Cardiogenic shock

• Moskovitz Joshua B.
• Levy Zachary David
• Slesinger Todd

Abstract

Overall mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has dropped significantly in the past several decades, from 10.4% in 1990 to 6.3% in 2006 [1]. The improvement in survival among patients with ACS can be attributed, in part, to advances in pharmacologic and mechanical interventions [2–4]. Many of these therapies target cardiogenic shock, a relatively common complication of ACS with an associated mortality rate between 50 and 80% [2]. Despite the need for well-defined, evidence-based treatment algorithms in this critically ill patient population, there is a paucity of data. This article describes the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock, organizes treatment considerations, and catalogues advances in current practice.

Keywords:cardiogenic shock, heart failure, congestive heart failure, acute heart failure, cardiac failure