Detection of Myocardial Viability in the Prediction of Improvement in Left Ventricular Function After Successful Coronary Revascularization by Using the Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography and Quantitative SPECT Rest-Redistribution-Reinjection 201TI Imaging After Dipyridamole Infusion

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and respective diagnostic accuracy of low-dose dobutamine infusion and rest-redistribution-reinjection thallium 201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) after dipyridamole infusion (Th-DIP), in the prediction of functional improvement of asynergic infarcted zones, after successful revascularization in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. Thirty-one patients with a previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction: 41 ±5.8%) were studied. The regional wall motion of the left ventricle was evaluated by basic echocardiography before and 14 ± 1.7 weeks after successful revascularization (19 by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and 12 by coronary artery bypass grafting). Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed in all patients with dobutamine infusion of 5 and 10 μg/kg/minute over five minutes. Within three days after DSE and prior to revascularization, all patien...