Intraoperative assessment of the stunned versus infarcted myocardium with the simultaneous use of transesophageal echocardiography and the measurement of myocardial pH: two case studies

Abstract

The ability to differentiate intraoperatively between myocardial stunning, which is reversible, and irreversible myocardial infarction has major implications because it provides a rational approach to the use or withholding of ventricular assist devices in patients with severe postcardiotomy ventricular dysfunction. Two illustrative cases are presented.