A NEW study could help patients recover from the most serious heart attack.

Patients who have suffered an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction are usually treated with a stent to open the blocked artery.

However a study carried out by Glasgow University and the Golden Jubilee hospital suggests delaying treatment could help improve the outcome for patients.

Although blood flow is restored with a stent, sometimes blood cannot return to the damaged area of the heart.

Researchers found that when stent placement was deferred by 16 hours this was less likely to happen.

The study was funded by British Heart Foundation and the Chief Scientist Office of NHS Scotland.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk