COMPARISON OF SOME CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSING A MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION AFTER AORTOCORONARY BYPASS-GRAFTING (CABG)

The incidence of myocardial infarction during a 1-year follow-up perio d after coronary bypass surgery (CABG), i.e. a recent myocardial infar ction (RMI), was studied in 86 patients. Different criteria for the di agnosis of a RMI were compared. Clinical observation, including ECG an d serum enzyme analysis, diagnosed RMI in 8% of patients. Specific ECG changes indicating RMI (ECGsp) occurred in 12% of cases, and if less specific ECG changes were also taken into account (ECGsp+nonsp) RMI wa s found in 30% of cases, Asynergy, detected by two-plane ventriculogra phy, indicated RMI in 24% of the patients, and was probably the most v alid of the criteria examined. The differences in diagnostic accuracy of the various criteria highlight the importance of defining diagnosti c criteria.