Cardiogenic shock is caused by a pump failure of the heart and in most cases caused by a heart attack. Currently, still 40-50% of these patients die. For more than ten years, cardiogenic shock has been treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which is called VA-ECMO or ECLS, to support the failing heart. In the large ECLS-SHOCK trial, in which a total of 420 patients with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction at 44 centers in Germany and Slovenia participated, VA-ECMO therapy in the intensive care unit was compared versus no VA-ECMO in the intensive care unit. Contrary to the study hypothesis, VA-ECMO did not reduce 30-day mortality (30-day mortality 47.8% versus 49.0%). The VA-ECMO group had even more complications such as severe bleeding or leg ischemia.

Here you can find further information:
https://www.leipzig-kardiologie.de/
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307227