Shock (circulatory)
| Shock | |
|---|---|
| US Navy EMT trainees and firemen using IV fluid replacement in treating a trauma training mannequin to prevent hypovolemic shock | |
| Medical specialty | Critical care medicine |
| Symptoms | Initial: Weakness, fast heart rate, fast breathing, sweating, anxiety, increased thirst[1] Later: Confusion, unconsciousness, cardiac arrest[1] |
| Types | Low volume, cardiogenic, obstructive, distributive[2] |
| Causes | Low volume: Severe bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or pancreatitis[1] Cardiogenic: severe heart attack (especially of the left or right ventricles), severe heart failure, cardiac contusion[1] Obstructive: Cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax[1] Distributive: Sepsis, spinal cord injury, certain overdoses[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, physical exam, laboratory tests[2] |
| Treatment | Based on the underlying cause[2] |
| Medication | Intravenous fluid, vasopressors[2] |
| Prognosis | Risk of death 20 to 50%[3] |
| Frequency | 1.2 million per year (US)[3] |
A person is in shock when blood is not sufficient to bring oxygen to the brain. The shock is progressive and can be deadly if it is not quickly made well.
The normal first aid action is the Trendelenburg position, the person is lying face upward, with legs lifted. The blood is forced to flow to the brain.
References
| Classification | |
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| External resources |