Effect of the PercuSurge GuardWire device on the integrity of microvasculature and clinical outcomes during primary transradial coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction

The present study investigates whether preintervention thrombectomy with a PercuSurge distal balloon protection device can improve final angiographic results compared with adjunctive tirofiban therapy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in large infarct-related arteries (IRAs) (vessel size greater than or equal to3.5 mm) with high-burden thrombus formation (HBTF). Results indicate that this mechanical device is superior to adjunctive tirofiban therapy during primary PCI in large IRAs with HBTF in terms of final epicardial flow, microvasculature integrity, and 30-day clinical outcomes. (C) 2003 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.