Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

Which best describes shock?

1. Decreased Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

2. Flushed, dry, hot skin combined with bradycardia

3. Generalized inadequate tissue perfusion

4. Low blood pressure combined with tachycardia

The correct answer is: Generalized inadequate tissue perfusion

Shock is characterized by generalized inadequate tissue perfusion, which means that the body's organs and tissues are not receiving enough blood flow to meet their metabolic needs. This reduced perfusion can lead to cellular dysfunction and, if not addressed, can result in multi-organ failure. The underlying causes of shock can range from hypovolemia due to blood loss to septic shock caused by infections, among other types. When the body experiences shock, it responds in various ways, such as activating the sympathetic nervous system to try to maintain blood pressure and perfusion to vital organs. This can initially result in compensatory mechanisms like tachycardia (increased heart rate) and vasoconstriction, while blood pressure may remain normal initially or drop later as shock progresses. The other options describe symptoms or signs that might be associated with shock but do not encompass its definition as effectively as the chosen answer does. For example, the decreased Glasgow Coma Scale could indicate worsening neurological function but is not a defining feature of shock itself. Similarly, flushed, dry, hot skin with bradycardia is more indicative of certain types of shock, like neurogenic shock, but does not represent shock overall. Low blood pressure with tachycardia may be seen in shock but is