Extracorporeal life support in cardiogenic shock: Impact of acute versus chronic etiology on outcome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The role of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in primary cardiogenic shock (PCS) is well established. In this study, we evaluated the impact of etiology on outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2009 and March 2013, we implanted a total of 249 patients with ECLS; we focused on 64 patients for whom peripheral ECLS was the treatment for PCS. Of these, 37 cases (58%) were "acute" (mostly acute myocardial infarction: 39%); 27 (42%) had an exacerbation of "chronic" heart failure (dilated cardiomyopathy: 30%; post-ischemic cardiomyopathy: 9%; and congenital: 3%). RESULTS: In the group with chronic etiology, 23 patients were bridged to a left ventricular assist device (52%) or heart transp..