EARLY AND 1-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION COMPLICATED BY CARDIOGENIC-SHOCK - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY COMPARING CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY WITH MEDICAL-TREATMENT

Cardiogenic shock remains a frequently lethal complication of acute my ocardial infarction. Early revascularization of the infarct-related ar tery by coronary. angioplasty has been suggested to significantly impr ove patient survival. In-hospital and 1-year survival was assessed in 50 patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction complicated b y cardiogenic shock. All patients received medical treatment and intra aortic balloon pump support. Thirty-three patients underwent coronary angioplasty (PTCA group), while 17 patients remained on conventional t herapy (no PTCA group), The two groups were comparable for all baselin e characteristics. Survival was significantly better in the PTCA group than in the no PTCA group: 64% versus 24% in-hospital survival (p=0.0 07) and 52% versus 12% at 1 year (p=0.006). When angioplasty was succe ssful in achieving reperfusion, survival was further enhanced: in-hosp ital survival rate was 76% versus 25% in patients with unsuccessful an gioplasty and 60% versus 25% at 1 year.