Thrombus Aspiration in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction : An Individual Patient Meta-analysis

• BACKGROUND—: Thrombus aspiration during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been widely used; however, recent trials have questioned its value and safety. In this meta-analysis, we, the trial investigators, aimed to pool the individual patient data from these trials to determine the benefits and risks of thrombus aspiration during PCI in patients with STEMI. METHODS—: Included were large (N≥1000) randomized controlled trials comparing manual thrombectomy vs. PCI alone in patients with STEMI. Individual patient data was provided by the leadership of each trial. The pre-specified primary efficacy outcome was cardiovascular (CV) mortality within 30 days and the primary safety outcome was stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 30 days. RESULTS—: The 3 eligible randomized trials (TAPAS, TASTE and TOTAL) enrolled 19,047 patients, of whom 18,306 underwent PCI and were included in the primary analysis. CV death at 30 days occurred in 221 (2.4%) of 9155 patients randomized to thrombus aspiration and 262 (2.9%) of 9151 randomized to PCI alone (hazard ratio (HR) 0.84; 95% CI 0.70-1.01, p=0.06). Stroke or TIA occurred in 66 (0.8%) randomized to thrombus aspiration and 46 (0.5%) randomized to PCI alone (odds ratio [OR] 1.43 95% CI 0.98-2.1, p=0.06). There were no significant differences in recurrent myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, heart failure or target vessel revascularization. In the subgroup with high thrombus burden (TIMI thrombus grade ≥3) thrombus aspiration was associated with less CV death (170 [2.5%] vs. 205 [3.1%] HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.65-0.98, p =0.03), and with more stroke or TIA (55 [0.9%] vs. 34 [0.5%] OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.02-2.42, p=0.04). However, the interaction p-values were 0.32 and 0.34, respectively. CONCLUSIONS—: Routine thrombus aspiration during STEMI PCI did not improve clinical outcomes. In the high thrombus burden subgroup the trends toward reduced CV death and increased stroke or TIA provide a rationale for future trials of improved thrombus aspiration technologies in this high-risk subgroup. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION—: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02552407, PROSPERO CRD42015025936

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)