Initial experience with a continuous mechanical aspiration system for thrombus removal before percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: Here we investigate the safety and efficacy of a continuous mechanical aspiration system when used before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Background: Historically, trials of routine manual aspiration thrombectomy in ACS patients have reported mixed results. This may be due to the technical limitations of manual aspiration, which suffers from decreasing vacuum power as aspiration is performed.