Categories of shock and physiology overview

There are four main categories of shock:


Hypovolemic

• #1 cause worldwide
• Deficiency in intravascular volume
• Gastroenteritis, hemorrhage, increased urine output (DKA), 3^rd space losses, burns

Distributive

• Inappropriate distribution of blood volume into the tissues
• Septic, Anaphylactic, Spinal (Neurogenic)

Cardiogenic

• Myocardial (pump) dysfunction
• Congenital heart disease, myocarditis, arrhythmias

Obstructive

• Physical obstruction to blood flow

Remember: The overall goal of treating shock is to prevent end-organ injury and halt the progression to cardiopulmonary failure and cardiac arrest!