Chronic Myocardial Ischemia and Left Ventricular Function

Excerpt

Experimental studies show that brief episodes of myocardial ischemia result in changes in regional left ventricular systolic shortening that normalize after restoration of coronary blood flow. Since our original work in the characterization of left ventricular asynergy based on interventions done in the catheterization laboratory first appeared, other imaging techniques and renewed interest in the role of ischemia in left ventricular dysfunction have emerged (1-3).

The autoregulatory mechanisms that attempt to maintain a normal resting coronary blood flow in the presence of severe coronary stenosis may fail in some patients. Although a persistent decrease in resting flow may not be