[Prognostic importance of determining the central hemodynamic indices in acute myocardial infarct]

In 162 cases of acute myocardial infarction the pulmonary artery was catheterized with a Swan - Ganz balloon catheter on admission mainly during the first day of the disease. The diastolic pressure in the pulmonary artery was evaluated, and the minute heart volume was determined by thermodilution. Comparison of hospital outcomes of myocardial infarction with central haemodynamic parameters on admission showed that 30 patients who died in hospital had a higher pressure, on admission, upon filling of the left ventricle (20 mm Hg) and a low cardiac index (1.63 l/m/m2) as compared to the discharged patients (14 mm Hg and 2.64 l/m/m2). The more unfavourable from the prognostic viewpoint were combinations of low cardiac index (less than 2.2 l/min/m2) with high filling pressure of the left ventricle (over 18 mm Hg).