Acute myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction ( MI ) is defined as sudden ischaemic death of myocardial tissue as a result of imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand ( commonly known as heart attack )

Coronary Heart Disease ( CHD ) or Coronary Artery Disease ( CAD ) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe The most common form of CHD is myocardial infarction which happens usually due to a thrombotic occlusion of a coronary vessel caused by rupture of a vulnerable lipid laden atherosclerotic coronary plaque Total occlusion causes STEMI and a partial occlusion in the presence of collateral circulation results in NON-STEMI ( more common than STEMI ) or unstable angina Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of CHD Coronary artery becomes occluded by an atherosclerotic plaque -this then leads to the formation of a thrombus MI usually begins in the endocardium and spreads towards the epicardium Adult mammalian heart cannot regenerate - infarcted myocardium heals through formation of scar - this can lead to systolic and diastolic dysfunction and the patient is prone to arrhythmias Eventually the scar tissue forms a fibrotic scar with long term consequences as ventricular remodelling of the remaining myocardium ( e.g...