Evaluation of ventricular arrhythmias late after coronary artery bypass graft surgery--relation to clinical variables

This study was undertaken to evaluate ventricular arrhythmias (VA) using ambulatory ECG monitoring in 150 patients 33 +/- 22 months (mean +/- SD) after successful CABG in relation to severity of coronary artery disease (LS: Leaman score, Circulation 1981), revascularization ratio (RI: preop. LS-postop.LS/preop.LS), preoperative myocardial infarct size (Selvester score: SQS, Circulation 1982), LV function and other variables. They were divided into two groups according to the Lown classification; 42 patients with serious VA (group A: grade 4 to 5), and 108 without them (group B: grade 0 to 3). Group A was older than group B (60 +/- 5 vs. 57 +/- 9; p less than 0.05). There were no significant differences in follow-up period, coronary risk factors, LS and RI between the groups. Group A had significantly higher SQS (7.5 +/- 3.2 vs. 2.6 +/- 1.9; p less than 0.01), LVEDP (preop.: 14 +/- 7 vs. 11 +/- 5 mmHg; p less than 0.05, postop.: 14 +/- 7 vs. 11 +/- 5 mmHg; p less than 0.05), LVESVI (preop.: 53 +/- 27 vs. 31 +/- 17 ml/M2; p less than 0.01, postop.: 53 +/- 35 vs. 30 +/- 14 ml/M2; p less than 0.01), LVEDVI (preop.: 93 +/- 28 vs. 72 +/- 22 ml/M2; p less than 0.01, postop.: 90 +/- 36 vs. 74 +/- 21 ml/M2; p less than 0.01), and lower LVEF (preop.: 44 +/- 15 vs. 58 +/- 11%; p less than 0.01, postop.: 44 +/- 15 vs. 60 +/- 10%; p less than 0.01) than group B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)