ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION Despite improvements in the mechanical and pharmacological treatment of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), outcomes have predominantly improved in STEMI patients without cardiogenic shock (CS). Nevertheless, CS occurs in approximately 7% to 10% of STEMI patients and is the leading cause of death for hospitalized patients (1). In-hospital mortality rates of STEMI complicated by CS are still around 50%, despite optimal reperfusion by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (2).