Early ambulation in acute myocardial infarction

A series of 286 consecutive cases of acute myocardial infarction admitted at random to one of two wards was studied. The policy of the first ward was early ambulation, within 24-72 hours. In the second ward all patients were kept in bed for the first seven days. All other therapeutic policies were identical. On admission the coronary prognostic index, which included all major risk factors, was calculated for each patient. The mean and the distribution of the index were identical in both groups. There were no differences between the two groups in either early or late mortality rates, nor in the relative frequency of the major complications. The average hospital stay was 11 days in the early ambulation group and 17 days for the other. It is concluded that early ambulation and early discharge have no untoward effect on the course of recovery from acute myocardial infarction and should be applied in all patients except those with cardiogenic shock, pulmonary edema, ventricular tachycardia and severe conduction disturbances.