[The role of echocardiography in acute myocardial infarct]

Echocardiography performed in acute myocardial infarction helps to make the diagnosis, to detect complications of acute myocardial infarction and to choose adequate therapy. The authors evaluate the echocardiographic results of 47 patients at bedside exam. Wall motion abnormalities were revealed in 16 of 19 Q-infarct cases. Echocardiography performed in 28 suspected cases of myocardial infarction showed segmental wall motion abnormalities in 14 cases, out of them infarction was diagnosed later in 9 patient and non-Q myocardial infarction in 3 cases. Heparin was given in all cases, but thrombolysis was applied in only 9 patients. Left ventricular thrombus was found in 3 patients with anterior myocardial infarction, neither of whom had received thrombolytic therapy. The following mechanical complications were detected: free wall rupture in one patient, ventricular septal defect in three patients, early left ventricular aneurysm in one patients and right ventricular infarction in one patient. 14 patients with decreased left ventricular function were not subsequently given beta receptor blockers.