Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology

II-20. Definition and classification of circulatory shock

循環性ショックの定義と分類

Circulatory Shock — Definition

  • Complex acute systemic circulatory failure → inadequate tissue blood supply → cell and organ damage → ultimately multiple organ failure and death without intervention

Classification

  1. Hypovolemic (↓blood/plasma volume): hemorrhagic, or plasma loss (vomiting, diarrhea, burns)
  2. Cardiogenic (cardiac-origin ↓CO): ischemic, myopathic, arrhythmic
  3. Obstructive (large-vessel occlusion → ↓CO): pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax
  4. Distributive (increased vascular capacity): septic, anaphylactic, neurogenic

Hemodynamic Types

  • Hypodynamic / vasoconstrictive (hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive): primary ↓CO → compensatory general vasoconstriction (↑TPR) to maintain BP
  • Hyperdynamic / vasodilative (distributive): initial ↓TPR (vasodilation) → ↓afterload, transiently ↑CO → then ↓venous return → ↓CO (resembles hypodynamic shock)
  • Septic shock is most frequent (>50% of cases)

Causes of ↓CO by Type

  • Hypovolemic & distributive: ↓preload → ↓CO
  • Cardiogenic: loss of myocardial pump function
  • Obstructive: ↑afterload → ↓CO

Forces Returning Blood to the Heart

  • Vis a fronte — diastolic suction (depends on lusitropic capacity)
  • Vis a tergo — forward push (large-vessel stretch and developed pressure)
  • Hypovolemic shock: ↓blood volume → ↓filling pressure → ↓preload → ↓CO
  • Distributive shock: the unstressed/stressed volume boundary shifts right → normal volume no longer generates adequate filling pressure → ↓preload → ↓CO

一問一答

What causes obstructive shock?

Large-vessel occlusion reducing CO — pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade, and tension pneumothorax.

What is the definition of circulatory shock?

A complex acute systemic circulatory failure causing inadequate tissue blood supply → cell and organ damage → ultimately multiple organ failure and death without intervention.

What causes hypovolemic shock?

Decreased blood/plasma volume — hemorrhagic, or plasma loss from vomiting, diarrhea, and burns.

What are the four etiological classes of circulatory shock?

Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive, and distributive.

What are the subtypes of cardiogenic shock?

Ischemic, myopathic, and arrhythmic (a cardiac-origin decrease in CO).

What are the types of distributive shock?

Septic, anaphylactic, and neurogenic (increased vascular capacity).

What characterizes hypodynamic (vasoconstrictive) shock?

Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and obstructive shock: primary ↓CO → compensatory general vasoconstriction (↑TPR) to maintain BP.

What characterizes hyperdynamic (vasodilative) shock?

Distributive shock: initial ↓TPR (vasodilation) → ↓afterload, transiently ↑CO → then ↓venous return → ↓CO (resembling hypodynamic shock).

Which type of shock is most frequent?

Septic shock (>50% of cases).

How does CO fall in each shock type by mechanism?

Hypovolemic & distributive: ↓preload → ↓CO; cardiogenic: loss of myocardial pump function; obstructive: ↑afterload → ↓CO.

What are vis a fronte and vis a tergo?

Vis a fronte = diastolic suction (depends on lusitropic capacity); vis a tergo = forward push from large-vessel stretch and developed pressure — the forces returning blood to the heart.

How does hypovolemic shock reduce cardiac output via the Frank-Starling mechanism?

↓Blood volume → ↓filling pressure → ↓preload → ↓CO.

How does distributive shock reduce preload despite a normal blood volume?

The unstressed/stressed volume boundary shifts right, so a normal volume no longer generates adequate filling pressure → ↓preload → ↓CO.

Why does distributive shock eventually resemble hypodynamic shock?

After an initial transient ↑CO from vasodilation, venous return falls → CO drops, mimicking the low-output hypodynamic state.

What is the final common consequence of untreated shock?

Multiple organ failure (MOF/MODS) and death.

Why is cardiac output a better early indicator than blood pressure in shock?

Compensatory vasoconstriction maintains BP initially, so CO falls before BP — making BP a misleading late marker.

How does the hemodynamic profile of obstructive shock compare to hypovolemic shock?

Both are hypodynamic/vasoconstrictive with low CO and compensatory ↑TPR, but obstructive shock results from ↑afterload (large-vessel occlusion) rather than volume loss.

Why does diastolic suction (vis a fronte) depend on lusitropic capacity?

Active myocardial relaxation (lusitropy) generates the diastolic suction that helps draw blood back into the heart.

Which shock types are unified by a fall in preload?

Hypovolemic and distributive shock both reduce CO via decreased preload.

Why does compensatory vasoconstriction in hypodynamic shock harm tissues despite maintaining BP?

Raising TPR supports blood pressure but reduces perfusion to peripheral tissues, contributing to later cell/organ damage.