[Clinico-echocardiographic analysis in 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Fourty patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied by M-mode echocardiography. A significant correlation was established between the electrocardiographic localization of the infarction and the decreased motion of the left ventricular walls. Even when a significant correlation was present between decreased ventricular function and heart failure in anterior myocardial infarction, this was not found in the inferior and posterior wall myocardial infarction. In practice these findings should be accepted cautiously. Our findings show the high frequency of pericardial effusion in acute myocardial infarction. In spite of its limitations, the echocardiogram may be useful in the clinical assessment of patients with acute myocardial infarction, specially when it is anterior, or when complications are suspected.