Which statement correctly describes stunned myocardium?

• A. Stunned myocardium is an adaptive response to prolonged hypoperfusion at rest.
• B. Stunned myocardium shows delayed recovery after transient ischemia with reperfusion.
• C. Stunned myocardium is irreversible scar.
• D. Stunned myocardium is unaffected by ischemia.

Answer: (B)

Stunned myocardium is a temporary, reversible failure of contractile function that occurs after a brief period of ischemia followed by reperfusion. Even though blood flow is restored, the myocardial tissue remains dysfunctional for a period because cellular processes triggered by the ischemia-reperfusion injury impair contraction. The key feature is that recovery of function is delayed but eventual, indicating viability of the tissue rather than permanent damage. This distinguishes it from an irreversible scar from infarction and from a chronically underperfused (hibernating) state. So the statement that best describes stunned myocardium is that it shows delayed recovery after transient ischemia with reperfusion.