Aspiration thrombectomy in patients undergoing primary angioplasty: Totality of data to 2013

Objectives: We sought to update our meta-analysis on clinical outcomes with aspiration thrombectomy prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) compared with conventional PPCI alone due to the availability of additional trial data. Background: The clinical efficacy of adjunctive aspiration thrombectomy in STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing PPCI remains controversial. A recent large-scale randomized trial showed no benefit in terms of mortality at 30 days. Methods: Clinical trials that randomized STEMI patients to aspiration thrombectomy prior to PPCI compared with conventional PPCI alone were included. Results: A total of 11,321 patients from 20 randomized controlled trials were included. The composite major adverse cardiac event (MACE) endpoint was lower in the aspiration thrombectomy arm compared with conventional PPCI alone (risk ratio [RR]50.81, 95% CI 0.70-0.94; P50.006). Although all-cause mortality was similar between the adjunctive aspiration thrombectomy arm and PPCI arms (RR50.83, 95% CI 0.67-1.01; P50.06), late mortality (6-12 months) was significantly reduced (RR50.64; 95% CI 0.44-0.92; P50.016). Reinfarction (RR50.64, 95% CI 0.44-0.92; P50.017) and stent thrombosis (RR50.54; 95% CI 0.32-0.91; P50.021) were similarly lower. Differences in target vessel revascularization were of borderline significance (RR50.83, 95% CI 0.68- 1.01; P50.06). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis including all randomized controlled trials on aspiration thrombectomy to date demonstrates a significant reduction in adverse clinical outcomes including stent thrombosis compared with conventional PCI alone.