Comparison of preoperative left ventricular function with postoperative left ventricular response to exercise in...

The relation between preoperative left ventricular (LV) systolic function at rest and postoperative LV response to exercise was assessed in 13 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and nine patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Preoperative end-systolic volume index (ESVI) and ejection fraction (EF) determined by LV angiography were compared with postoperative exercise-induced changes of LV fractional shortening (delta %FS) and mean velocity of fiber shortening (delta mVcf) assessed by echocardiography. Preoperative EF and ESVI in 13 patients with AR correlated well with postoperative delta %FS and delta mVcf. Similarly, preoperative EF and ESVI in nine patients with AS correlated well with postoperative delta %FS and delta mVcf. Our study demonstrated that preoperative LV systolic function in AR and AS patients closely reflected postoperative LV response to exercise. Preoperative smaller ESVI will be warranted to expect a favorably good postoperative LV response to exercise.