| Popis: |
Left ventricular function is one of the most important determinates of long term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease [1]. In recent years it has become apparent that left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease is not always an irreversible process. Rahimtoola [2] and Bolli [3] have reported improvement in regional left ventricular function post-revascularization in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction. In fact, restoration of blood flow to these severely dysfunctional regions, not only can improve regional and global left ventricular function post-revascularization, but may also impact on long term survival [4,5]. Therefore, identifying the degree and extent of viable myocardium in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction is an essential part of risk stratification, including referral for revascularization for those patients in whom significant myocardial viability is determined. Low dose dobutamine echocardiography has gained significant attention in the identification of inotropic contractile reserve (myocardial viability) in patients with reversible left ventricular dysfunction and is the primary focus of this chapter. |
