Transthoracic echocardiography compared with coronary angiography for patients with cardiogenic shock: A prospective cohort study

Cardiogenic shock is the most severe form of acute heart failure. The aim of the current study was to investigate correlations between diagnostic parameters and the estimated ejection fraction in patients with cardiogenic shock. A total of 2,445 patients with acute myocardial infarction were subjected to coronary angiograms and standard 2D transthoracic echocardiography. Information for culprit vessel(s) and mitral regurgitation were collected. The Spearman's correlation test was used to assess the correlation between diagnostic parameters and estimated ejection fractions at a 95% confidence level. The angiographically-derived numbers of culprit vessels had a significant correlation with mitral regurgitation (r=0.907; P=0.034). The echocardiographically-derived mitral regurgitation was significantly correlated with the numbers of culprit vessels (r=0.896; P=0.04). Positive correlation was established between angiographically- and echocardiographically-measured left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.356; P=0.045). The numbers of culprit vessels (P=0.058) and mitral regurgitation (r=0.99; P=0.001) were similar for angiography and echocardiography. Echocardiography- and angiography-derived results were correlated with the estimated ejection fractions of patients with cardiogenic shock. However, there is a substantial difference in the procedures of the two operational techniques.