[Hibernation and stunning as manifestations of ischemic dysfunction of the myocardium].

Hibernation and stunning are phenomena which constitute a basis of dysfunction of the myocardium appearing as a consequence of chronic ischemic heart disease and of myocardial revascularization. Myocardial stunning is an acute derangement of contractility of ischemic myocardium at the moment of restoration of coronary blood flow by various interventions (bypass grafting, angioplasty, thrombolysis). Myocardial hibernation implies presence of chronically developing foci of reduced contractility located in the area of myocardium supplied by obstructed artery. There is a following difference between these phenomena: stunning is a complex of structural and metabolic disorders during the state of "ischemia-reperfusion" while hibernation is a process of adaptation of the myocardium to chronic ischemia consisting in switch of metabolism to alternative type of energy production (anaerobic glycolysis). Exploration of pathophysiology and morphology of hibernating and stunned myocardium is necessary for elaboration of methods of protection against ischemic injury.