Understanding Shock: Causes, Types, and Treatment

Study Notes

Shock can be caused by various factors such as bleeding, respiratory failure, acute allergic reactions, overwhelming infection, severe fractures, abdominal or chest injuries, spinal injuries, severe infection, major heart attack, and anaphylaxis.
The most common cause of shock is hypovolemia from blood or fluid loss, but there are different types of shocks including hypovolemic shock due to inadequate blood volume from hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic causes.
Non-hemorrhagic causes of shock include abnormal losses of fluids and electrolytes like dehydration from GI losses, fever, hyperventilation, excessive sweating, plasma losses from burns, drains, and wounds, diabetes insipidus, and osmotic diuresis.
Early signs and symptoms of shock include restlessness, anxiety, thirst, nausea, vomiting, paleness, cool/clammy skin, increased heart rate, falling blood pressure, and worsening symptoms as the condition progresses.
Different types of shock include cardiogenic shock caused by inadequate heart function, obstructive shock from mechanical obstruction affecting pump function, distributive shock like septic shock causing vessel damage, neurogenic shock from nervous system damage, and anaphylactic shock from severe allergic reactions.
Shock progresses through stages of compensated (early stage), decompensated (blood pressure falls), and irreversible (terminal stage) with specific signs and symptoms for each stage.
Treatment for shock involves controlling bleeding, maintaining body heat, providing IV fluids, administering medications like epinephrine for anaphylactic shock, and rapid transport to a medical facility for further management.

Description

Learn about the causes, types, and treatment of shock, including hypovolemic shock, cardiogenic shock, obstructive shock, distributive shock, neurogenic shock, and anaphylactic shock. Explore the stages of shock progression and the signs and symptoms associated with each stage.