Effect of thrombus aspiration catheter on TIMI flow during percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with thrombotic burden lesion

AIM：To study the effect of thrombus aspiration catheter on TIMI flow during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with thrombotic burden lesion. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (35 men and 13 women, mean age 58±8 years) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were divided into two groups: intracoronary thrombus aspiration+PCI group (n=25) and primary PCI group (n=23). Effects of thrombus aspiration catheter on TIMI flow during procedure were observed. RESULTS: The rates of slow-flow and no-reflow in intracoronary thrombus aspiration+PCI group was lower than that in primary PCI group (0% vs. 17%, P<0.05) and no significant difference was observed in TIMI III flow grade between the two groups after procedure. CONCLUSION: Intracoronary thrombus aspiration+PCI is a more effective reperfusion method before PCI for ACS patients with lower rates of no-reflow.