PCI complications: new or enlarging thrombus

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Madeleine Cochet, B.S.

Overview

A new or enlarging thrombus is defined as:
1. The appearance of thrombus grade ≥2 during a PCI procedure that was not present at baseline;
2. A qualitative increase of baseline thrombus during a PCI procedure;
3. Presence of thrombus at baseline that improves during a PCI procedure only to worsen later:

	Baseline	During Procedure	Final
Thrombus Grade	Grade ≥5	Grade ≤2	Grade ≥4

For example, a thrombus of grade 5 is present at baseline. During the PCI procedure, the thrombus grade improves to 2 however at the end of the procedure, the thrombus grade worsens to 4. This example will qualify as a “New or Enlarging Thrombus”.