Initial Medical Stabilization Research Articles

PSAT203 Acquired Resistance to Medical Management in a Patient with Parathyroid Crisis due to a Parathyroid Adenoma

Abstract Introduction Parathyroid crisis is a characterized by severe hypercalcemia associated with multiple organ dysfunction. Case 90 years-old Caucasian man was hospitalized for progressive confusion over 3 days and was noted to have a critically elevated serum calcium (S Ca) 16.8 mg/dl (8.6-10.0) with albumin 4.1 mg/dl. Patient had a good functional status prior to the hospitalization. On further evaluation, patient was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism with a high suspicion for parathyroid cancer, with labs showing a markedly elevated PTH 1183 pg/ml (15-65) and ionized Ca >1.85 mmol/L (1.15-1.35). Of note, S Ca was normal at 9.5 mg/dl (no albumin) approximately 20 months prior to the hospitalization. Parathyroid ultrasound showed a 1.8×1.7×1.1 cm left superior parathyroid mass with ill-defined margins. Sestamibi scan confirmed a left superior parathyroid mass. CT neck/chest/abdomen/pelvis with contrast showed a 1.8×1.1×1.9 cm left superior parathyroid mass with enhancement and punctate non-obstructing right kidney stones. Hypercalcemia responded extremely well to medical management (calcitonin, 4 mg of zoledronic acid infusion and 13 days of cinacalcet 30 mg daily) resulting in normalization of S Ca. However, patient required a prolonged hospitalization for aspiration pneumonia and severe electrolyte disturbances. Since patient was not a good surgical candidate and hypercalcemia resolved on medical management, patient was discharged to a rehab facility with the plan to pursue parathyroidectomy as outpatient. S Ca worsened progressively and was 10.4 mg/dl (albumin 3.6 mg/dl) with PTH 130 pg/ml on day 15 after discharge. Cinacalcet was added when hypercalcemia further worsened to 11.7 mg/dl (albumin 3.6 mg/dl) on day 38. However, patient was hospitalized again for altered mental status, recurrent severe hypercalcemia (S Ca 15.7 mg/dl, albumin 3.8 mg/dl, PTH 1299 pg/ml), hypokalemia and urinary tract infection. In the ED, patient developed complete heart block that responded to atropine. Interestingly, hypercalcemia was recalcitrant to aggressive medical management during this hospitalization (zoledronic acid 4 mg infusion, calcitonin IM- increased up to 6 mg IM q6hr, cinacalcet- increased to 60 mg PO BID and IV fluid resuscitation with furosemide as needed). S Ca was 14.2 mg/dl (albumin 3.4 mg/dl) on day 8 of hospitalization. Therefore, urgent left superior parathyroidectomy was performed. Surgical pathology revealed a 3.1 gm parathyroid adenoma. Post-operative day#1 labs showed normal PTH 17.3 pg/ml, S Ca 12.1 mg/dl and albumin 3.2 mg/dl. S Ca and patient's mental status normalized over next few days. Discussion Urgent parathyroidectomy has shown to have excellent outcomes in patients with parathyroid crisis. Our patient's severe hypercalcemia initially responded excellently to medical management but recurred within few weeks and developed resistance to medical management. Our case highlights the importance of performing surgical exploration as soon as possible after initial medical stabilization in patients with parathyroid crisis. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Case Report: Severe Peripartum Cardiac Disease in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

BackgroundMyotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a hereditary muscular dystrophy affecting ∼2.1–14.3/100,000 adults. Cardiac manifestations of DM1 include conduction disorders and rarely cardiomyopathies. DM1 increases the risk of obstetric complications, however, little is known about the relationship between pregnancy and cardiomyopathy in DM1 due to disease rarity.CaseA 23-year-old with DM1 developed cardiomyopathy during pregnancy. Despite initial medical stabilization, she subsequently developed multiple spontaneous coronary artery dissections postpartum, worsening cardiomyopathy and multiorgan failure. She died 5 months postpartum.ConclusionThough cardiomyopathy and arterial dissection are both known complications of pregnancy, this case suggests individuals with myotonic dystrophy type 1 may be at heightened risk for cardiac disease during the peripartum period. Physicians caring for women with suspected or proven DM1 should offer counseling and be alerted to the risk of cardiac complications with pregnancy and in the peripartum period. Pregnant and peripartum women with DM1 are likely to benefit from more frequent assessments of cardiac function including echocardiograms and early institution of heart failure management protocols when symptoms of cardiomyopathy present.

