How an Aggressive Treatment of No-reflow Phenomenon in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with High Thrombus Burden can Achieve a Grade III TIMI-flow: A Case Report

Abstract

Abstract Introduction  The management of the no-reflow phenomenon is still being debated by experts as there is no specific algorithm, limited recommended drug choices, and insufficient data regarding the combination of drugs in currently available guidelines. Thus, in this case report, we would like to propose a new combination of drugs as an alternative to the recommended drugs of choice in the treatment of no-reflow phenomenon. Case Presentation  A 41-year-old man arrived at the emergency department complaining of chest pain 30 minutes prior to arrival. However, the patient was later diagnosed with extensive anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction, KILLIP classification I, which was caused by the entire blockage of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Angiography was conducted after stent placement during the main percutaneous coronary intervention and revealed grade I thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)-flow with no coronary artery blockage. We then used an intracoronary approach to give nitroglycerin, heparin, and eptifibatide. The findings of posttreatment angiography revealed an improvement in coronary blood flow with a grade II TIMI flow. Furthermore, intravenous injection of eptifibatide and morphine effectively restored perfusion to a grade III TIMI flow. Conclusion  Aggressive and precise treatment with a drug of choice is required to counteract the no-reflow phenomenon. Presently, only a limited range of first-line medications are available to treat this condition. Not only that, but several of the prescribed medications are not easily accessible, especially in developing countries. Therefore, we offer a novel combination medicaments consisting of nitroglycerin, heparin, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor as an alternative treatment of the no-reflow phenomenon.