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Synonyms and keywords: Circulatory shock

# Overview
Shock is the syndrome of circulatory failure that results in inadequate cellular oxygen utilization. The diagnosis of shock is based on clinical signs and biochemical abnormalities indicative of tissue hypoperfusion.

# Causes

## Life Threatening Causes
Shock is a life-threatening condition and must be treated as such irrespective of the underlying cause.

## Common Causes
- Cardiogenic shock
- Arrhythmic
- Sinoatrial block
- Atrioventricular block
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Mechanical
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Acute mitral regurgitation
- Ventricular septal defect
- Myopathic
- Cardiomyopathy
- Myocardial contusion
- Myocardial infarction
- Myocarditis
- Postischemic myocardial stunning
- Septic myocardial depression
- Hypothyroidism
- Pharmacologic
- Anthracycline
- Calcium channel blockers
- Obstructive shock
- Decreased cardiac compliance
- Cardiac tamponade
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Decreased ventricular preload
- Intrathoracic tumor
- Mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
- Tension pneumothorax
- Increased ventricular afterload
- Aortic dissection
- Pulmonary embolism
- Acute pulmonary hypertension
- Hypovolemic shock
- Fluid depletion
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Extensive burns
- Polyuria
- Vomiting
- Third spacing (as in endometritis, pancreatitis, peritonitis, pleural effusions)
- Hemorrhage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Perforated peptic ulcer
- Post-procedural or post-surgical
- Retroperitoneal hemorrhage
- Rupture ovarian cyst
- Trauma
- Distributive shock
- Sepsis
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction
- Neurogenic shock
- Adrenal crisis

# FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation
A Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation (FIRE) should be performed to identify patients in need of immediate intervention.
Boxes in the salmon color signify that an urgent management is needed.

# Complete Diagnostic Approach

## History
- Review all medications
- Antihypertensives can cause significant hypotension, especially in the setting of volume depletion or over-diuresis.
- Anaphylaxis should be considered if the patient recently started on a new drug and presented with respiratory distress.
- Accompanying symptoms that could pinpoint the underlying disease include:
- Abdominal pain
- Chest discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Dyspnea
- Hematemesis
- Hematochezia
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
- Vomiting

## Physical Examination
- Vital signs
- Temperature
- Fever may suggest sepsis or anaphylactic reaction related to transfusion.
- Hypothermia may be associated with sepsis, adrenal crisis, or myxedema.
- Pulse
- Bradycardia or tachycardia can either be a primary or secondary process.
- Pulsus paradoxus may be seen in cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolism, hemorrhagic shock, or tension pneumothorax.
- Pulsus alternans may be seen in heart failure, severe aortic insufficiency, or hypovolemic shock.
- Respiration
- Tachypnea commonly occurs in pneumothorax, sepsis, and cardiogenic shock.
- Hypopnea may be seen in narcotic or sedative overdose.
- Blood pressure
- Confirm arterial hypotension by checking blood pressure in both arms manually. Arterial line may be considered.
- Postural hypotension suggests volume depletion or autonomic dysfunction. Do not test orthostatic hypotension in hypotensive patients.
- Mental status
- Altered mental status may indicate inadequate perfusion to vital organs or use of sedatives or narcotics.
- Cutaneous
- Decreased skin turgor and dry mucous membrane signify dehydration.
- Cool extremities, clammy and mottled skin, peripheral cyanosis, and delayed capillary refill are commonly noted in cardiogenic shock and hypovolemic shock, whereas warm and moist skin may represent hyperdynamic phase of septic shock.
- Extensive burns and severe trauma may be evident on inspection and are associated with significant fluid loss.
- Hyperpigmentation may be an indicator of adrenal crisis.
- Neck
- Elevated jugular venous pressure (JVP) correlates with increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Jugular venous distention or elevated JVP typically occurs in:
- Heart failure
- Tricuspid stenosis
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Superior vena cava obstruction
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Cardiac tamponade
- Kussmaul's sign
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy
- Tricuspid stenosis
- Superior vena cava obstruction
- Right ventricular infarction
- Abdominojugular reflux
- A positive abdominojugular reflux correlates with a PCWP of 15 mmHg or greater and may be seen in:
- Cardiac tamponade
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Tricuspid insufficiency
- Inferior vena cava obstruction
- Heart failure (except for pure backward left-sided heart failure)
- Jugular venous pressure waveform
- Blunted y descent suggests cardiac tamponade or tricuspid stenosis.
- Steep y descent suggests constrictive pericarditis or severe tricuspid insufficiency.
- Cardiovascular
- Decrescendo early systolic murmur
- Acute severe mitral regurgitation
- Third heart sound (S3)
- Heart failure
- Pansystolic murmur along lower left sternal border with palpable thrill
- Ventricular septal defect
- Pericardial friction rubs
- Pericarditis
- Distant, muffled heart sounds
- Cardiac tamponade
- Pulmonary
- Tracheal deviation
- Tension pneumothorax
- Stridor and wheezing
- Anaphylaxis
- Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Rales
- Anaphylaxis
- Pneumonia
- Heart failure
- Chest percussion may aid in the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax, pleural effusions, and pneumonia
- Abdominal
- Ecchymoses
- Retroperitoneal hemorrhage
- Hepatomegaly
- Inferior vena cava obstruction
- Heart failure
- Rebound tenderness with absent bowel sounds
- Sepsis due to Intraabdominal infection
- Ischemic colitis
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Pulsatile mass
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Rectal
- Bright red blood or melena
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Diminished sphincter tone
- Spinal cord injury
- Extremities
- Digital clubbing
- Heart failure
- Edema
- Heart failure
- Erythema at the site of venous access
- Catheter-associated infection
- Pelvic girdle pain or instability
- Pelvic fracture
- Genitals
- Perform a pelvic examination in women of childbearing age to rule out ectopic pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Neurologic
- Agitation or delirium
- Poor cerebral perfusion
- Meningeal signs
- Meningitis

## Laboratory Findings
- Complete blood count
- In acute blood loss, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels may remain normal until volume repletion.
- Leukocytosis with or without a left shift of neutrophils suggests sepsis.
- Thrombocytopenia with alterations in coagulation panel indicates disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which may be a complication of sepsis.
- Electrolytes
- Decreased bicarbonate levels may be the primary deficit in metabolic acidosis or the compensatory change in respiratory alkalosis.
- Hyperkalemia due to transcellular shift is commonly associated with metabolic acidosis.
- Coagulation panel (PT, PTT, INR, etc.)
- Abnormalities in coagulation panel may be caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), over-anticoagulation, or hepatic failure.
- Cardiac markers
- Check troponin and CK-MB levels when suspecting myocardial infarction.
- Elevation in cardiac markers may be associated with both cardiac and extracardiac etiologies.
- Liver function
- Increased levels of conjugated bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and hepatic aminotransferases are typically seen in ischemic hepatitis ("shock liver") due to cardiogenic shock.
- Renal function
- Prerenal azotemia and/or acute tubular necrosis may be associated with conditions of hypovolemia or reduced cardiac output.
- Oliguria (urine output <0.5 mL/kg/h) is usually evident.
- Lactate
- Hyperlactatemia generally reflects the development of anaerobic metabolism in hypoperfused tissue and/or imparied hepatic clearance.
- Lactate level could decrease within hours with effective therapy.
- Arterial blood gas
- Lactic acidosis may be an indicator of tissue hypoperfusion typically seen in septic shock.
- Combined acid-base disorders are fequently encountered in different stages of shock.
- Severe acidosis could blunt the effectiveness of vasopressors and potentiate the development of arrhythmias.
- Cultures
- Samples of blood, urine, and/or sputum should be sent for culture before administering antibiotics if sepsis is concerned.
- Nasogastric aspirate
- A negative nasogastric aspirate does not rule out upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Pregnancy test
- A pregnancy test should be performed on hypotensive women of childbearing age presenting with lower abdominal pain.

## ECG Findings
- ST segment elevation or depression, pathologic Q waves, hyperacute or negative T waves
- Myocardial infarction or ischemia
- Sinus tachycardia with S1Q3T3 pattern
- Acute pulmonary embolism
- Low QRS voltage with electrical alternans
- Cardiac tamponade
- QS deflections in precordial leads with right axis deviation and low QRS voltage
- Pneumothorax
- Bradyarrhythmias or tachyarrhythmias

## Radiographic Findings
- Chest radiograph may aid in establishing diagnosis in the following conditions:
- Aortic dissection
- Cardiac tamponade
- Pneumonia complicating septic shock
- Pulmonary edema complicating cardiogenic shock
- Tension pneumothorax
- CT scan may aid in directing management in the following conditions:
- Occult internal hemorrhage
- Pulmonary embolism

## Hemodynamic Profiles and Echocardiography Findings

# Do's
- Resuscitation should be initiated while investigation of the cause is ongoing. Correct the cause of shock immediately once it is identified.
- Venous access should be established via large-bore peripheral lines or a central venous line.
- Place Foley catheter to monitor urine output.
- Samples of blood, urine, and/or sputum should be sent for culture before administering antibiotics when suspecting sepsis.

# Don'ts
- Do not test orthostatic hypotension in hypotensive patients.
- Do not rely solely on oxygen saturation readings of pulse oximeter when assessing oxygenation status.