Performing controlled systemic hypothermia in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with an increased rate of adverse events without reducing infarct size, according to results from the VELOCITY trial presented Sept. 15 at TCT 2014.

Additional Resources TCT 2014 Meeting Coverage Presentation Slides

Assessing this hypothesis’ feasibility, safety and efficacy the trial performed a randomized one-to-one study, dividing 54 patients between a treating of cardiac catheterization/PCI (n=26) and peritoneal hypothermia followed by cardiac catheterization/PCI (n=28). Results showed that at 30 days the control group experienced absolutely no events, while those in the hypothermia group endured a number of complications (21.4 percent experienced primary safety composite endpoint of death, reinfarction, ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization, major bleeding, sepsis, pneumonia, peritonitis, severe arrhythmias or renal failure; 10.7 percent experienced a major adverse cardiac event; and 10.7 percent experienced stent thrombosis).

The investigators conclude that controlled systemic hypothermia through automated peritoneal lavage may be rapidly established in patients with evolving STEMI undergoing primary PCI at the expense of a modest increase in door-to-balloon time.

Keywords: Myocardial Infarction, Renal Insufficiency, Pneumonia, Sepsis, Thrombosis, Hypothermia, Cardiac Catheterization, Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary, Stents

< Back to Listings