Reperfusion Microvascular Ischemia After Prolonged Coronary Occlusion: Implications And Treatment With Local Supersaturated Oxygen Delivery.

Following a prolonged coronary arterial occlusion, heterogeneously scattered, focal regions of low erythrocyte flow are commonly found throughout the reperfused myocardium. Experimental studies have also demonstrated the presence of widespread, focally patchy regions of microvascular ischemia during reperfusion (RMI). However, the potential contribution of RMI to tissue viability and function has received little attention in the absence of practical clinical methods for its detection.