Perioperative ischemic injury after coronary bypass graft surgery

Two hundred twelve patients who underwent isolated coronary bypass graft surgery were prospectively evaluated for perioperative ischemic injury. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative testing with technetium 99m pyrophosphate first-pass ventriculography combined with myocardial uptake scans, 12-lead electrocardiography, and serial creatinine phosphokinase MB determination. Fifteen percent of the patients had ischemic injury with at least two test results positive, but only 4 percent had positive results of all three tests. No single test proved adequate. Enzyme levels were highly sensitive and had value as a screening test. The electrocardiogram was specific but only moderately sensitive. The single best test was the radionuclide scan with good sensitivity and no false-positive results. All three tests are required to rigorously diagnose ischemic injury.