Perspectives on the 2009 focused updates on the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and percutaneous intervention

Postoperative Assessment of Myocardial Function and Microcirculation in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome by Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography

BACKGROUND Postoperative myocardial function and microcirculation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was assessed by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-nine ACS patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were detected by MCE and two-dimensional ultrasonography before and a month later after PCI respectively. Their myocardial perfusion was evaluated by myocardial contrast score (MSC) and contrast score index (CSI); cross-sectional area of microvessel (A), average myocardial microvascular impairment (β), and myocardial blood flow (MBF) were analyzed by cardiac ultrasound quantitative analysis (CUSQ), and fractional flow reserve (FFR) change was observed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) were observed; the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), FFR, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were detected to evaluate coronary microcirculation. RESULTS None of the 89 patients experienced no-reflow. Patients with normal myocardial perfusion mostly had normal or slightly decreased ventricular wall motion after PCI. A month after the operation, there was an increase in A, β, MBF, LVEF, E/A, IMR, FFR, and CFR (all P<0.05), while LVEDD, LVESD, diastolic gallop A peak, E/Ea, E/Ea×S, and Tei decreased (all P<0.05). LVEF and IMR were in positive correlations with A. LVEF, IMR, FFR and CFR were positively correlated with b and MBF (both r>0, P<0.05), while E/Ea×Sa and Tei were negatively correlated with b and MBF (r<0, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS MCE can safely assess post-PCI myocardial function and microcirculation of ASC.