Shock (physiology)

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

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This article is about the pathological condition. For other uses of the term Shock, please see Shock (disambiguation).

In physiology and medicine, shock is "a pathological condition manifested by failure to perfuse or oxygenate vital organs."[1]

## Contents

* 1 Classification
* 2 Diagnosis
* 3 Treatment
* 3.1 Intravenous infusion of fluids
* 3.2 Medications
* 4 References

## Classification[edit]

* Cardiogenic shock
* Septic shock
* Hypovolemic shock
* Hemorrhagic shock
* Traumatic shock

## Diagnosis[edit]

The physical examination, by estimating skin temperature and central venous pressure (>7 cmH2O), can frequently distinguish the type of shock that a patient has.[2]

## Treatment[edit]

### Intravenous infusion of fluids[edit]

For more information, see: Intravenous infusion.

Solutions lower in chlorides such as Hartmann's solution and Lactated Ringer's solution, may cause less acute kidney injury when administered to adults in intensive care.[3] Likewise hydroxyethyl Starch should be avoided.[4]

### Medications[edit]

Regarding medications for treating shock, "there is not sufficient evidence of any difference between any of the six vasopressors" according to a meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration. [5]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Anonymous (2025), Shock (physiology) (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. ↑ Vazquez R, Gheorghe C, Kaufman D, Manthous CA (2010). "Accuracy of bedside physical examination in distinguishing categories of shock: a pilot study.". J Hosp Med 5 (8): 471-4. DOI:10.1002/jhm.695. PMID 20945471. Research Blogging.
3. ↑ Yunos N, Bellomo R (2012-10-17). "ASsociation between a chloride-liberal vs chloride-restrictive intravenous fluid administration strategy and kidney injury in critically ill adults". JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 308 (15): 1566-1572. DOI:10.1001/jama.2012.13356. ISSN 0098-7484. Retrieved on 2012-10-17. Research Blogging.
4. ↑ Myburgh, John A.; Simon Finfer, Rinaldo Bellomo, Laurent Billot, Alan Cass, David Gattas, Parisa Glass, Jeffrey Lipman, Bette Liu, Colin McArthur, Shay McGuinness, Dorrilyn Rajbhandari, Colman B. Taylor, Steven A.R. Webb (2012). "Hydroxyethyl Starch or Saline for Fluid Resuscitation in Intensive Care". New England Journal of Medicine 367 (20): 1901-1911. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1209759. ISSN 0028-4793. Retrieved on 2012-11-20. Research Blogging.
5. ↑ Havel C, Arrich J, Losert H, Gamper G, Müllner M, Herkner H (2011). "Vasopressors for hypotensive shock.". Cochrane Database Syst Rev 5: CD003709. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003709.pub3. PMID 21563137. Research Blogging.