NUR 416 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Vascular Resistance, Central Venous Pressure, Lactic Acidosis

• School: University of Maine
• Department: Nursing
• Course: NUR 416
• Professor: Meryl Mccarthy

Document Summary

Inadequate tissue perfusion, resulting in inability to meet metabolic demands leading to cellular dysfunction & organ failure. In children shock is caused by hypovolemia, altered peripheral vascular resistance, or pump failure. Regardless of the cause, the physiologic consequences are the same: circulatory disfunction > inadequate oxygen delivery > increased lactic acid > metabolic acidosis. In a healthy child, the circulatory system is able to transport oxygen & nutrients to meet the needs of the body tissues. The system can respond to increased demands resulting from increased metabolic rate. Cardiac output can rapidly change in response to intrinsic (myocardial or intravascular) & extrinsic (neuronal) control mechanisms. In shock these mechanisms are altered or challenged. Reduced blood flow causes diminished venous return to the heart, low central venous pressure, low cardiac output, & hypotension. Reduced intravascular volume triggers a chain of compensatory mechanisms. Fluid is mobilized from the ecf compartment.