Cardiovascular Research

Regional hypothermia reduces myocardial necrosis even when instituted after the onset of ischemia.

Authors: S L Hale|||R H Dave|||R A Kloner

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Abstract

Previously, we observed that reducing myocardial temperature in the risk region before coronary artery occlusion caused a profound reduction in infarct size. It is unknown whether lowering myocardial temperature after ischemia has already begun, or just before reperfusion, is also effective in reducing infarct size. This study tests the hypothesis that reducing myocardial temperature locally, after coronary occlusion, reduces infarct size.