Hypovolemic Shock

Hypovolemic Shock Treatment

Obtain professional medical care immediately! Limited measures to help include:

• Keep the victim comfortable and warm (to avoid hypothermia).
• Have the victim lie flat with the feet elevated about 12 inches to increase circulation. However, if the victim suffers from a head, neck, back, or leg injury, leave the victim in the position in which they were found unless doing so poses other immediate danger.
• Do not give fluids by mouth.
• If victim is stung or suffering an allergic reaction, treat the allergic reaction.
• If the victim must be carried, try to maintain the flat, head down, feet elevated position. Stabilize the head and neck before moving a victim with a suspected spinal injury.

Hospital treatment focuses on replacing blood and fluid volume. Treatment may also include determination of the cause of blood loss and control of bleeding to prevent recurrence of hypovolemic shock.

Intravenous fluids, which may include blood or blood products, are used to maintain volume in the circulatory system.

Dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and other medications may be required to increase blood pressure and cardiac output.

Other interventions that may be used to manage shock include:

• cardiac monitoring, including Swan-Ganz (used to guide treatment)
• placement of a urinary catheter to monitor urine output