The present study was designed to investigate whether the thrombus aspiration using Export Aspiration Catheter (Medtronic Corporation, California, USA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction improve clinical outcomes.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred strategy for immediate revascularization in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A meta-analysis of trials comparing primary PCI to fibrinolytic therapy showed a mortality benefit to the invasive approach. However, although TIMI III flow is achieved in the culprit epicardial vessel in the majority of patients, lack of tissue-level reperfusion is observed in approximately 30% of patients as manifested by persistence of chest pain and ST-segment elevation. Many strategies have tried to overcome this problem, from mechanical thrombectomy and distal protection devices to myocardial preserving agents. The purpose of present study is to investigate the efficacy of the thrombus aspiration using Export Aspiration Catheter (Medtronic Corporation, California, USA) during primary PCI in acute myocardial infarction.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with first ST-elevation myocardial infarction who undergo primary PCI within 12 hours after symptom onset
• Patients who are eligible for PCI

Exclusion criteria

• History of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
• Pregnant
• Known hypersensitivity or contra-indication to contrast agent
• Left main disease
• In-stent restenosis lesion
• Graft vessels lesion
• Chronic total occlusion lesion
• Renal dysfunction, creatinine more than 2.0 mg/dL
• Contraindication to aspirin, clopidogrel or cilostazol
• Prior PCI or bypass surgery
• Old myocardial infarction