Significance of persistent left ventricular dysfunction during recovery after dobutamine stress echocardiography

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to assess the duration of new or worsening left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities [RWMA] after dobutamine stress echocardiography [DSE] and their relation to the extent of coronary artery disease [CAD]. This study included 34 patients with positive results on DSE and angiographically documented CAD. Patients were classified into groups I, II and III according to the presence of one, two or three-vessel disease on coronary angiography, respectively. All patients had at least one ischemic region during DSE. The disappearance of ECG changes after DSE was faster than the disappearance of RWMAs and all ECG changes disappeared within 20 minutes, while RWMAs disappeared after 25 minutes. Patients with three-vessel disease had a longer time for ECG and RWMAs disappear than patients with one or two-vessel disease. The mean recovery time of RWMA was 7.1 +/- 2.6, 11.5 +/- 4.6 and 13.1 +/- 3.9 minutes in groups I, II and III, respectively. Normalization of RWMA after DSE occurred after the resolution of symptoms and ECG changes during recovery. The time to recovery was related to the extent of CAD and myocardial ischemia