Cardiogenic shock
Background
- Leading cause of death in patients with ACS who reach the hospital alive
Etiologies
- Myocardial infarction
- Pump failure
- Mechanical complications
- Acute MR (papillary muscle rupture)
- VSD
- Free-wall rupture
- RV infarction
- Decreased forward flow
- Sepsis
- Rate-related
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Myocarditis
- Myocardial contusion
- Cardiomyopathy
- Mechanical obstruction to forward flow
- Aortic stenosis
- HOCM
- Mitral stenosis
- Pericardial
- LV regurgitation
- Chordal rupture
- Aortic insufficiency
Clinical Features
Physical Exam
- Assess for signs of CHF
- elevated JVD, pulmonary edema, S3
- Assess for valvular disease (mitral regurgitation, critical aortic stenosis, or aortic regurgitation)
- Assess for end-organ hypoperfusion
- cool/mottled extremities, weak pulses, altered mental status, decreased UOP
- Assess for pulsus paradoxus (cardiac tamponade)
Differential Diagnosis
Shock
- Cardiogenic
- Acute valvular Regurgitation/VSD
- CHF
- Dysrhythmia
- ACS
- Myocardial Contusion
- Myocarditis
- Drug toxicity (e.g. beta blocker, CCB, or bupropion OD)
- Obstructive
- Distributive
- Hypovolemic
- Severe dehydration
- Hemorrhagic shock (traumatic and non-traumatic)
Evaluation
Workup
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)[1]
- Measurement
- <100 pg/mL: Negative for acute CHF (Sn 90%, NPV 89%)
- 100-500 pg/mL: Indeterminate (Consider differential diagnosis and pre-test probability)
- >500 pg/mL: Positive for acute CHF (Sp 87%, PPV 90%)
- Combination of BNP with clinician judgment 94% sensitive 70% specific (compared to 49% sn and 96% spec clinical judgement alone) [2]
NT-proBNP[3][4][5]
- <300 pg/mL → CHF unlikely
- CHF likely in:
- >450 pg/mL in age < 50 years old
- >900 pg/mL in 50-75 years old
- >1800 pg/mL in > 75 years old
Management
General
Aim for MAP >65
- Consider etiologies (see above) and treat specific one, if present
- Consider small fluid challenge (250-500cc normal saline IV) or fluid removal, depending on estimation of patient's point on Starling curve
- Increase inotropy
- Dobutamine +/- norepinephrine OR dopamine
- Dobutamine may initially drop pressures, so may need to use second agent to maintain BP
- Consider milrinone or beta-blocker reversal if patient is on a beta-blocker
- Consider calcium chloride 1 g if hypocalcemic or normocalcemic through good PIV or central line
- Dobutamine +/- norepinephrine OR dopamine
- Consider transfusion if hemoglobin < 10 (be aware of added fluid)
- Consider intubation
- Decreases O2 demand BUT may worsen preload
Specific Situations
Mitral Regurgitation
Increase forward flow
- Dobutamine (contractility) + nitroprusside (afterload reduction)
ACS
- PCI or thrombolysis
Aortic stenosis
Decrease afterload (with extreme caution in very small, carefully-titrated doses)
- Agents:
- Do not give preload reducers such as nitro
- Patients are flow dependent over stenotic value. Flow proportional to degree of stenosis and afterload.
Toxins
Vasopressors
Vasopressors may be initiated peripherally while central access is being obtained — do not delay for central line placement (SSC 2021).[6]
| Pressor | Initial Dose | Max Dose | Cardiac Effect | BP Effect | Arrhythmias | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dobutamine | 2-5 mcg/kg/min | 20 mcg/kg/min (up to 40 in refractory cases)[7] | Strong β₁ agonist (+inotrope, +chronotrope); weak β₂ agonist (+vasodilation) | Minimal α effect; may decrease BP due to β₂ vasodilation | Variable HR effects; can cause tachycardia | Indicated in decompensated systolic CHF and cardiogenic shock with adequate BP. Not a vasopressor — it is an inotrope. Must be used with a vasopressor if hypotensive. |
| Dopamine | 2-5 mcg/kg/min | 20 mcg/kg/min | β₁ and endogenous norepinephrine release | Mixed α and β effects at all doses; α effects predominate at higher doses | Arrhythmogenic from β₁ effects | More adverse events (especially arrhythmia) when used in shock compared to norepinephrine[8]. SSC 2021 suggests against dopamine as first-line except in select patients with bradycardia and low risk of tachyarrhythmia. |
| Epinephrine | 1-10 mcg/min (0.01-0.1 mcg/kg/min) | 0.5 mcg/kg/min | +Inotropy, +chronotropy (β₁) | Low dose: β₂ vasodilation may predominate; high dose: α₁ vasoconstriction predominates | Significant — tachycardia, SVT, VT. Increases myocardial O₂ demand. | 2nd or 3rd line for septic shock (SSC 2021: add after norepinephrine ± vasopressin). 1st line for anaphylaxis (0.3-0.5 mg IM) and cardiac arrest. May cause splanchnic vasoconstriction, lactic acidosis, and hyperglycemia. |
| Norepinephrine | 2-5 mcg/min (0.01-0.03 mcg/kg/min) | 0.5-1 mcg/kg/min (some sources up to 3.3 mcg/kg/min)[9] | Mild β₁ direct effect (+inotropy) | Strong α₁ and α₂ vasoconstriction; β₁ effect | Less arrhythmogenic than dopamine[8] | 1st line for septic shock (SSC 2021)[6]. Increases MAP primarily via vasoconstriction. Increases coronary perfusion pressure. Minimal β₂ effect. |
