[The clinical significance of ECG exercise testing at hospital discharge of patients with acute myocardial infarction].
330 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit of our hospital from January 1985 to December 1986. 141 of the 150 patients aged below 65 years underwent symptom-limited maximal exercise testing on a bicycle ergometer before discharge. No severe complications were noted. 61 of those tested showed a pathological reaction such as angina pectoris, ST-segment depression or ventricular ectopic activity (couplets, ventricular tachycardia). Coronary angiography was performed in 33 patients (23.4%). The outcome of this examination led to coronary bypass surgery in 15 cases and to PTCA in 2. For 9 of these 17 patients exercise testing soon after myocardial infarction was the essential investigation that led to angiography and surgery. Symptom-limited exercise testing before discharge is a safe method of distinguishing patients at risk, requiring further investigations for possible coronary bypass surgery, from those that do not need additional work-up. We conclude that every post-myocardial infarction patient should be exercise-tested before leaving hospital.
Knaus
U
U
Kardiologische Abteilung, Medizinische Klinik B, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen.
Roelli
H
H
Angehrn
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000790:Angiocardiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
Die klinische Bedeutung des EKG-Arbeitsversuches bei Patienten mit akutem Myokardinfarkt vor der Spitalentlassung.