Reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction

摘要

Acute myocardial infarction is usually caused by occlusive coronary thrombosis initiated by rupture of an atheromatous plaque. The subendocardium infarcts early after coronary occlusion, but outward extension to affect the full thickness of the ventricular wall may take several hours. Restoration of normal coronary flow, before the transmural spread of infarction is complete, is now seen as the primary goal of hospital treatment because it allows reperfusion of the threatened myocardium with reduction of eventual infarct size.