Value of serial apexcardiograms during and after myocardial infarction.

Apexcardiograms were systematically recorded serially in 40 patients after acute myocardial infarction, in an additional 21 patients with proven aneurysms, and in 18 patients with good ventricular performance following myocardial infarction. Abnormalities of the "A" wave and systolic waves of the apexcardiogram correlated well with akinesia or dyskinesia proven by cinefluoroscopic and cineangiographic studies. Third and fourth heart sounds and apical systolic murmurs also correlated well with evidence of ventricular dysfunction. This study indicates that the apexcardiogram is a good qualitative tool for serially assessing patients following acute myocardial infarction and that the results on invasive study may be predicted in most patients.