ABSTRACT

Enormous advances in surgical, pharmacological, and interventional techniques result­ing in early restoration of infarct artery patency significantly improved outcome in patients with acute coronary syndromes.1 However, time-consuming preparations in patients with acute myocardial ischemia scheduled for emergency bypass surgery, prolonged interventional procedures in patients with complex coronary lesions, and early reestablishment of coronary blood flow in acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock by means of thrombolytic agents or primary angioplasty may result in myocardial tissue damage partly related to reperfusion of oxygenated blood into ischemia-damaged myocardial areas.