Two dimensional echocardiographic identification of mechanical complication after myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

Cross sectional echocardiography was used to find the incidence of mechanical complications in 90 patients with first myocardial infarction. Seventy five patients were men, 15 women. Mean age was 52 years [range 25-70 years]. The infarct was anterior in 61 patients, inferior in 22 patients and subendocardial in 7. Left ventricular aneurysm was present in 12 patients [13.3%], 11 of them had anterior AMI. Left ventricular thrombus was found in 19 patients [21.2%], all of them present in LV apex. Pericardial effusion was seen in 8 patients [9%]. Ventricular septal rupture was seen in 4 patients [4.5%]. Right ventricular infarction was seen in one patient[1.1%]. Papillary muscle rupture, Pseudoaneurysm or rupture left ventricular free wall were seen in none of 90 patients