Overview
Acute myocardial infarction (MI) indicates irreversible myocardial injury resulting in necrosis of a significant portion of myocardium (generally >1 cm). The term “acute” denotes infarction less than 3-5 days old, when the inflammatory infiltrate is primarily neutrophilic. Acute MI may be either of the nonreperfusion type, in which case the obstruction to blood flow is permanent, or of the reperfusion type, in which the obstruction or lack of blood flow is long enough in duration (generally hours) but is reversed or restored after myocardial cell death occurs.
Acute myocardial infarctions (MIs) are common. About one million people have an MI each year in the United States.
They result in the hospitalization of approximately 4 men and 2 women per 1000 population each year.
Go to Myocardial Infarction and Right Ventricular Infarction for complete information on these topics.