References
Hypovolaemic shock
This article introduces the reader to hypovolaemic shock. It discusses the risk factors, aetiology, investigations, staging, complications, principles of management, education and training.
Shock is generally classified according to its cause. There are four main pathological mechanisms that can result in a state of shock (Vincent and De Backer, 2013; Stratton, 2019):
Shock is commonly defined as ‘the life-threatening failure of adequate oxygen delivery to the tissues and may be due to decreased blood perfusion of tissues, inadequate blood oxygen saturation, or increased oxygen demand from the tissues that results in decreased end-organ oxygenation and dysfunction’ (Stratton, 2019). If left untreated, shock results in sustained multiple organ dysfunction and end-organ damage with possible death. Tissue hypoperfusion may be present without systemic hypotension, but at the bedside shock is commonly diagnosed when both arterial hypotension and organ dysfunction are present (Stratton, 2019).
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