ABSTRACT

To identify the underlying cause, one must first determine whether shock is central or peripheral in origin. Shock can be further categorized into four categories. Central causes of shock resulting in impairment in cardiac emptying include cardiogenic shock (pump failure) and obstructive shock (impaired blood flow). Peripheral causes of shock are attributed to alterations at the vascular blood level, and include hypovolemic shock (inadequate blood volume) and distributive shock (abnormal distribution of available blood volume) (Table 6.1).