Initial experience with a novel stent-based mechanical thrombectomy device for management of acute myocardial infarction cases with large thrombus burden.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and large thrombus burden (LTB) still represent a challenge. Afflicted patients have a high morbidity and mortality. Aspiration thrombectomy is often ineffective in those cases. Mechanical thrombectomy devices (MTDs), which are effective for management of ischemic strokes, were recently CE-approved for treatment of thrombotic coronary lesions. Real-world data about their performance in AMI cases with LTB are scarce. This study sought to summarize our early experience with a novel MTD device in this context. METHODS: We analyzed consecutive patients from the prospective OPTIMISER registry (NCT04988672), who have been managed with the NeVa™ MTD (Vesalio, USA) for AMI with LTB at a tertiary cardiology facility. Outcomes of interest included, among others, periprocedural complications, target lesion failure (TLF), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI). RESULTS: Overall, 15 patients underwent thrombectomy with the NeVa™ device. Thrombectomy was successfully performed in 14 (93%) patients. Final TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 13 (87%) patients, while 2 (13%) patients had TIMI 2 flow. We encountered no relevant periprocedural complications, especially no stroke, stent thrombosis or vessel closure. After a mean follow-up time of 26 ± 2.9 months, 1 (7%) patient presented with TLR due to stent thrombosis (10 months after treatment with the MTD and stenting). CONCLUSIONS: In AMI patients with LTB, the deployment of the novel NeVa™ MTD seems efficient and safe. Further randomized trials are warranted to assess whether the use of the NeVa™ device in cases with LTB improves procedural and clinical outcomes.

Aspiration thrombectomy: safe removal of thrombi too big to aspirate.

Aspiration thrombectomy has been associated with an increased risk of stroke, and its routine use is not recommended. Ill-defined procedural techniques for aspiration thrombectomy may provide an explanation for inconsistent outcomes and adverse event rates in trials. Large thrombi can plug the aspiration port of the aspiration catheter and then be dislodged into the central circulation when they are retracted into the guide catheter, or when the aspiration catheter is removed from the Tuohy connector. We report a case of thrombus aspiration where a large distal thrombus was aspirated into the mouth of the aspiration catheter, held there with suction as it was removed and delivered outside the body without being dislodged. We offer several tips for safe removal of coronary thrombi too big to aspirate.

An aspiration catheter stuck in a patient with acute coronary syndrome: an unanticipated complication.

A 62-year-old man presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Thrombectomy using an aspiration catheter was performed, but the wire lumen of the catheter had been torn during the catheter was removed. The aspiration catheter could not be retrieved into the guide catheter, and the entire system along with the guide catheter was removed.

The outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stent thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a recommended management strategy for patients with de novo ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Still, the efficacy of primary PCI in-stent thrombosis (ST) induced STEMI is unclear. The aim was to assess the clinical characteristics and the in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI caused by acute, sub-acute, or late ST. METHODS: A sample of hundred consecutive patients who presented with STEMI due to ST were included in this study. The angiographic evidence of a flow-limiting thrombus or total vessel occlusion (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 to II) at the site of the previous stent implant was taken as ST. Primary PCI was performed, and all enrolled patients and in-hospital mortality were observed. RESULTS: Male patients were 69, and the mean age was 58.9 ± 7.78 years. ST was categorized as acute in 40 patients, sub-acute in 53, and late in the remaining seven patients. Killip class III/IV was observed in 45 patients. Dissection was observed in 25, under deployment in 74, and/or malposition in 24 patients. Thrombus aspiration was performed in 97, plain old balloon angioplasty in 76, and stenting in 22 patients. Final TIMI III flow was achieved in 32 patients. During a mean hospital stay of 4.93 ± 2.46 days, the mortality rate was 27%. CONCLUSION: In-hospital mortality after primary PCI was observed in more than 1/4th of the patients with STEMI due to ST undergoing primary PCI.

Routine Use of the "Penumbra" Thrombectomy Device in Myocardial Infarction: A Real-World Experience-ROPUST Study.

Objectives: Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the Penumbra device as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and a large thrombus burden that requires thrombectomy. Background: For patients with acute MI, PCI is the primary reperfusion method. Large thrombus burden has always been a limitation of successful reperfusion. However, the use of current aspiration devices has been associated with an increased incidence of stroke. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review at the University Hospitals Medical Center in Cleveland. Our study included data from patients who underwent PCI for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) assisted by the Penumbra Cat RX device (a wide-lumen thrombus aspiration catheter) between May 2019 and February 2021. The primary outcome was the final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow. The secondary endpoints were a composite of adverse cardiac events at 6 months. About 50% of the patients did undergo transfemoral PCI as per preference of individual operators. The Penumbra thrombectomy device can be used both by radial and femoral approach and does not need any different guide catheter use. Results: TIMI flow 3 was achieved in 111 patients (90.2%). The secondary endpoint occurred in 11 patients (8.9%, 3 MI, 8 heart failure hospitalizations). There were no stroke events or device-related complications. The door-to-balloon time was not affected by usage of the Penumbra device. Failure in the restoration of TIMI 3 flow was associated with the use of balloon angioplasty prior to the application of the Penumbra device, leading to distal embolization. Conclusions: The Penumbra Cat RX provides safe and effective thrombus removal with better clinical outcomes, even in high-risk patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Challenges in Primary PCI: How to Treat a Large Intracoronary Thrombus With TIMI 3 Flow?

