Impact of vascular approach (transradial vs. transfemoral) on the efficacy of thrombus aspiration in acute myocardial infarction patients

BackgroundManual thrombus aspiration improves the efficacy of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). The transradial approach (TRA) is an emerging vascular approach for PCI but is associated with specific technical requirements. As data on the combination of thrombus aspiration and TRA are scarce, we sought to assess the feasibility of TRA manual thrombus aspiration in STEMI patients.MethodsAll consecutive patients treated with manual thrombectomy for acute STEMI in three Italian hospitals were considered. Patients were divided according to the vascular approach into two groups: TRA and transfemoral (TFA). Two primary end points were defined: thrombectomy feasibility (ability to cross the occlusion with the device) and thrombectomy efficacy (absolute thrombus score reduction after device crossing).ResultsFrom January 2008 to December 2009, 303 patients were included: 151 patients (63±13 years) were treated through TFA, and 152 patients (61±12 years, P=.25) were treated through TRA. There were no significant differences in thrombectomy feasibility (75% in the TRA compared to 74.8% in the TFA group, P=.97) or in thrombectomy efficacy (2.6±.8 for TRA and 2.9±2 for TFA, P=.15). In both groups, there was a significant reduction in thrombus score after manual thrombus aspiration. Angiographically evident distal embolization after device crossing was low and observed in seven cases (5%) either for TFA and TRA (P=.99).ConclusionsThe present study suggests that, in the setting of acute STEMI, manual thrombus aspiration through TRA is feasible, and its efficacy is comparable to the TFA.