Infarct-induced wall motion abnormalities in aortocoronary bypass patients: Correlation with electrocardiographic, enzymatic, and scintigraphic diagnostic criteria.

Gated isotope ventriculograms performed 7 to 12 days postoperatively in 50 aortocoronary bypass patients with perioperative myocardial infarction (POMI) were compared with preoperative contrast ventriculograms. The diagnosis of POMI was based on serial electrocardiograms (EKGs), cardiac enzyme studies, and (99m)Tc-pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigraphy. Seven patients exhibited no new regional wall motion abnormalities. Nine had new areas of localized hypokinesis. The remaining 34 demonstrated localized akinesis or dyskinesis; 12 of these also exhibited a greater than 20% decrease in ejection fraction. The severity of the postoperative wall motion abnormality was paralleled by the intensity of PYP accumulation but not necessarily by the degree of cardiac enzyme elevation. Because they occurred in only 62% of patients, new Q waves were considered an insensitive indicator of POMI. Our study revealed that POMI frequently produces significant changes in left ventricular kinetics. Of the standard techniques utilized, the PYP scan had the greatest predictive value.