Thrombus Aspiration in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presenting Late After Symptom Onset

JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2016 Jan 25;9(2):113-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2015.09.010.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether manual thrombus aspiration reduces microvascular obstruction assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presenting late after symptom onset.

Background: Thrombus aspiration is an established treatment option in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there are only limited data on the efficacy of thrombus aspiration in patients with STEMI presenting ≥12 h after symptom onset.

Methods: Patients with subacute STEMI presenting ≥12 and ≤48 h after symptom onset were randomized to primary PCI with or without manual thrombus aspiration in a 1:1 ratio. Patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging 1 to 4 days after randomization. The primary endpoint was the extent of microvascular obstruction.

Results: A total of 152 patients underwent randomization. The mean time between symptom onset and PCI was 28 ± 12 h. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. The majority of patients (60%) showed at least a moderate amount of viable myocardium in the affected region. Extent of microvascular obstruction was not significantly different between patients assigned to thrombus aspiration and the control group (2.5 ± 4.0% vs. 3.1 ± 4.4% of left ventricular mass, p = 0.47). There were also no significant differences in infarct size, myocardial salvage, left ventricular ejection fraction, and angiographic and clinical endpoints between groups.

Conclusions: In this first randomized trial of thrombectomy in patients with STEMI presenting late after symptom onset, routine thrombus aspiration before PCI failed to show a benefit for markers of reperfusion success. (Effect of Thrombus Aspiration in Patients With Myocardial Infarction Presenting Late After Symptom Onset; NCT01379248).

Keywords: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; cardiac microvascular obstruction; magnetic resonance imaging; thrombus aspiration.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Circulation
  • Coronary Thrombosis / complications
  • Coronary Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Coronary Thrombosis / physiopathology
  • Coronary Thrombosis / therapy*
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Microcirculation
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy*
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / etiology
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / physiopathology
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* / adverse effects
  • Stroke Volume
  • Thrombectomy* / adverse effects
  • Time Factors
  • Time-to-Treatment*
  • Tissue Survival
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function, Left

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01379248