OBJECTIVES:: BACKGROUND:: METHODS:: RESULTS:: Fifteen consecutive male patients with a mean age of 54 ± 8 years presented with acute MI (60% ST elevation MI). MI involved left anterior descending artery (n = 4), circumflex artery (n = 3), and right coronary artery (n = 8). Clot extraction followed by PCI reduced the percent diameter stenosis from 94 ± 12 to 65 ± 11 (P < 0.001) and restored TIMI 3 flow in all patients without distal embolization. The angiographic, procedural, and clinical success rates were 100%. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 52 ± 8% (range 30–62%) with only three patients (15%) who had an LVEF <50% and five patients (33%) without apparent wall motion abnormalities on echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS