Question: Is there a relationship between intra-operative
nonsystolic echocardiographic parameters and outcome following coronary
artery bypass (CAB) surgery?Findings: In this prospective observational study, severe
dysfunction of non-systolic parameters, determined by intraoperative
transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), was related in dose-response
fashion to duration of postoperative hospital stay; those with abnormal
parameters in non-systole(diastolic) despite normal systolic function,
prior to coronary revascularization, had a 35-40% longer hospital stay
than those with normal diastolic function.Meaning: Abnormal left ventricular non-systolic parameters on
intra-operative TEE is an independent determinant of hospital length of
stay in patients with normal systolic function undergoing coronary
artery bypass (CAB) surgery.