Percutaneous assist devices vs. intra-aortic balloon pump for cardiogenic shock: evidence under construction vs. expert opinion: reply

We thank the colleagues from Amsterdam for their interest in our meta-analysis on the safety and efficacy of mechanical assist devices in cardiogenic shock.1 They raised some important issues, which we address below. First, although current American and European ST-elevation myocardial infarction guidelines supported the use of IABP counterpulsation as method of first choice for mechanical assistance in cardiogenic shock, we agree with the authors that evidence supporting the use of …