Predictors of complications among patients with acute inferior and right myocardial infarction

Introduction: Early recognition of acute right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) is very crucial for the initiation of treatment to avoid complications. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the predictors of complications in patients with acute inferior and RVMI. Patients and Methods: This prospective, single-center study included 100 patients with acute inferior and RVMI presented within 6 h of symptoms onset. All patients received streptokinase as thrombolytic therapy. The patients had undergone conventional two-dimensional echocardiography to assess LVEF, RVEF, RVFAC, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tissue Doppler to assess s', e', a' waves and myocardial performance index (MPI), and speckle tracking echocardiography to assess RV global longitudinal strain. All echocardiographic parameters were done within the first 12 h of admission and 2 months later. Results: Of 100 patients with acute RVMI; 27 patients had complications, the most common complication was atrioventricular block followed by cardiogenic shock. Mortality occurred in only one patient. On comparing the complicated and noncomplicated groups on admission, we revealed that; as regarding the clinical data, the female gender, presence of diabetes, lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lower pulse were independent risk factors for occurrence of complications in RVMI with P < 0.029, 0.009, 0.004, 0.009, and 0.0001, respectively. Of the echo-cardiographic parameters on admission, dilated RV, lateral S, MPI, TAPSE, and speckle were independent predictors for the occurrence of complications in patients with RVI with P < 0.005, <0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.011, respectively. We can use lateral s', TAPSE, MPI, and speckle with cutoff value 7.9, 13.5, 0.765, −15.9, respectively, for prediction of in-hospital complications in acute RVMI patients (P < 0.0001 for each parameter). Conclusion: Of the echo-cardiographic parameters dilated RV, lateral S, MPI, TAPSE, and speckle were independent predictors for the occurrence of complications in patients with RVMI.