title: Thrombus aspiration in primary percutaneous coronary intervention in high-risk patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a real-world registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of thrombus aspiration in a real-world all-comer patient population with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Catheter thrombus aspiration in primary PCI was beneficial in randomized clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 313 STEMI patients presenting with TIMI Flow Grade 0 or 1 in the infarct related artery at baseline angiogram undergoing primary PCI. PATIENTS were divided in two groups based on whether thrombus aspiration was attempted. This decision was left at operator's discretion. Procedural and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics were similar between groups: 194 (62%) received thrombus aspiration and 119 underwent conventional PCI. Thrombus aspiration was associated with significantly lower post-PCI TIMI Frame Count values (19 +/- 15 vs. 25 +/- 17; P = 0.002) and higher TIMI Flow Grade 3 (92% vs. 73%; P < 0.001). Postprocedural myocardial perfusion assessed by myocardial blush grade (MBG) was significantly increased in the thrombus aspiration group (MBG 3: 44% vs. 21%; P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two groups in clinical outcome at 30 days. At one year, patients treated with thrombus aspiration showed significantly higher overall survival (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.81; log-rank P = 0.010) and MACE-free survival (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.85; log-rank P = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In real-world all-comer STEMI patients with occluded infarct-related artery, thrombus aspiration prior to PCI improves coronary flow, myocardial perfusion, and long-term clinical outcome as compared with PCI in the absence of thrombus aspiration.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, OLV Hospital, Moorselbaan 164, Aalst, Belgium. emanuele.barbato@olvz-aalst.be
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mangiacapra
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wijns
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trana
authors.forename: Argyrios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntalianis
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heyndrickx
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanderheyden
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartunek
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Bruyne
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D001530:Belgium; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome