Case of the Month #44 High Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis

Published 12/10/2023

What are the possible causes for hypotension in this patient?

The main types of shock are: 

  1. Hypovolaemic 

    This can be sub-divided in to ‘haemorrhagic’ and ‘non-haemorrhagic’. 

  2. Distributive 

    Including septic shock, anaphylactic shock and neurogenic shock 

  3. Cardiogenic 

  4. Obstructive  

With the information known thus far, differentials span all these types of shock. For example: 

  1. Hypovolaemic - acute aortic syndrome, ischaemic bowel, pancreatitis, diabetic emergency 

  1. Distributive - sepsis 

  1. Cardiogenic - acute myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy 

  1. Obstructive - pulmonary embolism