ABSTRACT
Within the overall spectrum of coronary artery disease, patients with left ventricular dysfunction pose particular problems and consume an increasingly large proportion of healthcare costs devoted to cardiac disease. Such patients are at increased risk from surgical procedures and percutaneous coronary intervention. However, some of these patients may benefit significantly in terms of symptom improvement, enhanced quality of life, and improved survival if they undergo successful revascularization. The major determinant of whether revascularization results in functional improvement is the extent of hibernating myocardium present.
