Aortic root motion for the assessment of left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction.

In a group of patients with various cardiac disorders positive correlation between aortic root motion amplitude and stroke volume was observed: (y=3.41 + 0.061 chi, r=0.719n=27), where y is the aortic wall motion amplitude in mm and chi is the stroke volume in ml. During the serial investigation of 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction aortic root systolic motion amplitude was significantly different between patients groups, selected by the categories of Killip (1967). Biggest amplitudes were found in patients with complicated course, smallest amplitudes in cardiogenic shock. Aortic root systolic motion increased in a parallel direction with the clinical improvement of the patients. Aortic root echos are easily detectable, independent from segmental dysfunction, therefore useful in monitoring of left ventricular function of patients with acute myocardial infarction.