Enhancement of Coronary Blood Flow as Myocardial Salvage Therapy

摘要

The early and late prognosis of acute myocardial infarction are mainly related to the final infarct size, which is the total amount of left ventricular myocardial necrosis. The potentially maximal infarct size is the area at risk, which is the amount of jeopardized myocardium during coronary artery occlusion. The area of necrosis spreads from the center of the area at risk toward its periphery. The aim of reperfusion therapy is to stop the progression of necrosis by restoring coronary blood flow as early as possible. This limitation of infarct size represents myocardial salvage, and is associated with improved prognosis. The aim of this chapter is to describe the implications of improving coronary blood flow during the acute phase of myocardial infarction on myocardial salvage, and thus on global prognosis.