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Enoximone echocardiography for predicting recovery of left ventricular dysfunction after revascularization : a novel test for detecting myocardial viability.

BACKGROUND: The possibility that enoximone, a nonglycoside, noncatechol, positive inotropic agent, in combination with 2-dimensional echocardiography may predict recovery of myocardial dysfunction after revascularization has not been yet evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-five patients with chronic coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction underwent dobutamine (DE, 5 to 10 microg. kg(-1). min(-1)) and enoximone (EE, 1.5 mg/kg, over 10 minutes) echocardiography. Myocardial wall motion was scored from 1 (normal) to 4 (dyskinesia): an asynergic segment was considered to have contractile enhancement when the score decreased by >/=1 grade. Of 478 asynergic segments, 216 (45%) exhibited functional recovery after revascularization. Dobutamine- and enoximone-induced contractile enhancement was observed in 41% and 46% of segments, respectively. Compared with DE, EE had higher sensitivity (88% versus 79%, P<0.01) and negative predictive value (90% versus 84%, P<0.05) in predicting functional recovery. The specificity (89% versus 90%) and positive predictive value (87% for both EE and DE) were similar. Concordant interpretation of EE and DE findings was found in 85% (406 of 478) of affected segments. Prerevascularization coronary angiography showed that stenosis severity of vessels supplying areas which only improved with enoximone was significantly greater (89.9%) than that of vessels (77.7%) supplying areas that responded to both agents (P<0.02). Both dobutamine and enoximone increased heart rate (16% and 10%, respectively), whereas enoximone did not cause changes in systolic blood pressure that increased by 14% with dobutamine. CONCLUSIONS: Enoximone echocardiography provides a novel and reliable approach for the prediction of functional recovery after revascularization. Compared with dobutamine echocardiography, the test yields higher sensitivity and induces lesser hemodynamic alterations.

Adult↗

Does the extended use of arterial grafts compromise the myocardial recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting in left ventricular dysfunction?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic factors of myocardial recovery expected after coronary bypass surgery and the impact of surgical technique used, a prospective non-randomized study including a 1-year postoperative evaluation of left ventricular function was performed in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 0.40). METHODS: From 1993 to 1996, 110 patients (mean age 61+/-11 years) were included in the study. The mean LVEF was 31+/-6%. All patients had preoperative radionuclide investigations based on the combination of stress/reinjection thallium single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and planar evaluation of LVEF; 88% of patients had reversible ischemic thallium defects. Two surgical technique were used: 53 patients received the left internal mammary artery with associated sequential vein graft, and 57 patients received only arterial grafts, internal mammary and gastroepiploic arteries. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 3.2+/-0.8 and 54% of patients had complete revascularization. At 1 year, all survivors had clinical evaluation and the same radionuclide investigations. RESULTS: The early mortality was 2.7%. At 1 year, 100 patients were surviving; on average, NYHA class decreased 1.9+/-0.8 to 1.4+/-0.6 (P < 0.01) and CCS class from 2.8+/-0.6 to 1+/-0.3 (P < 0.01). The mean LVEF increase from 31+/-9 to 34+/-10% (P < 0.01) and the mean LV end-diastolic volume decreased from 317+/-112 to 285+/-108 ml (n.s.). The postoperative improvement in LV function was higher in patients in NYHA class 3 or 4 before surgery (P < 0.05), when associated sequential vein graft had been used (P < 0.01), and in patients with low preoperative LVEF (P < 0.01). The postoperative LVEF improvement observed was significantly correlated with the improvement in left ventricular end-diastolic (LVED) volume and the improvement in redistribution/reinjection thallium uptake. Multivariate analysis showed that the surgical technique used and the preoperative LVEF were independent prognostic factors of the postoperative myocardial function recovery, with a significant positive impact of the vein use. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the excellent clinical results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with coronary artery disease and LV dysfunction; improvement in LV function can be documented objectively and is correlated with reperfusion of hibernating myocardium. However, the extended use of arterial grafts does not allow to achieve the significant myocardial recovery observed with the use of one internal mammary artery (IMA) and associated sequential vein graft; it seems to be related to the preoperative selection of patients, but a direct negative impact of arterial grafts was documented and leads to be cautious in patients with severe LV dysfunction.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Immunoglobulin G3 cardiac myosin autoantibodies correlate with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: immunoglobulin G3 and clinical correlates.

