A patient has been shot in the leg and has lost a significant amount of blood. What type of shock is he at risk for?

A patient has been shot in the leg and has lost a significant amount of blood. What type of shock is he at risk for?

• A. Anaphylactic Shock
• B. Cardiogenic Shock
• C. Septic Shock
• D. Hemorrhagic Shock

Answer: (D)

The situation describes a loss of blood from a traumatic injury, which reduces the amount of blood circulating through the body. When blood volume drops, the heart has less filling pressure ( preload ), cardiac output falls, and tissues don’t receive enough oxygen. This is hemorrhagic (hypovolemic) shock, the type most likely after significant bleeding. Immediate priorities are controlling the bleed, maintaining airway and breathing, giving high-flow oxygen, and restoring circulating volume as guided by protocol. Anaphylactic shock involves a severe allergic reaction causing widespread vasodilation and airway compromise; cardiogenic shock results from the heart failing to pump effectively; septic shock stems from a severe infection causing distributive vasodilation and poor perfusion. In the trauma scenario with major blood loss, the mechanism is volume loss, so hemorrhagic shock is the correct interpretation.

The situation describes a loss of blood from a traumatic injury, which reduces the amount of blood circulating through the body. When blood volume drops, the heart has less filling pressure ( preload ), cardiac output falls, and tissues don’t receive enough oxygen. This is hemorrhagic (hypovolemic) shock, the type most likely after significant bleeding. Immediate priorities are controlling the bleed, maintaining airway and breathing, giving high-flow oxygen, and restoring circulating volume as guided by protocol.

Anaphylactic shock involves a severe allergic reaction causing widespread vasodilation and airway compromise; cardiogenic shock results from the heart failing to pump effectively; septic shock stems from a severe infection causing distributive vasodilation and poor perfusion. In the trauma scenario with major blood loss, the mechanism is volume loss, so hemorrhagic shock is the correct interpretation.