Myocardial Viability Testing to Guide Coronary Revascularization.

Left ventricular dysfunction remains one of the best prognostic determinants of survival in patients with coronary artery disease. Revascularization has been shown to improve survival compared with medical therapy alone. Viability testing can help direct patients who will benefit the most from revascularization. Single-photon emission computed tomography, dobutamine stress echo, cardiac MRI, and PET imaging with F18-fluorodeoxyglucose are the most common modalities for assessing myocardial viability. Viability testing can help differentiate which patients benefit most from chronic total occlusion interventions.