Reversal of myocardial ischemic contracture and the relationship to functional recovery and tissue calcium

Prolonged Myocardial Ischemia results in the phenomenon of ischemic contracture, characterized by a thickening of the left ventricular wall and a narrowing of the left ventricular cavity. Reperfusion of contracted myocardium results in a further-contracted "stone heart," which is nonfunctional as a pump and flooded with calcium. This study was undertaken to determine if manipulation of reperfusion conditions in terms of beating vs arrested myocardium and oxygenated vs deoxygenated perfusate has an effect on ultimate functional recovery from ischemic contracture and on the uptake of calcium by the myocardium.