Contribution of PTCA to the improvement of left ventricular function after myocardial infarction

AIM:To assess the effect of late revascularization by primary perculaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on left ventricular function of patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). METHODS:PTCA were performed in 63 AMI patients with initial Q-wave within 2～3 weeks after myocardial infarction. The infarct-related artery was totally or subtotally occluded in each patient. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), percent regional wall motion of infarcted wall and cortina dysfunction score were measured by left ventriculography. The above measurements and left ventriculography were performed again 6 months after PTCA. RESULTS: 6 months after PTCA, the patients showd a significant improvement in LVEF (58±11)% vs (51±10)%, P 0.01, and percent regional wall motion of infarcted wall (14±6)% vs (12±6)%, P 0.05. The cortina dysfunction score was reduced signtificantly (8±4) vs (10±4), ( P 0.01). CONCLUSION: In initial Q-wave myocardial infarction even with late reperfusion, PTCA had beneficial effects on left ventricular function.