Revascularization in Cardiogenic Shock: Residual Syntax Score and Chronic Total Occlusions

The residual syntax score (rSS) is strongly associated with outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease. In patients with acute myocardial infarction-associated cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS), the correlation or association of the rSS, mortality risk, and revascularization strategy has not yet been elucidated and needs more investigation. The SHOCK trial demonstrated that patients with left main and severe triple-vessel disease, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafts, had improved outcomes and higher 1-year survival rates than those with initial medical stabilization. However, it is unclear which is the superior technique for achieving complete revascularization. In contrast to the SHOCK trial’s results, the CULPRIT-MI trial indicated that multivessel intervention had no impact on patient outcomes. Patients with AMI-CS usually have high rSSs due to their complex multivessel disease. Thus, the rSS may be more of a surrogate for the kind of disease than the strategy employed. We, therefore, hypothesize that lowering the rSS might lead to better outcomes. In addition, as there is currently no data confirming an effective targeted strategy, reintroduction of the bypass surgery should be considered.

Initial Medical Stabilization Followed by Endovascular Repair Leads to Optimal Midterm Outcome for Treatment of Aortic Arch Pathologies Associated With Retrograde Type a Intramural Hematoma

The objective of this study was to analyze the treatment safety and efficacy and midterm outcome of endovascular repair in patients with retrograde type A aortic intramural hematoma (RAIMH) following an initial period of medical stabilization.

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in urban search and rescue-methodology, capacity development, and integration.

This paper's purpose is to establish a methodological basis for using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in urban search and rescue (USAR). Modern USAR operations involve the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of individuals trapped in confined spaces or places with complicated access, eg, high structures. As a part of the ongoing modernization process, this paper explores possible options for UAV utilization in USAR operations. Today, UAV are already taking part in support emergency operations all over the world, and possible forms of operation for UAV in USAR environment can be in two primary modes: on-site and logistic chain. The on-site mode includes various capabilities of multilayer UAV array, mostly based on enhanced visual capabilities to create situational awareness and to speed-up search and rescue (SAR) process including using nanodrones for entering into confined places, ventilation ducts, and underground sewer channels can give to rescue teams' opportunities to have eyes within ruins even before initial clearing process. Cargo drones will be able to bring equipment directly to high floors or roadless areas in comparison to wheeled transportation. The advantages of cargo drones operation are the ability of autonomous flight based on GPS or homing beacon and ability to provide logistics supports with-out involving additional personnel and vehicles and with no dependence on road conditions.

Life on Call: Perspectives of Junior and Senior Internal Medicine Residents.

Models of daytime and nighttime on-call responsibilities for residents vary across internal medicine training programs, but there are few data regarding residents' perceptions of their on-call experiences. The authors sought to understand what residents perceive as the benefits and detriments of 24-hour, in-house call, a perspective instrumental to informing change. The authors conducted in-depth individual interviews and focus groups between December 2018 and March 2019 with 17 internal medicine residents from postgraduate years 1, 2, and 3 at the University of Toronto about their on-call experiences. Using constructivist grounded theory, the authors developed a framework to understand the residents' perceived benefits and drawbacks of 24-hour in-house call. Residents' experiences on call were grouped into 7 themes regarding negative and positive aspects of call. Participants reported multidimensional fatigue related to call, including decision fatigue, emotional fragility and lability, and loss of empathy, and also reported that call adversely affected their personal lives. Residents expressed conflicting opinions as to whether prolonged duty hours affected patient outcomes. In contrast, residents also expressed benefits to call, including that overnight call led to increased autonomy and decision-making skills and provided preparation for future careers as independent internists. They described developing camaraderie and a sense of belonging to a team with coresidents overnight. Lastly, residents described occupying different roles during regular duty hours and while on call-daytime roles revolved around follow-up of previously admitted patients and administrative tasks, while overnight duties centered on initial workup and medical stabilization of referred patients. Understanding the nuanced phenomenon of being on call from the perspective of those who live through it is a critical step in creating evidence-based educational policies. New call models should emphasize resident autonomy and decision making and should include a consideration of residents' perceived differences between daytime and on-call roles.

