Predictive value of left ventricular function on prognosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

In order to assess the predictive value of left ventricular (LV) function on prognosis during 16 years of follow-up we retrospectively/prospectively evaluated 320 patients (mean age 55.9 +/- 9.2 years; 44 women, 276 men) undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients were divided according to the assessed echocardiographically pre- and postoperative LV ejection fraction (LVEF) into two groups: patients with LV dysfunction (EF < 55%) and patients with preserved LV function (EF >or= 55%). In order to assess the prognostic variables, patients were further subdivided into a group with severely depressed LV function (EF