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Published on: January 18, 2018
Use of thrombectomy devices in primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Charis Costopoulos1, Diana A Gorog2, Carlo Di Mario3
1Department of Cardiology, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, UK.
Insights
Manual thrombectomy devices significantly improve outcomes for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Routine use of these devices enhances myocardial reperfusion and reduces mortality, making them a valuable adjunctive therapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the standard for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
- Despite successful epicardial reperfusion with PPCI, impaired myocardial microcirculation due to distal embolization remains a challenge.
- Thrombectomy devices have been developed to mitigate distal embolization and improve myocardial perfusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review available thrombectomy devices for PPCI.
- To evaluate the evidence supporting the routine use of thrombectomy in PPCI.
- To assess the impact of thrombectomy on myocardial reperfusion and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of thrombectomy devices (manual and non-manual).
- Literature search using PubMed and EMBASE with terms 'thrombectomy' and 'thrombus aspiration'.
- Meta-analysis of randomized control trials comparing adjunctive thrombectomy with standard PPCI.
Main Results:
- Manual thrombectomy significantly improved ST-segment resolution, Myocardial Blush Grade 3, and TIMI 3 flow.
- Adjunctive manual thrombectomy was associated with a 43% reduction in mortality (p=0.04).
- Non-manual thrombectomy showed potential in specific cases but lacks evidence for routine use.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence supports the routine use of manual thrombectomy devices in PPCI.
- Manual thrombectomy enhances myocardial reperfusion and clinical outcomes in STEMI patients.
- Non-manual thrombectomy may be considered for selected patients with specific vessel and thrombus characteristics.
Aims:
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) has become the treatment of choice in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) over the recent years. A number of studies have demonstrated a morbidity and mortality benefit over thrombolysis, which has been attributed to better coronary perfusion in patients undergoing PPCI. However although PPCI usually achieves normal flow in the affected epicardial vessel, myocardial reperfusion is not fully restored in a significant percentage of patients. This is commonly the result of distal thrombus embolization with subsequent impairment of myocardial microcirculation. Recognition of this has led to the development of a number of devices with different mechanisms of action that aim to reduce such distal embolization and therefore improve end myocardial perfusion. Recent studies indeed demonstrate that the use of such devices offer additional clinical advantage in patients undergoing PPCI compared to the current practice. This report focuses on thrombectomy devices and reviews the evidence that advocates their routine use in PPCI patients.
Methods And Results:
We have performed a systematic review of currently available thrombectomy devices. We also performed a literature search, using the terms "thrombectomy" and "thrombus aspiration" in PubMed and EMBASE. Thrombectomy devices were divided in "manual" and "non-manual" groups. We performed a meta-analysis of the available randomized control trials that compared adjunctive thrombectomy in PPCI to standard PPCI. The use of manual thrombectomy devices is associated with significant improvements in ST-segment resolution (STR) (p<0.00001), Myocardial Blush Grade (MBG) 3 (p<0.00001), Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow (p=0.01) as well as clinical parameters (43% reduction in mortality, p=0.04) in patients undergoing PPCI.
Conclusion:
Current evidence advocates the routine use of manual thrombectomy devices in PPCI. Non-manual (mechanical) thrombectomy may have a role in selected PPCI patients with large caliber vessels and heavy thrombus burden although their routine use is not presently supported.
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