FREQUENCY OF LEFT VENTRICULAR THROMBUS ON PRE-DISCHARGE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ANTERIOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Objective: To measure the frequency of left ventricular thrombus on predischarge echocardiography of patients with acute anterior myocardialinfarction.

Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Chaudry Pervez ElahiInstitue of Cardiology, Multan from 15th June 2013 to 14th Dec 2013. Patients ofacute anterior wall myocardial infarction between 20-70 years of age of bothgenders were selected. Patients with previous myocardial infarction wereexcluded from the study. Detailed echocardiography examination was performedin all these patients to look for presence of LV thrombus and findings were noted.P-value<0.05 was taken as significant.

Result: There were 219 patients in total. Males were 135 (61.6%) . Mean age ofthe patients was 49.56 + 10.21 years. Diabetes was present in 77 (35.2%),obesity in 82 (37.4%) and 123 (56.2%) were smokers. Left ventricular thrombuswas found to be present in 21(9.6%). No significant relationship could beestablished with age, gender, smoking, diabetes and obesity.

Conclusion: The frequency of left ventricular thrombus after acute anterior wallmyocardial infarction was found to be present in a significant proportion ofpatients but is lower than that previously reported in the literature.