Stimulus-induced vulnerability in the early and late postinfarction phase.
In 45 survivors of myocardial infarction, cardiac catheterization was performed one and six months after the acute event. After completion of the angiographic investigation, ventricular vulnerability was assessed, using programmed right ventricular stimulation (rates 120 and 140 min-1, single and double premature impulses). In 27/45 patients the results of programmed electrical stimulation were comparable at one and six months. The overall incidence of repetitive ventricular response did not change. There was no correlation between the change of repetitive ventricular response and the change of effective right ventricular refractory period and the change of angiographic parameters (Gensini score, left ventricular ejection fraction and volume indices). It is concluded that between the first and the sixth month after infarction there is no relevant alteration in the propensity to repetitive ventricular response.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*