Prognostic Value of Myocardial Ischemia and Viability in Patients With Chronic Left Ventricular Ischemic Dysfunction

Among the parameters commonly available in patients with LV ischemic dysfunction, the presence of ischemic myocardium (as determined by thallium scintigraphy) and that of viable myocardium (as determined by dobutamine echocardiography) are independent predictors of subsequent mortality. These observations may be useful in the preoperative selection of patients for revascularization.