The effects of oxygen therapy on myocardial salvage in ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with acute percutaneous coronary intervention – The Supplemental Oxygen in Catheterized Coronary Emergency Reperfusion (SOCCER) study

Objectives Despite a lack of scientific evidence, oxygen has long been a part of standard treatment for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, several studies suggest that oxygen therapy may have negative cardiovascular effects. We here describe a randomized controlled trial, i.e. Supplemental Oxygen in Catheterized Coronary Emergency Reperfusion (SOCCER), aiming to evaluate the effect of oxygen therapy on myocardial salvage and infarct size in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods One hundred normoxic STEMI patients accepted for a primary PCI are randomized in the ambulance to either standard oxygen therapy or no supplemental oxygen. All patients undergo cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) 2-6 days after the primary PCI, and a subgroup of 50 patients undergo an extended echocardiography during admission and at 6 months. All patients are followed for 6 months for hospital admission for heart failure and subjective perception of health. The primary endpoint is the myocardial salvage index on CMR.Discussion Even though oxygen therapy is a part of standard care, oxygen may not be beneficial for patients with AMI and is possibly even harmful. The results of the present and concurrent oxygen trials may change international treatment guidelines for patients with AMI or ischemia.