Left ventricular function in ischemic heart disease: assessment by noninvasive techniques

1. Thirty-two patients (29 men and 3 women), admitted to a coronary-care unit with either acute coronary insufficiency or acute myocardial infarction, had their systolic time intervals and the a/E ratio of the apexcardiogram studied on days 1,2, and 7 of their hospital stay. 2. Only the LVETc and PEP/LVET were found to undergo any statistically significant change. Although all figures were in the abnormal range, they had no discriminative value in individuals. None of the other commonly accepted noninvasive indices or left ventricular function, including the a/E ratio of the apexcardiogram, were found to be of assistance in the early distinction between acute coronary insufficiency and acute myocardial infarction.