Shock
Can be thought of in various related ways:
- Inadequate tissue perfusion, low oxygen to the tissues.
- The step before dying.
- A circulation problem.
Circulation (perfusion) needs:
- A working pump (heart)
- Sufficient volume
- Intact blood vessels
Classic signs
Signs of shock include:
- cold
- clammy skin
- rapid shallow breathing
- rapid weak pulse
- increased capillary refill time
- altered level of consciousness
- air hunger
- extreme thirst
- pale skin with poor skin perfusion.
Other influences:
- Age - Youngsters may show few signs until they deteriorate quickly.
- Fitness: - Fit people compensate and hide signs of shock.
- Hypothermia - Cold and pale anyway! Slow weak pulse.
Shock may be categorised depending upon its immediate cause
- Hypovolemic shock (low blood volume) - The most common category and is due to the loss of body fluid.
| Blood loss | Internal or external bleed |
| Plasma loss | Burns |
| Electrolyte loss | Sickness & Diarrhoea |
| Water loss | Heat stroke, vomiting |
- Cardiogenic shock (pump failure) - The heart is unable to maintain an adequate circulating volume of blood
- Neurogenic shock (pressure failure) - Caused by injury to the nervous system. No fluid loss, but a redistribution of blood.
- Anaphylactic shock - Reaction to a substance that the individual been exposed to.