METHODS
Study population. A total of 261 patients were clinically
referred for assessment of viability by PET; these patients
had chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) on angiography
with depressed left ventricular (LV) function, as defined by
a LV ejection fraction (EF) 40%, and underwent evaluation
for surgical revascularization. Criteria for revascularization
were feasible anatomy, no extensive co-morbidity and
informed consent of the patient. Of this population, 167
patients were not revascularized on the basis of poor target
vessels (n 143), extensive co-morbidity (n 15), or
From the *Cardiovascular Research Foundation, “S. Giacomo” Hospital, Castelfranco
Veneto, Italy; †Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of
Torino, Torino, Italy; ‡PET Center, Nuclear Medicine Department, “S. Giacomo”
Hospital, Castelfranco Veneto, Italy; and the §Department of Cardiology, Leiden
University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. The study was supported by the
Cardiovascular Research Foundation research fellowship program.
Manuscript received February 28, 2005; revised manuscript received June 7, 2005,
accepted June 13, 2005.