Definition: Restoration of blood supply to tissue which is ischemic due to decrease in normal blood supply. The decrease may result from any source including atherosclerotic obstruction, narrowing of the artery, or surgical clamping. It is primarily a procedure for treating infarction or other ischemia, by enabling viable ischemic tissue to recover, thus limiting further necrosis. However, it is thought that reperfusion can itself further damage the ischemic tissue, causing REPERFUSION INJURY.
note category: a technique; /adv eff permitted but consider also REPERFUSION INJURY; MYOCARDIAL REPERFUSION is also available
ExamplesMyocardial Reperfusion
