Incidence and Predictors of Early Left Ventricular Thrombus After ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Contemporary Era of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The aim of this study was to define the incidence of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) and its predictors in the contemporary era of primary percutaneous intervention (pPCI) and contrast echocardiography. We retrospectively analyzed 1,059 patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to our tertiary cardiac center and treated with pPCI. Preprocedural pharmacology and procedural technique (including access route, the use of drug-eluting stents, and thrombectomy) were at the operators' discretion. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed before discharge; echo contrast agent was used when appropriate. LVT was detected in 42 subjects (4%). There were no significant differences in baseline demographics or pre-PCI clinical features between the 2 groups. Post-treatment, mean ejection fraction (EF) in patients with LVT was 35 ± 8.4% and in those without LVT was 47 ± 10%, p