Myocardial Function after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Preoperative Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction-The Role of the Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain.

: The role of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on postoperative left ventricular (LV) function in patients with preoperatively preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is still being discussed and only a few studies address this question. This study aimed to assess LV function after CABG in patients with preoperatively preserved LVEF using left ventricular longitudinal strain assessed by 2D speckle tracking imaging (STI). : Fifty-nine consecutive adult patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for a first-time elective CABG surgery were enrolled in the final analysis of this prospective single-center clinical study.

Frequency of Left Atrial Enlargement According to Different Modes of Indexing in Overweight and Obese Individuals.

: Current guidelines recommend indexing left atrial volume (LAV) by body surface area (BSA). However, in overweight and obese individuals this may result in the underestimation of left atrial enlargement (LAE). The aim of our study was to assess whether alternative LAV indexing to height and/or height-squared better identifies individuals with LAE among those who are overweight and/or obese.

Changes of Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Aim: This prospective study was designed to evaluate the changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with both normal and abnormal pre-operative systolic function.

Methods: During the period from October 2017 to October 2018, forty-seven consecutive patients undergoing CABG were enrolled in this prospective study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed within 1 week before CABG as well as 4 to 6 months after surgery.

Does the Presence of Diabetes Mellitus Make a Difference in Pharmacological Stress Echocardiography Outcome Results?

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes (DM).

Aim: The aim of our study was to analyse the ability of pharmacological SE to risk stratify patients with DM using qualitative and quantitative assessment of LV function.

Methods: We prospectively assessed 105 consecutive patients (58.