ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the PercuSurge Guardwire(R) Plus Temporary Occlusion and Aspiration System, the actual procedural time involved and long-term follow-up in acute MI patients undergoing primary/rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS & RESULTS: It was a single centred, prospective study in 67 prospective AMI patients undergoing PCI. They were divided randomly into two groups depending on whether PercuSurge was used (n=30) or not used (control n=37) during PCI. Final TIMI flow, TMP grade and the time involved in or necessary for various steps of the PCI were recorded. PercuSurge showed significantly greater achievement of TIMI III flow and TMP III grade (p<0.01). Its use was associated with less total procedural time (p<0.05). The time required from guidewire crossing to stent placement; from guidewire crossing to TIMI III flow and from predilatation/stent placement to optimal TIMI flow was significantly reduced with its use (p<0.05 for all). Slow/no-reflow was significantly reduced (p<0.001), thus reducing intracoronary vasodilators and GP IIb/IIIa antagonists requirements. A 2 years' follow-up revealed four deaths in control and one death in PercuSurge group. CONCLUSION: PercuSurge reduced the total procedural time with better and faster optimal TIMI flow and TMP grade in primary/rescue PCI and was associated with less long term events.