RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Cardiogenic shock remains one of the leading causes of death in patients with myocardial infarction. The Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been widely used as a treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), despite recommendations against its routine use. In this paper, our aim is to analyze and share our own experience with IABP in the setting of AMI. We retrospectively reviewed the files of patients admitted with AMI and cardiogenic shock and for whom IABP was inserted between June 2016 and December 2022. RESULTS: 300 patients with AMI and cardiogenic shock were admitted and benefited from IABP insertion and primary coronary revascularization. The overall mortality rate was 62.3%, the site related complication rate was 0.6%, and the overall complications rate (including site related and major bleeding) was 10.6%. There was a significantly higher mortality in the group of patients where the Left Anterior Descending artery (LAD) was the culprit lesion, in the group of patients who required dialysis, the group who had creatinine levels greater than 200 um/L compared to the group who had creatinine lower than 200 um/L, and in patients older than 70 years. Interestingly, no difference in mortality was observed between men and women, single versus multiple vessel disease, and between STEMI and non-STEMI patients. CONCLUSION: Mortality of AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock and treated by IABP remains high. However, IABP usage is associated with a low complication rate. Better selection criteria for IABP usage versus other more powerful mechanical circulatory support devices in such patients might improve the outcome for the patient.
