Effect of thrombus aspiration on postprocedural outcomes in elderly patients with acute ST ‐elevation myocardial ınfarction

Aim The effects of thrombus aspiration ( TA ) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) for ST ‐elevation myocardial infarction ( STEMI ) have been evaluated in several studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate postprocedural outcomes in elderly STEMI patients who have a tendency for vasoconstruction and decreased coronary flow reserve. Methods A total of 124 patients (aged ≥65 years) with STEMI who underwent primary PCI (71.2% men, 29.8% women, mean age 74 ± 7 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to intervention with and without TA . Acute angiographic, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic results were compared between the two groups. Results TA was carried out in 42 patients (33.8%). Baseline clinical characteristics and predischarge echocardiographic features did not differ between TA (+) and TA (–) patients (ejection fraction 37.26 ± 8.91 vs 38.53 ± 11.18, P  = 0.558, wall motion index 1.69 ± 0.38 vs 1.76 ± 0.37, P  = 0.316, septal E ′ 0.058 ± 0.022 vs 0.053 ± 0.015, P  = 0.267, E / E ′ 11.82 ± 4.30 vs 13.12 ± 5.09, P  = 0.370). Acute angiographic and electrocardiographic results did not differ between the two groups, but were slightly better in the thrombectomy group than those without TA corrected TIMI frame count (31.63 ± 16.33 vs 34.97 ± 15.81, P  = 0.197, TIMI ‐3 88.1% vs 79.3%, P  = 0.223, ST segment resolution 81.3% vs 70.3%, P  = 0.250). Conclusions Thrombectomy during primary PCI has no effect on postprocedural outcomes in an elderly group with STEMI . Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; ●●: ●●–●●.