when anastomosed to a marginal branch. RESULTS: One patient (1.9%) died perioperatively, and two (3.7%) suffered a non-fatal MI. At two-year follow-up there were three late deaths, one of them from cancer. Three patients had return of angina, two of them were reoperated upon. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CABG without CPB may be advantageous for patients with severe LV dysfunction.

Adult

Assessment of the stability of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in vitro: implications for assessment of left ventricular dysfunction.

Plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are raised in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Measurement of this peptide has a potential diagnostic role in the identification and assessment of patients with heart failure. The stability of this peptide over time periods and conditions pertaining to routine clinical practice has not been reported previously. Blood samples were obtained from 15 subjects. One aliquot was processed immediately, and the remaining portions of the blood samples were stored for 24 h or 48 h at room temperature or on ice prior to processing. Plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured with a novel immunoluminometric assay developed within our laboratory. Mean plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP were not significantly different whether blood samples were centrifuged immediately and stored at -70 degrees C or kept at room temperature or on ice for 24 h or 48 h. The mean percentage differences from baseline (reference standard) were +5.2% (95% confidence interval +18.2 to -7.8%) and +0.8% (+15.2 to -13.7%) after storage for 24 h at room temperature or on ice respectively, and +8.9% (+24.2 to -6. 5%) and +3.2% (+15.1 to -0.9%) for storage for 48 h at room temperature or on ice respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients for baseline NT-proBNP concentrations compared with levels at 48 h at room temperature or on ice were r=0.89 and r=0.83 respectively (both P<0.0001). Thus NT-proBNP extracted from plasma samples treated with EDTA and aprotinin is stable under conditions relevant to clinical practice.

Adult

Left ventricular dysfunction versus paravalvular leak in patients with mitral disc prostheses.

UNLABELLED: Left ventricular dysfunction and prosthesis malfunction are the main causes of hemodynamic deterioration following prosthetic mitral valve replacement. The aim of this study is to reassess the usefulness of a combined echo-phonocardiographic technique to differentiate these different situations in order to select medical or surgical treatment in patients with a mitral disc prosthesis. Two patient groups were studied. The first group consists of five patients with paravalvular leak (PL), surgically or pathologically verified. Second group: nine patients with left ventricular failure (LVF) and normal functioning prosthesis. The diastolic diameter of the left ventricle (LV) was significantly increased in the LVF group compared with the PL group. A protodiastolic hump was present in four cases of PL. The variability of the interval between A2 and the mitral valve opening (delta A2-MVO) was less than 30 msec in the LVF group and greater than 30 msec in the PL group. The interval between A2 and maximal LV posterior wall (A2-PW) exceeded 60 msec in the PL group and was shorter than 60 msec in the LVF group. IN CONCLUSION: the echo-phonocardiographic technique, especially when by using two newly proposed parameters, seems to be very useful to discriminate between PL and LVF.

Adult

[CABG in 2 patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction].

Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in two patients with left ventricular dysfunction (EF 16%). In both cases they had chest pain at rest and ischemic myocardium were detected by the SPECT. We considered them candidate for the operation regardless of LV dysfunction. They were eventful in the postoperative course. One case was discharged and is free from chest pain now, but another unfortunately died for multiple organ failure.

Coronary Artery Bypass

Studies of left ventricular dysfunction (SOLVD)--rationale, design and methods: two trials that evaluate the effect of enalapril in patients with reduced ejection fraction.

The Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) is an extensive program of research that has 3 components. (1) Two large double-blind randomized trials evaluate the effects of enalapril on mortality, morbidity and quality of life of patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with overt congestive heart failure (CHF) (Treatment Trial in 2,500 patients) and without overt CHF (Prevention Trial in 4,600 patients). (2) Seven detailed sub-studies evaluate the effect of enalapril on a number of intermediate outcomes such as right and LV function and hemodynamics, LV mass and wall stress, hormones, arrhythmias, exercise capacity and quality of life in subsets of patients in the 2 large trials. (3) Finally, a registry of 6,336 patients with congestive heart failure or LV dysfunction is designed to describe the clinical course of an unselected group of patients. The rationale and design of a tiered approach to clinical trials that are large enough to provide reliable information on mortality and morbidity, yet provide relevant information on other endpoints, are described.

Adult

Minimal operative mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass with significant left ventricular dysfunction by maximization of metabolic and mechanical support.

Between January 1, 1992, and January 23, 1996, 111 consecutive patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. The ejection fraction in these patients ranged from 10% to 34% (mean 27.9% +/- 5.4%); in 18 patients the value was less than 20%. The high operative mortality rate (7.6% in Society of Thoracic Surgeons database) in this group of patients at high risk was targeted for reduction by provision of, in addition to the usual inotropic support, progressively more intensive metabolic and mechanical support. The metabolic support consisted of triiodothyronine; glucose, insulin, and potassium; aspartate/glutamate in the cardioplegic solution; and warm-cold-warm/antegrade-retrograde-antegrade cardioplegia. Mechanical support included liberal use of the intraaortic balloon pump, use of a new occlusive retrograde cardioplegia catheter, ultrafiltration to remove myocardial depressant factors, and, finally, delayed sternal closure. The operative mortality rate was 1.8% (2/111). Complications included reoperation because of bleeding (3.6%, 4/111), mediastinitis (1.8%, 2/111), and stroke (0.9%, 1/111) and there were no occurrences of new postoperative acute renal failure (0.0%, 0/111). The intensive care unit stay was 2.2 +/- 0.9 days with a length of stay in the hospital of 13.7 +/- 22.1 days. These techniques done before operation, intraoperatively, and postoperatively optimize the milieu of the depressed left ventricle by maximizing perioperative high-energy phosphate bonds; increasing the effectiveness of inotropic agents; unloading the left ventricle by chemical, metabolic, and mechanical support; and removing known myocardial depressant factors, which reduced the operative mortality rate to 1.8% compared with 7.6% as reported in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' database.

