[Left ventricular function in patients who have had a myocardial infarct, based on echocardiographic study data]

The significance of a combined echocardiographic study of patients who survived myocardial infarction for evaluation of ventricular hemodynamic disturbances was shown. According to the ultrasonic B-scanning data the left ventricular end-diastolic and endsystolic volumes in such patients were increased, and ejection fraction values, delta S and VCF were markedly decreased. The most pronounced left ventricular pump and contractility dysfunctions occurred in transmural and anterior myocardial infarctions. During M-mode echocardiography in patients with posterior wall hypokinesia, the prolongation of isovolumic relaxation and contraction followed by the shortening of rapid filling was observed. A significance correlation between the prolongation of isovolumic relaxation and polygraphic T interval was found. The thinning of the left ventricular hypokinetic posterior wall was observed during the ejection period, and that of hypokinetic ventricular septum was seen within the cardiac cycle. The signs of more marked left ventricular dilatation with its decreased contractility were found in patients with systolic murmur recorded soon after myocardial infarction development. Such a murmur phonocardiographically recorded was a sign of mitral valve insufficiency.