[Changes in the systolic function of the left ventricle in myocardial infarct patients with a Q wave]

An analysis is submitted of prospective indices for the left ventricular pump function in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting with Q wave during the first 10 days of the illness and in a nine-to-twelve months' time. The findings obtained suggested relatedness of impaired systolic function of the left ventricle in these patients to the degree of acute cardiac insufficiency. There have been identified three types of systolic dysfunction in the above patients. The initial systolic dysfunction was characterized by a drop in the stroke index (SI) down to 35 ml/m2 and in the systolic index (STI) as low as 2.4 l/min/m2; moderately severe dysfunction was manifested by SI reduction in the range of 30-35 ml/m2, STI--over the range 2.2 to 2.4 l/min/m2; severe dysfunction was with SI below 30 ml/m2, STI less than 2.2 l/min/m2. Different mechanisms are shown of acute cardiac insufficiency compensation in the above-named types of dysfunction together with their prognostic significance in early postinfarction period.