title: Detection of perioperative myocardial damage after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: In order to evaluate methods for detecting peri-operative myocardial damage we studied 41 patients before and serially following coronary artery bypass graft surgery utilizing the 12-lead ECG, serum MB-CPK measurements, and 99mTc pyrophosphate myocardial scans. Six of the 41 patients (15%) developed persistent new Q waves after surgery. Six other patients demonstrated ischemic ST-T wave changes that persisted for 48 hours or more. Mean total MB-CPK released was highest for the group with new Q waves [1598+/-545 (SE) I.U./L-hr] as compared to the group with ischemic ST-T wave changes 708+/-65 I.U./L-hr) or the group with no ECG changes (262+/-47 I.U./L-hr). Ten patients (24%) has positive postoperative pyrophosphate scans consistent with myocardial infarction. The three techniques were compared in these 41 patients utilizing 465 I.U./L.-hr as the upper limit of normal MB-CPK released after uncomplicated coronary bypass surgery (no ECG changes, negative scan). Five patients with ischemic ECG changes had a positive scan and high MB-CPK; six patients with no ECG changes had high MB-CPK but a negative scan; and one patient with high MB-CPK and new Q wave had a negative scan. We conclude 1) new Q waves on ECG underestimate the incidence of myocardial damage after coronary artery surgery; 2) MB-CPK alone overestimates the incidence of infarction; and 3) a combination of the three techniques is the best means for detecting myocardial damage after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D011756:Diphosphates; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D011756:Diphosphates; D007527:Isoenzymes; D003402:Creatine Kinase