Florida State Paramedic Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The most common cause of cardiogenic shock is extensive infarction of the left ventricle. This condition typically arises when a significant portion of the heart muscle is damaged due to a blockage in the coronary arteries, resulting in a decrease in the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. When the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body, is compromised due to extensive damage, it leads to a critical decrease in cardiac output.

This reduction in cardiac output can cause a significant drop in blood pressure and inadequate perfusion of vital organs, leading to the clinical presentation of cardiogenic shock, which includes symptoms such as altered mental status, respiratory distress, and cold, clammy skin. Understanding that left ventricular infarction directly impacts hemodynamics is key to recognizing why it is the predominant cause of cardiogenic shock.

Other causes listed, while they can lead to shock, do not account for the majority of cases seen in clinical practice related to cardiogenic shock.