Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy As a Chronic Heart Failure Model in Swine
Published on: February 17, 2018
Septic Cardiomyopathy
Sarah J Beesley1,2, Gerhard Weber3, Todd Sarge4
1Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, UT.
Insights
Septic cardiomyopathy, a cardiac dysfunction in sepsis, requires further study for clear definitions and treatment impacts. Current management focuses on sepsis treatment and supportive care for cardiogenic shock.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Cardiology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis frequently causes cardiac dysfunction, termed septic cardiomyopathy.
- Definitions and clinical implications of septic cardiomyopathy remain unclear.
- Understanding septic cardiomyopathy is crucial for adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology, management, and clinical implications of septic cardiomyopathy in adult ICUs.
- To synthesize current knowledge on septic cardiomyopathy for clinical application.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of relevant articles using PubMed.
- Inclusion criteria: English language, human adults with sepsis.
Main Results:
- Competing definitions of septic cardiomyopathy complicate its understanding.
- Cardiac dysfunction is common in sepsis, but its prognostic and therapeutic impact requires demonstration.
- Treatment involves addressing underlying sepsis and managing cardiogenic shock.
Conclusions:
- Septic cardiomyopathy significantly contributes to organ dysfunction in sepsis.
- Guided treatment may improve prognosis, particularly with reduced cardiac index.
- Further research is needed on short- and long-term outcomes.
Objectives:
To describe, with an emphasis on clinical applications, what is known about the pathophysiology, management, and implications of septic cardiomyopathy in the adult ICU.
Data Sources And Study Selection:
A PubMed literature review was performed for relevant articles. Only articles in English that studied human adults with sepsis were included.
Data Extraction And Data Synthesis:
Multiple competing definitions for septic cardiomyopathy hinder understanding of this entity. Although many patients with sepsis develop cardiac dysfunction, the impact of septic cardiomyopathy on prognosis and therapy remains to be demonstrated. Treatment of septic cardiomyopathy is aimed at treating the underlying sepsis and providing specific supportive care for cardiogenic shock when present.
Conclusions:
Septic cardiomyopathy is an important contributor to organ dysfunction in sepsis. Guided treatment of septic cardiomyopathy may affect patients' prognosis, especially when their cardiac index is substantially decreased. The implication of septic cardiomyopathy for both short- and long-term outcomes is an important area for future investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Myocarditis I: Introduction

