Symptoms and Prevention of Cardiogenic Shock

Symptoms and Prevention of Cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock is a physiologic state in which inadequate tissue perfusion results from cardiac dysfunction, most often systolic. The most common causes are serious heart complications. Many of these occur during or after a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Cardiogenic shock most commonly occurs as a complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI). It occurs in 7% of patients with ST-segment elevation MI and 3% with non ST-segment elevation MI. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate resuscitation.

Cardiogenic shock can result from the following types of cardiac dysfunction:
Systolic dysfunctionDiastolic dysfunctionValvular dysfunctionCardiac arrhythmiasCoronary artery diseaseMechanical complications
Symptoms of Cardiogenic shock
Chest pain or pressureComaDecreased urinationFast breathingFast pulseHeavy sweating, moist skinLightheadednessLoss of alertness and ability to concentrateRestlessness, agitation, confusionShortness of breathSkin that feels cool to the touchPale skin color or blotchy skinWeak (thready) pulse
Prevention of Cardiogenic shock

Early coronary revascularisation in patients post-myocardial infarction (MI) and adequate treatment of patients with structural heart disease may help to prevent cardiogenic shock.
Better treatment of acute coronary syndrome seems to be reducing the rates of cardiogenic shock.