Case of the Month #52 The Shocked Patient

Published 15/08/2024

What initial investigations would you consider?

  • Blood Tests: FBC, renal function, electrolytes, inflammatory markers 

  • Blood cultures 

  • Invasive BP monitoring, ECG and bedside Echo 

  • Pregnancy test 

  • Imaging – CXR, CT  

  • Collateral history 

 

Bloods reveal the following: 

Na 126 mmol/L 

K 6.2 mmol/L 

Urea 9.8 mmol/L  

Creatinine 134 µmol/L 

 

A collateral history from her husband reveals she works in a nursery and has no past medical history or allergies. She does not take any regular medications and there is no notable family history of illness. He confirms that she has not been on holiday recently and does not use tanning beds. She has been losing weight despite no increase in activity and has mentioned dizziness, especially on standing.  

 

CT Chest, abdomen and pelvis showed mild peri-colic fat stranding and submucosal oedema indicative of gastroenteritis. CT head is normal. Echo does not reveal a primary cardiac cause of shock.