ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Occlusive thrombosis triggered by a disrupted or eroded atherosclerotic plaque is the anatomic substrate of most acute myocardial infarctions (AMI). Due to this substrate, macro-and microembolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in AMI is frequent and may result in obstruction of the microcirculation and decreased efficacy of reperfusion and myocardial salvage (1). Thrombectomy devices if used properly may dramatically decrease the risk of embolization, improve myocardial reperfusion and salvage, and have the potential for improvement in survival. These systems should be used in the large majority of patients with AMI and are strongly recommended in patients with angiographic evidence of thrombus and large area at risk, or a preexisting severe left ventricular dysfunction, since in these patients a no-reflow due to embolization is associated with a very high mortality rate (2). Many types of thrombectomy devices are currently available from low-technology catheters based on manual thrombus aspiration to high-technology devices using mechanical energy.
