Left ventricular function and coronary artery anatomy before and after myocardial infarction; a study of six cases.

Six patients underwent cardiac catheterization before and after occurrence of a myocardial infarction. Results from the two procedures allowed the quantitation of changes in coronary artery anatomy and left ventricular performance associated with myocardial infarction. Left ventricular biplane or single plane angiography and selective coronary angiography were used to evaluate coronary artery anatomy, left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), end systolic volume (LVESV), and systolic ejection fraction (SEF) under resting conditions. Four patients had developed occlusion of the artery supplying the area of infarction. In five cases new or progressive contraction abnormalities occurred. One patient had no change in contraction pattern or SEF. Systolic ejection fraction fell in three patients, with no change in LVEDV. In two patients LVEDV rose and SEF fell. These data demonstrate that a wide spectrum of functional abnormalities is associated with myocardial infarction. Infarction was always associated with significant coronary artery stenosis, but not necessarily associated with occlusion. The SEF and contractile pattern were the indicators of left ventricular dysfunction which most frequently deteriorated.