NYMC Faculty Publications

Myocardial Viability Assessment Before Surgical Revascularization in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

First Page

1068

Last Page

1077

Document Type

Review Article

Publication Date

9-7-2021

Department

Medicine

Abstract

Ischemic cardiomyopathy results from the combination of scar with fibrosis replacement and areas of dysfunctional but viable myocardium that may improve contractile function with revascularization. Observational studies reported that only patients with substantial amounts of myocardial viability had better outcomes following surgical revascularization. Accordingly, dedicated noninvasive techniques have evolved to quantify viable myocardium with the objective of selecting patients for this form of therapeutic intervention. However, prospective trials have not confirmed the interaction between myocardial viability and the treatment effect of revascularization. Furthermore, recent observations indicate that recovery of left ventricular function is not the principal mechanism by which surgical revascularization improves prognosis. In this paper, the authors describe a more contemporary application of viability testing that is founded on the alternative concept that the main goal of surgical revascularization is to prevent further damage by protecting the residual viable myocardium from subsequent acute coronary events.

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