The authors quanti%ed the changes of left ventricular kinetics during hospitalization after a iu•st transmural myocardial infarction treated by direct percutaneous coronary angioplasty. For accurate quantification a group as Glose as possible to experimental conditions was selected. 64 patients (43 men), mean age 67.3 years (44 - 86) were investigated. The echocardiographic examination was made within 24 hours after admission and on discharge (9.8 days). A 16-segment of the left ventricle was used, the kinetics were evaluated by 4-grade score. The ejection fraction was calculated by Simpson's method from 4 cycles , the wall motion score index was calculated by the standard procedure. During the follow up period signi%cant improvement of left ventricular kinetics occurred. The ejection fraction improved from the origina146 ± 11 % (median 41.5) to 51 ± 11 % (median 50.0) (p < 0.005), the wall motion score index from 1.6 ± 0.3 (median 1.65) improved to 1.5 ± 0.3 (median 1.60) (p < 0.005). Improvement of the investigated parameters correlated with the clinical course, 87 % of the patients being free of any complications. Conclusion: Successful direct angioplasty leads in patients with a hrst myocardial infarction to improvement of the ejection fraction and wall motion score index already during the hrst 10 days.

        Key words: Myocardial infarction - Echocardiography - Left ventricular function - Coronary angioplasty