Effect of percutaneous thrombectomy on echocardiographic measures of myocardial microcirculation in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objectives To study the efficacy of percutaneous thrombectomy (PT) in improving myocardial microcirculation in elderly acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Methods A total of 104 patients ( >= 65 years) with AMI and coronary thrombus shown by angiography were randomly divided into a group of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n = 52) and a group of PCI plus PT (n = 52). At 24 h and 1 week after PCI, real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed by contrast pulse sequencing technology. Contrast score index, contrast defect length/left ventricle length [CDL/LVL (%)], wall motion score index and wall motion abnormal length/LVL (%) were calculated. Results At each time point, in patients treated with PCI plus PT, contrast score index, CDL/LVL (%), wall motion score index and wall motion abnormal length/LVL (%) were significantly lower than that in the PCI group. Conclusion Thrombectomy reduces the noreflow and the extent of microvascular obstruction, thus it was a feasible therapy in elderly patients with AMI. Coron Artery Dis 21:121-125 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.