Predictive Value of Echocardiography in Post Myocardial Infarction Setting. Part 2

Echocardiography is a useful tool for risk stratification and prognosis assessment after myocardial infarction. It was shown, that for prediction related data acquisition, it is possible to apply multiple echocardiographic parameters, such as the volumes and ejection fraction of the left ventricle, wall motion index, left atrium volume, and existence of atrial regurgitation. Development of the method of tissue Doppler and “speckle-tracking” led to invention of novel prediction parameters, as deformation, deformation velocity, dissynchrony of the left ventricle. Method of contrast echocardiography makes it to evaluate myocardial perfusion and safety of microvascularity, gives valuable data on myocardial viability, which is closely related to prognosis. Stress echocardiography makes it to assess myocardial ischemia and find viable myocardium, and the Doppler of coronary arteries — to evaluate coronary flow reserve. Finally, 3D echo makes possible the gathering of optimal data on the volumes, functioning and sphericity of the left ventricle, which are significant parameters of long term prognosis.