Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock: A Hemodynamic Analysis of the Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock (SHOCK) Trial and Registry

Background: The prevalence and significance of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in patients with cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS) have not been well characterized. We hypothesized that RVD is common in AMI-CS and associated with worse clinical outcomes. Methods and Results: We retrospectively analyzed patients with available hemodynamics enrolled in the Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock (SHOCK) trial (n = 139) and registry (n = 258) to identify RVD in AMI-CS. RVD was defined by an elevated central venous pressure (CVP), elevated CVP–pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ratio, decreased pulmonary artery pulsatility index, and decreased right ventricular stroke work index. A P value of <.01 was used to infer significance. In the SHOCK trial and registry, respectively, 38% and 37% of patients had RVD, but RVD was not associated with 30-day or 6-month survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.51, (99% CI 0.92–2.49; P =.10). RV failure with the use of inclusion criteria from the Recover Right Trial for RV Failure (RR-RVF) requiring percutaneous mechanical circulatory support included elevated CVP and CVP/PCWP and a low cardiac index despite ≥1 inotrope or vasopressor. In the SHOCK trial and registry, respectively, 45% (n = 63/139) and 38% (n = 98/258) of patients met RR-RVF criteria. The RR-RVF criteria were not significantly associated with 30-day mortality in the registry cohort (HR 1.44, 99% CI 1.01–2.04; P =.04), or in the trial cohort (HR 1.51, 99% CI 0.92–2.49; P =.10). Conclusions: Hemodynamically defined RVD is common in AMI-CS. Routine assessment with pulmonary artery catherization allows detection of RVD; however, further work is needed to identify interventions that will result in improved outcomes for these patients.