Prognostic implications of myocardial contractile reserve in patients withischemic cardiomyopathy

The extent and degree of myocardial viability is an important parameter in the risk stratification of patients with significant left ventricular dysfu nction due to coronary artery disease (CAD). Although several imaging modal ities can identify viable myocardium, dobutamine stress echocardiography ha s gained considerable importance as an accurate, safe, and reliable method. In patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction secondary to CAD , identifying the presence and extent of contractile reserve and, therefore , viable myocardium, during low dose dobutamine infusion can predict recove ry of left ventricular function postrevascularization, survival, and future cardiac events.