Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: The study was taken up to evaluate the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in male patients. Method: A hospital based study was conducted at tertiary care centre in UP, India with 60 male healthy controls and 125 confirmed cases of AMI admitted to the coronary care unit who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After a clinical examination/history taking, left ventricular (LV) functional parameters were assessed by echocardiography in M-mode. The data obtained was analyzed using Microsoft Excel2010 software. Results: The predominant sites of myocardial infarction (MI) were antero-septal MI (57.6%), with inferior wall MI (28%), and lateral wall MI (4.8%). Body mass index (BMI) was in overweight category in both study groups. A statistically significant difference was noted in haemodynamic parameters with lower values noted in AMI cases. Statistically significant differences with lower values in AMI cases were noted in Stroke volume (p<0.001), cardiac output (p<0.001), Ejection fraction (p<0.001) and Fractional fibre shortening (p<0.001) when compared with healthy subjects. A statistically significant decrease in E (p=0.015), increase in A (p<0.001) and decrease in E/A ratio (p=0.015) was noted in AMI cases when compared with healthy controls. Conclusion: The overall LV function was decreased among acute myocardial infarction patients. Echocardiographic assessment provides prognostic information which helps to stratify risks and initiate rationale therapeutic measures to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with it.