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Abstract Cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still associated with high mortality. Except for the proven benefit of early revascularization, other therapies such as intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation or medical therapy failed to improve prognosis in large-scale randomized trials. Recently, mild therapeutic hypothermia in which patients were cooled for 24 hours to 33°C has been discussed as a treatment option for patients in cardiogenic shock. A possible hemodynamic benefit of mild therapeutic hypothermia in cardiogenic shock may be an increase in myocardial contractility, cardiac output, and stroke volume. Possible effects of mild therapeutic hypothermia on the heart in cardiogenic shock include a reduction in the overall metabolic rate, a reduction of the myocardial metabolic rate influencing reperfusion injury positively, and an increased cardiac contractility without an increase of oxygen consumption. We therefore conducted a randomized small trial in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating AMI without classic indications for mild therapeutic hypothermia to investigate the hemodynamic effects of mild therapeutic hypothermia versus control on need for vasopressors and inotropes, serum lactate level and acute kidney injury. |