[Right ventricular function during the convalescence phase of posterior primary infarction]

Right ventricular extension is very common in inferior myocardial infarction and the resulting haemodynamic changes are well documented. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the consequences on regional and global right ventricular function at a distance from the initial episode. The study population included 32 patients (29 men and 3 women; mean age 52.7 +/- 6 years) admitted consecutively to the coronary care unit for acute inferior wall myocardial infarction with right ventricular extension (group A: 14 patients) or without (group B: 18 patients), based on the initial haemodynamic data. All patients underwent right and left cardiac catheterisation with selective biplane right and left ventriculography and coronary angiography, 2.9 +/- 1 months after the acute episode. In group A, there was a normalisation of the haemodynamic changes observed during the acute phase of myocardial infarction, complete occlusion (10 cases) or a significant residual stenosis (3 cases) of the right coronary artery proximal or immediately distal to the right marginal artery and persistence of an alteration of global right ventricular systolic function when compared with group B (increased end systolic volume: RVESV = 43 +/- 11 ml/m2 vs 35 +/- 9 ml/m2, p less than 0.02, and a decreased ejection fraction: RVEF = 49 +/- 7 p. 100 vs 57 +/- 9 p. 100, p less than 0.01, resulting from hypokinesia or akinesia of the right ventricular inferior wall; mean shortening delta R = 11 +/- 6 p. 100 vs 17 +/- 7 p. 100, p less than 0.01.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)