Electrocardiographic prediction of short-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction associated with the left main coronary artery

Abstract 

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of electrocardiogram on admission to predict short-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with left main coronary artery (LMCA).

Methods

Electrocardiogram was obtained on admission in 41 patients with AMI associated with LMCA who underwent reperfusion therapy. Electrocardiographic findings were compared between nonsurvivors and survivors.

Results

There were 24 nonsurvivors and 17 survivors during 30-day follow-up. Nonsurvivors had ST-segment elevation in both leads aVR and aVL (54% vs 18%, P < .05), left anterior fascicular block (83% vs 41%, P < .05), and right bundle-branch block (54% vs 18%, P < .05) more frequently, and ST-segment depression in lead V₅ (17% vs 59%, P < .05) less frequently than survivors among patients with AMI associated with LMCA.

Conclusions

Our data suggested that electrocardiogram on admission might be useful to predict short-term prognosis in patients with AMI associated with LMCA.

Keywords: Left anterior fascicular block, Acute myocardial infarction, Left main coronary artery