Reperfused

Reperfused is a term used in medicine to describe the restoration of blood flow to an area of tissue or an organ that has been previously deprived of oxygen. This deprivation, known as ischemia, occurs when a blood vessel is blocked or narrowed, preventing adequate blood supply. Reperfusion is the process that reverses this blockage and allows blood to reach the affected area again.

The restoration of blood flow can happen spontaneously, such as when a blood clot dissolves on its own, or it can be medically induced. Medical interventions aimed at reperfusion include angioplasty, where a balloon is used to widen a narrowed artery, and thrombolytic therapy, where drugs are administered to break down blood clots.

While reperfusion is often a critical step in saving tissue and organs threatened by ischemia, it can also paradoxically cause further damage, a phenomenon known as ischemia-reperfusion injury. This injury occurs because the sudden return of oxygenated blood to tissues that have been starved of it can trigger inflammatory responses and the production of harmful reactive oxygen species. Understanding and managing ischemia-reperfusion injury is an important aspect of treating conditions like heart attacks and strokes, where reperfusion is a primary goal.