Minimizing Reperfusion Injury in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

The Mechanism of Ischemic Post-conditioning in Humans: Minimizing Reperfusion Injury in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

The size of a heart attack will be decreased by the use of timed balloon inflations to open the blocked blood vessel.

The intervention of "post conditioning" at the time of reperfusion, in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), will attenuate the degree of ischemia-reperfusion injury, as manifested by infarct size. This intervention is hypothesized to be safe in humans.

Inclusion Criteria:

• STEMI
• Onset of symptoms within 6 hours
• TIMI 0 to TIMI 1 flow in infarct related artery

Exclusion Criteria:

• collaterals to infarct related artery
• previous infarct in related territory
• thrombolytics
• cardiogenic shock
• TIMI 2 to TIMI 3 flow