ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The site of occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery is important in acute anterior myocardial infarction because, proximal occlusion is associated with less favorable outcome and prognosis. The present study attempted to evaluate the electrocardiographic correlate of the location of the site of the left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion with respect to first septal perforator and/or the first diagonal branch. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 50 patients with a first acute anterior myocardial infarction. The electrocardiogram with the most pronounced ST segment deviation before the start of reperfusion therapy was evaluated and correlated with the left anterior descending occlusion site as determined by coronary angiography. ST segment elevation in lead aVR, ST segment depression in lead V5 and ST segment elevation in V1>2.5 mm strongly predicted left anterior descending occlusion proximal to first septal, whereas abnormal Q wave in V4-6 was associated with occlusion distal to first septal. Abnormal Q wave in lead aVL was associated with occlusion proximal to first diagonal, whereas ST depression in lead aVL was suggestive of occlusion distal to first diagonal branch. For both first septal and first diagonal, ST segment depression > or =1 mm in inferior leads strongly predicted proximal left anterior descending artery occlusion, whereas absence of ST segment depression in inferior leads predicted occlusion distal to first septal and first diagonal. All the patients were followed during their in-hospital stay (median of 7 days), during which four patients in the proximal to first septal and first diagonal group and one patient in the distal to first septal and first diagonal group died (p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In acute myocardial infarction electrocardiogram is useful to predict the left anterior descending occlusion site in relation to its major side branches and such localization has prognostic significance.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Coronary Angiography , Electrocardiography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis , PrognosisABSTRACT
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is recognised more often with increasing survival of preterm babies. The pharmacological closure of ductus by indomethacin has changed the management of PDA. Twenty neonates admitted over a period of 21 months to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of M.S. Ramaiah Medical College hospital, Bangalore, who were diagnosed to have PDA, were analyzed. The objectives of this retrospective analysis were to study the clinical profile, the efficacy of oral indomethacin and the outcome of PDA. 2-D and Doppler echocardiaography were used to confirm the clinically suspected PDA. These neonates were treated with 3 doses of oral indomethacin (0.2-0.25 mg/kg/dose 12 hourly) along with fluid restriction and oxygen. Echocardiography was repeated to demonstrate the closure of PDA. The incidence of PDA was 2.3% of total NICU admissions. Seventy percent of this cohort were < 32 weeks of gestation, 55% had birth weight of < 1500 gms. Seventy percent (14) neonates had onset of PDA after 48 hrs of life. 81.25% of neonates responded to indomethacin and overall survival rate in treated group was 67%. Drug related complications were noted in 2 newborns. This study illustrates the utility of echocardiography in diagnosing and monitoring PDA in preterm and low birth weight babies with high index of suspicion of this common congenital heart disease. Pharmacological intervention with indomethacin is rewarding with acceptable results.