Cardiogenic shock is a state in which cardiac pump fails to assure enough blood to cover up the necessity of

the tissues. If not rapidly diagnosed and treated, quickly leads to polyorganic failure and subsequent death.

We reviewed the literature in the databases of PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Bireme, EBSCO, Scielo etc.
using the key words “Cardiogenic Shock”. Being a narrative review, we did not include it’s
complications and focused mainly on cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction.

The current review has the aim to analyze and sum up the information, collected since January 1953,
about the etiology, physiopathology and management of cardiogenic shock, it being a life-threatening
emergency that has an in-hospital mortality of about 80%. Throughout the history the mortality has
non-significantly diminished due to the improvement of the management and increase in frequency
of use of early revascularisation in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Even with improving
technologies the Cardiogenic Shock remains a strong and fearsome enemy that takes yearly many
lives, and still remaining the main cause of death in patients with myocardial infarction.

Studying the available literature and analyzing the trial results we have determined that there isn’t a
consensus on the utilization of mechanical circulatory support and the timing of percutaneous
coronary intervention strategies as well as of a farmaceutical management, and thus we highly
recommend the study of this subject to replenish the lack of information.