Shock

This is a life-threatening acute pathological condition caused by strong stimuli that disrupt CNS activity, respiration, circulation, and metabolism. Without immediate intervention and resuscitation measures, shock often ends in death. The causes of shock are various – hemorrhagic, septic, cardiogenic, neurogenic, anaphylactic, traumatic, burns, etc. Although shock can start for various reasons, there are always circulatory disturbances in vital organs. Therefore, the consequence of shock is tissue hypoxia. During shock, the functions of many organs are disrupted, oliguria, tachycardia, hypotension occur. Characteristic symptoms include acrocyanosis, pallor, and altered consciousness. Without providing proper assistance, the compensatory reactions of the body, in the presence of shock, become ineffective. All forms of shock have three phases, the duration of which depends on the causes of shock: 1. Compensatory phase – normal arterial blood pressure. 2. Decompensatory phase – decreased arterial blood pressure. 3. Irreversible phase – impaired organ functions.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė