Assessment of left ventricular function during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Abstract

Left ventricular function is commonly impaired following cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest. Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCABG) offers promise of better myocardial protection, although the effect of multiple regional ischemic events on global myocardial function is unknown. Twenty-eight patients undergoing multivessel OPCABG were assessed with transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheterization prior to and following revascularization. Both load-dependent and relatively load-independent measurements of systolic and diastolic performance were measured. Mean +/- SD age was 62+/-8.3 years, grafts performed were 3.8+/-1.6, and 28% of patients had fract..