[Value of echocardiography and amplified atrial vectorcardiography for selecting the methods of therapy and prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation].

Atrial and left-ventricular myocardial activity was assessed in 85 coronary patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Their age varied between 43 and 88 years. The methods used included ECG, amplified atrial vectorcardiography after I. T. Akulinichev's schedule (amplification: 1 mv = 100 mm) and M-scan echocardiography. The comparison of these methods has substantiated criteria for the selection of differential treatment and preventive measures in these patients, on the basis of the prevailing type of atrial myocardial changes ("arrhythmic", "hemodynamic" or "combined" ones). A supportive treatment with cardiotonic agents is advisable in cases of the "hemodynamic" type with apparent signs of the overstrain (dilation) of the left atrium or both atria. In the "arrhythmic" variant, where conductivity, automatism and excitation disorders are predominant, antiarrhythmic agents (cordaron, quinidine, adrenoblockers) are indicated while the "combined" type calls for combined treatment with cardiotonic and antiarrhythmic agents.