Latin America has limited information about the full spectrum cardiogenic shock (CS) and its hospital outcome. This study sought to examine the temporal trends, clinical features and outcomes of patients with CS in a coronary care unit of single Mexican institution. This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients hospitalized with CS in a Mexican teaching hospital between 2006–2019. Patients were classified according to the presence or absence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Of 22,747 admissions, 833 (3.7%) exhibited CS. Among patients with AMI (n = 12,438), 5% had AMI–CS, and in patients without AMI (n = 10,309), 2.3% developed CS (non-AMI–CS). Their median age was 63 years and 70.5% were men. Cardiovascular risk factors were more frequent among the AMI–CS group, whereas a history of heart failure was greater in non-AMI–CS patients (70.1%). In AMI-CS patients, the median delay time was 17.2 hours from the onset of AMI symptoms to hospital admission. Overall, the median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 30%. Patients with CS at admission showed end-organ dysfunction, evidenced by lactic acidosis, renal impairment, and elevated liver transaminases. Of the 620 AMI–CS patients, the main cause was left ventricular dysfunction in 71.3%, mechanical complications in 15.2% and right ventricular infarction in 13.5%. Among the 213 non-AMI–CS patients, valvular heart disease (49.3%) and cardiomyopathies (42.3%) were the most frequent etiologies. In-hospital all-cause mortality rates were 69.7% and 72.3% in the AMI–CS and non-AMI–CS groups, respectively. Among AMI–CS patients, renal dysfunction, diabetes, older age, depressed LVEF, absence of revascularization and the use of mechanical ventilation were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. However, in the non-AMI–CS group, only low LVEF and high lactate levels proved significant. This study demonstrates differences in the epidemiology of CS compared to high-income countries; the high mortality reflects critically ill patients and the lack of contemporary effective therapies in the population studied.

La cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo es una entidad caracterizada por disfunción ventricular aguda y transitoria, la cual está generalmente relacionada a un evento desencadenante (estrés emocional o físico) y que, por lo general, se presenta con disfunción sistólica regional del ventrículo izquierdo, aunque hasta en un 30% puede ser biventricular. Según su severidad, en algunos casos puede condicionar choque cardiogénico refractario a manejo con inotrópicos y vasopresores, por lo que para estos casos deben considerarse los dispositivos de asistencia circulatoria. Presentamos el caso de una paciente joven a quien se realizó cambio valvular pulmonar con prótesis biológica, la cual siete semanas posteriores a la cirugía acudió al servicio de urgencias con derrame pericárdico y fisiología de tamponade secundario a síndrome pospericardiotomía. Por tal motivo se le practicó ventana pericárdica, sin embargo durante el transquirúrgico presentó cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo biventricular que le condicionó choque cardiogénico con insuficiencia mitral y tricúspidea severas y refractariedad a tratamiento médico, así como a balón intraaórtico de contrapulsación (BIAC), por lo cual requirió soporte circulatorio con ECMO venoarterial durante 5 días.

Background: High concentrations of supplemental oxygen (FiO₂ > 0.6) are commonly used to treat acute hypoxemia in critically ill patients. However, the effects of High FiO₂ in patients with COVID-19 remain unclear, particularly regarding its impact on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and ventilation–perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether administering lower concentrations of inspired oxygen (FiO₂ < 0.6) is associated with improved outcomes—namely reduced need for mechanical ventilation and mortality—in patients with COVID-19 and severe pulmonary involvement. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort included 201 patients with confirmed COVID-19. Patients were grouped by mean FiO₂ during the first 24–48 h: High FiO₂ (≥0.60) or Low FiO₂ (<0.60). The primary outcome was the requirement for mechanical ventilation; the secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. A composite endpoint (mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death) was also evaluated. Analyses included logistic regression and Kaplan–Meier survival with log-rank testing. Results: High FiO₂ (≥0.60) was associated with higher odds of the composite outcome (mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death). In multivariable analysis, Low FiO₂ remained associated with lower odds (adjusted OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.08–0.39; p < 0.001). Unadjusted rates were 43.1% vs. 16.1% for mechanical ventilation and 34.3% vs. 8.1% for in-hospital death (High vs. Low FiO₂; both p < 0.001). Event-free survival favored the Low FiO₂ group (log-rank p < 0.001). The model showed excellent discrimination (AUC 0.96; 95% CI 0.92–0.99). Conclusions: Higher early FiO₂ exposure was associated with worse clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19. These findings are consistent with physiological models in which excess oxygen may attenuate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and increase shunt/dead space. Prospective studies are warranted to assess causality and refine oxygen targets.

Presentamos el caso de un paciente masculino de 34 años con diagnóstico previo de síndrome de Marfan que ingresó por Insuficiencia aórtica aguda secundario a dilatación aneurismática de la aorta torácica ascendente. En el posoperatorio se documentó choque cardiogénico poscardiotomía por lo que se inició soporte circulatorio con ECMO venoarterial periférico, el cual desarrolló hipoxemia por neumonía bacteriana y datos compatibles con síndrome norte-sur. Presentamos una revisión, estrategias de canulación no convencional y una alternativa diagnóstica para esta entidad.