Right ventricular infarction

Abstract

Coronary Heart Disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A great amount is known about left ventricular myocardial infarction. It was not until much later (1974) that right ventricular myocardial infarction was studied as a separate entity. Isolated right ventricle myocardial infarction is rare. Around one-third of patients with acute infero-posterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, will present with concomitant right ventricular infraction. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on the importance of early recognition of right ventricular infarction, clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, differential diagnosis, treatment, complications and prognosis.

Keywords: Infero-posterior myocardial infarction; Myocardial infarction; Right ventricular infarction; Right-sided electrocardiogram.