Hemodynamic Findings in Right Ventricular Infarction

20 patients who had acute inferior myocardial infarction were examinted to investigate the hemodynamic and electrocardiographic (ECG) findings of right ventricular infarction (RVI). The subjects were 32 to 74 years old (mean: 50.3±8.6), 15 being male and 5 female. Right precordial lcads (V3R, V4R, VsR, V6R) were recorded in addition to the standard 12 lcad ECG on admission. ST segment elevation of 1 mm or in V 4R was accepted as an ECG criteria of RVI. ST segment elevation was detected in V4R in 9 (45 %) of 20 patients (group A). There were no ST segment changes in the same lead of the remaining 11 patients (group B). Right heart catheteterization was performed with Swan-Ganz catheter in all patients in the coronary care unit. Right atrial, right ventricular, pulmonary arterial, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures were measured, and cardiac index was determined. Right ventricular diastolic pressure values were 5.1±3.8 mmHg and 1.72±3.3 mmHg (p<0.05), and cardiac index values were 2.07±0.67 L/min/m2 and 2.70±0.28 L/min/m2 (p<0.02) in groups A and B, respectively. There were no significant differences in other values between these two groups. These findings show that the ST segment elevation of 1 mm or more in lead V 4R, in patients who have acute inferior myocardial infarction supports the diagnosis of RVI.