title: Mechanical post-conditioning in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: Although early myocardial reperfusion via primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) allows the preservation of left ventricular function and improves outcome, the acute restoration of blood flow may contribute to the pathophysiology of infarction, a complex phenomenon called reperfusion injury. First described in animal models of coronary obstruction, mechanical post-conditioning, a sequence of repetitive interruption of coronary blood flow applied immediately after reopening of the occluded vessel, was able to reduce the infarct size. However, evidence of its real benefit remains controversial. This review describes the mechanisms of post-conditioning action and the different protocols employed focusing on its impact on primary PCI outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics, Catheterization Laboratory and Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy ; Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Marouane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boukhris
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Radhouane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bousselmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics, Catheterization Laboratory and Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore Davide
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Tomasello
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zied Ibn
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Elhadj
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics, Catheterization Laboratory and Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azzarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics, Catheterization Laboratory and Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marzà
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences and Pediatrics, Catheterization Laboratory and Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Galassi
keywords: Balloon inflation; Post-conditioning; Primary PCI; Reperfusion injury