Right Ventricular Infarction: Prevalence, Diagnostic and TherapeuticCharacteristics, and Prognosis about 10 Cases

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of the right ventricular infarction and its diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics. Patients and methods: A single center retrospective study was carried out between January 2011 and December 2014. Patients who were diagnosed with right ventricular infarction at electrocardiogram and echocardiography were recruited. Outcomes: Among the 159 patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction, 10 had myocardial infarction extended to the right ventricle (6.3%). It occurred on an inferior infarction in 7 cases out of 35 and anterior infarction in 3 cases out of 124. The mean age was 53 years and sex ratio M/F of 2.33. All patients had at least 3 cardiovascular risk factors. Right-sided heart failure was found in 4 patients. Right ventricular infaction was associated with inferior STEMI in 7 patients, and anterior STEMI in 3 patients. Echocardiography showed right ventricular dilatation and impaired right ventricular systolic function in respectively 6 cases. Thrombolysis was performed in 7 patients and rescue angioplasty in 1 case. A regressive cardiogenic collapse was noted in 6 cases and one death in 1 case. Conclusion: Right ventricular infarction is relatively rare and usually related to an extension of an inferior myocardial infarction. Hemodynamic instability is of worse prognosis.