ABSTRACT
The outcome of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been significantly improved by the use of mechanical reperfusion (1-2). However, suboptimal myocardial reperfusion may occur in a relatively large proportion of patients undergoing primary angioplasty for STEMI despite optimal restoration of epicardial flow, with subsequently unfavorable short and long-term outcome (3). Among factors accounting for poor myocardial reperfusion after primary angioplasty (3), in the recent years mounting interest has emerged regarding the role of distal embolization (4-9) (Fig. 1). The aim of this chapter is to critically review literature on mechanical therapies to prevent distal embolization in patients undergoing primary angioplasty.
