Background: Cardiogenic shock is the leading cause of death during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, little data exist regarding the long-term outcomes of patients who survived the acute phase of MI and were discharged from the hospital.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 81 consecutive patients referred for management of acute MI and cardiogenic shock to analyze their in-hospital and long-term outcomes.
Results: Mean systemic systolic and central venous pressures at presentation were 74 +/- 15 and 17 +/- 7 mm Hg, respectively. Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) was implemented in all patients for a mean of 88 +/- 83 hours. Thrombolytics were administered in 49% and mechanical ventilation applied in 46% of patients. Primary angioplasty could not be performed in any patient, while 17 patients later underwent myocardial revascularization during hospitalization. There were 37 in-hospital survivors (45.7%). The 1-year survival after discharge from the hospital was 87.6% in the overall population, versus 100% among patients who underwent in-hospital myocardial revascularization, versus 78.9% among nonrevascularized patients (p = 0.079). Over a mean follow-up of 85 +/- 47 mo, survival after discharge from the index hospitalization was 44.9% in the overall population, versus 56.2% among revascularized patients, versus 36.4% among nonrevascularized patients (p = 0.277). Heart failure developed in 51.6% of patients who were discharged from the hospital.
Conclusions: In this single center analysis, the long-term survival after acute MI complicated by cardiogenic shock was high with nearly 50% of patients surviving free from heart failure.