Structural Heart Disease Emergencies.

Structural heart disease (SHD) emergencies include acute deterioration of a stable lesion or development of a new critical lesion. Structural heart disease emergencies can produce heart failure and cardiogenic shock despite preserved systolic function that may not respond to standard medical therapy and typically necessitate surgical or percutaneous intervention. Comprehensive Doppler echocardiography is the initial diagnostic modality of choice to determine the cause and severity of the underlying SHD lesion. Patients with chronic SHD lesions which deteriorate due to intercurrent illness (eg, infection or arrhythmia) may not require urgent intervention, whereas patients with an acute SHD lesion often require definitive therapy. Medical stabilization prior to definitive intervention differs substantially between stenotic lesions (aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction) and regurgitant lesions (aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, ventricular septal defect). Patients with regurgitant lesions typically require aggressive afterload reduction and inotropic support, whereas patients with stenotic lesions may paradoxically require β-blockade and vasoconstrictors. Emergent cardiac surgery for patients with decompensated heart failure or cardiogenic shock carries a substantial mortality risk but may be necessary for patients who are not eligible for catheter-based percutaneous SHD intervention. This review explores initial medical stabilization and subsequent definitive therapy for patients with SHD emergencies.

Critical Care of Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: Preventing Secondary Injury.

The incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has not changed much over the years due to an aging population suffering falls, yet advances have been made in quality of life and survival time. In addition to initial medical and surgical stabilization, modern intensive care unit (ICU) care throughout the critical early period following SCI is essential to avoid continued secondary injury to the spinal cord. Cervical SCI patients are particularly prone and sensitive to periods of cardiovascular instability and respiratory failure directly resulting from their injuries. Preclinical and class III clinical data suggest improved outcomes by maintaining the mean arterial pressure > 85 mm Hg and avoiding hypoxemia at least for 7 days following cervical SCI, and this level of monitoring and support should occur in the ICU.

The critical care management of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage: a contemporary review.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), defined as nontraumatic bleeding into the brain parenchyma, is the second most common subtype of stroke, with 5.3 million cases and over 3 million deaths reported worldwide in 2010. Case fatality is extremely high (reaching approximately 60 % at 1 year post event). Only 20 % of patients who survive are independent within 6 months. Factors such as chronic hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and anticoagulation are commonly associated with ICH. Chronic arterial hypertension represents the major risk factor for bleeding. The incidence of hypertension-related ICH is decreasing in some regions due to improvements in the treatment of chronic hypertension. Anticoagulant-related ICH (vitamin K antagonists and the newer oral anticoagulant drugs) represents an increasing cause of ICH, currently accounting for more than 15 % of all cases. Although questions regarding the optimal medical and surgical management of ICH still remain, recent clinical trials examining hemostatic therapy, blood pressure control, and hematoma evacuation have advanced our understanding of ICH management. Timely and aggressive management in the acute phase may mitigate secondary brain injury. The initial management should include: initial medical stabilization; rapid, accurate neuroimaging to establish the diagnosis and elucidate an etiology; standardized neurologic assessment to determine baseline severity; prevention of hematoma expansion (blood pressure management and reversal of coagulopathy); consideration of early surgical intervention; and prevention of secondary brain injury. This review aims to provide a clinical approach for the practicing clinician.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1432-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Revascularization improves mortality in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock

Cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) occurs in 2.5–6% of hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and is associated with high morbidity and mortality [ 1 Hochman J.S. Cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction: expanding the paradigm. Circulation. 2003; 107: 2998-3002 Crossref PubMed Scopus (451) Google Scholar , 2 Holmes Jr., D.R. Berger P.B. Hochman J.S. et al. Cardiogenic shock in patients with acute ischemic syndromes with and without ST-segment elevation. Circulation. 1999; 100: 2067-2073 Crossref PubMed Scopus (187) Google Scholar , 3 Goldberg R.J. Spencer F.A. Gore J.M. Lessard D. Yarzebski J. Thirty-year trends (1975 to 2005) in the magnitude of, management of, and hospital death rates associated with cardiogenic shock in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a population-based perspective. Circulation. 2009; 119: 1211-1219 Crossref PubMed Scopus (485) Google Scholar , 4 Goldberg R.J. Gore J.M. Thompson C.A. Gurwitz J.H. Recent magnitude of and temporal trends (1994–1997) in the incidence and hospital death rates of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction: the second national registry of myocardial infarction. Am Heart J. 2001; 141: 65-72 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (85) Google Scholar ]. In the aftermath of the SHOCK trial [ [5] Hochman J.S. Sleeper L.A. Webb J.G. et al. Early revascularization in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. SHOCK Investigators. Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock. N Engl J Med. 1999; 341: 625-634 Crossref PubMed Scopus (2176) Google Scholar ], small observational studies reported on outcomes of elderly (≥75-year old) patients with AMI-CS (Supplement). Uncertainty however still exists regarding the benefits of early revascularization (ER) in elderly patients with AMI-CS. In the current report, we undertook aggregate data meta-analyses of short- and intermediate-term mortality outcomes to examine the impact of an ER strategy versus an initial medical stabilization (IMS) strategy in elderly patients with AMI-CS.

“Vieussens ring” from isolated conus artery

A 56-year-old diabetic man was admitted with high risk unstable angina and after initial medical stabilization, he was taken up for coronary angiogram. Angiogram revealed left main diffuse 80% stenosis, left anterior descending artery (LAD) ostial total occlusion, left circumflex (LCX) ostial 90% stenosis and right coronary artery (RCA) proximal 80% stenosis. Despite multiple angiographic views the rest of LAD could not be visualized. A careful review of angiogram revealed non-visualization of conus branch of RCA. Selective cannulation of conus showed entire LAD filling through collaterals from conus (Fig. 1). The patient was subsequently referred for urgent coronary bypass surgery. Fig. 1 ICA collaterals to LAD. In patients with stenosis or total occlusion of the LAD or RCA, the conus artery often serves as a principal source of collateral circulation.1 This collateral channels form the circle of Vieussens (or ‘Vieussens ring’). In about 40% of population, conus branch can arise separately from right sinus and is called an isolated conus artery (ICA). ICA may be the exclusive source of collaterals to occluded LAD in about 6% of cases.2 Under such circumstances, failure to recognize this normal variant early during angiogram may result in unnecessary prolongation of procedure and additional diagnostic modalities such as CT coronary angiogram in search of non-visualized LAD.

Rapid complete reversal of systemic hypoperfusion after intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation and survival in cardiogenic shock complicating an acute myocardial infarction

In patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating an acute myocardial infarction, a strategy of early revascularization (ERV) versus initial medical stabilization (IMS) improves survival. Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) provides hemodynamic support and facilitates coronary angiography and revascularization in CS patients. We evaluated 499 patients with record of systemic hypoperfusion status as an early response to IABC from the SHOCK trial (n = 185) and registry (n = 314) to determine the association between rapid complete reversal of systemic hypoperfusion (CRH) after 30 minutes of IABC and in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality. Rapid complete reversal of systemic hypoperfusion was highly associated with lower in-hospital mortality (29% versus 65%, P < .001) in all patients. In the SHOCK trial, among patients assigned to ERV versus IMS, 30-day mortality was 26% versus 29%, respectively, with CRH and 61% versus 81%, respectively, without CRH after commencing IABC. The corresponding 1-year mortality rates were 35% versus 52% for ERV and 69% versus 87% for IMS (interaction P ≥ .25 at both time points). After adjusting for important correlates of outcome (left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and randomization to ERV), a significant association remained between CRH and registry and trial in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 0.23, 95% CI 0.14-0.39, P < .001) and trial 1-year mortality (odds ratio .28, 95% CI 0.12-0.67, P < .001). In CS patients, CRH after commencing IABC was independently associated with improved in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year survival regardless of early revascularization. In CS patients, CRH with IABC is an important early prognostic feature.

