Cardiogenic Shock Systems of Care Best Practices. Part 1: Prehospital and Emergency Department Evaluation and Management.

This paper explores best practices for the prehospital and emergency department evaluation and management of cardiogenic shock, a critical condition marked by high mortality rates, within a contemporary cardiogenic shock system of care. It highlights the significance of early identification and immediate intervention to prevent irreversible cardiac and non-cardiac organ damage. Emphasizing multidisciplinary team-based care and data-driven insights, the paper details optimal strategies for managing cardiogenic shock from initial contact, noting challenges in prehospital identification and treatment due to patient and disease heterogeneity and the variability in response capabilities of prehospital teams.