Thursday, March 26, 2015

Shock Essentials in 8 Minutes




Shock:  Inadequate perfusion at the cellular level.
“The rude unhinging of the machinery of life” ~ Samuel D. Gross


Adequate Perfusion requires:
  1. The Pump (heart)
  2. The Fluid (blood)
  3. The Container (vasculature)
  4. Air Exchange (oxygenation / ventilation)
The Pump
  • Adequate Cardiac Output
  • Stroke Volume X Heart Rate (4-8L/minute)
  • Affected by Preload, Contractile Force, and Afterload
The Fluid
  • Volume of blood must fill container
The Container
  • Vasculature is properly sized
  • Pre and post capillary sphincters at local level
Air Exchange
  • O2 into lungs and circulation
  • Elimination of CO2 and waste products


  • REQUIRES:
  • Adequate FiO2 and ventilation
  • Diffusion across alveoli / capillary membrane
  • Adequate number of RBCs
  • Efficient offloading to target cells
Stages of Shock
  • Compensated
  • Decompensated
  • Irreversible
Types of Shock
  • Hypovolemic
  • Cardiogenic
  • Distributive
  • Obstructive
Managing Shock
  • Primary Survey / ABCs
  • O2
  • BVM
  • C  spine
  • Major bleeding
  • Supine / Keep warm
  • IV, monitor
Specific Treatments
  • Fluid challenge
  • Epi / Benadryl (anaphylaxis)
  • Chest decompression (tension pneumothorax)
  • Pericardiocentesis (cardiac tamponade)
  • Dysrhythmias (ACLS)
  • Pressors (fluids first)
  • Narcan (opiod OD)
Take Home Points
  1. Shock:  Inadequate perfusion at the cellular level.
  2. If you think shock, your patient is already there.
  3. Know and treat the root causes.
  4. Set a target MAP.
  5. Be aggressive!

Chip Getchell

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