A patient in early shock informs the EMT that that he has had severe diarrhea and vomiting over the past four days. Given this history, the EMT should recognize the pathophysiology of the shock as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The history of severe diarrhea and vomiting suggests that the patient may be experiencing hypovolemic shock due to loss of plasma volume. The loss of fluid and electrolytes through diarrhea and vomiting results in decreased blood volume, which can lead to inadequate tissue perfusion and shock.

A Patient in Early Shock Informs the EMT That That