TYPES OF SHOCK
Type of Shock Description Cause Treatment
Anaphylactic shock Massive vasodilation
caused by release
of histamines in
response to allergic
reaction
IV contrast, drugs
(ASA, insect bites
or stings,
anesthetic agents,
vaccines, foods,
materials (latex)
Medication: histamine H2
blockers (Tagamet®),
Epinephrine (drug of
choice), Benedryl®,
Volume expanders,
Solumedrol®,
brochodilators. Ensure
patent airway, oxygen.
Hypovolemic shock Loss of intravascular
volume, decrease
stroke volume, and
decrease cardiac
output
3rd spacing,
diuresis,
Hemorrhage (#1
cause), burns, GI
fluid loss (vomiting,
diarrhea, drainage
from NG tube), DI,
DKA, Addison’s
disease.
Medication: Levophed®
Neo-Synephrine®,
Intropin®, Pitressin®
Rapid volume replacement
(blood, isotonic solutions),
control bleeding, oxygen,
hemodynamic monitoring.
Cardiogenic shock Inability of heart
to pump blood out
effectively (pump
failure), resulting in
decrease cardiac
output
Myocardial
infarction, lethal
ventricular
arrhythmias, End-
stage heart failure.
Medication: Dobutamine®
Dopamine®, Epinephrine®,
Primacor®, Nitroglycerin®,
Nipride®, Morphine®,
intra-aortic balloon pump
(IABP), correct arrythmias,
oxygen, Intubation &
mechanical ventilation may
be necessary.
Septic shock Massive vasodilation
caused by inflam-
matory response of
body due to over-
whelming infection
Sepsis caused by
any pathogenic
organism that
invades the body
Antimicrobial therapy,
volume replacement,
cultures, vasopressors,
hemodynamic monitoring.
Neurogenic shock Pooling of blood
-decrease venous
return, decrease
cardiac output,
hypotension, brady-
cardia
Massive
vasodilation,
suppression of the
sympathetic
nervous system,
injury/disease to
the spinal cord at
T6, spinal
anesthesia.
Treat the cause,
vasopressors, airway and
ventilation support.
