Right ventricular infarction incidence and outcome

ABSTRACT

To determine the incidence and outcome of right ventricular infarction we looked prospectively at 346 consecutive patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. Right ventricular infarction was diagnosed by combination of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic criteria. There were 48 patients with right ventricular infarction. The incidence of right ventricular infarction in patients with inferior myocardial infarction was 30%. There were 39 males and 9 females. In hospital mortality of patients with right ventricular infarction was significantly more than the mortality of the patients with acute myocardial infarction who did not have right ventricular involvement [23% vs 13%, p<0.001]. Six patients presented with cardiogenic shock all of which died. Most patients had good resting left ventricular ejection fraction [mean 54%, range 39% to 74%]. We conclude that all patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction should be evaluated for right ventricular involvement so that specific haemodynamic and pharmacological management can be started