Cardiogenic shock is a disease state where the heart is damaged enough that it is unable to supply sufficient blood to the body.
Alternative Names
Shock - cardiogenic
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Shock occurs whenever the heart is unable to pump enough blood for the needs of the body. Cardiogenic shock can be caused by disorders of the heart muscle, the valves, or the heart's electrical conduction system.
An examination will reveal low blood pressure (less than 90 systolic), and the blood pressure may drop more than 10 points when the patient stands up after lying down (orthostatic hypotension). The pulse may be weak or absent.
To diagnose cardiogenic shock, a catheter (tube) may be placed in the pulmonary artery. Measurements often indicate that blood is backing up into the lungs and that the heart has poor pumping function.
Tests used in patients with cardiogenic shock include:
Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency. Treatment requires hospitalization. The goal of treatment is to save the patient's life and treat the underlying cause of shock.
Dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, amrinone, or other medications may be required to increase blood pressure and heart functioning. Pain medicine may be given if necessary. Bed rest is recommended to reduce demands on the heart.
Arrhythmias (7 images)
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(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An arrhythmia is any disorder of your heart rate or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/06/2006
Unstable angina(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Unstable angina is a type of acute chest pain that occurs when your heart doesn't get enough oxygen. It can be a warning sign of a heart attack. See also: Stable angina; Variant angina. Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/03/2007
Cardiomyopathy (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function abnormalities. Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/30/2006
Congenital heart disease (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart's structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth. Congenital means present at birth. Reviewer: Anne J. L. Chun, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/27/2006
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