Do ATP-sensitive potassium channels play a role in myocardial stunning?

The majority of data suggest that activation of KATP channels by ischemia or by selective KATP channel openers may have therapeutic promise in the treatment of patients during or following a variety of procedures such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, thrombolysis, or coronary artery bypass surgery in which impaired regional or global left ventricular function may be the result. Obviously, well-controlled clinical trials are needed to substantiate or refute these theoretical claims as to the importance of KATP channels in myocardial stunning (3).