ABSTRACT
Cardiac output is a product of the stroke volume and the heart rate. Endotoxic shock is a high output shock, also known as warm shock. The cause of the shock is peripheral vasodilatation to which the heart responds by increasing the cardiac output. Excess volume may lead to cardiac failure in those predisposed – see Starlings law and curve. A pneumothorax leads to a reduced venous return due to a reduced negative intrathoracic pressure, this in turn reduces the cardiac output. Sympathetic stimulation increases the heart rate. An increased cardiac output in the non acclimatized is a compensatory measure for reduced partial pressure of oxygen at altitude.
