What is shock? If someone ever tells you it is “low blood pressure” . . . you need to correct them. This podcast provides a brief overview of three types of shock, their cause, and clinical signs. You can check out our lessons on shock HERE!
What clinical signs will you see with septic shock, how do they differ from those you will see with hypovolemic and cardiogenic? Why will the patient have a high temp with septic shock and a low temp with hypovolemic?
What is septic shock?
Septic shock is a condition when the body’s response to infection causes blood pressure to drop. It is often triggered by an untreated or undertreated infection in the bloodstream, typically from bacteria or fungi.
What clinical signs will you see with septic shock, how do they differ from those you will see with hypovolemic and cardiogenic?
Infection leads to the release of toxins that cause a systemic inflammatory response which triggers sepsis. This can lead to hypotension and activate your body’s neurologic defense mechanisms, leading you into septic shock. Hypovolemic patients are in need of blood transfusions due to heavy bleeding; cardiogenic patients have issues that more closely relate to something you may see with a heart attack such as arrhythmias and low blood flow to the brain.
What causes a patient to have a higher temperature with septic shock and a lower temperature with hypovolemic?
Septic shock is caused by infection and toxins, hypovolemic is due to a decreased volume of circulating blood flow. Hypovolemic patients typically will have a lower temperature because they are not fighting infection as septic patients.
