[Total and segmental contractile function of the left ventricle in acute myocardial infarction studied by...

An angiographic study of 50 patients with acute myocardial infarction was carried out in order to assess total and segmental left-ventricular contractility. The comparison of left-ventricular activity in patients with transmural vs. nontransmural anterior myocardial infarction demonstrated no differences, related to the type of lesion. The type of affection of the infarction-linked artery largely influences left-ventricular activity. Nontransmural diaphragmatic myocardial infarction was associated with the least left-ventricular dysfunction. Various functional left-ventricular disorders corresponded to definite central hemodynamic patterns, associated with myocardial infarction.