European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Hypokalemia has been reported to occur in a high percentage of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction and has been shown to increase the risk of severe ventricular arrhythmia. The present study assessed occurrence of hypokalemia in suspected AMI patients.
Materials & Methods: 76 patients of AMI of both genders were selected and parameters such as previous infarction, previous angina pectoris, previous hypertension, infarct size, infarct site and delay were recorded. Venous blood samples were collected and the samples were sent for analysis in laboratory for the estimation of potassium level.
Results: Out of 76 patients, males were 46 and females were 30. Hypokalemia was seen in 7 patients, 3 males and 4 females. Age >60 years had 5 and      <60 years had 2. Previous infarction was seen in 4 cases. Previous angina pectoris was seen in 5 patients. Previous hypertension was seen in 6 patients. Infarct size heat-stable LDmax < 15 μkat/l had 2 and heat-stable LDmax > 15 μkat/l had 5 cases. Infarct site was anterior infarction in 4 and inferior infarction in 3 cases. Delay           < 3 hours was seen in 1 and >3 hours in 6 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Risk factors for hypokalemia in AMI patients were history of previous infarction, previous angina pectoris, previous hypertension, infarct size and infarct site

Background: Arrhythmias and conduction disturbances those are likely to be significant problems during the early phases of AMI. The arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities discussed include sinus bradycardia, AV block, Idioventricular rhythm, VT, and VF. In general, the acute management of these rhythm disturbances is the same in the early and in the late phases of AMI
Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted in 100 patients of acute myocardial infarction to evaluate the incidence and significance of early and predischarge cardiac arrhythmias.
Results: By seventh hospital day, twenty patients had expired and the remaining eighty patients were monitored in CCU for two hours and arrhythmias were noted. Complicated ventricular premature contraction (i.e.Lown class III-V) was observed in two (25%) patient. Fifteen (18.75%) patients had Lown class 0-II VPC's. Two (2.5%) patients had supraventricular tachycardia and 6 (7.5%) patients had heart blocks.
Conclusion: Early arrhythmias (within 24 hours of AMI.) were significantly associated with in hospital mortality and complicated course, while no significant bearing on long term (6 month) cardiac event was noted.