Hemorrhagic and Hypovolemic Shock

Shock occurs when the heart is inadequate in supplying blood to the body.
In this state, the physiological needs of organ tissues are unable to be
met.   This condition is due mainly to loss of blood, inadeuqate volumes
of blood in the body, or circulatory failure.  



There are two main types of shock.  The first is Hemorrhagic shock,
where resistance vessels in the body are constricted.  Blood loss occurs,
and the body is unable to compensate for the loss.  Types of hemorrhaging
include those due to surgery or childbirth, spontaneous hemorrhaging, or
gastrointestinal bleeding.  Without intervention, shock of this nature
could lead to death.


  The second type of shock is Hypovolemic shock, where mean
pulmonary artery pressure is reduced.  If one loses 1/5 of their normal
blood volume, hypovolemic shock could occur.  Symptoms of this nature
include a rapid pulse, rapid breathing, pale skin color, and low blood
pressure.  Replacement of blood and fluid  volume could aid in controlling
hypovolemic shock.  However, like hemorrhagic shock, death is likely  even
with the medical attention.     

Sample Problems:

Name three main causes of shock, and differentiate between  Hemorrhagic
and Hypovolemic shock.

Answers:

Causes of shock (but not limited to):  intestinal bleeding, loss of blood
volume and body fluid, circulatory failure, impaired autoregulation, 
hemorrhaging.


Hemorrhagic--Constriction of resistance vessels, due to uncontrolled
hemorrhaging


Hypovolemic--Mean pulmonary artery pressure is often low, leads to
inadequate supplying of blood to organs

For more information on this topic, please refer to Berne & Levy , (hemorrhagic) 182, 276
(hypovolemic) 251

Also, check out the following links that may be helpful:

• Hypovolemic Shock
• Hemorrhagic Shock
• And, as always, if you have questions, or if you can suggest a helpful link, please e-mail me.

No!
Please don't make me go to any of those pages!
I want to go somewhere completely different!

This page was written by Karolynn Bayaca
Karol's World , a student in this course.

BME 403 Pages maintained by the T.A., Douglas Miles.