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[Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with highly impaired ventricular function. Long-term outcome]

H Hausmann1, H Siniawski, R Meyer

  • 1Abteilung für Herz-, Thorax- und Gefässchirurgie, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany. hhausmann@dhzb.de

Insights

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves survival in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and viable myocardium. This high-risk group experiences acceptable long-term prognosis after CABG.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Left ventricular function is a critical predictor of survival in coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Preoperative ventricular dysfunction significantly impacts hospital mortality after surgery for end-stage CAD.
  • Investigating the influence of preoperative ventricular dysfunction on long-term survival after coronary bypass surgery is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term survival outcomes of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary bypass grafting (CABG).
  • To determine if preoperative identification of viable myocardium influences prognosis in these high-risk patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 1751 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 10-30% underwent CABG between 1986 and 2000.
  • Diagnosis of "hibernating myocardium" (ischemia) was confirmed using myocardial scintigraphy, echocardiography, MRI, and PET.
  • Patient survival was tracked using actuarial methods.

Main Results:

  • The operative mortality rate was 7.1%.
  • Actuarial survival rates were 87.6% at 2 years, 76.0% at 5 years, and 53.3% at 9 years.
  • For patients with LVEF 10-20%, survival rates were 79.8% (2 years), 63.0% (5 years), and 45.7% (9 years).

Conclusions:

  • Coronary bypass grafting (CABG) can successfully enhance life expectancy for patients with end-stage coronary artery disease.
  • Acceptable long-term prognosis is achievable for high-risk patients with preoperatively identified viable myocardium.
  • CABG is a viable treatment option for selected patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.
Abstract

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