Obstructive Shock, from Diagnosis to Treatment

Viviane Zotzmann; Felix A Rottmann; Katharina Müller-Pelzer; Christoph Bode; Tobias Wengenmayer; Dawid L Staudacher

doi:10.31083/j.rcm2307248

Obstructive Shock, from Diagnosis to Treatment

Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Jun 29;23(7):248. doi: 10.31083/j.rcm2307248. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Viviane Zotzmann¹, Felix A Rottmann^{1

2}, Katharina Müller-Pelzer³, Christoph Bode^{1

4}, Tobias Wengenmayer¹, Dawid L Staudacher¹

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care (IMIT), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
² Department of Medicine IV, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
³ Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
⁴ Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center Freiburg University, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.

Abstract

Shock is a life threatening pathological condition characterized by inadequate tissue oxygen supply. Four different subgroups of shock have been proposed according to the mechanism causing the shock. Of these, obstructive shock is characterized by reduction in cardiac output due to noncardiac diseases. The most recognized causes include pulmonary embolism, tension pneumothorax, pericardial tamponade and aortic dissection. Since obstructive shock typically cannot be stabilized unless cause for shock is resolved, diagnosis of the underlying disease is eminent. In this review, we therefore focus on diagnosis of obstructive shock and suggest a structured approach in three steps including clinical examination, ultrasound examination using the rapid ultrasound in shock (RUSH) protocol and radiological imaging if needed.

Keywords: circulatory shock; obstructive shock; review.

Publication types

Review