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Myocardial Protection

Meaning

Myocardial Protection refers to clinical and physiological strategies aimed at minimizing damage to the heart muscle (myocardium) during periods of acute stress, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury during a heart attack or cardiac surgery. This involves a spectrum of interventions, including pharmacological agents, metabolic conditioning, and surgical techniques designed to preserve myocyte viability and limit the size of the resulting infarct. Endogenous hormones and their modulators are increasingly recognized as powerful intrinsic agents of this protection, regulating cellular energy metabolism and anti-apoptotic pathways.