ABSTRACT

Acute thrombotic occlusion and embolic complications may be seen frequently during primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty due to heavy thrombus burden. It has been suggested that removal of intraluminal thrombus with thrombectomy may reduce these adverse events. In this study we aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of thrombectomy performed with X-sizer system. The study included 39 consecutive patients who underwent primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Before stenting, thrombectomy was performed using the X-sizer system in 19 patients, who constituted the study group. Conventional balloon administration and/or stenting were performed without thrombectomy in 20 patients, who constituted the control group. Both groups had similar demographic and angiographic characteristics (p>0.05). In the study group, the number of cases, in whom TIMI III flow was achieved was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The number of cases with corrected TIMI frame, a marker of coronary flow rate, was also significantly lower in the control group (p<0.01). Reinfarction due to acute stent thrombosis was observed in one patient in the control group, and blood flow in the vessel was achieved with a repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Reinfarction was not observed in the study group. In conclusion, thrombectomy during primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty improves coronary blood flow and reduces clinical complications. X-sizer thrombectomy system can be successfully and safely used in this method.