Assessing angiographic results of saline autotransfusion and thrombus aspiration in STEMI patients.

Background: Effective myocardial reperfusion in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) remains challenging despite advancements in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study evaluates the impact of thrombus aspiration (TA) and saline autotransfusion (SAT) compared to standard PCI (NOTA) on coronary flow dynamics and myocardial perfusion.

Research design and method: This prospective cohort study enrolled 157 STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI. Participants were divided into two groups: TA+SAT (n = 80) and NOTA (n = 77). Clinical parameters such as blood pressure, ejection fraction, ST-segment resolution, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grades, corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC), and myocardial infarction (MI) location were assessed.

Results: Patients in the TA+SAT group exhibited significantly better short-term myocardial reperfusion, as indicated by superior ST-segment resolution (p = 0.010) and lower CTFC values (p < 0.001). Blood pressure was significantly lower in the TA+SAT group (p = 0.042). However, ejection fraction improvement at one month was not statistically significant. TIMI and TMPG flow grades were comparable between groups.

Conclusion: The TA+SAT approach demonstrated improved coronary flow dynamics and better short-term myocardial reperfusion in STEMI patients without additional pharmacological interventions. These findings suggest that TA+SAT may serve as a valuable adjunct to PCI, warranting further investigation into its long-term clinical benefits.