echocardiography in myocardial infarction

Last reviewed 01/2018

Useful in the diagnosis of sudden haemodynamic collapse in a patient with acute myocardial infarction:

  • distinguishes between severe left ventricular damage, right ventricular infarction, and cardiac rupture with tamponade
  • distinguishes acute mitral regurgitation and ventricular septal rupture
  • demonstrates the extent of akinesis (and allows the measurement of global ejection fraction) in transmural infarction