Shock Quiz: Can You Tell Hypovolemic From Septic?

1. Which type of shock is characterized by a loss of circulating blood volume?

Hypovolemic shock

Septic shock

Cardiogenic shock

Anaphylactic shock

2. Septic shock is primarily caused by:

Bacterial infection with systemic inflammatory response

Acute myocardial infarction

Severe dehydration

Pulmonary embolism

3. In hypovolemic shock, which of the following occurs to maintain blood pressure?

Vasodilation and decreased heart rate

Vasoconstriction and increased heart rate

Decreased sympathetic nervous system activity

Increased parasympathetic activity

4. A key difference between septic and hypovolemic shock is that septic shock typically presents with:

Vasoconstriction and cool, clammy skin

Vasodilation and warm, flushed skin in early stages

Decreased cardiac output without fever

Normal temperature and normal heart rate

5. Which clinical finding is most consistent with early septic shock?

Hypothermia and bradycardia

Fever, tachycardia, and tachypnea

Hypertension and decreased respiratory rate

Normal temperature with hypotension

6. The primary mechanism of tissue hypoxia in hypovolemic shock is:

Decreased oxygen delivery due to reduced cardiac output

Increased metabolic rate

Vasodilation preventing oxygen extraction

Pulmonary edema limiting gas exchange

7. In septic shock, endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria trigger the release of:

Insulin and glucagon

Pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1

Digestive enzymes

Hemoglobin and myoglobin

8. Which of the following best describes distributive shock?

Loss of blood volume to external hemorrhage

Failure of the heart to pump effectively

Maldistribution of blood flow due to vasodilation

Obstruction of pulmonary blood flow

9. The SIRS criteria for sepsis include all of the following except:

Temperature > 38°C or < 36°C

Heart rate > 90 beats per minute

Respiratory rate > 20 breaths per minute

Serum albumin < 2.5 g/dL

10. Early treatment of septic shock should include:

Fluid resuscitation and broad-spectrum antibiotics

Vasodilators and diuretics only

Withholding fluids to reduce edema

Antibiotics without fluid replacement

11. In hypovolemic shock, urine output typically decreases because:

Kidneys are damaged by infection

Reduced renal perfusion triggers vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles

Excess fluid is lost through perspiration

Antidiuretic hormone is completely blocked

12. Septic shock differs from hypovolemic shock in that it often involves:

Loss of plasma volume to interstitial spaces

Increased vascular permeability and third-spacing

Acute blood loss from trauma

Sudden cardiac arrhythmia

13. The lactate level is elevated in shock because:

Bacteria produce lactate as a metabolic byproduct

Tissues shift to anaerobic metabolism due to hypoxia

The liver produces excess lactate in response to infection

Kidneys fail to excrete lactate efficiently

14. Which hemodynamic parameter typically increases first in early septic shock?

Systemic vascular resistance

Cardiac output

Mean arterial pressure

Pulmonary vascular resistance

15. The most common source of infection in septic shock is:

Respiratory tract infection

Urinary tract infection

Skin and soft tissue infection

Gastrointestinal tract infection

Shock Quiz: Can You Tell Hypovolemic from Septic?