RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (EF9%) was significantly greater in the group with EF less or equal to 20% (49%) than in the group with EF above 20% (20%). EF less or equal to 20% was not shown by multivariable logistic regression analysis to be an independent predictor of operative mortality. Survival rates at one year were 85+/-2.8%, 93+/-0.9%, and 98%+/-0.3% for patients with EF less or equal to 20%, over 20-40% and greater than 40% respectively; and at five years: 72+/-0.4%, 81+/-0.2% and 89+/-0.1%, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate acceptable mortality rates in patients with an EF less or equal to 20%, and show that EF less or equal to 20% does not appear to be an independent predictor of hospital mortality in our practice. Incremental changes in practice including improved patient selection and peroperative management may have reduced the impact of EF less or equal to 20% on mortality following CABG.
