Prognosis and risk evaluation in postoperative coronary patients: The PERISCOP study: Methodology and characteristics of the included population.

The aim of the PERISCOP study was to evaluate the predictive value of cardi ological investigations performed after recent coronary bypass surgery with regards to cardiac event and mortality at one year. The treatment of lipid abnormalities was also analysed. This first article describes the methodol ogy and patient characteristics at inclusion. This prospective national multicenter trial included 2065 patients (86% men ) with an average age of 63.1 +/- 9.9 years. The number of diseased vessels was 2.6 +/- 0.6. Preoperative left ventricular function was normal (ejecti on fraction 60 +/- 13%). Revascularisation was complete in 73% of cases (22 % of arterial grafts). The cardiological investigations were performed at Day 20 +/- 10 after surg ery. The duration of exercise on stress testing was 429 +/- 170 seconds. It was positive or doubtful in 9% of cases. Ventricular arrhythmias were obse rved in 6.5% of cases. The blood pressure response was abnormal in 6% of ca ses. Holter monitoring showed a median number of ventricular extrasystoles over 24 hours of 44. Three per cent of patients had one episode of Ventricu lar tachycardia and 7% had ischaemic episodes. The echocardiographic index of segmental contractility was on average 1.75 (ejection fraction : 52.6%). The lipid analysis performed at one month, under lipid therapy in 34% of ca ses, showed a total cholesterol level at 1.91 +/- 0.10 g/l), an LDL-cholest erol of 1.27 +/- 0.08 g/l. The therapeutic target (LDL-cholesterol < 1 g/l) was attained in 46% of cases with treatment and in 18% of cases without tr eatment.