At what time interval following the onset of ischemia does irreversible cell injury (necrosis) typically begin to occur in the myocardium?
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Correct answer: 20 to 40 min
Myocardial cells are very sensitive to hypoxia. While functional loss occurs within seconds, irreversible injury and cell death (necrosis) generally take 20 to 40 minutes of severe ischemia to commence.
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