Myocardial reperfusion injury

A review of the mechanism of ischemic-reperfusion injury, proposed interventions to prevent injury, and future directions have been presented to enhance the practitioner's knowledge of this new, exciting concept in myocardial injury. There is increasing evidence in the literature that reperfusion injury may occur in other organ systems and is responsible for some of the more prevalent pathologies seen in critically ill patients. Investigators have indicated that the tissue damage in sepsis, the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), delayed organ recovery in transplanted organs, and delayed ventricular recovery after cardiopulmonary bypass may be attributed to reperfusion injury. The next few years will prove to be exciting as this concept is further investigated and refined. Critical care nurses need to understand the concept of reperfusion injury and may soon begin to apply the results of ongoing research studies to patients undergoing reperfusion.