[Evaluation of left ventricular function in acute and old myocardial infaraction by non-invasive method with special...

Systolic time intervals were studied in acute and old myocardial infarction, and the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Acute myocardial infarction. a) LVET was the shortest on the 3rd and 4th day of the illness, normalizing on the 14th day in cases without heart failure; but generally lower values were encountered in cases with heart failure, with a delay in recovery. b) PEP tended to be prolonged in the initial stage in cases with heart faii showed scarcely any change. d) PEP/LVET was the greatest prolongation near the 4th day of the illness, normalizing on the 14th day in cases without heart failure; but no recovery was seen after 10th week in cases with heart failure. e) Correlation was found between LVET or PEP/LVET and SI, but no concentration was seen between Q-II or PEP and SI. f) A tendency of correlation was noted between Peel's prognostic index and LVET or PEP/LVET. g) A marked deviation of either one of STI, especially that of PEP/LVET, suggests a poor prognosis. Persistence of the LVET value less than 240 msec up to the 7th day of the illness suggests the complication of heart failure. 2. Old myocardial infarction. While LVET was almost normal, PEP was considerably high regardless of the presence or absence of heart failure, with a tendency of aggravation in the course of years. The tendency of PEP/LVET was similar to that of PEP.