Background: In the prognostic stratification of patients affected by AMI is important to evaluate, besides the assessment of left ventricular function and residual ischemia, the presence of electrophysiological instability.
Methods: We have analysed 15 patients all affected by AMI complicated by early ventricular fibrillation. During the hospital phase we evaluated the E.F.% (ECHO) and the presence of late ventricular potentials (SAECG). After hospital discharge we followed up the patients for 6 months.
Results: None of the patients died during the hospital phase while the posthospital cardiac mortality was 20%. The three patients dead during the follow-up had an AMI localized in the anterolateral wall of the left ventricle, an E.F.% less than 40% and LVP positive in the hospital phase. Besides the clinical course was complicated by cardiac failure.
Conclusions: We conclude that these three patients are a "high risk profile subgroup" and should be submitted to extensive evaluation with cardiac catheterization, coronary arteriography and programmed ventricular stimulation.