title: Impact of preoperative positron emission tomography in patients with severely impaired LV-function undergoing surgical revascularization.
abstract: In patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) offers an important therapeutic option but is still associated with high perioperative mortality. Although previous studies suggest a benefit from revascularization for patients with defined viability by a non-invasive technique, the role of viability assessment to determine suitability for revascularization in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy has not yet been defined. This study evaluates the hypothesis that the use of PET imaging in the decision-making process for CABG will improve postoperative patient survival. We reviewed 476 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (LV ejection fraction <or=0.35) who were considered candidates for CABG between 1994 and 2004 on the basis of clinical presentation and angiographic data. In a Standard Care Group, 298 patients underwent CABG. In a second PET-assisted management group of 178 patients, 152 patients underwent CABG (PET-CABG) and 26 patients were excluded from CABG because of lack of viability (PET-Alternatives). Primary endpoint was postoperative survival. There were two in hospital deaths in the PET-CABG (1.3%) and 30 (10.1%) in the Standard Care Group (P = 0.018). The survival rate after 1, 5 and 9.3 years was 92.0, 73.3 and 54.2% in the PET-CABG and 88.9, 62.2 and 35.5% in the Standard Care Group, respectively (P = 0.005). Cox-regression analysis revealed a significant influence on long-term survival of patient selection by viability assessment via PET (P = 0.008), of LV-function (P = 0.017), and age >70 (P = 0.016). Preoperative assessment of myocardial viability via PET identifies patients, who will benefit most from CABG.
authors.affiliation: Klinik fuer Herz- und Gefaesschirurgie, Deutsches Herzzentrum Muenchen, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Lazarettstrasse 36, 80636, Munich, Germany. johannesfboehm@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauernschmitt
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaiger
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D018579:Patient Selection; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left