Use of aspiration thrombectomy in a 102-year-old patient with acute inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the best treatment option for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) [ [1] Keeley E.C. Boura J.A. Grines C.L. Primary angioplasty versus intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: a quantitative review of 23 randomized trials. Lancet. 2003; 361: 13-20 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3518) Google Scholar ]. PPCI is an effective method of epicardial flow restoration. Normal epicardial flow in the infarct-related artery is not equal to the restoration of myocardial perfusion at the microcirculation level. It seems that the main reason for impaired myocardial reperfusion is embolization by thrombus and plaque debris. Recent trials have demonstrated that thrombectomy can improve angiographic results of PPCI [ 2 De Luca G. Suryapranata H. Stone G.W. et al. Adjunctive mechanical devices to prevent distal embolization in patients undergoing mechanical revascularization for acute myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am Heart J. 2007; 153: 343-353 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (142) Google Scholar , 3 Dudek D. Mielecki W. Burzotta F. et al. Thrombus aspiration followed by direct stenting: a novel strategy of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Results of the Polish–Italian–Hungarian RAndomized ThrombEctomy Trial (PIHRATE Trial). Am Heart J. 2010; 160: 966-972 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (71) Google Scholar ].