Myocardial contrast echocardiography after myocardial infarction.

Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) enables direct assessment of the degree and adequacy of microvascular perfusion as well as the presence of wall motion abnormalities. MCE has the following benefits in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI): 1) rapid and definite diagnosis of acute MI; 2) identification of patients who may benefit from prompt reperfusion therapy; 3) assessment of the efficacy of mechanical or pharmacologic intervention for an open infarct-related artery; 4) estimation of MI size early after reperfusion and residual myocardial viability; 5) identification of being at high risk for post-MI complications and left ventricular remodeling; and 6) assessment of myocardial viability and ischemia prior to hospital discharge. Therefore, MCE is an ideal tool for correct triaging of patients to revascularization and has both prognostic and therapeutic implications in patients with acute MI.