Clinical importance of stunned and hibernating myocardium.

Myocardial stunning and hibernation are states of potentially reversible myocardial dysfunction, which were first described more than 20 years ago (c.1980). Important advances have now been made in the ability to detect stunned and hibernating myocardium, as well as in the understanding of the impact of these conditions on patient outcomes. We discuss here the clinical importance of stunned and hibernating myocardium for patients with several common cardiac conditions.