Nursing 3910A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Tachycardia, Antihypotensive Agent, Nephron

• School: Western University
• Department: Nursing
• Course: Nursing 3910A/B
• Professor: David Reid

Document Summary

Shock is defined as a critical condition that results from inadequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues relative to tissue metabolic demand. The severity of shock may be classified by the effect it has on systolic bp. Compensated shock occurs when poor perfusion exists without a decrease in bp. In hypotensive shock, inadequate perfusion is accompanied by a drop in bp. Shock is the result of dramatic respiratory or hemodynamic compromise. Shock is caused by impaired cardiac output, impaired systemic vascular resistance (svr), or a combination of both. Hypovolemic shock: the most common type of shock in children, is characterized by a decrease in preload that results in low stroke volume and reduced cardiac output. In children, hypovolemic shock commonly occurs in association with fluid losses. Distributive shock is the result of a loss in the svr. A relative hypovolemia occurs, most often with sepsis, neurogenic injury, and anaphylaxis. The vascular compartment expands due to systemic vasodilation.