The “open artery hypothesis” in survivors of myocardial infarction

In survivors of acute myocardial infarction, the restoration of antegrade flow in the infarct‐related coronary artery may improve prognosis by a mechanism independent of its effect on left ventricular function. Survival may be enhanced even when restoration of flow is accomplished days or weeks afte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) N.J.), 1997-06, Vol.20 (6), p.522-524
Main Authors: Pitts, William R., Cigarroa, Joaquin E., Lange, Richard A., David Hillis, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Coronary Artery Disease - complications
Coronary Artery Disease - therapy
Coronary heart disease
Heart
Humans
infarct artery
Life Tables
Medical sciences
Myocardial Infarction - complications
Myocardial Infarction - mortality
Myocardial Infarction - therapy
Myocardial Revascularization
patency
Retrospective Studies
Review
Reviews
Vascular Patency
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Summary:In survivors of acute myocardial infarction, the restoration of antegrade flow in the infarct‐related coronary artery may improve prognosis by a mechanism independent of its effect on left ventricular function. Survival may be enhanced even when restoration of flow is accomplished days or weeks after the acute event. In a series of retrospective studies of survivors of a first myocardial infarction, it was shown that long‐term survival is significantly better in those with than in those without antegrade flow in the infarct‐related artery. It is hypothesized that late restoration of antegrade flow in the infarct‐related artery renders the border zone of the infarction more electrically stable, thereby diminishing the incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death.
ISSN:0160-9289
1932-8737
DOI:10.1002/clc.4960200603