Available online from MWHC library: 1996 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: August 1998 - February 2004
Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a condition in which a marked reduction in cardiac output and inadequate end-organ perfusion results from an array of cardiac insults, the most common of which is acute myocardial infarction. CS is a systemic disease involving a vicious cycle of inflammation, ischemia, and progressive myocardial dysfunction, which often results in death. This life-threatening emergency requires intensive monitoring accompanied by aggressive hemodynamic support; other therapies are tailored to the specific pathophysiology. The development of novel therapeutic strategies is urgently required to reduce the unacceptably high mortality rates currently associated with CS. Copyright 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.