Reperfusion after transient tissue ischemia constitutes an irrevocable need to preserve tissue viability. However, release of prolonged ischemia will either result in failure of the microcirculation to reperfusion (no-reflow) and thus the prolongation of hypoxia, or in restoration of blood flow resulting in reoxygenation of the inflicted tissue. While ischemia damages the tissue primarily through hypoxia-induced depletion of energy stores, reoxygenation paradoxically contributes to tissue damage through the formation of oxygen radicals, the release of chemoattractant mediators (TNF, IL-1, LTB4), and the activation of circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Through the action of chemoattractant mediators and the upregulation of leukocytic (CD11/CD18) and endothelial adhesion receptors (ICAM, GMP-140), activated PMNs adhere to the endothelium, release further chemoattractants and oxygen radicals and undertain a vicious circle, which will ultimately result in further tissue damage. Both the no-reflow phenomenon and the events initiated by reflow--termed herein as the reflow-paradox--contribute to the failure of the nutritive microvascular perfusion and loss of tissue viability following ischemia and reperfusion.