Editorial comment: Interpreting and dealing with myocardial stunning

When first reported, it was not accepted that myocardial function recovered hours later following resumption of normal coronary flow after brief occlusion in dogs [1]. Later, the term myocardial stunning was applied to the phenomenon of delayed recovery of regional myocardial contractile function after myocardial reperfusion, despite the absence of irreversible damage and restoration of normal coronary flow [2]. In fact, when the coronary artery is occluded, myocardial necrosis begins at the center in the sub-endocardial region, and a wave front of necrosis propagates towards the peripheral adjacent area and the subepicardium [3].
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research