The Problem of Shock in Accident Surgery

Abstract

The clinician is inclined to make an intuitive diagnosis of shock and many doctors refer to any distressed patient, especially after injury, as being “in shock”. This term therefore includes conditions with widely differing causes, ranging from the common fainting attack to severe circulatory collapse as occurs in myocardial infarction, peritonitis or a major bleeding injury. With such a variety of meanings, this term must necessarily remain vague and is not a very useful description for treatment.