CLINICAL AND PROCEDURAL PREDICTORS OF SUBOPTIMAL TIMI FLOW IN PATIENTS OF STEMI UNDERGOING PRIMARY PCI
Keywords:
slow/no-reflow, Primary PCIAbstract
Background: There is a high incidence of slow flow in patients of STEMI undergoing Primary PCI. Several etiologies have been proposed for mechanism of slow flow. However, there is no definitive treatment for slow flow. In our article we intend to study both clinical and procedural parameters associated with slow flow so as to highlight which factors are modifiable. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted at RIC, where all patients presenting with STEMI who underwent PPCI were included. Both clinical and procedural parameters were documented for all patients. Patients were followed for inhospital mortality. Results: A total of 1029 patients were included in this study, 29.3% of the study population developed slow flow. 25.7% of smokers developing slow flow. Similarly, 55.6% of patients with ejection fraction of less than 30% and 41.5% of population above 70years of age developing slow flow. Patients in whom thrombuster was used initially to aspirate thrombus 31.8% of them developed slow flow whereas patients who underwent balloon dilatation initially 28.3% of them developed slow flow. Direct stenting was done in 20 patients out of which 9 patients developed slow flow. Stent length of greater than 35 mm was significantly associated with slow flow. Conclusion: Clinical factors female gender, advanced age, low EF and smoking were associated with slow flow, however amongst procedural predictors only stent length of greater than 35 mm was a significant predictor and only modifiable factor of suboptimal TIMI flow.
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