ABSTRACT
To assess changes in resting left ventricular function after reestablishment of myocardial perfusion, echocardiographic studies were performed before, at three resp. six days after as well as three months after successful PTCA in 19 patients and after coronary artery bypass grafting in 20 patients. Reference data were obtained from analog processing of values from 20 healthy control subjects. Baseline values (in addition to primary morphologic criteria) were indicative of a clearly functional selection pattern. As compared with those undergoing PTCA, patients who underwent bypass surgery had more unfavorable values for ejection fraction at rest. Immediately after the intervention, there was a consistent tendency to transiently reduced resting pump function. At three months, however, in both groups, cardiac performance had returned to control values and the global and regional parameters of contractility had either reached or exceeded the preoperative values. The mean values showed more improvement in the PTCA group, a finding most probably attributable to the more favorable baseline situation. Paradoxic septum motion was found frequently in those who had undergone bypass surgery. All patients with grafting to the right coronary artery were included in the latter group. Whether perioperative injury, the varying perfusion conditions or the pericardiotomy is responsible for this phenomenon, remains to be established.