SCAI Issues 2026 Cardiogenic Shock Classification Update

November 12, 2026—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) announced the release of the 2026 SCAI Shock Classification Expert Consensus Update.

The document was published by David A. Baran, MD, et al in JSCAI in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s 2026 scientific sessions. It is endorsed by multiple United States and international societies focused on cardiovascular medicine.

According to SCAI, the consensus update provides refined guidance to help clinicians from diverse settings prioritize and recognize inadequate organ perfusion across a broad range of shock presentations, assess shock severity over time, and determine whether treatment is restoring adequate circulation.

The society stated the 2026 update addresses practical questions that have emerged as clinicians and researchers have applied the classification across a broader range of patient populations and care settings.

The update places greater emphasis on identifying the underlying shock phenotype, recognizing hypoperfusion, tracking a patient’s trajectory over time, and assessing whether treatment is restoring adequate circulation. The updated document addresses these questions while preserving the simplicity and practicality that have supported widespread global adoption, advised SCAI.

The SCAI press release noted that the document expands guidance for acute myocardial infarction–related, heart failure–related, valvular, right ventricular–predominant, mixed, postcardiotomy, and pediatric cardiogenic shock. Those sections address how underlying disease, clinical phenotype, and patient characteristics affect presentation, assessment, and interpretation of severity.

The SCAI Shock Resources Center provides two resources that accompany the document: an updated bedside checklist to support structured assessment and a quality improvement tool.

More information, graphics, and commentary are provided in the SCAI press release.