Recent advances in stunned myocardium

Stunned myocardium describes tissue that underwent a transient period of ischemia but had been revascularized before cell death occurred. Studies of this phenomenon have primarily been performed using experimental canine models. However, stunned myocardium has been recently identified in patients with acute myocardial infarction in whom the infarct-related artery had been reperfused. Whereas arterial reperfusion performed very early after occlusion may be successful, the full extent of salvaged myocardium may not be known for days after the blood clot is lysed. The recovery of stunned myocardial tissue is a slow process, but may lead to full recovery with im-provement in overall cardiac function.