Paramedic National Registry Practice

If a patient recently had surgery for abdominal obstruction and is pale and diaphoretic, what type of shock may they be experiencing?

1. Hypovolemic shock

2. Cardiogenic shock

3. Obstructive shock

4. Neurogenic shock

The correct answer is: Obstructive shock

In this scenario, the patient's recent surgery for abdominal obstruction, combined with symptoms such as pallor and diaphoresis, suggests they may be experiencing obstructive shock. Obstructive shock occurs when there is a physical obstruction to blood flow, which can result from conditions like cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, or severe pulmonary embolism. Given that the patient has undergone surgery, it's essential to consider factors such as internal bleeding or the development of a functional obstruction in the cardiovascular system due to swelling or other complications. The pale and diaphoretic presentation is indicative of inadequate perfusion, which aligns with obstructive shock, where the body is unable to maintain adequate circulation due to these physical barriers. Hypovolemic shock usually arises from significant fluid loss due to hemorrhage or dehydration, but without specific indications of such a loss in this context, that may not be the primary concern here. Cardiogenic shock is primarily linked to heart failure or severe myocardial dysfunction, which does not directly correlate with recent abdominal surgery. Neurogenic shock involves a loss of sympathetic tone often following spinal cord injury, which is less likely given the patient's surgical context. Thus, the symptoms and recent surgical history provide a clearer alignment with obstructive shock as the