Value of dobutamine echocardiography for the assessment of myocardial viability for revascularization.
Coronary artery disease accounts for a majority of heart failure cases in the western world. Many cardiologists believe that abnormal regional contractions in patients with coronary artery disease is equivalent to irreversibly damaged myocardium. Studies now challenge this long-held assumption. Data exist regarding the value of assessing myocardial viability in those patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery disease. This report discusses dobutamine echocardiography as a technique for assessing myocardial viability and for selecting patients for revascularization. (c)2001 by CHF, Inc.
Senior
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Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Northwick Park Hospital and Institute for Medical Research, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, UK.
Lahiri
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