Multigated radionuclide ventriculography during in-hospital phase of acute myocardial infarction

Global and regional left ventricular performance was assessed by multigated radionuclide technique in thirty patients sustaining acute myocardial infarction on two occasions during in-hospital phase. Thirteen (76.5%) of the seventeen patients with anterior infarction had depressed initial left ventricular ejection fraction compared with seven (53.8%) of the thirteen patients with inferior infarction. From initial to discharge study, change in ejection fraction was statistically insignificant in either group of infarctions. All except three (10%) patients had regional wall motion abnormality on initial evaluation with little subsequent alteration. Our data demonstrates that ejection fraction changes variably during the course of illness, and location of infarction has profound effect upon degree of left ventricular dysfunction. Assessment by non-invasive radionuclide technique may have prognostic implications.