Anterior transmural myocardial infarction: Effects of surgical coronary reperfusion on global and regional left ventricular function

Global and regional left ventricular function were assessed before and after surgical coronary reperfusion in 54 patients surviving anterior transmural myocardial infarction. Two groups were identified. Group I (n = 34) was treated within 4.8 ± 0.7 (mean ± standard deviation) hours of onset of symptoms of anterior transmural myocardial infarction, and Group II (n = 20) was treated 9.2 ± 4.8 hours from the onset of symptoms (p < 0.01). On study entry, the two groups were similar in all characteristics except global left ventricular ejection fraction (48 ± 9 versus 42 ± 13%, p < 0.05). Regional ejection fraction was obtained by computer-assisted planimetry from ventriculographic tracings at end-systole and end-diastole. The anterior wall was divided into four equal segments from the apex (area 1) to base (area 4). Areas 2 and 3 defined the midportion of the anterior wall of the left ventricle. This yielded four fractional changes expressed as ejection fraction in percent. Global and regional ejection fractions (from apex to base) of the anterior wall significantly improved in Group I (from 48 ± 9 to 55 ± 11%; 7 ± 17 to 18 ± 20%; 12 ± 14 to 25 ± 18%; 25 ± 15 to 38 ± 17%; and 39 ± 13 to 41 ± 12%) (p < 0.05, except for the basal area), but only to a minor degree in Group II (from 42 ± 13 to 45 ± 16%; 9 ± 10 to 13 ± 15%; 10 ± 10 to 17 ± 10%; 27 ± 16 to 32 ± 14%; and 37 ± 10 to 36 ± 13%) (all p values were not significant [NS] except for region 2). These data suggest significant enhancement of global function and regional wall motion in selected patients if surgical reperfusion is performed within 6 hours from the onset of symptoms of anterior infarction. Little improvement can be expected when the procedure is instituted later than 6 hours from peak symptoms, although improvement in some patients occurs if adequate collateral perfusion or nontotal left anterior descending coronary occlusion is present. In spite of functional improvements, some contractile deficit persisted throughout the period studied even when successful reperfusion was achieved early during evolving anterior transmural myocardial infarction.