Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Acute St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction by Echocardiography

Abstract

BACKGROUNDRight Ventricular (RV) function has been shown to be a major determinant of clinical outcome and consequently should be considered during clinical management and treatment. Thus, the need for diagnosis of RV dysfunction is evident. MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTSIncidence of RV dysfunction in study population by TAPSE<1.5 cm was 44 (22%). 23 (29.1%) patients with Inferior wall MI had RV dysfunction and 21 (17.3%) patients with anterior wall MI had RV dysfunction. Out of 200 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 22% (44/200) had RV dysfunction. Mean age of patients in RV dysfunction group was 57.4 ± 11.3 years and of patients in no-RV dysfunction (Normal RV function) group was 52.3 ± 11.2 years (p =0.008). 15.9% (7/44) patients in RV dysfunction group had past history of Coronary artery disease compared to 5.8% (9/156) in normal RV function group (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONNearly one fourth of patients with Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction had right ventricular dysfunction. LV dysfunction contributes significantly to RV dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction more so in anterior wall MI. KEYWORDS BACKGROUNDRight Ventricular (RV) function may be impaired either by primary right-sided heart disease, or secondary to left-sided cardiomyopathy or valvular heart disease. In addition, it should be considered that RV dysfunction may affect left ventricular (LV) function, not only by limiting LV preload, but also by adverse systolic and diastolic interaction via the interventricular septum and the pericardium (ventricular interdependence). Moreover, RV function has been shown to be a major determinant of clinical outcome and consequently should be considered during clinical management and treatment. Thus, the need for diagnosis of RV dysfunction is evident.