Precardiopulmonary Bypass Right Ventricular Function Is Associated with Poor Outcome After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Severe Left Ventricular

Patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunc-tion (LVSD) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft-ing (CABG) have an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of pre-CABG right ventricular (RV) func-tion with outcome for patients with severe LVSD. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 41 patients with severe LVSD (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]25%) scheduled for nonemergent CABG. Data were obtained from review of medical records, trans-esophageal echocardiography tapes, and phone inter-view. The pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) LVEF and the RV fractional area of contraction (RVFAC) were calculated by using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Group 1 patients had an RVFA