Circulatory shock

Inability to maintain adequate blood flow through peripheral tissues and arterial blood pressure.

Cause:

 * The imbalance between the volume of blood and the volume of the vascular bed caused by:
 * reduced blood volume (hypovolemic shock, cold shock)
 * by increasing the capacity of the vascular bed (distributive shock, warm shock)


 * Hypovolemic shock:


 * Hemorrhage
 * Burns (hematocrit, toxins, pain)
 * Dehydration (AB balance)


 * Distribution shock:


 * Anaphylaxis (bronchoconstriction)
 * Sepsis (fever, toxins)
 * Neurogenic vasodilation

The shock phase:

 * initial (activation of compensatory mechanisms)
 * Progressive (failure of compensatory mechanisms)

Consequences:

 * Tissue ischemia and microcirculation
 * Consequences of damage to individual organs

Treatment:

 * Maintaining the volume of circulating fluid
 * Sympathomimetics
 * Corticosteroids

Related articles:

 * Rival
 * Venous return
 * Regulation of blood pressure

Source:

 * VÍZEK, Martin. Repetitorium [online]. [cit. 2011-11-02]. .