Accuracy and usefulness of echoventriculography in acute myocardial infarction

Echoventriculography is a noninvasive and three-dimensional ultrasonic technique capable to assess in detail the regional performance of the left ventricle. Therefore the mechanical performance of the left ventricle after myocardial infarction is informatively assessed by the composite contributions made by infarcted and noninfarcted segments. Its reliability has been confirmed by direct cineangiographic and autopsy correlations. In clinical decision making such direct information is of great value both for diagnosis and therapeutic selection. In the coronary care unit echoventriculography provides most information obtained by the less feasible invasive cineangiographic examinations.