A patient with multisystem trauma has been in the ICU for 6 days after sustaining a closed head injury, a right-sided pneumothorax, right rib fractures, a grade IV liver laceration, a pancreatic contusion, and a right acetabular fracture.The patient is still intubated and mechanically ventilated and has a chest tube, Foley catheter, and two abdominal drains.The patient's hemodynamic assessment reveals the following values: BP, 94/66 mm Hg; HR, 118 beats/min; T, 38.7° C; CVP, 5 cm H₂O; wedge pressure, 6 mm Hg; cardiac index, 6.1; and systemic vascular resistance, 450 dynes/sec.What is the most likely cause of this hemodynamic picture? A) Septic shock B) Hemorrhagic shock C) Cardiogenic shock D) Neurogenic shock

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient with multiple injuries is at risk for overwhelming infections and sepsis.The source of sepsis in the trauma patient can be invasive therapeutic and diagnostic catheters or wound contamination with exogenous or endogenous bacteria.The source of the septic nidus must be promptly evaluated.Gram stain and cultures of blood, urine, sputum, invasive catheters, and wounds are obtained.

A Patient with Multisystem Trauma Has Been in the ICU