THE IMPORTANCE OF DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES I N PATIENTS WITH MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION DURING REHABILITATION PHASE-II

consecutive patients with recent myocardial infarction were retrospect ively analysed during rehabilitation phase II (rehabilitation clinic) in order to study the indications for and the consequences of addition al diagnostic procedures not performed during rehabilitation phase I ( primary care hospital). The results were compared with a similar study from 1988. It was shown that beside Holter monitoring, myocardial sci ntigraphy, Swan-Ganz catheterisation and echocardiography more emphasi s was placed on exercise ECG in rehabilitation phase II than in rehabi litation phase I (93 vs. 47%). In 22% of the patient collective, nonin vasive diagnostic procedures resulted in coronary angiograms, all of w hich required further therapeutical intervention (i.e., PTCA or bypass surgery) which substantially altered the individual rehabilitation pl an.