Average National Length of Stay- Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Enlarge This is the U.S. national average length of stay (risk adjusted) in days that patients spent in the hospital for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Acute myocardial infarction is a heart attack. AMI refers to changes that occur in the heart muscle when its blood supply from the coronary arteries is suddenly reduced. This is usually the result of atherosclerosis (a build up of plaque which causes narrowing inside the coronary arteries), and may also involve the formation of a thrombus (blood clot) that can block a coronary artery. Restriction in blood flow through the coronary arteries can lead to necrosis (death) of the heart muscle if it is severe and/or prolonged. Reference: [1] [4]

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