Adult

How European cardiologists perceive the role of calcium antagonists in the treatment of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction.

In a poll of European cardiologists, one of the most popular of the given definitions of heart failure centres on the abnormality of ventricular function. However, opinion remains divided on the necessity of a distinction between diastolic and systolic heart failure, as it does on the value and procedures of stress testing. The 'no-reflow' phenomenon continues to pose a challenge in conditions requiring myocardial reperfusion, and precise identification of some heart disorders apparently remains difficult in many cases. Drug treatment of conditions like left ventricular dysfunction of arterial hypertension is open to continuing discussion, but calcium antagonists seem assured of an important role.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Predicting postinfarction left ventricular dysfunction based on the configuration of the QRS complex and ST segment in the initial ECG of patients with a first anterior wall myocardial infarction.

The objective of the study was to identify patients with anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at high risk of postinfarction left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). This study population included all patients admitted with a diagnosis of anterior wall AMI (ST segment elevation of > 1 mm in 2 or more precordial leads) without history or ECG evidence of antecedent AMI,who underwent assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during emergency hospitalization. ST segment deviation from baseline was measured manually 0.08 s after the J point in all leads. Patients (n = 81) were classified into two groups based on the configuration of the QRS complex and ST segment: ST > 1 mm with preserved (pattern A; n = 60) or distorted terminal QRS (emergence of the J point at a level above the lower half of the R wave or disappearance of the S wave in leads with an Rs configuration; pattern B; n = 21). LVD (LVEF < 40%) was significantly more prevalent in patients with pattern B than pattern A (48 vs. 12%; p = 0.002). There was no correlation between the number of leads with ST segment elevation and LVD (p = 0.47). The sum of ST segment elevation in involved leads correlated weakly, yet significantly with LVEF (R = -0.22; p < 0.05). In conclusion, patients with anterior wall AMI and pattern B in the initial ECG are at high risk of post-AMILVD.

Adult

Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography for risk stratification in patients with chronic left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of sustained improvement, scar and inducible ischemia with or without viability in patients with chronic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). BACKGROUND: Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) accurately detects scar, reversible dysfunction and the extent of coronary artery disease in LVD. METHODS: Three hundred fifty consecutive patients (age 62+/-13 years, mean+/-SD, 215 men/135 women) with moderate to severe LVD (LVEF < 40%, mean 30+/-8%) underwent DASE and were followed for > or =18 months. Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiographic findings were classified according to sustained improvement in all vascular territories, scar, inducible ischemia (worsening wall motion at peak dose only or biphasic responses) and their extent. RESULTS: Sustained improvement occurred in 83 patients (24%), scar alone in 99 (28%) and inducible ischemia in 168 (48%, with biphasic responses in 104). Ischemia was induced in all vascular territories in 26 patients. Patients with sustained improvement or scar alone were treated medically, whereas 46% (78/168) with inducible ischemia were revascularized (coronary bypass surgery, n = 67 or angioplasty, n = 11). There were 76 hard events including cardiac death in 59, nonfatal myocardial infarction in 11, and resuscitated sudden death in 6. Hard events were rare in sustained improvement (5%, 4/83), uncommon in scar (13%, 13/99) and common (p < 0.01) in medically treated patients with inducible ischemia (59%, 53/90). Cardiac deaths were especially common (p < 0.01) in patients with biphasic responses (55%, 28/51). Inducible ischemia independently predicted hard events (chi2 = 75.35, p < 0.001) along with reduced LVEF at peak dose (chi2 = 8.38, p = 0.004). Hard cardiac events were uncommon (8%, 6/78, p < 0.001) in patients with inducible ischemia who underwent early revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: Inducible ischemia during DASE was the major determinant of outcome in LVD and independent of clinical data and left ventricular function. Improved wall thickening alone and scar alone predicted good outcome. Survival of patients with inducible ischemia was better after revascularization.

Adult

Influence of the preoperative signal-averaged electrocardiogram on left ventricular function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The CABG Patch Trial.

Patients with ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction often have an improved survival and life quality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), in part due to an improvement in LV function. A lack of LV ejection fraction (EF) improvement postoperatively portends a worse prognosis. Recently, an abnormal preoperative signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) in patients with a severely depressed LV ejection fraction undergoing elective CABG was shown to be associated with a higher early and late postoperative mortality. The present study evaluated patients with severe LV dysfunction to identify any relation between an abnormal preoperative SAECG and postoperative changes in LV function after successful CABG. Forty-five patients with LV dysfunction (LVEF <0.36) scheduled for elective CABG underwent preoperative SAECG and both pre- and postoperative LVEF determinations using radionuclide scans. Thirty-one patients in the group had an abnormal preoperative SAECG and 14 patients had a normal preoperative SAECG. Baseline patient characteristics were similar in both groups and the mean preoperative LVEF was 0.26. Overall, LVEF improved 31% postoperatively with a significantly greater benefit noted in the group with a normal baseline SAECG (14.9+/-5.7-point vs 4.8+/-8.5-point increase, p <0.001). All patients whose LVEF did not improve or worsened postoperatively had an abnormal preoperative SAECG. No SAECG measure was altered significantly by the operation. A preoperative SAECG provides information on the postoperative functional recovery of ischemic myocardium.

Aged