Intracoronary Thrombolysis in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: The effects of intracoronary (IC) thrombolysis therapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) remain unclear. Methods: The meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. All relevant studies were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, with no time or language limitation. The pooled risk ratio (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% CI were calculated. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1341 patients were included. Compared with the control group, IC thrombolysis in patients with STEMI could reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE; RR 0.632, 95% CI, 0.474-0.843, P = .002) and improve left ventricular ejection fraction (RR 0.343, 95% CI, 0.178-0.509, P < .001) and myocardial microcirculation. However, there was no difference noted in the mortality (RR 0.759, 95% CI, 0.347-1.661, P = .490). The incidence rate of major bleeding and minor bleeding was comparable between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Intracoronary thrombolysis was associated with improved MACE and myocardial microcirculation in patients with STEMI having PPCI, though it failed to improve mortality.

Intracoronary Thrombolysis in no Flow after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Mechanical revascularization of the infarct-related artery (IRA) is the most effective treatment modality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).No-reflow occurs in ∼8.8-10% of cases of primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) in STEMI patients. Intracoronary tenectaplase was used when there was huge thrombus causing no flow in coronary artery following primary PCI in STEMI patients. Methods: Five hundred and eighty primary PCI patients were studied over a period of two years i.e. January 2016 to December 2017. Drug eluting stents were used in all cases. Majority of our patients (>90%) came 6 hours after onset of chest pain. There were many patients where there was no flow even after mechanical thrombus aspiration and pharmacological vasodilator therapy. We have given 20 mg of tenectaplase through microcatheter in those cases. Results: There were 44 cases of no flow in our series (7.75%). TIMI 3 Flow was reestablished in thirty two patients after intracoronary tenectaplase (72%). Amongst twelve failure cases LAD involvement was most common eight cases. RCA was involved in four patients. One month mortality rate in no flow group was 50% and 6.25% in successful recanalization group. One year mortality was 12.5% in successful recanalization group and 66% in no flow group. Both were statistically significant. Conclusion: Refractory no reflow during primary PCI in STEMI is associated with high mortality and morbidity. There is no established strategy to solve this phenomenon. Intracoronary thrombolysis is an option to salvage these patients.

Intracoronary thrombolysis and stentless primary percutaneous coronary intervention in an ectatic right coronary artery with large thrombus burden

A 58-year-old man was admitted to our center with an inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram showed an ectatic right coronary artery (RCA) occluded at mid vessel by a significant clot burden quantified by micro-computed tomography. Guide catheter-directed intracoronary thrombolysis with low-dose tenekteplase resulted in regaining RCA flow, when numerous efforts of manual and ‘mother-child’ thrombectomy had failed to achieve. A stentless strategy was followed with final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3 flow and angiographically insignificant stenosis remaining in the RCA. The combination of intracoronary thrombolysis and a stentless strategy is a safe and effective treatment in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with ectatic arteries and large thrombus burden when repeat manual aspiration thrombectomy fails.

The role of intracoronary thrombolysis in selected patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case series

Background Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the cornerstone of management for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, large intracoronary thrombus burden complicates up to 70% of STEMI cases. Adjunct therapies described to address intracoronary thrombus include manual and mechanical thrombectomy, use of distal protection device and intracoronary anti-thrombotic therapies. Case summary This series demonstrates the use of intracoronary thrombolysis in the setting of large coronary thrombus, bifurcation lesions with vessel size mismatch, diffuse thrombosis without underlying plaque rupture, and improving coronary flow to allow vessel wiring and proceeding to definitive revascularization. Discussion Larger intracoronary thrombus burden correlates with greater infarct size, distal embolization, and the associated no-reflow phenomena, and propagates stent thrombosis, with subsequent increase in mortality and major adverse cardiac events. Intracoronary thrombolysis may provide useful adjunct therapy in highly selected STEMI cases to reduce intracoronary thrombus and facilitate revascularization.

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) due to Coronary Artery Embolism in a Patient with Atrial Fibrillation

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) secondary to a coronary embolism is an unusual occurrence, yet an important consideration given the difficult diagnosis. We report a case of a 69-year-old male with a medical history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who presented with chest pain and shortness of breath. A coronary angiogram was significant for three focal transluminal and translucent areas in the ostial, mid, and distal circumflex artery consistent with embolic disease. The patient was subsequently managed medically with anticoagulation. Despite being a relatively rare entity, thromboembolism into the coronary arteries can provoke an acute myocardial infarction, with atrial fibrillation being the most common risk factor. Treatment modalities for ACS secondary to thromboembolism include stent placement, intracoronary thrombolysis, and thrombus aspiration.