title: Cardiac imaging after acute myocardial infarction. Identification of patients at continued risk.
abstract: Diagnostic imaging performed early in the course of acute myocardial infarction provides anatomic and functional information that is useful in assessing patients at risk for future cardiac events and premature death. Early identification of left ventricular dysfunction or complications of myocardial infarction allows appropriate and timely management of high-risk patients and early transfer of stable patients from the intensive care environment. Noninvasive predischarge functional imaging to unmask patients with jeopardized myocardium identifies high-risk patients who may need invasive studies and surgical or interventional treatment. Postdischarge risk stratification with diagnostic imaging provides vital prognostic information in high- and low-risk patients, allowing for appropriate allocation of medical resources.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix 85250.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Bean
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity