Diagnostic difficulties of isolated right ventricular myocardial infarction

The article describes a case of isolated right ventricular myocardial infarction induced by proximal occlusion of the right coronary artery in a patient with the left type of heart blood supply. A specific feature of the case was detection of the McConnell’s sign, which is considered characteristic of pulmonary artery thromboembolism.

А new electrocardiographic criterion in diagnosis right ventricular myocardial infarction

The aim of this study is to identify the features of ST-changes in 12-leads surface ECG, which help to diagnose the right ventricular involvement in inferior myocardial infarction. The study included 145 patients with inferior myocardial infarction, the right ventricular infarction (RVI) was detected by echocardiography in 62 (42.8%) patients. ST segment depression in lead aVL was deeper than in lead V3 in 93.5% of patients with RVI. This feature is revealed in 4.9% patients with inferior myocardial infarction without RVI only. The sensitivity of this criterion for diagnosis RVI is 93.5%, the specificity is 95.2%, the predictive value of positive and negative results make up 93.5 and 95.2%.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Post Thrombolysed Acute Inferior Wall Infarction Patients with Angiographic Correlation

BACKGROUND A significant number of patients with acute Inferior wall infarction will have RV dysfunction and most of them have occlusion of either right or left circumflex coronary artery. But RV assessment is not done routinely in echocardiographic examination. Patients present with inferior wall myocardial infarction (IWMI) subsequently develop right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) and have poor prognosis. In this study we wanted to evaluate the incidence of RVMI and the role of echocardiography in assessing RV function and its impact in predicting infarct related artery by angiographic analysis in acute IWMI after thrombolysis. METHODS 86 patients with acute IWMI after thrombolysis were randomly selected. Echocardiographic examination of RV function was performed within 72 hours after thrombolysis. We applied RV echo parameters like FAC (Fractional Area Change %), TAPSE (Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion), RV S’ (RV Systolic Excursion Velocity) and MPI (Myocardial Performance Index) to assess RV function. 48 patients underwent coronary angiogram which included 10 patients with normal RV function, rest with RV dysfunction. RESULTS Among 86 patients, we compared 64 patients of RV dysfunction with 22 patients having normal function. Echo indices were significantly lower in RV dysfunction group. FAC ( 27 ± 5.95 vs 45 ± 5.4 ) TAPSE (8.5 ± 2.0 19.59 ± 2.8 ), RV S’ ( 5.78 ± 1.26 vs 17.2 ± 3.5 ) and RVMPI (0.22 ± 0.03 vs 0.57± 0.03). Angiographic analysis of 28 of 38 patients with RV dysfunction showed significant proximal lesion in RCA as compared to only 2 among 10 patients with normal RV function. CONCLUSIONS Conventional echo examination will underestimate RV dysfunction hence we applied echo parameters like FAC, TAPSE, RV S’ and RVMPI and a significant proportion of thrombolysed acute IWMI patients were found to have RV dysfunction and it was also helpful in the prediction of infarct related artery which would be predominantly a critical proximal RCA occlusion. KEY WORDS RVMI (Right Ventricular Myocardial Infarction), FAC (Fractional Area Change %), TAPSE (Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion), RV S’ (RV Systolic Excursion Velocity) ,MPI (Myocardial Performance Index), IRA ( Infarct Related Artery)

The Efficacy of Thrombolytic Therapy in Inferior Myocardial Infarction with Damage to the Right Ventricular

Aim. To study the results of thrombolytic therapy and accuracy of electrocardiographic assessment of thrombolysis efficiency in inferior myocardial infarction with and without right ventricular lesion.Material and methods. The118 patients with inferior myocardial infarction were included in this study. They received TLT in the first 12 hours of the disease. The dynamics of ST-segment in 90 minutes from the TLT start and coronary angiography data were analyzed.Results. Right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) was diagnosed in 49 (41.5%) of 118 patients by echocardiography. Patients with and without RVMI did not differ in age, gender and comorbidities, but patients with RVMI were more likely to have arterial hypotension, atrioventricular block, and atrial fibrillation. All patients with RVMI had occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) in the proximal (34.7%) or medial segment (65.3%). Occlusion of the circumflex coronary artery was found in 20 (29.0%) patients without RVMI, and RCA occlusion - in other patients. The infarction-associated artery blood flow equal TIMI 2-3 was found in 17 (34.7%) patients with RVMI and in 46 (66.7%) patients without RVMI (p<0.005). ST-segment decrease by 50% or more in 90 minutes from the TLT was found in 35 (71.4%) patients with RVMI and in 49 (71.0%) patients without RVMI (p>0.05). The false-positive assessment of thrombolysis efficiency was noted in patients with and without RVMI in 21 (42.9%) and 11 (15.9%) cases (p <0.005), respectively. There were no false-positive assessments in patients with RVMI when using ST-segment decrease to the isoline.Conclusion. TLT should be considered effective in patients with inferior myocardial infarction with the right ventricle lesion, if ST-segment decreases to isoline in 90 minutes from the TLT start.

On the 95th anniversary of the first description of right ventricular myocardial infarction

An analysis of the publication of the outstanding Russian therapist and cardiologist D.D. Pletnev (18711941) is given in the article. In 1925, he published an article On the issue of lifetime differential diagnosis of right and left coronary artery thrombosis in the journal Russian Clinics in Russian and German languages. Timely diagnosis of right myocardial infarction determines the prognosis and treatment tactics of this disease, and the case itself has a priority for the Russian science. The authors emphasize the outstanding talent of D.D. Pletnev as a physician and scientist, whose name is associated with the emergence of one of the most brilliant therapeutic schools (A.L. Myasnikov, E.I. Chazov, etc.).

Right ventricular myocardial infarction and adverse events from nitrates: A narrative review

Introduction There is ubiquitous belief that right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) patients are pre-load dependent, and that administering nitrates to this cohort may cause adverse events – most notably hypotension. This article charts a narrative history of RVMI and nitrates: from the initial recognition of RVMI and early support of the use of nitrates, through the spread of the view against nitrates, and to the recent publication of evidence once again supporting their use. Methods Four databases were systematically searched (PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science) and results screened by title, then abstract, and finally full text. Results were presented using a chronological narrative structure. Results The view against the use of nitrates during RVMI can be traced back to a single 1989 cohort study of 28 patients, then later being adopted by a series of influential secondary evidence papers, and ultimately by international guidelines. In 2016, 2017 and 2019, new cohort studies totalling 1046 patients were presented, all of which concluded that nitrates are safe to administer during RVMI. Conclusion This article charts how a single retrospective cohort study with low statistical power came to form the dominant narrative on best practice despite complex and conflicting primary evidence.

Understanding right ventricular myocardial infarction in prehospital care

Right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) most commonly occurs in relation to an inferior myocardial infarction. Patients with this condition where the culprit right coronary artery (RCA) is occluded have a poor prognosis. Early recognition and the specific treatment pathway for RVMI differ from the treatment for general acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which could help the paramedic to treat this condition more appropriately. This article explores current guidelines for the recognition and treatment of RVMI and the possible application of specific guidelines in a prehospital setting with regards to using right-sided precordial ECG, the administration of fluids and potential complications arising from vasodilatory drugs. Furthermore, the purpose of this article is to help educate and develop the understanding of RVMI in this high-risk subgroup who have an increased morbidity and mortality.