Circulatory collapse

A condition where there is a complete or almost complete interruption of blood circulation due to interruption of cardiac activity, pulmonary embolism, sudden generalized vasodilatation, loss of intravascular fluids, etc. The main manifestation is hypotension. Blood pressure drops below 100/60 mmHg, conditioned by a decrease in cardiac output. Brain hypoperfusion leads to unconsciousness.

There are two forms of circulatory collapse:


 * cardiac arrest – if the heart does not return spontaneously, the most common cause is ventricular fibrillation, e.g. in AMI,
 * syncope – within a few seconds, heart activity is spontaneously restored.
 * According to the causes, syncope is:
 * cardiac – causes in the heart, most often various arrhythmias (e.g. AV block III degree),
 * neurogenic – causing parasympathetic activation (e.g. vagal reflexes), leading to bradycardia and vasodilation.

related articles:

 * Rival
 * Hypovolemic shock
 * Cardiogenic shock
 * Obstructive shock
 * Distribution shock
 * Heart Failure

Source:

 * PASTOR, Jan. Langenbeck's medical web page [online]. [cit. 30.5.2010]. .