What type of myocardial event is referred to when the coronary artery is completely blocked?

When referring to a myocardial event characterized by a complete blockage of a coronary artery, ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the correct answer. This condition occurs when a coronary artery becomes fully occluded, typically due to a thrombus forming at the site of a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque. As a result of this blockage, blood flow to a portion of the myocardium is severely restricted or entirely cut off, leading to tissue ischemia and necrosis.

In a STEMI, the ECG shows significant elevation of the ST segment, which is indicative of the acute process involving full thickness myocardial damage. This elevation is critical for diagnosis and indicates that timely intervention is necessary to restore blood flow, usually through procedures such as angioplasty or the administration of thrombolytics.

The other types of events listed do not correspond to complete blockage of a coronary artery. Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), for example, generally involves partial blockage and does not lead to the same extent of ST elevation on the ECG. Cardiac arrest refers to the cessation of heart activity, and heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficiently, but neither directly describes the acute event of a fully occluded coronary artery. Thus