Hypovolemic Shock Case Study

While the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are most reliant on one another, all body systems require a functioning circulatory cycle in order to thrive. Blood circulation and consistent transfer of oxygen to cells is required to maintain cell and tissue life. Disturbances to this process will cause cells and tissues to die (Red Cross 48). This state of balance and functioning body systems is referred to as homeostasis, defined as a “condition of equilibrium in the body’s internal environment due to constant interaction of body’s many regulatory processes” (Tortura 8). Changes or disruptions to homeostasis are regulated by the Endocrine and Nervous systems of the body. The endocrine system is made up of glands placed throughout the body

Hypovolemic shock specifically disrupts the cardiovascular system from a significant loss of blood volume that causes blood pressure to deplete and oxygen delivery to cells to slow. A victim entering into hypovolemic shock will experience three sequential stages as the body attempts to maintain homeostasis. These stages are named compensated, decompensated, and irreversible (Wang

Each system, as noted early, contributes to reversing cause of shock in this phase. The first of this will be seen when cause of shock is from hemorrhage and significant blood loss from the body, and all components of the hematologic system, or from blood, has its own function as a response (Kolecki “Pathophysiology”). The body’s process of quickly locating and slowing down bleeding within the body is called hemostasis. As soon as a blood vessel is broken, both the liquid and solid components within the blood effect how the body responds (Tortura 703).

The largest component of the blood is the Plasma, a liquid substance made up of 91.5% water and 8.5% solutes that is responsible for over half the blood’s total volume. This liquid portion of the blood is vital for maintaining blood pressure within the body that helps capillary exchange. (Tortura 691-692). Cases of hemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock, a severe reduction in plasma is what triggers the body’s feedback systems, and compensation for fluid loss will stem from pulling of water from other