Mechanical Circulatory Support in Cardiogenic Shock - Persistence and Progress

Acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) is characterized by systemic hypoperfusion due to cardiomyocyte necrosis and ventricular dysfunction.(1) Cardiogenic shock affects 5 to 10% of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction, and more than half the patients with AMI-CS die during the index hospitalization.(2) Prompt reperfusion of the infarct-related artery has been the only treatment that prolongs survival,(3) but mortality from AMI-CS has remained high despite the availability of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The universal clinical sign of AMI-CS is a lack of perfusion to vital organs that cannot be reversed with just restoration of flow to the ischemic myocardium. . . .