Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Abstract

Survival Undergoing Rescue Percutaneous Coronary Intervention under the Support of Intra-aortic Balloon Counter-Pulsation in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock

Zhao-Feng Li, Shu-Guang Yang, Xue-Jia Su and Yu-Fei Zhang

Fibrinolytic therapy remains the most common initial therapy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the U.S. and worldwide. However, an initial fibrinolytic therapy restores normal flow in only about 50% to 60% of STEMI patients in 90 minutes, with even lower success rates in elderly patients or those with cardiogenic shock. Based on the limited data, rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) appears to reduce the risks of recurrent myocardial infarction and possibly death compared to conservative therapy for the patients following unsuccessful fibrinolytic therapy. Here, we present a case with STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing rescue PCI under the support of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP).