Clinical meaning
Shock occurs when cellular oxygen delivery fails to meet demand. Regardless of type, the end result is anaerobic metabolism, lactic acid accumulation, and cellular death. Each shock type has a distinct mechanism: cardiogenic (pump failure), hypovolemic (volume loss), distributive (vasodilation), or obstructive (mechanical barrier).
Exam relevance
Risk factors: - Hemorrhage or dehydration (hypovolemic) - Myocardial infarction (cardiogenic) - Sepsis or anaphylaxis (distributive) - Tension pneumothorax or tamponade (obstructive) - Burns (hypovolemic/distributive) - Spinal cord injury (neurogenic/distributive)
Diagnostics: - Monitor vital signs frequently (trending is key) - Expect lactate levels to assess tissue perfusion - Monitor urine output hourly - Expect CBC, metabolic panel, coagulation studies - Monitor central venous pressure if available - Expect arterial blood gas