| Milrinone | 50 mcg/kg IV over 10 min (loading dose often omitted in acute illness due to hypotension risk) | 0.375-0.75 mcg/kg/min | PDE-3 inhibitor → ↑intracellular cAMP → ↑Ca²⁺ influx → +inotropy | Arteriolar and venous vasodilator (reduces preload AND afterload) | Less arrhythmogenic than dobutamine | Inodilator — useful in decompensated HF with elevated afterload, RV failure, or pulmonary hypertension. Causes hypotension — not a vasopressor; use with a vasopressor if MAP is low. Renally cleared — dose-reduce in CKD. |
| Phenylephrine | 100-180 mcg/min, then 40-60 mcg/min | 0.4-9.1 mcg/kg/min | No direct cardiac effect | Pure α₁ agonist → vasoconstriction | May cause reflex bradycardia | Short duration of action (5-20 min IV). Use in septic shock only if: NE causes arrhythmias, cardiac output is high with persistent hypotension, or as salvage when NE + vasopressin have failed.[6] |
| Vasopressin | 0.03 U/min (fixed dose) | 0.04 U/min | No direct inotropic or chronotropic effect; possible reflex bradycardia | V₁ receptor agonist → vascular smooth muscle constriction | Minimal | 2nd line in septic shock — add to NE rather than escalating NE (SSC 2021 suggests adding before epinephrine)[6]. Fixed dose — generally not titrated. May reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation vs. catecholamine-only regimens.[10] Avoid dose >0.04 U/min → risk of cardiac and mesenteric ischemia. |
| Methylene blue[11] | IV bolus 1-2 mg/kg over 15 min | 1-2 mg/kg/hour (limited data on max duration) | Possible increased inotropy; improves cardiac ATP utilization | Inhibits NO-mediated peripheral vasodilation → increases SVR | Minimal reported | Salvage therapy for refractory vasodilatory shock unresponsive to catecholamines. Contraindicated in G6PD deficiency (hemolytic anemia), ARDS, severe pulmonary hypertension. Interferes with pulse oximetry readings (falsely low SpO₂). Avoid with serotonergic drugs (risk of serotonin syndrome). |
| Angiotensin II (Giapreza) | 20 ng/kg/min | 40-80 ng/kg/min (max 200 ng/kg/min per label) | No direct cardiac effect | AT₁ receptor agonist → potent arteriolar vasoconstriction; also stimulates aldosterone secretion | Minimal | Salvage therapy for refractory vasodilatory shock (ATHOS-3 trial)[12]. May be particularly useful in patients on ACEi/ARB or with high renin states. Monitor for thrombosis (increased risk reported). |
| Medication | IV Dose (mcg/kg/min) | Standard Concentration | Final Concentration |
| Norepinephrine (Levophed) | 0.01-2 mcg/kg/min | 8 mg in 500 mL D5W | 16 mcg/mL |
| Dopamine | 2-20 mcg/kg/min | 400 mg in 250 mL D5W | 1,600 mcg/mL |
| Dobutamine | 2-20 mcg/kg/min | 250 mg in 250 mL D5W | 1,000 mcg/mL |
| Epinephrine | 0.01-1 mcg/kg/min | 1 mg in 250 mL D5W | 4 mcg/mL |
Disposition
- Admission, frequently to intensive or higher-level of care
See Also
External Links
Video
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References
- ↑ Maisel AS, Krishnaswamy P, Nowak RM, et al. Rapid measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2002;347(3):161-167. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa020233.
- ↑ McCullough et al. B-Type natriuretic peptide and clinical judgment in emergency diagnosis of heart failure: analysis from breathing not properly (BNP) multinational study. Circulation. 2002:DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000025242.79963.4
- ↑ Januzzi JL, van Kimmenade R, Lainchbury J, et al. NT-proBNP testing for diagnosis and short-term prognosis in acute destabilized heart failure: an international pooled analysis of 1256 patients: the International Collaborative of NT-proBNP Study. Eur Heart J. 2006 Feb. 27(3):330-7.
- ↑ Kragelund C, Gronning B, Kober L, Hildebrandt P, Steffensen R. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and long-term mortality in stable coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 2005 Feb 17. 352(7):666-75.
- ↑ Moe GW, Howlett J, Januzzi JL, Zowall H,. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide testing improves the management of patients with suspected acute heart failure: primary results of the Canadian prospective randomized multicenter IMPROVE-CHF study. Circulation. 2007 Jun 19. 115(24):3103-10.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Evans L, Rhodes A, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021. Crit Care Med. 2021;49(11):e1063-e1143.
- ↑ Unverferth DV, Blanford M, Kates RE, Leier CV. Tolerance to dobutamine after a 72 hour continuous infusion. Am J Med. 1980;69(2):262-6.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 De Backer D, et al. Comparison of Dopamine and Norepinephrine in the Treatment of Shock. NEJM. 2010;363(9):779-789.
- ↑ Martin C, Papazian L, Perrin G, et al. Norepinephrine or dopamine for the treatment of hyperdynamic septic shock? Chest. 1993;103(6):1826-31.
- ↑ McIntyre WF, et al. Association of Vasopressin Plus Catecholamine Vasopressors vs Catecholamines Alone With Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Distributive Shock. JAMA. 2018;319(18):1889.
- ↑ Pasin L, et al. Methylene blue as a vasopressor: a meta-analysis of randomised trials. Crit Care Resusc. 2013;15(1):42-8.
- ↑ Khanna A, et al. Angiotensin II for the Treatment of Vasodilatory Shock. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(5):419-430.
