title: Changes of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data after early and late mechanical recanalization of infarct-related artery with and without stent implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show differences in the changes of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data after early and late mechanical recanalization of infarct related artery with and without stent implantation and to assess the value of QRS score in the follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 248 consecutive patients were divided into these groups: early angioplasty (</=24 hours) without stents (n=114) or with stents (n=6) and later (>24 hours) angioplasty without stents (n=114) or with stents (n=14). The changes in QRS score and echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction during the hospital and 3-month follow-up periods were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QRS score did not increase in a hospital in early or late angioplasty with stents groups, while in the groups without stents especially of early angioplasty increased (2.6+/-2.5 vs. 3.6+/-2.4, P=0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction increased after 3 months only in early angioplasty groups especially with stents (30.0+/-3.5 vs. 38.4+/-5.2, P=0.008), but there were no significant differences between the QRS score at discharge and after 3 months (5.4+/-4.3 vs. 5.0+/-1.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myocardial injury did not increase in a hospital in the cases of early or late angioplasty with stents, while in the cases without stents increased. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased after 3 months only in the cases of early angioplasty especially with the stent implantation, but the QRS score showed no differences, so the QRS score may be not predictive of improvement in ejection fraction at follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Sukileliu 17, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania. eglekalin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalinauskiene
authors.forename: Albinas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naudziūnas
authors.forename: Ramūnas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navickas
authors.forename: Laima
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jankauskiene
authors.forename: Vidas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pilvinis
authors.forename: Arnoldas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janavicius
authors.forename: Virginijus
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grinius
authors.forename: Ramūnas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Unikas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left