BACKGROUND: Effector functions of an aberrant immune response have been implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The immunologic determinants of myocardial dysfunction, however, remain poorly understood. This study sought to determine the relation of different immunologic responses to hemodynamic dysfunction in DCM. METHODS: Immunoglobulin (Ig) G class/subclass response ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) against cardiac myosin heavy chain, histologic characteristics (DALLAS criteria), immunohistochemistry, plasma interleukin-4 and plasma interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were determined in patients (n = 76) with clinically suspected myocarditis or DCM. Patients were prospectively evaluated, both clinically and hemodynamically, on admission (baseline) and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Indices of hemodynamic dysfunction (by cardiac catheterization and transthoracic echocardiography) correlated significantly with an Ig subclass response. IgG3 levels correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (P =.02), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P <.0001), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (P =.002), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (P =.033), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (P =.04), right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (P =.039), and left ventricular end-systolic dimension and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (P <.05). Patients positive for IgG3 (predominantly male, P =.01) had depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (< or =45%, relative risk 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-5.7, P =.005) at baseline and 6 months. Mitral-septal separation at follow-up improved in patients negative for IgG3 (P =.018), and the number of patients on conventional therapy in this group declined at 6-month follow-up (P <.05). Lymphocyte counts/high-power field; CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD8 (independent of IgG class/subclass response and left ventricular dysfunction) were significantly higher in patients positive for IFN-gamma (25%). A positive IFN-gamma response was higher in patients positive for IgG3. These patients, positive for IgG3 and IFN-gamma (10%), had significantly shorter duration of clinical symptoms: 0.17 years (0.12-2.36 y) versus 1.01 years (0.49-5.35 y, P =.04). CONCLUSION: IgG3 reactivity correlated with depressed myocardial dysfunction. This may render this subclass Ig a surrogate target for therapeutic intervention in DCM. With IFN-gamma, IgG3 may reflect a more aggressive disease.

Adult↗

Age and aneurysm position predict patterns of left ventricular dysfunction after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Cardiac injury, including left ventricular dysfunction, frequently occurs in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patterns of left ventricular dysfunction often do not follow coronary artery distributions, and may correlate with myocardial sympathetic innervation. Left ventricular dysfunction of the anterior and anteroseptal walls that spares the apex is unusual for patients with myocardial infarction and may represent a neurally mediated pattern of injury. We performed serial echocardiography on 225 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and classified those with regional wall-motion abnormalities as following either an apex-sparing (AS) or apex-affected (AA) pattern. Wall-motion abnormalities were found in 61 of 225 patients studied (27%). The AS pattern was found in 49% of these patients. Younger age and anterior aneurysm position were independent predictors of this AS pattern. Both patterns of wall-motion abnormalities appear to be transient, reversible phenomena. The AS pattern may represent a unique form of neurally mediated cardiac injury.

Adult↗

Recent preoperative myocardial infarction increases the risk of surgery for unstable angina.

Patients with postinfarction angina undergoing surgery for unstable angina face an increased risk of operative mortality. Between January 1982 and December 1987, clinical, angiographic, and operative data was collected prospectively in 588 unstable patients with a prior myocardial infarction within 30 days of surgery (MI) and 5951 unstable patients without preoperative damage (NONMI). MI patients were characterized as being older (age greater than or equal to 70 years: MI, 19.7%; NONMI, 11.6%; p less than 0.001) and having more left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%: MI, 34.8%; NONMI, 26.4%; p less than 0.001). Semi-elective surgery was performed in 82.0% of NONMI patients while 76.9% of MI patients underwent urgent surgery. Operative mortality was increased in MI patients (MI, 11.1%; NONMI, 4.0%; p less than 0.001) which was related to the extent of preoperative MI (non-Q wave, 8.3%; Q wave, 17.5%; p less than 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified preoperative MI as an independent risk variable of operative mortality for unstable angina. Separate multivariate analyses were performed to identify the independent predictors for MI and NONMI patients. The multivariate predictors of operative death for MI patients were left ventricular dysfunction, reoperative coronary surgery, nonuse of the internal mammary, age, transmural MI (relative risk 2.11 vs non-Q wave infarction) and left main stenosis. For NONMI patients, the independent variables were urgent operation, left ventricular dysfunction, reoperation, female gender, left main stenosis, and age. The results of this study indicate that recent preoperative MI adversely influences the surgical results in patients with unstable angina. Alternative treatment strategies are warranted for high risk patients, particularly those with transmural MIs and impaired ventricular function.

