Learn About Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock takes place when the heart is unable to supply enough blood and oxygen to the organs of the body.
Shock - cardiogenic
The most common causes of cardiogenic shock are serious heart conditions. Many of these occur during or after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). These complications include:
- A large section of heart muscle that no longer moves well or does not move at all
- Breaking open (rupture) of the heart muscle due to damage from the heart attack
- Dangerous heart rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or supraventricular tachycardia
- Pressure on the heart due to a buildup of fluid around it (pericardial tamponade)
- Tear or rupture of the muscles or tendons that support the heart valves, especially the mitral valve
- Tear or rupture of the wall (septum) between the left and right ventricles (lower heart chambers)
- Very slow heart rhythm (bradycardia) or problem with the electrical system of the heart (heart block)
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart is unable to supply as much blood as the body needs. It can happen even if there hasn't been a heart attack. For example, if one of these problems listed above occurs and your heart function drops suddenly. Or if a valve becomes obstructed or if a combination of problems occurs.
Symptoms include:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Coma
- Decreased urination
- Fast breathing
- Fast pulse
- Heavy sweating, moist skin
- Lightheadedness
- Loss of alertness and ability to concentrate
- Restlessness, agitation, confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Skin that feels cool to the touch
- Pale skin color or blotchy skin
- Weak (thready) pulse
Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency. You will need to stay in the hospital, most often in the Intensive or Coronary Care Unit (ICU). The goal of treatment is to find and treat the cause of shock to save your life.
You may need medicines to increase blood pressure and improve heart function, including:
- Dobutamine
- Dopamine
- Epinephrine
- Levosimendan
- Milrinone
- Norepinephrine
- Vasopressin
These medicines may help in the short-term. They are not often used for a long time.
When a heart rhythm disturbance (dysrhythmia) is serious, urgent treatment may be needed to restore a normal heart rhythm. This may include:
- Electrical "shock" therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion)
- Implanting a temporary pacemaker
- Medicines given through a vein (IV)
You may also receive:
- Pain medicine
- Oxygen
- Fluids, blood, and blood products through a vein (IV)
Other treatments for shock may include:
- Cardiac catheterization with coronary angioplasty and stenting
- Heart monitoring to guide treatment
- Heart surgery (coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacement, left ventricular assist device)
- Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) to help the heart work better
- Pacemaker
- Ventricular assist device or other mechanical support
Rutgers Health-Rwj Scleroderma Program
Maya Guglin is a Cardiologist and a Transplant Surgeon in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. Guglin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiogenic Shock. Her top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Cardiogenic Shock, Cardiomyopathy, Heart Transplant, and Lung Transplant. Dr. Guglin is currently accepting new patients.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At Dallas
Maryjane Farr is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist and a Cardiologist in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Farr is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiogenic Shock. Her top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Cardiogenic Shock, Cardiomyopathy, Pulmonary Edema, and Heart Transplant.
Henry Ford Health System
Mir Basir is an Interventional Cardiologist and a Cardiologist in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Basir is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiogenic Shock. His top areas of expertise are Cardiogenic Shock, Heart Attack, Coronary Heart Disease, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Angioplasty. Dr. Basir is currently accepting new patients.
In the past, the death rate from cardiogenic shock ranged from 80% to 90%. In more recent studies, this rate has decreased to 50% to 75%.
When cardiogenic shock is not treated, the outlook is very poor.
Complications may include:
- Brain damage
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if you have symptoms of cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency.
You may reduce the risk for developing cardiogenic shock by:
- Quickly treating its cause (such as heart attack or heart valve problem)
- Preventing and treating the risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, or tobacco use
Summary: REMAP ECMO is a registry based platform in which multiple response adaptive randomized clinical trials (trial domains) will be embedded. These trial domains will, in a perpetual way, study the effects of a range of patient management strategies which aim to improve VA ECMO weaning success. A first trial domain will address the effects of left ventricular (LV) unloading through intra-aortic balloon...
Background: Acute circulatory failure, often presenting as arterial hypotension, is a major contributor to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Accurate blood pressure (BP) monitoring is essential for timely therapeutic intervention, particularly in patients undergoing major surgery. Among invasive BP measurement sites, the radial artery is commonly used due to its accessibility and ease of catheterization....
Published Date: May 27, 2024
Published By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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McMurray JJV, Pfeffer MA. Heart failure: treatment and prognosis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024: chap 46.
Rogers JG, O'Connor CM. Heart failure: epidemiology, pathobiology, and diagnosis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024: chap 45.