Cross-sectional echocardiographic analysis of the extent of left ventricular asynergy in acute myocardial infarction.

Cross-sectional echocardiography was used to study left ventricular wall motion in 44 patients with myocardial infarction, and the extent of observed asynergy was correlated with left ventricular function. Echocardiographic studies were performed in short and long axes of the ventricle and nine segments were identified for analysis. Wall motion in each segment was classified as normal, hyperkinetic, hypokinetic, akinetic or dyskinetic. Based on this analysis a wall motion index was derived as an overall assessment of left ven- tricular asynergy. Left ventricular function was measured by clinical and hemodynamic parameters to note the presence of pulmonary congestion or peripheral hypoperfusion or both.