Adult↗

Effects of long-term therapy with bosentan on the progression of left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling in dogs with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the effects of long-term therapy with bosentan on the progression of LV dysfunction and remodeling in dogs with moderate HF. BACKGROUND: Acute intravenous administration of bosentan, a mixed endothelin-1 type A and type B receptor antagonist, was shown to improve left ventricular (LV) function in patients and dogs with heart failure (HF). METHODS: Left ventricular dysfunction was induced by multiple, sequential intracoronary microembolizations in 14 dogs. Embolizations were discontinued when LV ejection fraction (EF) was between 30% and 40%. Dogs were randomized to three months of therapy with bosentan (30 mg/kg twice daily, n = 7) or no therapy at all (control, n = 7). RESULTS: In untreated dogs, EF decreased from 35 +/- 1% before initiating therapy to 29 +/- 1% at the end of three months of therapy (p = 0.001), and LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) increased (EDV: 71 +/- 3 vs. 84 +/- 8 ml, p = 0.08; ESV: 46 +/- 2 vs. 60 +/- 6 ml, p = 0.03). By contrast, in dogs treated with bosentan, EF tended to increase from 34 +/- 2% before initiating therapy to 39 +/- 1% at the end of three months of therapy (p = 0.06), and EDV and ESV decreased (EDV: 75 +/- 3 vs. 71 +/- 4 ml, p = 0.05; ESV: 48 +/- 2 vs. 43 +/- 3 ml, p = 0.01). Furthermore, compared with untreated dogs, dogs treated with bosentan showed significantly less LV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and LV volume fraction of interstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with moderate HF, long-term therapy with bosentan prevents the progression of LV dysfunction and attenuates LV chamber remodeling. The findings support the use of mixed endothelin-1 receptor antagonists as adjuncts to the long-term treatment of HF.

Animals↗

Clinical characteristics of patients in studies of left ventricular dysfunction (SOLVD).

The Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) trials were designed to evaluate the effects of enalapril on long-term mortality in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Patients with LV ejection fractions less than or equal to 0.35 and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) were enrolled in the treatment trial, whereas those with no history of overt CHF and taking no treatment directed for LV dysfunction were enrolled in the prevention trial. The baseline clinical characteristics of SOLVD patients were compared to characterize differences between patients in these 2 separate but concurrent trials. From over 70,000 patients screened with LV dysfunction, 4,228 patients were enrolled in the prevention trial and 2,569 patients in the treatment trial. Ischemic heart disease was the primary cause of LV dysfunction in both prevention (83%) and treatment (71%) trial patients. Prior myocardial infarction was present in 80% of the prevention and 66% of the treatment trial patients (p less than 0.001). In the prevention trial, infarction was recent (less than or equal to 6 months) in 27% patients and remote (greater than 6 months) in 57% patients. Treatment trial patients had proportionately more women (20 vs 13%; p less than 0.001) and non-Caucasians (20 vs 14%; p less than 0.001), as well as the coexisting risk factors of hypertension (42 vs 37%; p less than 0.001) and diabetes (26 vs 15%; p less than 0.001) than did prevention trial patients. Clinical characteristics of patients in both trials were influenced by the gender and race of enrolled patients. Similarly, coronary artery bypass surgery was performed less often in women and non-Caucasians.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Myocardial blood flow at rest and contractile reserve in patients with chronic coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms that determine chronic left ventricular dysfunction in coronary artery disease (in particular, critical reductions in coronary artery blood flow leading to hibernating myocardium) may affect the ability of the myocardium to respond to inotropic stimulation with dobutamine. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between resting myocardial blood flow and contractile reserve in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (21 men and 2 women; age 61 +/- 9 years) underwent transesophageal echocardiography during infusion of dobutamine (2.5 microg/kg to 40 microg/kg per minute) and positron emission tomography (PET) with 150-water (9 patients) or 13N-ammonia (14 patients). Systolic wall thickening at each dose of dobutamine and resting myocardial blood flow were quantitatively analyzed in 8 anatomically matched regions at mid-ventricular level. Myocardial regions with preserved contraction had higher blood flow compared with regions with basal dyssynergy (0.99 +/- 0.3 vs 0.65 +/- 0.3 mL/min/gm; P < .0001). Among myocardial regions with preserved resting contraction, no relation was observed between blood flow and the response to dobutamine (r = 0.06). In contrast, among myocardial regions with diminished resting contraction, a significant correlation was observed between resting blood flow and contractile reserve (r = 0.53; P < .0001). The maximum increase in percent systolic wall thickening with dobutamine was 32.8% +/- 14% in regions with normal blood flow, 21.5% +/- 17% in regions with mildly to moderately reduced blood flow, and 10.7% +/- 10% in regions with severely reduced blood flow (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the importance of resting myocardial blood flow for the preservation of contractile reserve in patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Because a positive inotropic response to dobutamine is more likely to occur in dyssynergic regions with preserved rather than reduced myocardial blood flow, regional perfusion may determine in which circumstances dobutamine echocardiography contributes to the assessment of myocardial viability.

Chronic Disease↗

Reduced right ventricular ejection fraction as a marker for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy compared with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the role of right ventricular (RV) function is emerging in patients with heart failure of different etiologies. Studies conducted in dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) showed a high prevalence of RV dysfunction unrelated to the severity of pulmonary hypertension. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of RV dysfunction in ischemic versus nonischemic patients. METHODS: A series of 153 patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (defined as a LV ejection fraction <45%) of either ischemic (n = 61, coronary artery disease [CAD] group) or nonischemic (n = 92, IDC group) origin were studied invasively. Besides routine catheterization data, RV volumes and ejection fractions were obtained angiographically. Reference data were collected in a control group of healthy subjects. RV dysfunction was defined as a RV ejection fraction <35% and ventricular concordance as a <10% difference between RV and LV ejection fraction. The LV/RV end-diastolic volume ratio was calculated to assess the relative dilatation of the ventricular chambers. Hemodynamic and angiographic data were compared in the 2 groups by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients with IDC and CAD had comparable LV ejection fractions (29% +/- 3% vs 31% +/- 8%, P not significant) and mean pulmonary pressures (27 +/- 12 mm Hg vs 26 +/- 11 mm Hg, P not significant); the LV/RV end-diastolic volume ratio was identical in the 2 groups (1.26 +/- 0.4 vs 1.24 +/- 0.4, P not significant). RV ejection fraction was significantly lower in IDC compared with CAD (33% +/- 10 % vs 46% +/- 11%, P <.0001), with a prevalence of RV dysfunction in the IDC group of 65% compared with 16% in the CAD group (P <.0001); similarly, the prevalence of ejection fraction concordance was 74% versus 33%, respectively (P <.0001). At multivariate analysis, a low RV ejection fraction was a powerful independent predictor of IDC compared with CAD (odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.87-0.94, P <.0001). RV dysfunction had a positive predictive value of 75% and a negative predictive value of 78% for the diagnosis of IDC; for ventricular concordance, these values were 81% and 69%, respectively. The correlation between mean pulmonary artery pressure and RV ejection fraction was weaker in the IDC group compared with the CAD group (R(2) = 0.032, P =.047 and R(2) = 0.172,P <.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the presence of LV dysfunction, a reduced RV ejection fraction is a powerful marker for IDC compared with CAD, independent of age, pulmonary hypertension, LV function, and ventricular dimensions. These findings support the concept that IDC is frequently characterized by a biventricular involvement and that the presence of RV dysfunction represents a distinguishing feature of this disease.

Adult↗

Spectrum of left ventricular dysfunction in potential pediatric heart transplant donors.

BACKGROUND: Although myocardial dysfunction severe enough to preclude harvest for transplantation has been reported in approximately 20% of potential adult organ donors, the incidence of myocardial dysfunction in the pediatric population has not been studied systematically. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the spectrum of myocardial dysfunction in potential pediatric heart transplant donors. METHODS: We reviewed the pediatric cardiology database at Primary Children's Medical Center to identify all children who had screening echocardiograms for potential organ donation. We reviewed charts for patient age and size, cause of brain death, and type of pharmacologic support. Echocardiograms were reviewed retrospectively for left ventricular systolic function (shortening or ejection fraction), wall motion abnormalities, diastolic function (mitral E/A ratio), Tei index, and mitral regurgitation. RESULTS: We identified 23 potential donors (age, 6.7 +/- 4.4 years; range, 5 days to 15 years). All patients were receiving pharmacologic support. We found systolic left ventricular dysfunction, defined as an ejection fraction <50% or a shortening fraction <28%, in 57% (13/23) of the patients. We found mitral regurgitation in 85% (11/13) of the patients with systolic dysfunction and in zero of 10 with normal ejection phase indices. Diastolic dysfunction (mitral E/A reversal) was found in 45% (6/13) of those with systolic dysfunction and in 60% (6/10) of patients with normal systolic ejection phase indices. The Tei index was abnormal in 8 of 13 patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (range, 0.5-1.4), and was normal in the 6 patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction. One patient, who was electrocuted, had regional wall motion abnormalities. Of the 23 potential donors, 19 (87%) had evidence of systolic or diastolic dysfunction. A total of 13 hearts (3 with normal systolic function, 4 with systolic dysfunction, and 6 with isolated diastolic dysfunction) were harvested for transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunctions are common findings in potential pediatric organ donors. Despite this, previous studies have shown that some of these hearts can be transplanted successfully. We speculate that some of the abnormalities occur as a physiologic consequence of brain death and, thus, may be reversible after transplantation. To avoid wasting a valuable, limited resource, further study is needed to identify the donors suitable for pediatric heart transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Post-operative outcome of ventricular reshaping by septal exclusion in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Post-myocardial infarction, anteroseptal dysfunction or akinesia is treated by septal reshaping to improve the surgical outcome in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between February 2003 to December 2003, 30 consecutive patients with previous anterior wall myocardial infarction and severe ventricular dysfunction underwent septal reshaping. All the dyskinetic and akinetic septal areas were excluded using an oval dacron patch which was sutured from the healthy septal area to the anterior wall, resulting in formation of a new apex. There were two mortalities in the group. After a mean follow-up of 4.2 +/- 1.6 months (1-7 months) it was seen that this procedure resulted in significant reduction of ventricular volume, increase in ejection fraction, an improvement in New York Heart Association class from 2.9 +/- 1.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.3, and a better apical geometry. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with left anterior descending artery occlusion resulting in anteroseptal dyskinesia or akinesia, septal exclusion technique provides good clinical and morphological results with significant improvement in left ventricular function.

Adult↗

Utility of a bedside Doppler in tracking left ventricular dysfunction related to hemorrhagic shock.

Treatment of hemorrhagic shock with fluid resuscitation alone results in diastolic dysfunction as measured by peak systolic pressure/end systolic volume ratio (PSP/ESV). The purpose of this study was to test the ability of a simple Doppler device to track diastolic dysfunction in hemorrhagic shock. In this prospective, controlled crossover study, five adult swine were resuscitated from hemorrhagic shock using fluids. Diastolic dysfunction was confirmed using PSP/ESV ratio. The effect of nitroprusside and dobutamine on this diastolic dysfunction was evaluated. Data (PSP/ESV, Doppler-derived acceleration, and oxygen transport parameters) were collected at each stage of the model. Arterial pressure and oxygen transport parameters corrected to baseline values; however, the PSP/ESV and Doppler-derived acceleration failed to correct with fluid resuscitation alone. Treatment with nitroprusside and dobutamine increased oxygen transport parameters, PSP/ESV ratio, and Doppler-derived acceleration significantly. Doppler-derived acceleration tracks left ventricular dysfunction seen in hemorrhagic shock.

Animals↗

Absence of a deleterious effect of calcium channel blockers in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction: The SAVE Study Experience. SAVE Investigators. Survival and Ventricular Enlargement.

BACKGROUND: As a result of randomized controlled trials with calcium channel blockers after myocardial infarction, concern has developed that these agents are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, particularly in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that calcium channel blockers increase cardiovascular events in such patients, the incidence of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, severe heart failure, and recurrent infarction was examined in 940 patients taking calcium channel blockers and 1180 not taking them 24 hours before randomization to placebo or captopril in the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) Trial. All patients had an ejection fraction < or =40%. Relative risks for calcium channel blocker users versus nonusers and the 95% confidence intervals were computed with univariate and multivariate Cox regressions. Adjustments were made for differences in baseline covariates. RESULTS: For all causes of mortality, the relative risk for calcium channel blocker users versus nonusers was 0.96, with the 95% confidence interval of 0.78 to 1.17. In the SAVE placebo and captopril groups, the relative risks for the development of severe heart failure among the calcium channel block users versus nonusers were 0.95 and 1.23, with the 95% confidence interval of 0.72 to 1.25 and 0.88 to 1.71, respectively. A similar neutral result held for patients with and without a history of hypertension. Furthermore, calcium channel blockers did not alter the benefit of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of the nonrandomized clinical use of calcium channel blockers in the postmyocardial infarction population with left ventricular dysfunction did not identify either a clinical deterioration or improvement with respect to subsequent cardiovascular events.

Adult↗

Left ventricular diastolic filling in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

The pattern of abnormal left ventricular diastolic filling and its specificity in coronary disease patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction has received little attention. We evaluated the left ventricular diastolic filling curve derived from gated blood pool scans in 21 normals, 61 coronary disease patients with ejection fractions less than or equal to 30%, and 51 congestive cardiomyopathy patients with ejection fraction less than or equal to 30%. The peak filling rate (PFR), peak ejection rate (PER), PFR/PER and the % stroke volume filled at 1/3 of diastole (%SV-1/3 DT) and at the end of the rapid filling period (%SV-RFP) were determined for each group. The PFR and PER were reduced in both coronary disease and congestive cardiomyopathy groups. The PFR/PER was increased in the coronary disease group (1.19 +/- 0.28) and congestive cardiomyopathy group (1.21 +/- 0.32) as compared to normals (0.93 +/- 0.20, P less than 0.001). A greater %SV-1/3 DT and %SV-RFP were noted in both coronary disease and congestive cardiomyopathy groups. Coronary disease and congestive cardiomyopathy patients with a mean pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP) greater than or equal to 18 mm Hg had a greater PFR/PER, %SV-1/3 DT, and %SV-RFP than patients with a PCP less than 18 mm Hg. An abnormal and nonspecific pattern of left ventricular diastolic filling is present in both coronary disease and congestive cardiomyopathy patients and is characterized by an increased PFR/PER, a greater %SV-1/3 DT, and a greater %SV-RFP. This pattern may be related to elevated PCPs.

Cardiac Output↗

[Coronary heart disease and impaired left ventricular function in patients over 80 years of age--is bypass operation justified?].

Between April 1988 and February 1995, 35 patients aged 80 years or older underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Concomitant aortic valve replacement was performed in eight patients. Fifteen patients with moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) 20 to 45%) (group I) were compared to 20 patients with an EF > 45% (group II). There were no differences according to age, NYHA classification and associated diseases. Group I patients had significantly more myocardial infarctions compared to group II (1.3 +/- 1.1 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.8; p < 0.05). Also more bypass grafts per patient were used in group I (3.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.9; p < 0.01). No differences between the groups were observed in the postoperative course. One patient of group II died from multiorgan failure (hospital mortality 2.2%). A follow-up could be performed in 32 of 34 hospital survivors (94%) 12.0 +/- 11.2 months (1-41 months) postoperatively. There was one non-cardiac death in each group. All hospital survivors improved by at least one NYHA functional class. Actuarial survival at 3 years is 91% in both groups. In patients aged 80 years or older with or without left ventricular dysfunction coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed with an acceptable risk and a functional benefit. Thus, elective operations should be performed in this age group despite left ventricular dysfunction.

