[Autonomic tests in survivors of acute phase of myocardial infarction. Feasibility, tolerance, and safety].

In order to assess practicability and safety of simple autonomic tests in survivors of acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) attempts to carry out active orthostatic test, tests with controlled breathing (6 and 15 breaths per min), and Valsalva maneuver were performed in 210 patients on days 4-11 of MI. All patients had no signs of severe heart failure, were in sinus rhythm and did not interrupt standard therapy which included beta blockers. Tests were not completed in 14 patients (4.8%): orthostatic test in 6 due to hypotension, Valsalva maneuver in 3 because they did not reach required pressure in respiratory airways, and controlled breathing in 6 because of shortness of breath and substernal pain. All symptoms disappeared spontaneously and none of them was accompanied by ECG changes. All other tests were successfully completed without complications. Thus simple autonomic tests used in this study can be safely carried out in most stable patients on days 4-11 of MI.