The incidence and timing of major arrhythmias following successful primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
The potential benefits of direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on malignant arrhythmias in the hospital phase of acute myocardial infarction have not yet been established.


METHODS
We prospectively investigated the incidence and timing of major arrhythmias occurring during direct PTCA and within 24 hours of mechanical reperfusion in 90 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing successful direct PTCA within 12 hours of symptom onset.


RESULTS
Ventricular fibrillation and complete atrioventricular block occurred exclusively during direct PTCA and both resolved in the catheterization laboratory. Holter monitoring showed that ventricular tachyarrhythmias, such as runs of more than 3 extrasystoles, were detectable only during the first 8 hours after direct PTCA.


CONCLUSIONS
In our group of patients undergoing successful direct PTCA, no in-hospital life-threatening arrhythmias occurred after this procedure.
Giglioli
Cristina
C
Catheterization Laboratory and Coronary Care Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Margheri
Massimo
M
Valente
Serafina
S
Comeglio
Marco
M
Lazzeri
Chiara
C
Romano
Salvatore M
SM
Chechi
Tania
T
Tedeschi
Delio
D
Falai
Massimiliano
M
Becherini
Roberto
R
Gensini
Gian Franco
GF
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology