Shock Index in Situations of Hypovolemic Shock

Abstract

Introduction: Hypovolemic shock is common in the healthcare setting of the anesthesiology and resuscitation specialty. Caring for patients with hypovolemic shock requires technological and clinical tools. Using the shock index is a simple way to know the patients' blood volume status, the effectiveness of the used therapy and their prognosis.

Objective: To demonstrate the usefulness of the shock index in patients with hypovolemic shock.

Methods: A descriptive and prospective study was performed by means of calculating the shock index on a sample of 142 patients in the period from July 2022 to October 2023. The variables calculated in the shock index were age, sex, etiology of the surgical entity, status at the end of surgery, postoperative evolution and mortality. For the quantitative variables, the mean, as well as absolute and relative numbers, was calculated. For qualitative variables, the recommended nonparametric tests were used.

Results: In the 112 cases, the cause was detectable bleeding. A total of 25 patients had signs of hypodynamic septic shock and, in 5 patients, the cause was found during surgery. The mean shock on arrival was 1.12 and 1.01 in the immediate postoperative period. The evolutive one was 1.70 in the 23 deceased, 1.31 in those who were ventilated, and 0.8 in those who were transferred to the open ward in less than 7 days.

Conclusions: The calculation of shock is easy and quick, allows evaluation of hemodynamics, as well as the used therapy, and is related to evolution.