aetiology

Last reviewed 05/2021

Causes of shock include:

  • cardiac failure:
    • pump failure e.g. myocardial infarction, cor pulmonale
    • cardiac arrhythmias

  • sepsis:
    • overwhelming infection e.g. in liver failure

  • anaphylaxis

  • endocrine:
    • Addisonian crisis
    • hypothyroidism

  • bleeding e.g. aortic aneurysm, ectopic pregnancy

  • fluid loss:
    • vomiting e.g. gastrointestinal obstruction
    • profuse diarrhoea e.g. cholera
    • burns
    • fluid lost via sequestering into body spaces - third spacing in pancreatitis

  • drug induced - e.g. antihypertensives, anaesthetics