Automated data processing. An essential decision-making aid in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

Automated data processing is playing an increasing role in evaluations of left ventricular function, infarct size, and ventricular dysrhythmia in patients with acute myocardial infarction. For example, radionuclide angiocardiography permits accurate, serial non-invasive assessments of ejection fraction and detection of ventricular wall motion abnormalities; estimation of infarct size from observed and projected plasma CPK changes facilitates evaluation of interventions designed to reduce ischemic injury; positron emission transaxial tomography (PETT) appears to offer prompt, objective, non-invasive determination of the extent of jeopardized myocardium; and automated analysis of rhythm characterizes relationships between infarction and ventricular dysrhythmia. These and related techniques are useful not only in patient management, but also as research tools. Thus, factors potentially responsible for early and late ventricular dysrhythmias may be delineated by objective characterization of large numbers of ectopic depolarizations; the mechanisms underlying early (malignant) and late ventricular dysrhythmias may be differentiated and clarified. These and other applications of automated data processing techniques should facilitate objective evaluation and development of more effective therapy and prove increasingly useful in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.