Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening cardiac emergency in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. The condition used to be most common secondary to heart attacks but now there is essentially equal representation between worsening underlying chronic congestive heart failure. Often caused by a large heart attack or weakness of the cardiac muscles called cardiomyopathy, cardiogenic shock requires immediate, highly specialized care to improve survival and support recovery.
The Cardiogenic Shock Program, part of Tampa General Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute and Heart Failure Center of Excellence, is the first formalized program of its kind on Florida’s west coast. Our nationally recognized specialists combine advanced technology, multispecialty expertise and innovative treatment strategies to care for patients. This condition is lethal if not promptly and aggressively treated; our expertise is demonstrated by a survival rate of more than 80 to 90%. From rapid diagnosis and mechanical circulatory support to cardiac recovery or replacement therapy (LVAD and heart transplant) and long-term follow-up, our team delivers highly specialized and coordinated care throughout the continuum of cardiac care.
Emergent Cardiogenic Shock Transfers
Cardiogenic shock is the number #1 transfer pathway at Tampa General Hospital.
For Outside Hospital Emergent Transfer requests to TGH, call (813) 844-7979.
What Is Cardiogenic Shock?
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to meet the body’s needs. Without prompt treatment, vital organs begin to fail, making it one of the most serious cardiovascular emergencies.
While a major heart attack is the most common cause, cardiogenic shock may also result from a variety of underlying conditions, such as long standing heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, severe heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), uncontrolled heart rhythm abnormalities or other medical conditions that that weaken the heart muscle and limit the heart’s ability to function appropriately
Common signs and symptoms of cardiogenic shock may include:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Severe shortness of breath
- Rapid, irregular or very slow heartbeat
- Cold, clammy skin
- Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
- Weak pulse
- Low blood pressure
- Lightheadedness
- Loss of consciousness
- Decreased urination
Because cardiogenic shock can worsen rapidly, early recognition and immediate access to specialized care are critical to ensure a good outcome.
Why Choose the Tampa General Hospital’s Cardiogenic Shock Program?
For patients in cardiogenic shock, every minute matters, and families may not have time to choose where care is delivered. Effective treatment requires more than emergency intervention; it depends on a coordinated team of specialists, advanced technology and continuous collaboration from arrival through recovery.
Tampa General Hospital has developed one of the nation’s leading cardiogenic shock programs by gathering a team of experts across multiple disciplines to make rapid, evidence-based treatment decisions and provide 24/7 specialized care with excellent survival and cardiac recovery patient outcomes. In addition, we see patients through to any required next steps for treatment, including but not limited to heart transplant or ventricular assist device (VAD) placement.
Patients benefit from:
- Deep expertise and high case volume, with more than 700 patients treated since the program began
- Membership in the nationally recognized Cardiogenic Shock Working Group (CSWG), a global academic collaborative focused on advancing cardiogenic shock care
- Outcomes that exceed national averages and CSWG reported ones
- Access to advanced heart failure therapies close to home in the Tampa Bay region
- A dedicated Cardiogenic Shock Survivor Clinic for meticulous and ongoing follow-up after hospitalization
TGH has been recognized as #1 in Tampa Bay for Heart & Vascular Care for Heart & Vascular Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-27 and named one of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery by Newsweek.
For patients and families, this means advanced, specialized, coordinated care from a team expert in treating the most critically ill cardiovascular patients.
A Multispecialty Team Focused on Rapid Decision-Making
Tampa General Hospital has a real-time multispecialty model that brings specialists together immediately to evaluate each patient, then determine and implement the most effective treatment plan, rather than relying on traditional sequential decision-making.
Based on the patient’s condition, the care team may include experts in:
- Interventional cardiology
- Advanced heart failure
- Cardiac surgery
- Vascular surgery
- Critical care
- Cardiovascular imaging
- Specialized nursing and coordinators
Together, these specialists assess the patient’s condition, determine whether temporary mechanical circulatory support is needed and select the most appropriate device and treatment strategy, within 5 minutes on a collaborative call. This process continues throughout hospitalization, allowing the team to adjust care quickly as the patient’s condition changes and ensure excellent outcomes with minimal complications.
Advanced Mechanical Circulatory Support
For many patients with cardiogenic shock, temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) can help stabilize the heart and improve blood flow while the underlying cause is treated. Tampa General Hospital’s Mechanical Circulatory Support Program is a national leader in temporary MCS technologies and has helped advance best practices for their use.
Unlike many centers, TGH places most temporary support devices in the cardiac catheterization lab, expediting treatment.
Depending on each patient’s needs, advanced support options may include:
- Impella CP® with SmartAssist®
- Impella 5.5® with SmartAssist®
- Impella RP Flex with SmartAssist
- RV Temporary Mechanical Support Utilizing Protek Duo or Spectrum Cannulas
- CentriMag support
- Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)
- Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO)
These technologies may be used as:
- A bridge to recovery
- Bridge to conventional surgery, such as coronary revascularization or valvular intervention
- A bridge to heart transplantation
- A bridge to a durable ventricular assist device (VAD)
- Temporary support during complex, high-risk cardiac or non-cardiac, life-saving procedures
Tampa General Hospital offers full range of advanced heart failure therapies allowing patients to receive highly specialized care close to home instead of being transferred outside the region.
Supporting Recovery Beyond the Hospital
Recovery from cardiogenic shock continues after a patient leaves cardiac intensive care unit. Many survivors remain at risk for ongoing heart-related complications and need specialized follow-up to monitor heart function, adjust medications and support long-term recovery.
The Cardiogenic Shock Survivor Clinic offers comprehensive follow-up care for patients recovering from cardiogenic shock. Modeled after cancer survivorship programs, the clinic helps patients navigate recovery while staying connected to the specialists who cared for them during hospitalization.
This continuity helps our team identify concerns early, coordinate additional treatment when needed and support each patient’s ensuring best possible quality of life.
Improving Outcomes with Clinical Trials and Research
As Florida’s premier academic health system™, Tampa General Hospital is committed to delivering exceptional care while striving to advance treatment for future patients. Our physicians participate in national research initiatives focused on cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support and advanced heart failure therapies.
Our program supports innovation through:
- Membership in national collaboratives focused on improving cardiogenic shock care
- Active involvement in clinical and translational research
- Early use of innovative mechanical circulatory support strategies
- Ongoing studies evaluating new devices and treatment approaches
TGH is also one of only seven U.S. programs that teaches other hospitals how to build and operate comprehensive cardiogenic shock programs.
The program is also launching what is expected to be the first U.S. study focused on defining best medical practices for patients supported with temporary mechanical circulatory support devices for chronic heart failure patients resulting in shock, helping advance care nationwide.
Refer a Patient for Cardiogenic Shock Care
Rapid transfer makes the critical difference for patients experiencing cardiogenic shock.
The Cardiogenic Shock Program at Tampa General Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute and Heart Failure Center of Excellence accepts emergent transfers from hospitals throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. Our multispecialty team is prepared to evaluate patients quickly, initiate advanced therapies and coordinate comprehensive care from admission through recovery.
- For Outside Hospital Emergent Transfer requests to TGH, call (813) 844-7979. Cardiogenic shock transfers receive the highest priority to help patients access lifesaving treatment as quickly as possible.
- To refer a patient to our Heart Failure Center of Excellence, click here for our Heart Failure Referral Form.