Cardiogenic shock

Alternative names:

shock - cardiogenic

Symptoms:

• rapid pulse
• pulse may be weak ("thready")
• rapid breathing
• anxiety, nervousness
• skin may feel cool to touch
• weakness, lethargy, fatigue
• decreased mental status
  • loss of alertness
  • loss of ability to concentrate
• restlessness, agitation, confusion
• coma
• skin color pale or mottled
• profuse sweating, moist skin
• decreased urine output (or none)
• poor capillary refill

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• urination, excessive at night
• blood pressure, low

Signs and tests:

An examination will reveal low blood pressure ( less than 90 systolic), and possibly blood pressure drop of more than 10 points when going from lying to standing position (orthostatic hypotension). The pulse may be weak or absent (see pulse, weak or absent).

Procedures to diagnose cardiogenic shock may include:

• coronary angiography
• electrocardiogram
• echocardiogram
• nuclear scans

Other tests may be recommended to determine the cause of the heart's failure to function properly.

Laboratory tests include:

• CBC
• type and crossmatch for possible blood transfusion
• arterial blood gas
• blood chemistry (chem-7, chem-20, cardiac enzymes)

Updated Date: 02/09/00

Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial