Impact of thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

AimTo assess the impact on in-hospital and long-term survival of thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS).Methods and ResultsFrom September 2001 to May 2010 we collected data from 155 patients affected with STEMI complicated by CS undergoing PPCI (12.4% of all PPCI) including 70 patients (45.2%) in TA group and 85 patients (54.8%) in conventional PCI group. Patients in TA group were more likely to have right ventricular infarction (24.3% vs 5.9%, p = 0.002), higher mean left ventricular ejection fraction (40% ± 9% vs 35% ± 7%, p < 0.0001) and lower left main coronary artery occlusion (2.8% vs 21.2%, p = 0.002). TA was associated with a lower rate of in-hospital and long-term mortality (31.4% vs 48.2%, p = 0.05 and 42.8% vs 64.7%, p = 0.01 respectively) at a mean follow-up time of 6.1 ± 2.1 years. At multivariate analysis the only independent predictor of in-hospital and long-term survival was the procedural success (HR 0.18 95% CI 0.025–0.31, p = 0.03 and HR 0.46 95% CI 0.09–0.74, p = 0.034 respectively).ConclusionsIn this retrospective study TA, performed during PPCI for STEMI complicated by CS, was not an independent predictor of in-hospital and long-term survival.