Effect of coronary artery bypass graft in patients with unstable angina on left ventricular remodelling in medium-term follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular remodelling is a process of change in size, shape, wall thickness and heart function, initiated by a noxious stimulus such as ischaemia. Methods of pharmacological and surgical inhibition or reversal of remodelling are being sought.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of coronary artery bypass grafting on echocardiographic measures of left ventricular size and shape in medium-term follow-up.


METHODS
In a group of 30 patients three echocardiographic examinations were performed: before CABG operation, 3 months after and 20 months after the operation. Left ventricular area and volumes as well as indices of sphericity, thinning and expansion were calculated.


RESULTS
After the operation, left ventricular areas measured in short axis and in apical four-chamber view increased among patients with a history of myocardial infarction. Improvement in the sphericity index occurred after the operation in patients with a history of myocardial infarction in whom the ejection fraction before the operation was less than 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
The left ventricular remodelling process progresses after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with a history of myocardial infarction. Inhibition of remodelling may be expected in patients without myocardial infarction, with preserved left ventricular systolic function.
Gaszewska-Zurek
Ewa
E
3rd Department of Cardiology, Silesian School of Medicine, ul. Ziołowa 47, 40-635 Katowice, Poland. pawewazurek@poczta.onet.pl
Zurek
Paweł
P
Olszówka
Piotr
P
Kargul
Tomasz
T
Woś
Stanisław
S
Tendera
Michał
M
D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling