Cardiogenic shock : Treatment

Treatment

Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency. Treatment requires hospitalization. The goal of treatment is to save your life and treat the cause of shock.

Medications may be needed to increase blood pressure and heart function, including:

• Dopamine
• Dobutamine
• Epinephrine
• Norepinephrine

When an arrhythmia is serious, urgent treatment may be needed to restore a normal heart rhythm. This may include:

• Electrical “shock” therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion)
• Implanting a temporary pacemaker
• Medications given through a vein (intravenous)

You may receive pain medicine if necessary. Bed rest is recommended to reduce demands on the heart.

Getting oxygen lowers the workload of the heart by reducing tissue demands for blood flow.

You may receive intravenous fluids, including blood and blood products, if needed.

Other treatments for shock may include:

• Cardiac catheterization with coronary angioplasty and stenting
• Heart monitoring, including hemodynamic monitoring, to guide treatment
• Heart surgery (coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacement, left ventricular assist device)
• Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) to improve heart and blood vessel function
• Pacemaker

Prognosis (Expectations)

In the past, the death rate from cardiogenic shock ranged 80 – 90%. In more recent studies, this rate has improved to between 50 – 75%.

When cardiogenic shock is not treated, the outlook is not good.

Complications

• Brain damage
• Kidney damage
• Liver damage

Calling Your Health Care Provider

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms. Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency.

• Cardiogenic shock : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

• Cardiogenic shock : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests

• Cardiogenic shock : Treatment

Review Date : 4/23/2009
Reviewed By : 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.

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