Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) applications have expanded to evaluation of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and viability. We quantified regional MBF pre– and post–coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using adenosine stress and cardiac 64-MDCT, and investigated whether the results predict MBF and left ventricular (LV) function recovery after CABG.

We studied 321 regions in 19 CABG patients who underwent adenosine stress 64-row MDCT perfusion imaging and cine magnetic resonance imaging pre- and post-CABG. Myocardial blood flow was estimated from linear regression equation slopes using Patlak plot analyses and compared with LV function by measuring wall thickening (%WT) using cine magnetic resonance imaging.

Overall mean MBFs were 1.39 ± 0.49 and 1.95 ± 0.49 mL/(g min) pre- and post-CABG (P < .0001). Myocardial blood flow in revascularized areas increased significantly (pre-CABG 1.18 ± 0.45, post-CABG 1.99 ± 0.66 mL/[g min], P < .001), whereas nonischemic areas showed no difference (1.79 ± 0.70 and 1.97 ± 0.46 mL/[g min], P = .14). Revascularized areas with preoperative MBF ≥0.9 mL/(g min) showed significantly greater MBF improvement than those with preoperative MBF <0.9 mL/(g min) (P = .04). In patients with preoperative LV dysfunction (ejection fraction <40%), %WT in revascularized areas with pre-CABG MBF ≥0.9 mL/(g min) improved significantly after CABG (pre-%WT 40.9 ± 22.9, post-%WT 52.8 ± 20.6, P = .03) versus those with pre-CABG MBF <0.9 mL/(g min) (pre-%WT 53.2 ± 35.5, post-%WT 42.5 ± 17.0, P = .40).

Our results demonstrated more significantly increased MBF post-CABG than pre-CABG, particularly in revascularized areas. Regional MBF before CABG may predict MBF and LV function recovery, in the short term, after CABG.