Cardiogenic Shock Services

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is life-threatening and requires prompt action and care. The experts at UPMC provide support for people in CS.

We're available 24/7 for patient consultations or transfer requests. Throughout the process, we maintain open and constant contact with referring physicians.

What Is Cardiogenic Shock?

Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your heart can’t pump enough blood for your body’s needs. Our cardiogenic shock team includes:

• Critical care doctors and nurses.
• Critical intensive care specialists.
• Cardiothoracic surgeons.
• Interventional and heart failure cardiologists.
• Emergency medicine physicians.

What conditions do you treat?

We treat patients who are experiencing cardiogenic shock related to a heart attack, heart failure, or end-stage organ failure.

What Cardiogenic Shock Services Does UPMC Offer?

Our team offers the most advanced care for people with cardiogenic shock, including:

Medical management

Our team of experts will provide optimal medical management for heart failure to help manage cardiogenic shock, reduce the risk of complications, and promote recovery.

Interventional cardiology procedures

We perform catheter-based procedures to care for people with cardiogenic shock, including:

• High-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
• Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP).
• Temporary heart pump implants, including the Impella 5.5 and the Impella CP®.
• MitraClip®.
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Surgical procedures

Our cardiothoracic surgeons perform a range of procedures to treat people with cardiogenic shock, including:

• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
• Ventricular assist device (VAD) implant.
• Open valve repair/replacement.
• Heart transplant.

What Can I Expect From Cardiogenic Shock Services?

Our team of cardiologists and other medical experts will create a comprehensive plan to diagnose and manage your condition while reducing your risk of complications.

Before your visit

To prepare for your visit, you will be asked to provide:

• Name, address, and contact phone number.
• Insurance information.
• Relevant medical records and test results.
• A referral, if required by your health insurance company.

If you get a referral from your primary care doctor or another physician, they may be able to provide your test results and medical records to our team.

During your treatment

UPMC’s cardiogenic shock services provide people with access to:

• A dedicated team of CS experts who provide quick and effective care.
• A tailored treatment plan that best suits your needs.
• World-renowned UPMC heart failure experts who can assess you for a heart transplant or ventricular assist device (VAD), if needed.
• Seamless transition of care to UPMC specialty clinics for ongoing treatment and follow-up care
• Leading-edge research and innovative care through advanced clinical trials.

After your treatment for cardiogenic shock

Our team will schedule follow-up appointments to check on your recovery. You should contact our office if:

• You have questions about your treatment plan or medications.
• Your symptoms get worse or do not improve as expected.
• You have any other concerns about your condition.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-10-01.