[Echocardiographic analysis of the regional function of the left ventricle in patients who have had a myocardial infarct].

A total of 54 myocardial infarction survivors and 20 normal subjects were examined echo- and polycardiographically. The movement of left ventricular wall was studied within and outside the affected area. A hypokinetic zone was identified in all the patients after the posterior myocardial infarction. The measurement of posterior wall movement amplitude before expulsion is over improves the chances of echocardiographic identification of the hypokinetic zone in patients with lower localization of myocardial infarction. Apart from reduced amplitude and rate of contraction, and myocardial thinning, the hypokinetic zone reveals paradoxical myocardial thickening during the early diastole, and shorter duration of affected area relaxation, while intact myocardium relaxes early. It is suggested that disorders relaxation in myocardial infarction survivors precedes contraction disorders, with hypokinetic myocardium relaxing mostly passively, and intact myocardium relaxation being of a more active nature and independent of the filling phase.