Aged↗

Prognostic value of the amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium in revascularized patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Investigators of this Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to assess the prognostic importance of the amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium in revascularized patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. BACKGROUND: The amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium predicts the functional improvement after revascularization and may offer more precise risk stratification of patients referred for bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-four consecutive patients with CAD and LV ejection fraction < or =40% underwent low-dose dobutamine echocardiography for viability assessment. One hundred and thirty-three of them were revascularized using either coronary artery bypass surgery (118 patients) or coronary angioplasty (15 patients) and entered this study. To quantify the amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium, wall motion was scored using 16-segment model. The dysfunctional segments were defined as viable if they exhibited improvement in their thickening by at least 1 grade with dobutamine infusion. The patients were followed up for a mean period of 20+/-12 months (range, 2 to 48) for cardiac mortality and nonfatal cardiac events including myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris requiring hospitalization and hospitalization for heart failure. Standard follow-up echocardiography was performed 3 to 6 months after revascularization. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients exhibited a large amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium (> or =6 segments, group A), 60 patients had a small amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium (2 to 5 segments, group B) and 44 patients were found to have dysfunctional myocardium irreversibly damaged (group C). Similar prerevascularization LV ejection fractions of 35%+/-5%, 34%+/-4%, 36%+/-4% in groups A, B and C increased to 47%+/-6% (p < 0.01 vs. baseline, p < 0.01 vs. groups B and C), to 40%+/-5% (p < 0.01 vs. baseline) and to 37%+/-6% (p = NS vs baseline), respectively, after revascularization. The greatest functional improvement after revascularization in group A patients was accompanied by a lower rate of cardiac events during follow-up (2 vs. 18 in group B, p < 0.05, and vs. 17 in group C, p < 0.01) and better cardiac event-free survival according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (p < 0.05 vs. groups B and C, respectively). CONCLUSION: In revascularized patients with CAD and moderate or severe LV dysfunction, the presence of a large amount of dysfunctional but viable myocardium identifies patients with the best prognosis.

Adult↗

Prior coronary artery bypass surgery and risk of death among patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ischemic LV dysfunction are at high risk of sudden death. However, no benefit from prophylactic defibrillator therapy was observed in a group of patients with LV dysfunction undergoing CABG (CABG Patch trial). Thus, the effect of CABG on future risk of sudden death in patients with LV dysfunction is of considerable interest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mortality and modes of death in 5410 patients with ischemic LV dysfunction who were enrolled in the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) trials were evaluated. Outcomes of patients with (n=1870, 35%) versus without (n=3540) history of prior CABG were compared, and stratification by baseline ejection fraction (EF) values (<0.25, 0.25 to 0.30, and >0.30) was performed. Prior CABG was associated with a 25% (95% CI, 15% to 36%) reduction in risk of death and a 46% (95% CI, 30% to 58%) reduction in risk of sudden death independent of EF and severity of heart failure symptoms. As baseline EF declined, absolute reduction in risk of sudden death with prior CABG increased (P<0.01). No alteration in risk of death from progressive heart failure was observed with prior CABG. When these results were applied to a group of patients with LV dysfunction who had not undergone prior surgery (Coronary Artery Surgery Study Registry) predicted annual rates of death (8.2%) and sudden death (2.4%) were similar to those observed in the CABG Patch trial (7.9% and 2.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ischemic LV dysfunction, prior CABG is associated with a significant independent reduction in mortality. These results appear to account for the lack of benefit from defibrillator therapy in the CABG Patch trial.

Adult↗

Relation between left ventricular shape and exercise capacity in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify dynamic predictors of exercise duration in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction and to test the hypothesis that left ventricular shape is an independent determinant of exercise duration in these patients. BACKGROUND: Measurements of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction at rest do not predict exercise capacity in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular shape at rest has been reported to be an independent determinant of exercise duration in these patients. The significance of alterations in left ventricular shape that occur during dynamic exercise has not been investigated. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with a documented ejection fraction < 40% performed symptom-limited graded upright bicycle exercise with simultaneous quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography. End-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, ejection fraction and sphericity index were measured at rest and peak exercise. RESULTS: Eleven patients exercised beyond stage II (6 min, 50 W), averaging 8.9 +/- 1.9 min; 10 patients were unable to complete stage II, averaging 4.9 +/- 0.9 min. No patient developed clinical evidence of ischemia during the exercise period. Of the echocardiographic variables considered, only end-systolic and end-diastolic sphericity indexes at peak exercise (r = 0.809 and 0.711, respectively) and the change in end-systolic sphericity index during exercise (r = 0.697) were strongly correlated with exercise duration. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional descriptors of left ventricular function are poor predictors of exercise capacity. Dynamic changes in heart shape correlate strongly with exercise duration and may be important determinants of exercise capacity in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction.

Adult↗