Rheolytic thrombectomy during percutaneous revascularization for acute myocardial infarction: experience with the AngioJet catheter.
BACKGROUND
Although balloon angioplasty and stenting are effective in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (MI), reduced coronary flow and distal embolization frequently complicate interventions when thrombus is present. Adjunctive treatment with mechanical thrombectomy devices may reduce these complications.


RESULTS
We evaluated the angiographic and clinical outcomes of 70 patients with acute MI (16% with cardiogenic shock) and with angiographically evident thrombus who were treated with AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy followed by immediate definitive treatment. Procedure success (residual diameter stenosis <50% and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] flow > or =2 after final treatment) was achieved in 93.8%. Clinical success (procedure success without major in-hospital cardiac events) was achieved in 87.5%, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 7.1%. Final TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 87.7%. AngioJet treatment resulted in a mean thrombus area reduction from 73.2 +/- 64.6 mm(2) at baseline to 15.5 +/- 30.1 post-thrombectomy (P <.001). Subsequent definitive treatment included stenting in 67% and balloon angioplasty alone in 26% of patients. Procedural complications included distal embolization in six patients and perforation in two patients. There were no further major adverse events during 30-day follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Rheolytic thrombectomy can be performed safely and effectively in patients with acute MI, allowing for immediate definitive treatment in thrombus-containing lesions.
Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA.
J A
JA
Silva
S R
SR
Ramee
D J
DJ
Cohen
J P
JP
Carrozza
J J
JJ
Popma
A A
AA
Lansky
K
K
Dandreo
D S
DS
Baim
B S
BS
George
D J
DJ
McCormick
C M
CM
Setum
R E
RE
Kuntz
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012212:Rheology; D015607:Stents; D017131:Thrombectomy