BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with high-grade thrombus is a high-risk intervention associated with poor clinical outcomes. Circulatory support with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) during PCI may potentially improve coronary hemodynamics and clinical outcomes in such patients. As existing data on this situation are sparse, we did an observational study to determine short-term outcomes of PCI with IABP support in STEMI patients with high thrombus burden.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether IABP has a potential role in improving outcomes in patients with STEMI with high thrombus burden who are undergoing PCI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty consecutive patients of STEMI with high thrombus burden undergoing PCI with IABP assistance were included. Ninety-three percent of patients had a cardiogenic shock. Clinical and angiographic outcomes assessed include a change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), 30-day mortality, and assessment of TIMI (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction) flow, TIMI frame count, and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade in the culprit vessel. IABP was initiated before coronary angiography in 36.6% (n=11), between angiography and PCI in 30% (n=9), and after PCI in 33.3% (n=10) of patients. During the 30-day follow-up period, 50% (n=15) of patients died. 86.6% (n=13) of survivors had pre-PCI IABP initiation compared to only 46.6% (n=7) among those who died (p=0.020). With pre-PCI IABP initiation (n=20), 30-day mortality was 35% (n=7) compared to 80% (n=8) with post-PCI IABP initiation (n=10) (p=0.020).

CONCLUSION

IABP initiation before PCI in STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock and high angiographic thrombus burden can decrease mortality without any effect on angiographic parameters.