Among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), those in cardiogenic shock have the highest mortality rate. Early revascularisation with primary percutaneous intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery has decreased the mortality rate of patients in cardiogenic shock, but it remains high. The conventional treatment of haemodynamic instability has been the use of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP); however, the IABP may not give adequate support to patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Recent advances in percutaneous left ventricular assist devices, specifically the TandemHeart and Impella LP 2.5, have shown improved haemodynamic support compared with the IABP. This article provides an overview of the use of percutaneous left ventricular assist devices to treat patients presenting with cardiogenic shock after acute MI.
