Efficacy and Safety of Synchronized Cardiac Support in Cardiogenic Shock Patients

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Informed consent signed and dated by study patient/legal representative and investigator/authorised physician 2. Minimum age of 18 years 3. Patients in cardiogenic shock 4. Cardiogenic shock is defined as: 1. Systolic blood pressure \< 90 mmHg for at least 30 min 2. Inotropes and/or vasopressors are needed to maintain systolic blood pressure \> 90 mmHg 3. Clinical signs of heart insufficiency with pulmonary congestion 5. Signs of end organ hypoperfusion with at least one of the following criteria: 1. Cold, damp skin or extremities 2. Oliguria (≤ 30 mL/h) 6. Serum lactate \> 3.0 mmol/L Exclusion Criteria: 1. In case of female patients: pregnancy or lactation period 2. Participation in an interventional clinical study during the preceding 30 days 3. Previous participation in the same study 4. Age \> 85 years 5. Cardiac arrest out of hospital with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) \> 30 min 6. No flow time \> 5 min 7. Mechanical causes for cardiogenic shock (ventricular septal defect of papillary muscle rupture) 8. Non-cardiogenic causes of shock (bradycardia, sepsis, hypovolemia, etc.) 9. Fever (Body temperature \> 38.0 °C) or other evidence of sepsis 10. Onset of cardiogenic shock \> 6 h before enrolment 11. Lactate \> 16 mmol/L 12. Severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease precluding insertion of femoral arterial or venous catheters 13. Contra-indications for anticoagulation 14. Contra-indication for VA ECMO, e.g. unrecoverable heart and not a candidate for transplant or VAD