Phase II Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Benefits of Postconditioning in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)

Single center study involving 140 patients randomized to Post Conditioning + Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus routine PCI during their ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI, Heart Attack) presentation. The Post Conditioning protocol consists of performing four, 30-second PTCA (Angioplasty) balloon occlusions followed by 30-seconds of reperfusion over a total of 4 minutes. The first balloon inflation occurs immediately after an angioplasty guidewire is placed through the obstruction in the artery. Following this protocol the vessel is stented as part of the usual practice for treatment of STEMI. No other treatment differences will occur between the two groups and all patients will receive the usual post-STEMI care. Patients in both groups will receive a cardiac MRI 3-5 days following their STEMI for measurement of heart attack size and heart muscle function, among other measures. Patients will undergo collection of blood for creatine kinase (CK)-MB and troponin I every 8 hours for 24 hours following PCI. All patients will be followed by phone follow-up visits to review history and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) (death, recurrent STEMI, repeat revascularization, arrhythmias, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF)). All patients will be required to take P2Y12 inhibitors and aspirin for the duration of the trial. All patients will be treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I), beta blockers and statins.