What type of shock is it?

For the sake of argument, let’s say that a patient has a pulmonary embolism. Their blood pressure is low, and they are toxic appearing. They get tPA and an ICU admission. Let’s also say, purely hypothetically, that one of their admission diagnoses was cardiogenic shock. Perhaps that’s a simple oversight. Perhaps, however, there is a knowledge gap. If these theoretical doctors have some confusion about the categories/causes of shock, other might as well. Do you know what type shock is caused by a pulmonary embolism?

Continue reading