AEMCA Practice Exam

Which type of shock can lead to sepsis?

1. Hypovolemic shock

2. Cardiogenic shock

3. Neurogenic shock

4. Septic shock

The correct answer is: Septic shock

Septic shock is a severe and life-threatening condition that occurs as a result of sepsis, which itself is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is characterized by systemic inflammation leading to dangerously low blood pressure, resulting in inadequate blood flow to organs and potential organ failure. The presence of infection and the subsequent inflammatory response are the key factors that distinguish septic shock from other types of shock. In contrast, hypovolemic shock typically results from a loss of blood volume, cardiogenic shock is due to the heart's inability to pump effectively, and neurogenic shock stems from a disruption in the autonomic pathways, often due to spinal cord injury. While these other forms of shock can complicate the state of a patient and may contribute to the risk of developing sepsis, they do not directly lead to it in the way that septic shock arises from an infection. Thus, recognizing that septic shock is intrinsically tied to the presence of infection is crucial in understanding its relationship to sepsis.