The Rate and Prognosis of Ventricular Fibrillation Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Objective: To determine the rate of ventricular fibrillation according to thetime of onset of ischemic chest pain of patients with acute myocardialinfarction.Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: The only general hospital in Karballa city.Patients: 146 consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit withacute myocardial infarction.Main outcome measures: Time of onset of chest pain and ventricularfibrillation and survival of patient admitted with myocardial infarction. duringhospitalization.Results: The rate of ventricular fibrillation in these patients was high in thefirst 4 hours from onset of pain (14 patients 77.8%) and decline afterward,11.1% of patients with V.F. died during hospitalization compared with 7.8%of those without.Conclusion: Early admission to hospital of patient with acute myocardialinfarction will reduce the early mortality due to ventricular fibrillation. Fasteraccess to facilities for resuscitation must be achieved if major improvement inthe persistently high mortality of patient with acute myocardial infarction. is tobe made.