The Role of Noninvasive Cardiac Testing after an Uncomplicated Myocardial Infarction

Just as treatment for the acute phase of a myocardial infarction has undergone radical changes in the past decade, so has the perception of what constitutes proper post-infarction evaluation. Although physicians can still learn much from the clinical picture combined with the standard chest film and resting electrocardiogram, an imposing array of noninvasive cardiac tests is now available for the early evaluation of the post-infarction patient. The most important of these are exercise (stress) electrocardiograms, 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms, and several types of radionuclide procedures. The purpose of this brief review is to help the practitioner to understand the indications, safety, . . .