myocardial stunning
Pronunciation: my-oh-KAR-dee-al STUN-ing
Temporary mechanical dysfunction of heart muscle that persists despite restoration of normal coronary blood flow.
Full Definition
Myocardial stunning is a reversible condition characterized by prolonged mechanical dysfunction of the myocardium that occurs despite restoration of normal or near-normal coronary perfusion. This phenomenon typically follows episodes of ischemia and reperfusion, such as after successful treatment of acute myocardial infarction or cardiac surgery. The stunned myocardium shows reduced contractility but maintains viability and gradually recovers function over days to weeks. Understanding myocardial stunning is important for patient management and prognosis, as it explains why some patients may have temporarily depressed cardiac function despite successful revascularization.
In Context
- "Post-intervention echocardiography showed evidence of myocardial stunning with reduced wall motion in the anterior segments." — Post-procedural assessment report
- "The patient's ejection fraction improved over several weeks, consistent with recovery from myocardial stunning." — Follow-up cardiology evaluation