Routine Measurement of Radioisotope Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Prior to Vascular Surgery: Is it Worthwhile?

Abstract Objective. To determine whether estimation of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) by means of multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scanning could reliably stratify cardiac risk prior to elective major vascular surgery. Methods. A review of the English-language literature. Results and Conclusions. Twenty-two studies enrolling a total of 3096 patients were identified from 1984 to date. Selection bias, blinding of the results, different cut-off limits, and several retrospective studies were some of the problems preventing a comprehensive analysis. The resting LVEF was not found to be a consistent predictor of perioperative ischaemic cardiac events. In the perioperative phase, poor LV function was, mainly, predictive of congestive heart failure, and, in the long-term, of cardiac outcome. The presence of myocardial wall motion abnormalities was also associated with both a higher chance of postoperative cardiac complications and a worse long-term cardiac outcome. Although measurements of LV function seem to play a key role in defining a patient's long-term prognosis, the value of routinely measuring LVEF preoperatively is limited and, therefore, MUGA scanning cannot be recommended as a general screening test. Despite this, it has been widely used for cardiac risk assessment in vascular surgery, and only recently its popularity has started declining. Other tests, such as stress-echocardiography and myocardial perfusion imaging, used selectively in moderate-risk patients can refine prediction of cardiac risk. In the future, gated stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, perhaps combined with ANP/BNP plasma level determination, may become a first choice test in preoperative cardiac risk assessment.