Background: The left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) helps to predict postoperative left ventricular function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Methods: We retrospectively assessed the ability of preoperative variables to predict death and the development of postoperative congestive heart failure in 41 patients with a preoperative ejection fraction of less than 0.30.
Results: A preoperative LVESVI of greater than 100 mL/m2 was identified as an independent predictor of death by Cox's proportional hazards model. Diabetes and a preoperative LVESVI of greater than 100 mL/m2 were independent predictive risk factors for the development of postoperative congestive heart failure. Postoperative congestive heart failure developed in 2 of the 23 patients (8.7%) who had a preoperative LVESVI of less than 100 mL/m2 and in 10 of the 16 patients (62.5%) who had a preoperative LVESVI of greater than 100 mL/m2. The actuarial survival rate during follow-up in patients who had a preoperative LVESVI of less than 100 mL/m2 was significantly greater than that in patients who had a preoperative LVESVI of greater than 100 mL/m2. The actuarial rate of freedom from congestive heart failure during the follow-up period also was greater in patients who had a preoperative LVESVI of less than 100 mL/m2.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that the preoperative LVESVI predicts the development of postoperative congestive heart failure and the actuarial survival rate in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.