Cardiogenic shock.

St Vincent Medical College, Toledo, OH, USA.

Cardiogenic shock is a pathophysiologic cascade that often leads to death. Although there has been a dramatic decrease in the cases of cardiogenic shock since the 1970s, the mortality rate of those patients who are diagnosed with cardiogenic shock remains as high as 50% to 80%. As stated throughout the article, cardiogenic shock in its later stages cannot be reversed, but clinical signs and symptoms of the syndrome may be identified early enough to prevent a patient from developing irreversible end-stage cardiogenic shock. As a prehospital care provider, you must be able to ensure the pre-shock patient has adequate oxygenation of the myocardium and can be effectively treated before it is too late.

PMID: 15481660 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]