Left-ventricular reduction surgery: Pre- and postoperative evaluation by cine magnetic resonance imaging

Aim: To evaluate the role of cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the p reoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up of patients undergoing l eft ventricular (LV) reduction surgery. Patients and Methods: 6 patients wi th cardiomegaly were examined on a 1.5 T MR imager before and after LV redu ction surgery. The heart was imaged along the short and long axes using a b reath-hold EGG-triggered cine gradient-echo sequence for assessing ventricu lar and valvular morphology and function and performing volumetry (end-dias tolic and end-systolic volumes, ejection fraction). Results: Postoperativel y, the mean ejection fraction increased from 21.7% to 33.4% and the end-dia stolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes decreased in all patients (304.0 and 252.5 mi before to 205.0 and 141.9 mi after surgery). Mean myoca rdial mass decreased slightly from 283.8 g to 242.7 g. Differences were sig nificant for all parameters (p < 0.05). MRI allowed for the reliable assess ment of postoperative valve morphology and yielded additional findings such as the presence of mitral valve insufficiency or ventricular thrombus. Con clusions: Cine MRI provides relevant information prior to left ventricular reduction surgery and reliably depicts functional and morphological changes in the early postoperative follow-up.