Two-dimensional echocardiographic analysis of segmental left ventricular wall motion before and after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Abstract
Twenty patients with coronary artery disease were studied with two-dimensional echocardiography the day before saphenous vein bypass graft surgery. Serial studies were obtained 7.4 +/- 2.5 (+/- SD) and 43.4 +/- 13.1 days postoperatively to qualitatively assess the effect of bypass surgery on regional wall motion. Changes in segmental wall motion were assessed semiquantitatively by assigning a segmental wall motion score to each of nine echocardiographically defined segments. Preoperatively, 18% of the segments moved abnormally. The mean overall segmental wall motion score did not change significantly, as shown by comparing the postoperative studies with the preoperative study. However, there was a significant worsening in the septal motion (apical and basal) and a significant improvement in posterior wall motion (apical and basal) after bypass surgery. Anterior and lateral wall motion were not significantly changed. Nonseptal segments that were normal preoperatively usually remained normal; abnormal nonse...