Cardiogenic Shock: Outcomes, Treatment, and Role of Hemodynamic Support

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a leading cause of in-hospital mortality in patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). CS is a condition of sustained hypotension requiring administration of catecholamines along with signs of impaired end-organ perfusion. Hemorrhagic shock due to bleeding complications should be strongly considered as a possible reason for shock in patients undergoing pharmacological or mechanical reperfusion. CS in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation is associated with rates of mortality similar to those in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The main goal of mechanical circulatory support in patients with CS is to improve the hemodynamics and the metabolic condition. CS is a dreadful complication of AMI. Introduction of and advances in revascularization techniques resulted in both decrease in CS incidence and improvement of outcomes.