Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock: Inotropes, Vasopressors and Machines

Abstract

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with significant mortality. Advances in pharmacological therapies and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have markedly improved the therapeutic approach to CS, though treatment efficacy and safety vary. The recent DanGer shock trial showed a significant reduction in 6-month mortality for CS patients due to acute myocardial infarction. Future randomised trials should evaluate a phenotype-guided pharmaco-MCS approach to the management of CS. This paper summarises contemporary pharmacological and MCS treatments for patients with CS.

Keywords: cardiogenic shock; inotropes; mechanical circulatory support.