Abstract
Shock is a life-threatening condition of circulatory failure. Mixed shock is observed in approximately 24.5 % of patients with cardiogenic shock. In cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, outcomes are worse when the predominant shock type is distributive rather than cardiogenic. Thus, distinguishing between cardiogenic and distributive phenotypes is crucial for appropriate management. A dysregulated immune response has been observed in both. This review article details the pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and management of distributive shock when encountered in a cardiac intensive care unit.