title: Electrophysiological instability in the acute phase: prognostic significance of early ventricular fibrillation in acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the prognostic stratification of patients affected by AMI is important to evaluate, besides the assessment of left ventricular function and residual ischemia, the presence of electrophysiological instability.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have analysed 15 patients all affected by AMI complicated by early ventricular fibrillation. During the hospital phase we evaluated the E.F.% (ECHO) and the presence of late ventricular potentials (SAECG). After hospital discharge we followed up the patients for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients died during the hospital phase while the posthospital cardiac mortality was 20%. The three patients dead during the follow-up had an AMI localized in the anterolateral wall of the left ventricle, an E.F.% less than 40% and LVP positive in the hospital phase. Besides the clinical course was complicated by cardiac failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that these three patients are a "high risk profile subgroup" and should be submitted to extensive evaluation with cardiac catheterization, coronary arteriography and programmed ventricular stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Santo Spirito Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danesi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carunchio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pandolfo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ceci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left