Cardiogenic shock is a state in which the heart has been damaged so much that it is unable to supply enough blood to the organs of the body.
Alternative Names
Shock - cardiogenic
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Shock occurs whenever the heart is unable to pump as much blood as the body needs.
The most common causes are serious heart complications. Many of these occur during or after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). These complications include:
Dangerous heart rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or supraventricular tachycardia
Very slow heart rhythm (bradycardia) or heart conduction block
Tear or rupture of the wall (septum) between the left and right ventricle
Tear or rupture of the muscles or tendons that support the heart valves, especially the mitral valve
A large section of heart muscle that no longer moves well or does not move at all
Rupture of the heart muscle due to damage from the heart attack
Symptoms
Profuse sweating, moist skin
Rapid breathing
Rapid pulse
Restlessness, agitation, confusion
Skin that feels cool to the touch
Pale skin color or blotchy (mottled) skin
Weak (thready) pulse
Decreased mental status
Loss of ability to concentrate
Loss of alertness
Coma
Signs and tests
An examination will reveal:
Low blood pressure (less than 90 systolic)
Blood pressure may drop more than 10 points when you stand up after lying down (orthostatic hypotension)
Weak (thready) pulse
To diagnose cardiogenic shock, a catheter (tube) may be placed in the pulmonary artery (right heart catheterization). Measurements often indicate that blood is backing up into the lungs and the heart is not pumping properly.
Arrhythmias (7 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
Unstable angina(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Unstable angina is a condition in which your heart doesn't get enough blood flow and oxygen. It is a prelude to a heart attack. Most people experience a feeling of chest discomfort or shortness of breath. See also: Stable angina; Variant angina. Reviewer: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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 problems. 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. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/28/2009
Congenital heart disease (4 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: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; and Mark A Fogel, MD, FACC, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, Director of Cardiac MR, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Date: 12/10/2007
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