[Myocardial viability. Stunned and hibernating myocardium. Usefulness of myocardial scintigraphy].

The diagnosis of viability in the presence of heart failure in coronary artery disease has acquired great importance due to its excellent therapeutic results. Due to its frequency it has become a public health problem. The characteristics of stunned and hibernating myocardium and the protocols to study perfusion, contractile reserve and metabolic activity are described, with emphasis in the Thallium and Tc99m-sestamibi studies.