This case highlights 2 important issues: the immediate management of large intracoronary thrombus in the ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction setting with TIMI 3 flow, and the risks/benefits associated with sealing a plaque in an unobstructed artery by stenting. Potent antithrombotic therapy with a view to subsequent intracoronary imaging to define etiology and plaque morphology appears to be a reasonable initial strategy in this specific population. Furthermore, for patients with acute coronary syndromes diagnosed with plaque erosion by optical coherence tomography and residual diameter stenosis <70%, deferred stenting appears a viable option.

A prospective, first-in-human use of the NeVa mechanical thrombectomy device for patients with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: There is no established technique for managing large thrombus burden (LTB) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the NeVa (Vesalio) mechanical thrombectomy device (MTD) in ACS patients with LTB. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ACS and LTB were treated with the NeVa MTD as the primary vessel recanalisation and thrombus removal modality, followed by conventional intervention. We further developed a bench model and applied to a subset of patients, a vacuum-assisted aspiration technique, exploiting 6 Fr-compatible conventional guiding catheter extensions, as an adjudicative manoeuvre to the use of stent-based MTD. A core laboratory reviewed the angiographic images for procedural complications, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow, myocardial blush grade (MBG) and TIMI thrombus grade (TTG). RESULTS: Between November 2019 and March 2021, 61 patients underwent thrombectomy with the NeVa device. Non-flow limiting and reversible coronary spasm occurred in 14 (23%) patients. One patient (#10) suffered from side branch embolisation, which was successfully treated with the NeVa, triggering the development of a vacuum-assisted aspiration technique in a bench model, which was then applied to the subsequent 51 patients. No other device-related complications occurred. After NeVa use, TIMI flow <3 decreased from 68.3% at baseline to 10.3% (p<0.001), MBG <2 from 65% to 27.6% (p<0.001), TTG ≥3 from 96.7% to 43.2% (p<0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LTB, the NeVa MTD was safe and associated with high rates of vessel recanalisation and thrombus removal. The concomitant use of vacuum-assisted aspiration has potential to improve the effectiveness and safety of the technique.

Manual Coronary Thrombectomy in Primary PCI: What a Satisfaction it is Sometimes to Look Into the Catheter.

An 89-year-old woman was referred to our cath lab for a primary percutaneous coronary intervention following electrocardiographic evidence of inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A coronary angiography revealed single- vessel disease with complete occlusion of the right coronary artery. After crossing the occlusion with a guidewire, we proceeded with manual thrombectomy using the Eliminate Aspiration Catheter (Terumo Europe). To our knowledge, this is the longest coronary thrombus ever reported to be removed in its entirety.

Laser Vaporization of Intracoronary Thrombus and Identifying Plaque Morphology in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the thrombus-vaporizing effect of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by optical coherence tomography (OCT). BACKGROUND: Larger intracoronary thrombus elevates the risk of interventional treatment and mortality in patients with STEMI. METHODS: A total of 92 patients with STEMI who presented within 24 hours from the onset and underwent ELCA following manual aspiration thrombectomy (MT) were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean baseline thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade was 0.4 ± 0.6, which subsequently improved to 2.3 ± 0.7 after MT (p < 0.0001) and 2.7 ± 0.5 after ELCA (p=0.0001). The median residual thrombus volume after MT was 65.7 mm3, which significantly reduced to 47.5 mm3 after ELCA (p < 0.0001). Plaque rupture was identified by OCT in only 22 cases (23.9%) after MT, but was distinguishable in 36 additional cases after ELCA (total: 58 cases; 63.0%). Ruptured lesions contained a higher proportion of red thrombus than nonruptured lesions (75.9% vs. 43.3%, p=0.001). Significantly larger thrombus burden after MT (69.6 mm3 vs. 56.3 mm3, p < 0.05) and greater thrombus reduction by ELCA (21.2 mm3 vs. 11.8 mm3, p < 0.01) were observed in ruptured lesions than nonruptured lesions. CONCLUSIONS: ELCA effectively vaporized intracoronary thrombus in patients with STEMI even after MT. Lesions with plaque rupture contained larger thrombus burden that was frequently characterized by red thrombus and more effectively reduced by ELCA.

Beyond Atherothrombotic Disease in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract Half of the global population over 20 years of age will be affected by cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular events in young people is challenging. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall and is an uncommon and underdiagnosed cause of acute myocardial infarction predominately found in young women. Medical management has been more widely accepted, with percutaneous and surgery treatment reserved for precise indications. Optimal control of individual risk factors is essential in order to avoid recurrences.

Thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention improved outcome in patients with STEMI and a large thrombus burden.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) to patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains controversial. This study aimed to assess TA's impact on the outcome and prognosis for patients with STEMI and a large thrombus burden during PPCI. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients with STEMI and a large thrombus burden (thrombolysis in myocardial infraction [TIMI] thrombus grade ≥4) who underwent conventional PPCI (n = 126) or PPCI + TA (n = 208) between February 2017 and January 2019. The procedure outcome and clinical prognosis were compared. RESULTS: Postprocedural vessel diameter was larger, and corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC) was lower in the PPCI + TA compared with the PPCI group. The proportion of postprocedural TIMI 3 flow was 83.3% in the PPC group and 94.2% in the PPCI+TA group. During the 12-month follow-up, no significant differences existed in the incidence of cardiac death, reinfarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization, or stroke. CONCLUSION: Application of TA in patients with STEMI and a large thrombus burden during PPCI may improve the procedural outcome, but it showed no benefit on the clinical prognosis in the 12-month follow-up. Longer follow-up studies are needed to confirm TA's clinical implications in patients with STEMI.

Acute coronary thrombosis as a complication of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has varied cardiovascular manifestations including microvascular and macrovascular thrombi leading to multiorgan system injury and failure. This case describes a patient presenting with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure from COVID-19 who abruptly developed a large thrombus in the right coronary artery leading to myocardial infarction. This case report reviews the ECG, heart catheterisation images prepercutaneous and postpercutaneous coronary intervention, critical care management and outcome in the context of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Virginia area. A brief review of relevant literature regarding cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 is also provided. Unfortunately, the patient ultimately passed after 2 weeks of inability to wean off the ventilator.

Anatomic and Flow Characteristics of Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Angiographic Stenoses Predisposing to Myocardial Infarction.

The impact of the anatomic characteristics of coronary stenoses on the development of future coronary thrombosis has been controversial. This study aimed at identifying the anatomic and flow characteristics of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery stenoses that predispose to myocardial infarction, by examining angiograms obtained before the index event. We identified 90 patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for whom coronary angiograms and their reconstruction in the three-dimensional space were available at 6 to 12 months before the STEMI, and at the revascularization procedure. The majority of culprit lesions responsible for STEMI occurred between 20 and 40 mm from the LAD ostium, whereas the majority of stable lesions not associated with STEMI were found in distances >60 mm (p < 0.001). Culprit lesions were significantly more stenosed (diameter stenosis 68.6 ± 14.2% vs 44.0 ± 10.4%, p < 0.001), and significantly longer than stable ones (15.3 ± 5.4 mm vs 9.2 ± 2.5 mm, p < 0.001). Bifurcations at culprit lesions were significantly more frequent (88.8%) compared with stable lesions (34.4%, p < 0.001). Computational fluid dynamics simulations demonstrated that hemodynamic conditions in the vicinity of culprit lesions promote coronary thrombosis due to flow recirculation. A multiple logistic regression model with diameter stenosis, lesion length, distance from the LAD ostium, distance from bifurcation, and lesion symmetry, showed excellent accuracy in predicting the development of a culprit lesion (AUC: 0.993 [95% CI: 0.969 to 1.000], p < 0.0001). In conclusion, specific anatomic and hemodynamic characteristics of LAD stenoses identified on coronary angiograms may assist risk stratification of patients by predicting sites of future myocardial infarction.

Massive coronary thrombosis caused primary percutaneous coronary intervention to fail in a COVID-19 patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

COVID-19 is a new viral infection that has a significant impact on global health and economy. Because of its rapid spread worldwide, it may influence the prognosis of other medical conditions, such as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We report a case of a 58-year female patient admitted with an infero-posterior STEMI on the background of recently positive COVID-19 swab. Reperfusion was attempted through primary PCI but unfortunately failed to restore coronary blood flow due to massive thrombotic burden despite several attempts of balloon dilatation and aspiration thrombectomy. She sadly died later on because of hemodynamic deterioration. This scenario raises concerns about Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETS) which might potentially have propagated inflammation and thrombosis via platelets' aggregation leading to enhanced coagulopathy and massive coronary thrombosis. Therefore, we suggest primary PCI as the first-choice of revascularization in patients with combined COVID-19 and STEMI. Additionally, we emphasize on the importance of using the potent new generation P2Y12 inhibitors along with GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in every STEMI patient with COVID-19 to achieve favorable conditions for primary PCI as well as favorable outcomes after stent implantation.

Coronary Thrombosis From Superficial Calcific Sheet.

We present a case in which optical coherence tomography was useful to characterize in vivo superficial calcific sheet and exclude other causes of acute coronary syndromes.

Simultaneous coronary thrombosis with multisite myocardial infarction and complex malignant arrhythmia: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myocardial infarction with simultaneous coronary thrombosis has been rarely reported. This combination induces various arrhythmias and is a high-risk factor for cardiogenic shock. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 65-year-old man presented with sweating and a 3-h abrupt persistent back pain that radiated to the anterior. DIAGNOSIS: Multisite myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis with and complex malignant arrhythmia INTERVENTIONS:: Prompt intervention includes cardiac pacing, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), thrombus aspiration and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). OUTCOMES: The patient was successfully rescued after PCI and thrombus aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of dynamic electrocardiographic changes enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction.