Abnormal left ventricular flow pattern on Doppler echocardiography soon after admission independently predicted left ventricular thrombus formation after myocardial infarction (OR 92).
Cohort (n=104)
Does Doppler-derived left ventricular spatial flow pattern assessment predict left ventricular thrombus formation better than conventional predictors in patients with acute myocardial infarction?
Doppler-derived abnormal left ventricular flow patterns assessed soon after admission for acute myocardial infarction strongly predict the risk of left ventricular thrombosis.
Effect estimate: OR 92
OBJECTIVES: The value of Doppler-derived left ventricular spatial flow patterns in predicting left ventricular thrombus formation after myocardial infarction was compared with that of conventional clinical and echocardiographic variables. BACKGROUND: Assessment of left ventricular thrombosis risk after myocardial infarction is important because of potential embolic sequelae that are reduced by oral anticoagulant agents. METHODS: Clinical, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic data were prospectively obtained in 104 patients with acute myocardial infarction within 48 h of admission. Ventricular flow was assessed by Doppler echocardiography and considered normal when brisk ventricular inflow with simultaneous onset at the mitral valve and apical levels was present, together with alternating directions of apical flow throughout the cardiac cycle. In addition to normal flow, two abnormal flow patterns were recognized: apical rotating flow and vortex ring formation. Oral anticoagulant agents were prescribed only to patients with abnormal flow at admission. The incidence of left ventricular thrombosis was assessed by echocardiography during 9 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Abnormal flow pattern had a positive predictive value of 63% and a negative predictive value of 99%. On stepwise logistic regression analysis, only abnormal flow pattern had an independent relation to left ventricular thrombus (odds ratio 92). CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular flow pattern derived by Doppler echocardiography soon after admission is superior to conventional clinical and two-dimensional echocardiographic assessment in estimating the risk of left ventricular thrombosis after myocardial infarction.
Dantzig et al. (Mon,) conducted a cohort in acute myocardial infarction (n=104). Doppler-derived left ventricular spatial flow patterns vs. Conventional clinical and two-dimensional echocardiographic assessment was evaluated on Left ventricular thrombus formation (OR 92). Abnormal left ventricular flow pattern on Doppler echocardiography soon after admission independently predicted left ventricular thrombus formation after myocardial infarction (OR 92).