The Critical Care Commute Podcast Cardiogenic Shock: The SCAI Classification with Dr. Emilie Belley-Côté.
In this episode, recorded live at CCCF 2024, we sit down with Dr. Emilie Belley-Côté, a cardiac intensivist, researcher, and clinical trialist from McMaster University, to unpack cardiogenic shock: the SCAI classification.
Whether you're in the ED, cath lab, or ICU, the SCAI (Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions) stages offer a common language to describe the severity of cardiogenic shock, guide escalation of care, and improve outcomes through structured assessment.
Dr. Belley-Côté walks us through:
The five SCAI stages (A through E): what they mean and how they’re used.
How this classification system improves communication between specialties.
The importance of recognizing patients in pre-shock (Stage B) before they deteriorate.
Real-world application: how SCAI staging intersects with clinical signs, biomarkers, and hemodynamic monitoring.
Where the SCAI classification fits in research, including trials evaluating mechanical circulatory support and advanced heart failure therapies.
With Dr. Belley-Côté’s clear explanations and insights from the front lines of cardiac critical care, this episode is essential listening for anyone managing unstable cardiac patients.