Early revascularization is beneficial across all ages and a wide spectrum of cardiogenic shock severity: A pooled analysis of trials

A pooled analysis in cardiogenic shock due to acute coronary syndromes is desirable to assess the effect of early revascularization (ERV) across all ages and a wide spectrum of disease severity. Only two randomized controlled trials (RCT), i.e. SMASH and SHOCK, met the inclusion criteria and were combined for a pooled analysis using individual patient data (n = 348). SMASH patients (n = 54, 16%) had more severe disease than SHOCK patients (n = 294, 84%). After adjustment for age, anoxic brain damage, non-inferior myocardial infarction, prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery, renal failure, systolic blood pressure, and selection for coronary angiography, one-year mortality was similar (relative risk SHOCK versus SMASH 0.87, 95% CI: 0.61-1.25). Relative risk of one-year death for ERV versus initial medical stabilization was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70-0.96). There was no significant difference in the treatment effect by age (≤75 years relative risk at one year 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.99; > 75 years relative risk at one year 0.93, 95% CI: 0.56-1.53; interaction P = 0.10). Only two RCT have been published emphasizing the difficulty of enrolling critically ill patients. Despite large differences in shock severity, ERV benefit is similar across all ages and not significantly different for the elderly.

Hemodynamic Parameters Are Prognostically Important in Cardiogenic Shock But Similar Following Early Revascularization or Initial Medical Stabilization: A Report From the SHOCK Trial

In cardiogenic shock (CS), conclusive data on serial hemodynamic measurements for treatment guidance and prognosis are lacking. The SHOCK (Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock?) Trial tested early revascularization (ERV) vs initial medical stabilization (IMS) in CS complicating acute myocardial infarction and serially assessed hemodynamics by pulmonary artery catheter. Data were available in 278 patients (95%) surviving to the first measurement with predominant left ventricular failure at baseline and in 174 patients (70%) at follow-up. Baseline and follow-up hemodynamic data were similar in the treatment groups. The median time from CS to baseline measurements was 3.3 h in both treatment groups, whereas follow-up measurements were obtained earlier in the IMS group (median time, 10.6 h) than in the ERV group (median time, 12.5 h; p = 0.043). At baseline, stroke volume index (SVI) was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality after adjustment for age (odds ratio, 0.69 per 5 mL/m2 increase; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.87; p = 0.002). At follow-up, both stroke work index (SWI) [odds ratio, 0.54 per 5 g/m/m2 increase; 95% confidence interval, 0.39 to 0.76; p < 0.001] and SVI (odds ratio, 0.59 per 5 mL/m2 increase; 95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 0.77; p < 0.001) were similarly powerful predictors of 30-day mortality after adjustment for age. SVI and SWI are the most powerful hemodynamic predictors of 30-day mortality in CS patients. Hemodynamic parameters are similar for surviving patients following ERV and IMS. Thus, early hemodynamic stability after IMS should not delay revascularization since long-term outcomes are superior with ERV.

Early Revascularization and Long-term Survival in Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Cardiogenic shock remains the major cause of death for patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Although survival in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute MI has been shown to be significantly higher at 1 year in those receiving early revascularization vs initial medical stabilization, data demonstrating long-term survival are lacking. To determine if early revascularization affects long-term survival of patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute MI. The Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock (SHOCK) trial, an international randomized clinical trial enrolling 302 patients from April 1993 through November 1998 with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (mean [SD] age at randomization, 66 [11] years); long-term follow-up of vital status, conducted annually until 2005, ranged from 1 to 11 years (median for survivors, 6 years). All-cause mortality during long-term follow-up. The group difference in survival of 13 absolute percentage points at 1 year favoring those assigned to early revascularization remained stable at 3 and 6 years (13.1% and 13.2%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.97; log-rank P = .03). At 6 years, overall survival rates were 32.8% and 19.6% in the early revascularization and initial medical stabilization groups, respectively. Among the 143 hospital survivors, a group difference in survival also was observed (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.95; P = .03). The 6-year survival rates for the hospital survivors were 62.4% vs 44.4% for the early revascularization and initial medical stabilization groups, respectively, with annualized death rates of 8.3% vs 14.3% and, for the 1-year survivors, 8.0% vs 10.7%. There was no significant interaction between any subgroup and treatment effect. In this randomized trial, almost two thirds of hospital survivors with cardiogenic shock who were treated with early revascularization were alive 6 years later. A strategy of early revascularization resulted in a 13.2% absolute and a 67% relative improvement in 6-year survival compared with initial medical stabilization. Early revascularization should be used for patients with acute MI complicated by cardiogenic shock due to left ventricular failure. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000552.

