Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm: Coronary Reperfusion Marker?

pp 659-664

Abstract

Objectives

In patients with acute myocardial infarction capable fibrinolytic therapy, we have to know if accelerated idioventricular rhythm is a frequent reperfusion arrhythmia.

Results

We studied 41 patients with acute myocardial infarction and accelerated idioventricular rhythm (32 male and 9 female). Thirty-eight (92.7%) patients received fibrinolytic therapy and 3 (7.3%) patients were considered spontaneously reperfused. The occurrence of accelerated idioventricular rhythm was in 31 patients (81.6%) within 2 hours. The accelerated idioventricular rhythm occurred frequently before the normal level of the ST segment was reached. The link interval between the first QRS complex of accelerated idioventricular rhythm and the lastQRS complex of sinusal rhythm was longer (802 m sec average).ConclusionsAccelerated idioventricular rhythm occurred in90% of reperfused patients and appeared early (120 minutes). In most of patients accelerated idioven-ricular rhythm occurred before ST segment reached normal level. We had no death in this group of patients. Finally we can say the accelerated idioventricular rhythm is a good reperfusion marker in the set of acute myocardial infarction treated with fibrinolytic therapy.