This educational review defines cardiogenic shock and summarizes current knowledge on its basic mechanisms, focusing on inflammation and microvascular disturbances.
This educational review summarizes the definition, current treatment strategies, and basic pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiogenic shock, highlighting inflammation and microvascular disturbances.
Cardiogenic shock mortality rates remain high despite significant advances in cardiovascular medicine and the widespread uptake of mechanical circulatory support systems. Except for early invasive angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention of the infarct-related artery, the most widely used therapeutic measures are based on low-quality evidence. The grim prognosis and lack of high-quality data warrant further action. Part 1 of this two-part educational review defines cardiogenic shock and discusses current treatment strategies. In addition, we summarize current knowledge on basic mechanisms in the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock, focusing on inflammation and microvascular disturbances, which may ultimately be translated into diagnostic or therapeutic approaches to improve the outcome of our patients.
Krychtiuk et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Cardiogenic shock. This educational review defines cardiogenic shock and summarizes current knowledge on its basic mechanisms, focusing on inflammation and microvascular disturbances.