Effect of aspiration catheter and sodium nitroprusside on treatment for patients with acute myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention

AIM:To investigate the effects of aspiration catheter and sodium nitroprusside on myocardial reperfusion for treatment of patients with acute STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: One hundred and fortysix patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI were divided into three groups: 56 patients routinely treated without aspiration catheter (control group), 44 patients treated with aspiration catheter (group A), and 46 patients treated with aspiration catheter and sodium nitroprusside (group B). Patients were followedup prospectively for the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including death, reinfarction and revascularization. RESULTS: The slowreflow phenomenon and MACE were much less in both group A and group B, especially in group B (P<005). CONCLUSION: Application of aspiration catheter and sodium nitroprusside improves coronary flow and lowers the incidence of MACE.