Microvascular obstruction in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: another frontier to conquer?

Abstract

Over the past decades, a significant reduction in mortality due to ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been observed worldwide (1,2). Prompt restoration of the epicardial coronary blood flow with timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as well as adjunctive pharmacological therapies have largely reduced the myocardial infarct size and improved short- and longterm outcomes (3,4). Nevertheless, residual cardiovascular risk persists after STEMI.