Personalized Therapy and time to PCI improves outcomes for AMI-CS Patients undergoing ECMO: Study

Patients who have acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) experience elevated mortality rates. The use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy is vital in providing essential support in such cases. However, it is essential to identify the key factors that impact patient outcomes to enhance survival rates. Recent study aimed to investigate the impact of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy on patient outcomes in cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). The retrospective study included 63 patients who underwent ECMO therapy for AMI and CS. Patients were categorized into survivors and non-survivors based on 30-day outcomes. Non-survivors exhibited significantly higher arterial blood lactate levels and required more intensive vasoactive support. They experienced longer delays from symptom onset to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and had higher prevalence of left main coronary artery disease and triple vessel disease. Logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated arterial blood lactate levels, Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS), and delayed time to PCI were significantly associated with worse outcomes. ROC analysis identified these factors as significant predictors of prognosis. Factors such as BMI, age, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension did not show significant differences between survivors and non-survivors.

Importance of Timely Intervention

The study highlighted the importance of timely intervention, rapid revascularization, and effective management of metabolic disturbances in improving survival outcomes. Elevated arterial blood lactate, higher VIS, and longer time to PCI were identified as key prognostic factors for poor outcomes in AMI-CS patients on ECMO therapy. The study suggested that personalized therapeutic strategies based on these predictors could enhance clinical outcomes.

Study Limitations and Future Directions

Limitations of the study included its retrospective design, single-center nature, and lack of data on VA-ECMO flow rates. The study emphasized the significance of arterial lactate, time to PCI, and VIS as potential predictors of mortality in AMI-CS patients, offering a predictive framework for clinical decision-making in this population. Future research should focus on multicenter studies, incorporation of flow data, assessment of ECMO-related complications, and exploration of biological mechanisms linking predictors to mortality in AMI-CS patients undergoing ECMO therapy.

Key Points

- The study investigated the impact of ECMO therapy on patient outcomes in cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) through a retrospective analysis of 63 patients.

- Non-survivors had higher arterial blood lactate levels, needed more vasoactive support, longer delays to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and higher prevalence of left main coronary artery disease and triple vessel disease compared to survivors.

- Logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated arterial blood lactate levels, Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS), and delayed time to PCI were significantly associated with worse outcomes and identified as key prognostic factors for poor outcomes.

- The study emphasized the importance of timely intervention, rapid revascularization, and effective management of metabolic disturbances in improving survival outcomes for AMI-CS patients on ECMO therapy.

- Limitations of the study included its retrospective design, single-center nature, and lack of data on VA-ECMO flow rates, suggesting the need for future multicenter studies incorporating flow data and assessment of ECMO-related complications.

- The study proposed personalized therapeutic strategies based on predictors like arterial blood lactate, VIS, and time to PCI to enhance clinical outcomes and recommended exploration of biological mechanisms linking these predictors to mortality in AMI-CS patients undergoing ECMO therapy for future research directions.

Reference –

Guoying Zheng et al. (2025). Risk Factors Influencing The Prognosis Of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction And Cardiogenic Shock Undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy. *Journal Of Cardiothoracic Surgery*, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-025-03348-3.