Successful neonatal outcome in 2 cases of maternal persistent vegetative state treated in a labor and delivery suite

Two cases of maternal vegetative state after motor vehicle accidents are presented. Aggressive support allowed the prolongation of both pregnancies into the third trimester without neonatal compromise. After initial medical stabilization in intensive care unit environments, both patients were treated in a labor and delivery setting with consultative supports from various subspecialists.

Comparison of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting After Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock

The Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock (SHOCK) trial demonstrated the survival advantage of emergency revascularization versus initial medical stabilization in patients developing cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction. The relative merits of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) versus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with shock have not been defined. The objective of this analysis was to compare the effects of PCI and CABG on 30-day and 1-year survival in the SHOCK trial. Of the 302 trial patients, 128 with predominant left ventricular failure had emergency revascularization. The selection of revascularization procedures was individualized. Eighty-one patients (63.3%) had PCI, and 47 (36.7%) had CABG. The median time from randomization to intervention was 0.9 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 0.3 to 2.2 hours) for PCI and 2.7 hours (IQR, 1.3 to 5.5 hours) for CABG. Baseline demographics and hemodynamics were similar, except that there were more diabetics (48.9% versus 26.9%; P=0.02), 3-vessel disease (80.4% versus 60.3%; P=0.03), and left main coronary disease (41.3% versus 13.0%; P=0.001) in the CABG group. In the PCI group, 12.3% had 2-vessel and 2.5% had 3-vessel interventions. In the CABG group, 84.8% received > or =2 grafts, 52.2% received > or =3 grafts, and 87.2% were deemed completely revascularized. The survival rates were 55.6% in the PCI group compared with 57.4% in the CABG group at 30 days (P=0.86) and 51.9% compared with 46.8%, respectively, at 1 year (P=0.71). Among SHOCK trial patients randomized to emergency revascularization, those treated with CABG had a greater prevalence of diabetes and worse coronary disease than those treated with PCI. However, survival rates were similar. Emergency CABG is an important component of an optimal treatment strategy in patients with cardiogenic shock, and should be considered a complementary treatment option in patients with extensive coronary disease.

Functional Status and Quality of Life After Emergency Revascularization for Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Our goal was to describe the functional status of cardiogenic shock survivors, identify the correlates of cardiogenic shock, and compare global quality of life and functional status of patients randomly assigned to treatment with emergency revascularization (ERV) versus initial medical stabilization (IMS). Historically, the hospital survival rate of patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (MI) has been very low. Shock survivors are salvaged from a critically ill state, and their later functional status is not well documented. The SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries for cardiogenic shocK (SHOCK) trial showed significantly improved one-year survival after ERV compared with IMS. The SHOCK trial survivors completed interviews at 2 weeks after discharge and at 6 and 12 months after MI. Functional status assessment included the Multidimensional Index of Life Quality and New York Heart Association (NYHA) congestive heart failure functional class. Eighty-seven percent of one-year survivors of the SHOCK trial were in NYHA functional class I or II. Between two weeks after discharge and one year after MI, improvement was similar in the two treatment groups (18% overall), but fewer patients remained stable (44% vs. 71%), and more patients worsened or died (34% vs. 15%) in the IMS group compared with those assigned to ERV. Assignment to ERV was the only independent predictor of outcome at one year. Although one-year mortality after ERV is still high (54%), most survivors have good functional status. The ERV patients have a lower rate of deterioration than IMS patients. The level of recovery for shock patients undergoing ERV is similar to that of historical controls not in cardiogenic shock undergoing elective revascularization.

