Despite advancements in treatment, cardiogenic shock (CS) still has a very high mortality rate. To improve patient outcomes, a timely diagnosis and the correct management are crucial. This is especially true given the changing causes of CS; there’s been a decrease in cases caused by myocardial ischemia and an increase in those from acutely decompensated heart failure.

A consensus definition for CS has helped to improve clinical and scientific discussions.

Critical care ultrasonography (CCUS) plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of patients with CS.

To explain our approach to using CCUS for CS, we’ve created an analogy with a strategic game of chess.

Each move, or decision, requires tactical teamwork to protect the patient, who represents the “king.”

In this framework, the different CCUS methods are like the chess pieces, and we guide readers through their advantages and limitations specifically in the context of cardiogenic shock.

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