Continuous vectorcardiography is superior to standard electrocardiography in the prediction of long-term outcome after thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Thrombolytic therapy results in reperfusion of the occluded coronary vessel in approximately 75% of treated patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Unsuccessful thrombolysis results in impaired outcome. This study was undertaken to evaluate reperfusion assessments with 12-lead standard static electrocardiography (ECG) and continuous vectorcardiography (VCG) in AMI patients treated with thrombolytic therapy, with particular emphasis on the value of these assessments in relation to long-term outcome.


METHODS
ST-recovery analysis 90 and 180 min after the start of thrombolytic therapy was performed by repeated ECG and by VCG in 63 AMI patients. Median follow-up was 255 days.


RESULTS
No significant differences in long-term outcome were found between patients with or without obtained reperfusion, as assessed by ECG. For VCG, we found significant elevated relative risks for experiencing death (relative risk = 11.00, confidence interval = 2.70-44.90); P = 0.0008 for the group with ST-vector magnitude recovery of less than 50% at 90 min from start of thrombolytic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated that early reperfusion assessment with VCG enables the prediction of long-term outcome and is superior to reperfusion assessment with standard static ECG in this regard. We therefore recommend continuous ischemia monitoring of AMI patients treated with thrombolytic therapy as a routine procedure.
Gill
Sabine
S
Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. Sabine.Gill@dadlnet.dk
Haastrup
Benedikte
B
Haghfelt
Torben
T
Dellborg
Mikael
M
Clemmensen
Peter
P
D003718:Denmark; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards*; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010343:Patient Admission; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014672:Vectorcardiography / Q000592:standards*
D013300:Streptokinase; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator