FREQUENCY OF IMPROVEMENT IN LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION AFTER PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Background: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a critical cardiac emergency that often leads to impaired ventricular function and increased mortality. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has emerged as the gold-standard treatment for rapid myocardial reperfusion in STEMI, aimed at preserving left ventricular function. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a reliable prognostic marker for functional recovery and long-term outcomes post-revascularization. However, variability in LVEF response post-PCI continues to prompt investigation into its effectiveness across different patient populations. Objective: To determine the improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, over a six-month period from October 2024 to March 2025. A total of 100 patients aged 30–80 years, of either gender, diagnosed with STEMI and undergoing primary PCI were included. Patients were evaluated for LVEF using transthoracic echocardiography before PCI and again 90 days post-intervention. Improvement was defined as a rise in LVEF greater than 10%. Data were collected through structured proformas and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: The mean baseline LVEF was 32.9 ± 4.19%, which significantly improved to 44.72 ± 5.17% after 90 days of primary PCI (p < 0.001). An improvement in LVEF was observed in 87% (n=87) of the patients.