Study of Coronary Microvascular Function After Heart Attack Using Continuous Saline Thermodilution in Adults Undergoing Emergency Balloon or Stent Treatment

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating heart microvascular function in people who have experienced a heart attack called ST-elevation myocardial infarction STEMI. The study focuses on measuring this function using a method called continuous saline thermodilution CST after emergency treatment to open blocked arteries. The main goals are to understand the CST measurements during treated heart attacks and to see if these can predict heart muscle injury and recovery. Participants receive emergency balloon andor stent therapy to open blocked coronary arteries. After this treatment, their hearts microvascular system is tested using CST, a technique that measures blood flow and resistance in small heart vessels without using active medication, only saline. Several days later, participants undergo a heart MRI to assess injury. This observational study follows patients presenting within 24 hours of symptom onset and treated at a cardiac catheterization lab. During the study, participants have clinic visits with medical history updates, physical exams, and echocardiograms to track heart function over time. Researchers monitor outcomes like microvascular resistance reserve MRR at enrollment, changes in heart wall movement and ejection fraction over three months, and presence of microvascular obstruction shortly after hospital discharge. They also observe clinical events such as mortality, heart failure, and anginal symptoms through follow-up. Participation lasts from initial emergency treatment through routine follow-up visits.

Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction After STEMI Using Continuous Saline Thermodilution