Best Ways To Prevent And Treat Cardiogenic Shock

Angioplasty And Stenting

Angioplasty and stenting is a surgical procedure that may be used to restore blood flow in the coronary arteries that supply muscle tissues of the heart with oxygenated blood. This procedure can be used to treat a patient who has gone into cardiogenic shock as a result of a partial blockage in a coronary artery. Angioplasty and stenting involves the insertion of a small wire mesh tube containing a small balloon into the partially obstructed region of the artery. The balloon is then inflated to widen the narrowed artery to the point where blood can effectively flow through it. The stent around the balloon expands with the balloon so when the balloon is deflated, the artery will stay in place. The mesh wire tube is called a stent, and the stent may be coated with medication to assist with keeping the artery open. This type of treatment is typically used in cases of a single or double partial coronary artery blockage. If a patient's coronary artery has multiple blockages or the percentage of the blockage exceeds a certain amount, a mesh stent may not be able to be inserted. In those cases, a coronary artery bypass will be required to prevent a heart attack or cardiogenic shock.

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Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

If a patient goes into cardiogenic shock as a result of an obstruction in one of the arteries that supply the heart muscle itself, coronary artery bypass surgery may be required to treat it. Coronary arteries are the arteries that supply the actual muscle tissues of the heart with oxygen-rich blood. Without this source of oxygenated blood, all or part of the heart muscle would stop functioning. Often times, this results in the patient having a heart attack and or going into cardiogenic shock. The coronary arteries can become obstructed as a result of the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the artery. The coronary arteries can also become blocked as a result of a blood clot becoming lodged and stopping blood flow. Bypass surgery on a coronary artery involves cutting the artery in front of the blockage and then re-attaching the artery to itself at a point beyond the location of the blockage. This can be done by using a lab created artery extension, or the patient's own arteries can be taken from other parts of their body to use. This procedure allows oxygen-rich blood to effectively flow around or bypass the portion of the obstructed artery. This allows the blood to reach the muscle tissues of the heart.

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