Lastlägen

Lastlägen refers to a type of coronary thrombectomy procedure used to treat patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The term is Swedish, with "last" meaning "shower" or "flush" and "lägen" meaning "position" or "placing".

The procedure involves the insertion of a catheter through an artery in the leg and guided to the blocked coronary artery where the occlusion is evaluated using an imaging system. A suction device is then deployed to aspirate and remove the blockage from the vessel, restoring blood flow to the heart. This technique is part of an interventional cardiology treatment approach where clot removal is performed under fluoroscopic guidance.

Research studies have demonstrated benefits associated with the application of lastlägen thrombectomy in patients experiencing acute STEMI, with a notable decrease in mortality rates and an improvement in overall health outcomes. Studies documenting the outcomes have been observational in nature. While the procedure has garnered attention, concerns regarding thrombus fragmentation have been raised among some medical specialists, although visible recognition and management of these events during the procedure are essential to mitigating adverse outcomes.

Current knowledge suggests that in addition to thrombectomy, patients exhibit better clinical results when specific criteria for percutaneous coronary intervention are fulfilled, reducing predicted survival and sustaining a better prognosis for full recovery from acute STEMI.