A.7. What are the signs of cardiogenic shock?
Answer:
Cardiogenic shock is a syndrome of poor organ perfusion secondary to cardiac dysfunction. Common signs include hypotension, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, lactic acidosis, cold extremities (increased systemic vascular resistance), pulmonary congestion, and altered mental status. Cardiac dysfunction is estimated by calculating CO (CO < 4 L/min) or cardiac index (CI; CO/body surface area [BSA] < 2.2 L/min) measured by transthoracic or transesophageal Doppler echocardiography, PAC thermodilution, or by diagnosing elevated cardiac filling pressures (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure > 15 mm Hg).
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