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2nd August 2023
Causes
Two main categories can lead to circulatory failure or ‘shock’. These can broadly be categorised as low flow volume or low arteriolar resistance (vasodilation). Based on the two categories, there are different conditions and causes that can lead to both (table 1).
| Low Flow Volume | Low Peripheral Arteriolar Resistance (vasodilatation) |
|---|---|
| Hypovolaemia
Any condition provoking a major reduction in blood volume, e.g., haemorrhage, burns, salt and water depletion |
Sepsis
Infection or other causes of a systemic inflammatory response causing widespread endothelial damage with vasodilatation |
| Cardiogenic
Severe cardiac impairment, e.g., myocardial infarction or acute valvular pathology |
Anaphylactic
Vasodilatation triggered by an allergen often associated with endothelial disruption |
| Obstructive
Obstruction to circulatory blood flow, e.g., major PE, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax |
Neurogenic
Major brain or spinal injury disrupts brainstem and neurogenic vasomotor control. |
Table 1: Two main categories of conditions that can lead to circulatory failure or ‘shock’ with examples of the main causes in each category respectively.
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