[Post-myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock and circulatory assistance]

Post-myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock still carries a very poor prognosis despite the rapid recourse to effective methods of myocardial revascularisation. Circulatory assistance devices allow restoration of adequate haemodynamics with limitation of myocardial work. In the most severe cases, implantation of intra-thoracic devices is associated with a 70% survival rate in the latest series, providing they are used early. However, in many cases, the essential problem is to stabilise the patient's haemodynamic status, sometimes even before myocardial revascularisation. In these situations, implantation of a peripheral femoro-femoral extra corporeal circulation (ECMO: extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) re-establishes an appropriate cardiac output andprovides time to transfer the patient, to perform coronary revascularisation or to assess neurological status, before deciding on the indications for more complicated assist systems. This "bridge to bridge" concept avoids the risk of implanting complicated assist devices in cerebrally dead patients or in those with multi-organ failure beyond treatment. Conversely, it gives some patients with apparent contraindications to complicated assist systems or who are unable to benefit from these systems for geographical reasons, a chance to survive. In early cardiogenic shock, the ECMO which has a low rate of complications, could safely promote myocardial recovery.