Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
The Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network Multi-Laboratory Model of Thromboembolic Stroke with Thrombolysis: TE-MCAo
Published on: December 19, 2025
Randomized study to assess the effect of thrombus aspiration on flow area in patients with ST-elevation myocardial
Yoshinobu Onuma1, Leif Thuesen, Robert-Jan van Geuns
1Thorax Center Ba-583, Erasmus Medical Center, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Aims:
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) with thrombectomy (TB) seems to reduce the thrombus burden, resulting in a larger flow area as measured with optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI).
Methods And Results:
In a multi-centre study, 141 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction <12 h from onset were randomized to either PPCI with TB using an Eliminate catheter (TB: n = 71) or without TB (non-TB: n = 70), having operators blinded for the OFDI results. The primary endpoint was minimum flow area (MinFA) post-procedure assessed by OFDI, defined as: [stent area + incomplete stent apposition (ISA) area] - (intraluminal defect + tissue prolapse area). Sample size was based on the expected difference of 0.72 mm(2) in MinFA. Baseline demographics, pre-procedural quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), and procedural characteristics were well matched between the two groups. On OFDI, the stent area (TB: 7.62 ± 2.23 mm(2), non-TB: 7.05 ± 2.12 mm(2), P = 0.14) and MinFA (TB: 7.08 ± 2.14 mm(2) vs. non-TB: 6.51 ± 1.99 mm(2), Δ0.57 mm(2), P = 0.12) were not different. In addition, the amount of protrusion, intraluminal defect, and ISA area were similar in the both groups.
Conclusion:
PPCI with TB was associated with a similar flow area as well as stent area to PPCI without TB.
