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Coronary Microvascular Obstruction - A Puzzle with Many Pieces.
N Engl J Med. 2015 Apr 9;372(15):1464-1465
Authors: Crea F
Abstract
Prompt referral for mechanical reperfusion by urgent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represents a pivotal step in the current management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).(1) Yet, in a sizable proportion of patients, this intervention reopens the obstructed epicardial coronary artery but does not achieve myocardial reperfusion because of coronary microvascular obstruction. Several studies have clearly shown that coronary microvascular obstruction has a negative effect on outcome, negating the potential benefit of primary PCI. Indeed, such obstruction is associated with an increased prevalence of early postinfarction complications, adverse left ventricular remodeling, late repeat hospital stays for heart failure, and death. . . .
PMID: 25853751 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]