Remote Ischemic Conditioning With Local Ischemic Postconditioning in High-Risk ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction

Coronary reperfusion by percutaneous coronary intervention is mandatory to salvage ischemic myocardium and to reduce definite infarct size. However, reperfusion itself also causes irreversible myocardial damage - a phenomenon described as reperfusion injury. Reduction of ischemic and reperfusion injury by ischemic conditioning has been identified as a potential target to reduce myocardial damage. Remote ischemic conditioning and local ischemic postconditioning might be in particular of clinical benefit in higher risk STEMI patients with Killip class ≥2, where mortality rates are high. The Remote Ischemic Conditioning with Local Ischemic Postconditioning in High-Risk ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients (RIP-HIGH) trial is a two-arm randomized controlled trial aiming to compare the impact of combined remote ischemic conditioning and local ischemic postconditioning vs. standard of care on clinical outcome in high-risk ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.