Outcome of patients aged ≥75 years in the SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries in cardiogenic shocK (SHOCK) trial: Do elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock respond differently to emergent revascularization?

In the SHOCK trial, the group of patients aged >or=75 years did not appear to derive the mortality benefit from early revascularization (ERV) versus initial medical stabilization (IMS) that was seen in patients aged <75 years. We sought to determine the reason for this finding by examining the baseline characteristics and outcomes of the 2 treatment groups by age. Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) secondary to left ventricular (LV) failure were randomized to ERV within 6 hours or to a period of IMS. We compared the characteristics by treatment group of patients aged >or=75 years and of their younger counterparts. Of the 56 enrolled patients aged >or=75 years, those assigned to ERV had lower LV ejection fraction at baseline than IMS-assigned patients (27.5% +/- 12.7% vs 35.6% +/- 11.6%, P = .051). In the elderly ERV and IMS groups, 54.2% and 31.3%, respectively, were women ( P = .105) and 62.5% and 40.6%, respectively, had an anterior infarction (P = .177). The 30-day mortality rate in the ERV group was 75.0% in patients aged >or=75 years and 41.4% in those aged <75 years. In the IMS group, 30-day mortality was 53.1% for those aged >or=75 years, similar to the 56.8% for patients aged <75 years. Overall, the elderly randomized to ERV did not have better survival than elderly IMS patients. Despite the strong association of age and death post-CS, elderly patients assigned to IMS had a 30-day mortality rate similar to that of IMS patients aged <75 years, suggesting that this was a lower-risk group with more favorable baseline characteristics. The lack of apparent benefit from ERV in elderly patients in the SHOCK trial may thus be due to differences in important baseline characteristics, specifically LV function, and play of chance arising from the small sample size. Therefore, the SHOCK trial overall finding of a 12-month survival benefit for ERV should be viewed as applicable to all patients, including those >or=75 years of age, with acute myocardial infarction complicated by CS.

Electrocardiographic findings in cardiogenic shock, risk prediction, and the effects of emergency revascularization: Results from the SHOCK trial

Objectives To evaluate electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters as predictors of 1-year mortality in patients developing cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to document associations between these ECG parameters and the survival benefit of emergency revascularization versus initial medical stabilization. Background Emergency revascularization reduces the risk of mortality in patients developing cardiogenic shock after AMI. The prognostic value of ECG parameters in such patients is unclear, and it is uncertain whether emergency revascularization reduces the mortality risk denoted by ECG parameters. Methods In a prospective substudy of 198 SHOCK (SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries for cardiogenic shocK) trial patients, ECGs recorded within 12 hours of shock were interpreted by personnel blinded to the patients' treatment assignment and outcome. Results The baseline heart rate was higher in non-survivors than in survivors (106 ± 20 versus 95 ± 24 beats/minute, P = .001). There was a significant association between the QRS duration and 1-year mortality in medically stabilized patients (115 ± 28 ms in non-survivors versus 99 ± 23 ms in survivors, P = .012), but not in emergently revascularized patients (110 ± 31 versus 116 ± 27 ms respectively, P = .343). The interaction between the QRS duration, mortality and treatment assignment was significant ( P = .009). Among patients with inferior AMI, a greater sum of ST depression was associated with higher 1-year mortality in medically stabilized patients ( P = .029), but not in emergently revascularized patients ( P = .613, treatment interaction P = .025). On multivariate analysis, the independent mortality predictors were increasing age, elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, heart rate, sum of ST depression in medically stabilized patients, and interaction ( P = .016) between a prolonged QRS duration and treatment assignment. The adjusted hazard ratio for 1-year mortality per 20 ms increase in the QRS duration was 1.19 (95% CI 0.98–1.46) in medically stabilized patients and 0.81 (95% CI 0.63–1.03) in emergently revascularized patients. Conclusion ECG parameters identified patients with cardiogenic shock who were at high risk. Emergency revascularization eliminated the incremental mortality risk associated with cardiogenic shock in patients with a prolonged QRS duration, or inferior AMI accompanied by precordial ST depression. Prospective assessments of the magnitude of the treatment effect based on ECG parameters are required.