Objective haemodynamic assessment after acute myocardial infarction.

Haemodynamic measurements were made in 84 patients with coronary heart disease soon after admission to a cardiac care unit. Patients without acute myocardial infarction had haemodynamic findings no differentfrom those with definite infarction uncomplicated by congestive heart failure or cardiogenic shock. With these complications, however, haemodynamic derangements became more severe. Heart rate, cardiac and stroke volume index, peripheral vascular resistance, and left ventricular filling pressure all proved unreliable as single variables in predicting ultimate survival or death. However, left ventricular work index less than I.75 kg m/min per m2 was associated with very high mortality, and the value of this index predicted survival or death with more than go per cent accuracy.