Scientific statements and publications have recommended the use of vasoconstrictors as the first-line pharmacologic choice for most cases of cardiogenic shock (CS), without the abundance of strong clinical evidence. One challenge of guidelines is that the way recommendations are stated can potentially lead to oversimplification of complex situations. Except for acute coronary syndrome with CS, in which maintenance of coronary perfusion pressure seems logical prior to revascularization, physiologic consequences of increasing afterload by use of vasoconstrictors should be analyzed. Changing the CS conceptual frame, emphasizing inflammation and other vasodilating consequences of prolonged CS, mixes causes and consequences.Moreover, the considerable interpatient differences regarding the initial cause of CS and subsequent consequences on both macro-and microcirculation, argue for a dynamic, step-by-step, personalized therapeutic strategy. In CS, vasoconstrictors should be used only after a reasoning process, a review of other possible options, and then should be titrated to reach a reasonable pressure target, while checking cardiac output and organ perfusion. CHEST 2019; 156(2):392-401 KEY WORDS: cardiogenic shock; inotropes; norepinephrine; vasoconstrictorsCardiogenic shock (CS) is a low cardiac output (CO) state due to heart failure, resulting in life-threatening end-organ hypoperfusion and hypoxia. 1,2 In the setting of acute myocardial infarction, support of coronary perfusion pressure with vasoconstrictor agents as an initial step prior to revascularization seems reasonable. CS, however, occurs in many other settings, including decompensation of chronic heart failure, fulminant myocarditis, post-cardiac arrest, severe valvular heart disease, right ventricular failure, and as a component of mixed shock in lung injury, sepsis, and other inflammatory conditions. In these settings, application of an early vasoconstricting approach intended for BP support may not always be the best course of action.In the classic pathophysiologic model of CS, early compensatory systemic vasoconstriction occurs in order to maintain BP and organ perfusion. Persistence of tissue hypoxia, however, may induce inflammation with subsequent altered vasoreactivity, 3 ABBREVIATIONS: CO = cardiac output; CP = cardiac power; CS = cardiogenic shock; Ea = arterial elastance; LV = left ventricle; RV = right ventricle; VO 2 = oxygen consumption AFFILIATIONS: