title: Persistent ST segment elevation in left ventricular aneurysm before and after surgery.
abstract: Post-myocardial infarction aneurysms are often accompanied by persistent ST segment elevations. To determine whether or not these ST segments regress following successful surgery for left ventricular aneurysms, serial electrocardiograms were studied in 74 patients and compared to changes of heart size and NYHA Functional Class. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 18.2 months (range 3 to 52 months). The mean precordial sigma ST elevation preoperatively was 5.27 mm. and 4.71 mm. after surgery (P less than 0.025). For the highest ST segment of an individual lead, the mean values were 1.9 mm. before surgery and 1.88 mm. postoperatively (P less than 0.1). Although clinical improvement occurred in 66 (89.2 per cent) by NYHA class and x-ray evidence of improvement was seen in 46 (62.2 per cent), a degree of ST elevation remained in all cases and was less elevated in only 19 (25.7 per cent). After surgery for left ventricular aneurysm, ST segments tend to remain elevated with little apparent relation to reduction of heart size or clinical improvement.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology