HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK

Course overview

PATIENTS WITH HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK HAVE SEVERE HYPOVOLEMIA WITH DECREASED PERIPHERAL PERFUSION. IF LEFT UNTREATED, THESE PATIENTS CAN DEVELOP ISCHEMIC INJURY OF VITAL ORGANS, LEADING TO MULTI-SYSTEM ORGAN FAILURE. THE FIRST FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED IS WHETHER THE HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK HAS RESULTED FROM HEMORRHAGE OR FLUID LOSSES, AS THIS WILL DICTATE TREATMENT. WHEN ETIOLOGY OF HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK HAS BEEN DETERMINED, REPLACEMENT OF BLOOD OR FLUID LOSS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE TISSUE ISCHEMIA. FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN REPLACING FLUID LOSS INCLUDE THE RATE OF FLUID REPLACEMENT AND TYPE OF FLUID TO BE USED. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSES, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF SHOCK AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.