Shock Basics & Assessment
This is the medical definition of hypoperfusion, which comes from a Greek prefix meaning "under" or "low".
What is a reduced or inadequate flow of blood through an organ or body tissue?
This type of hypovolemia happens when blood physically leaves the circulatory system through internal or external bleeding.
What is absolute hypovolemia?
Cardiogenic shock is defined as a failure of this specific organ to meet the blood flow demands of the body.
What is the heart?
This drug is the primary choice for treating the severe airway swelling and blood vessel dilation seen in anaphylaxis.
What is epinephrine (Epi)?
This condition, leading to obstructive shock, occurs when fluid builds up between the heart muscle and its outer protective sac.
What is cardiac tamponade?
This is the main underlying cause of all types of shock.
What is anything that quickly and severely blocks blood flow throughout the body?
This is the underlying medical term for fast blood loss that triggers hypovolemic shock.
What is hemorrhaging?
According to the slides, cardiogenic shock is most frequently confused with this other major type of shock.
What is hypovolemic shock?
In septic shock, the body floods the bloodstream with these chemicals, which ultimately damage the blood vessels.
What are inflammatory chemicals?
This respiratory emergency causes physical obstructive shock when a collapsed lung fills the chest cavity with trapped air.
What is a tension pneumothorax?
When assessing a patient for shock, an EMT should perform a quick scan first to identify and correct this life-threatening issue immediately.
What is massive hemorrhage (severe bleeding)?
Dehydration and severe burns cause this specific type of hypovolemia by pulling plasma out of the bloodstream.
What is relative hypovolemia?
This specific physical symptom happens in cardiogenic shock when blood backs up and fills the lungs.
What are crackling lung sounds (rales)?
This skin feature, caused by a severe systemic allergic reaction, makes a patient appear with warm, red, or pink skin instead of cold or pale skin.
What is flushed skin?
In a pulmonary embolism, this object physically blocks a large blood vessel in the lungs, cutting off blood flow.
What is a blood clot?
This severe phase of shock occurs when the body can no longer compensate, causing blood pressure to fall and vital organs to lose blood and oxygen.
What is decompensated shock?
These are two non-bleeding medical symptoms listed in the presentation that can deplete body fluids and cause hypovolemic shock.
What are severe vomiting and diarrhea?
Heart attacks, lethal EKG rhythms, and this progressive condition where the heart weakens over time are all causes of cardiogenic shock.
What is CHF (Congestive Heart Failure)?
This physical skin symptom, noted by a bluish discoloration of the lips or fingers, can indicate a severe septic shock progression.
What is cyanosis?
Because a pulmonary embolism stops blood from reaching lung tissues, it severely reduces the body's ability to exchange these two gases.
What are oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2)?
EMTs should cover a shock patient's head and feet with warm blankets and remove wet clothing to prevent this condition, which is heavily linked to blood clotting problems.
What is hypothermia (or heat loss)?
These are the two primary EMT treatments listed for managing a patient in hypovolemic shock.
What are bleeding control and rapid transport?
These are the three vital sign deficiencies noted on a cardiogenic shock presentation: one involves blood pressure, one involves blood oxygen, and one involves skin temperature.
What are hypotension (low BP), hypoxia (low SpO2), and cold extremities?
Because sepsis is highly time-sensitive, these are the three key steps an EMT must perform to drastically improve patient survival rates.
What are early recognition, early hospital notification, and rapid transport?
When assessing a patient with a tension pneumothorax, an EMT will notice this telltale respiratory sign on the side of the injury.
What are absent breath sounds?