Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing cardiac MRI viability assessment prior to revascularization

AbstractCoronary artery bypass grafting improves survival in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, however, these patients are at high risk for morbidity and mortality. The role of viability testing to guide revascularization in these patients is unclear. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has not been studied adequately in this population despite being considered a reference standard for infarct imaging. We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients (n  = 154) with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) <  35%] on CMR who underwent CMR viability assessment prior to consideration for revascularization. Using the AHA16-segment model, percent total myocardial viability was determined depending on the degree of transmural scar thickness. Patients with or without revascularization had similar clinical c haracteristics and were prescribed similar medical therapy. Overall, 43% of patients (n = 66) experienced an adverse event during the median 3 years follow up. For the composite outcome (death, myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, stroke, ventricular tachycardia) patients recei ving revascularization were less likely to experience an adverse event compared to those without revascularization (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.86,p = 0.01). Patients with >  50% viability on CMR had a 47% reduction in composite events when undergoing revascularization opposed to medical therapy alone (HR 0.53, pâ€...
Source: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research