Aspiration of intracoronary thrombus after an apparently successful coronary angioplasty. Therapeutic implications

We present a case in which, after performing an optimal angioplasty after a n acute myocardial infarction with intracoronary thrombus, normal coronary flow was not achieved. After aspirating through the guiding catheter we obt ained a large thrombus that the histopathologic study confirmed as a recent thrombus and, subsequently, normal flow was reestablished. The procedure w as completed with a successful intracoronary stent implantation, with an un eventful clinical course. The therapeutic and diagnostic implications of th is case are discussed.