• Robert J Moraca, Kelly M Wanamaker, Stephen H Bailey, Walter E McGregor, Srinivas Murali, Raymond Benza, George Sokos, and George J Magovern.
• Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. rmoraca@wpahs.org
• J Card Surg. 2012 Jul 1;27(4):521-7.

ObjectivesAcute refractory cardiogenic shock with early multisystem organ failure has a poor outcome without mechanical circulatory support. We review our experience with emergent peripheral cardiopulmonary support as a bridge to decision in these patients.MethodsA retrospective review from January 2009 through December 2010 was conducted of 26 consecutive adult patients at a single institution with acute refractory cardiogenic shock who underwent salvage peripheral cardiopulmonary support.ResultsThere were 18 men and 8 women with a mean age of 54 years (range 18 to 76). Indications for support: acute myocardial infarction (n = 16), decompensated chronic heart failure (n = 2), refractory arrhythmic arrest (n = 3), acute valvular pathology (n = 4), and unknown (n = 1). Patients with primary postcardiotomy shock were excluded. Median duration of support was 3 days (range 1 to 14). Decisions included: withdraw of support (n = 4), recovery (n = 5), and bridge to a procedure (n = 17). The procedures were percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 4), left ventricular assist device (n = 9), heart transplantation (n = 1), and miscellaneous cardiac surgery (n = 3). Overall survival to discharge was 65%. In the recovery and bridge to a procedure group, 78% were discharged from the hospital and survival at three months was 72%.ConclusionsSalvage peripheral cardiopulmonary support is a useful tool to rapidly stabilize acute refractory cardiogenic shock permitting an assessment of neurologic and end-organ viability.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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