Background: The optimal strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains controversial. We aimed to elucidate the renal and cardiovascular impact of culprit-only (C) revascularization versus additional interventions on non-infarct-related arteries.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant literature. A total of 96,812 subjects [C-PCI: 69,986; multi-vessel (MV)-PCI: 26,826] in nine studies (one randomized control trial; eight observational cohort studies) were enrolled.

Results: MV-PCI was associated with a higher kidney event rate [relative risk (RR): 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-1.49; p < 0.001]. However, the all-cause mortality rate was comparable both during admission (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.94-1.22; p = 0.30) and at one year (RR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.79-1.16; p = 0.65). MV-PCI was associated with a greater risk of stroke (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08-1.32; p < 0.001) and bleeding events (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07-1.51; p = 0.006), but reduced risk of recurrent MI (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.97; p = 0.009) and repeat revascularization (RR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16-0.71; p = 0.004). No increased risk of coronary artery bypass grafting was present (RR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.38-3.17; p = 0.87).

Conclusions: C-PCI was associated with a lower rate of renal dysfunction but not all-cause mortality in patients with CS complicating acute MI.