The appearance of cardiac
murmurs, initially absent, is important to establish the
diagnosis of post-AMI mechanical defects (ventricular
septal defect, papillary muscle dysfunction) and in the
complications of infectious endocarditis. The echocardiogram
is helpful in providing data on global and regional
ventricular function, integrity of valve function, and presence
of intracardiac shunts and of pericardial effusion