Clinical Research
Clinical Implications of Distal Embolization During Coronary Interventional Procedures in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Quantitative Study With Doppler Guidewire

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcin.2008.03.015Get rights and content
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Objectives

This study sought to investigate the timing and amount of embolic particles generation during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure and studied the relationship between embolic burden and coronary blood flow and myocardial damage.

Background

Distal embolization is a major complication of PCI. The Doppler guidewire (DGW) can detect the embolic particles as high-intensity transient signals (HITS) during the PCI procedure.

Methods

We prospectively studied 37 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Under monitoring with the DGW, we performed first and second balloon angioplasty, followed by stenting and post-high-pressure dilatation. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (%) and regional wall motion (RWM) (standard deviation/chord) were measured on days 1 and 22.

Results

The HITS were detected in 35 of 37 patients. The number of HITS was the greatest after stenting (16 ± 18) followed by first balloon inflation (5 ± 4). There was a significant correlation between the total number of HITS and the corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction frame count (r = 0.52, p = 0.003) and a significant weak inverse correlation between the total number of HITS and changes in LVEF and RWM (r = 0.37, p = 0.03 and r = 0.35, p = 0.04, respectively).

Conclusions

Distal embolization is common during PCI in patients with acute MI, and the majority of HITS were observed after stenting. An increase in the total number of HITS is associated with reduced coronary blood flow, and is weakly associated with poor recovery of left ventricular function.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

BA
balloon angioplasty
DGW
Doppler guidewire
HITS
high-intensity transient signals
LVEDVI
left ventricular end-diastolic index
LVEF
left ventricular ejection fraction
LVESVI
left ventricular end-systolic index
MI
myocardial infarction
PCI
percutaneous coronary intervention
RWM
regional wall motion
TIMI
Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction
TMPG
Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction myocardial perfusion grade

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