Aspiration thrombectomy in patients undergoing primary angioplasty: totality of data to 2013.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to update our meta-analysis on clinical outcomes with aspiration thrombectomy prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) compared with conventional PPCI alone due to the availability of additional trial data.


BACKGROUND
The clinical efficacy of adjunctive aspiration thrombectomy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing PPCI remains controversial. A recent large-scale randomized trial showed no benefit in terms of mortality at 30 days.


METHODS
Clinical trials that randomized STEMI patients to aspiration thrombectomy prior to PPCI compared with conventional PPCI alone were included.


RESULTS
A total of 11,321 patients from 20 randomized controlled trials were included. The composite major adverse cardiac event (MACE) endpoint was lower in the aspiration thrombectomy arm compared with conventional PPCI alone (risk ratio [RR] = 0.81, 95% CI 0.70-0.94; P = 0.006). Although all-cause mortality was similar between the adjunctive aspiration thrombectomy arm and PPCI arms (RR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.67-1.01; P = 0.06), late mortality (6-12 months) was significantly reduced (RR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.44-0.92; P = 0.016). Reinfarction (RR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.44-0.92; P = 0.017) and stent thrombosis (RR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.32-0.91; P = 0.021) were similarly lower. Differences in target vessel revascularization were of borderline significance (RR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.68-1.01; P = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Our meta-analysis including all randomized controlled trials on aspiration thrombectomy to date demonstrates a significant reduction in adverse clinical outcomes including stent thrombosis compared with conventional PCI alone.
Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Dharam J
DJ
Kumbhani
Anthony A
AA
Bavry
Milind Y
MY
Desai
Sripal
S
Bangalore
Robert A
RA
Byrne
Hani
H
Jneid
Deepak L
DL
Bhatt
D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013396:Suction; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
meta-analysis; mortality; myocardial infarction; outcomes; thrombectomy