Which type of shock can result from sepsis and anaphylaxis?

Sepsis and anaphylaxis both lead to distributive shock, which occurs when there is widespread vasodilation and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. In sepsis, pathogens trigger an inflammatory response, resulting in the release of various mediators that cause blood vessels to dilate, allowing for fluid leakage into surrounding tissues and ultimately reducing effective circulating blood volume. This can lead to inadequate perfusion of vital organs despite normal or increased cardiac output.

Similarly, anaphylaxis is an extreme allergic reaction that also triggers massive release of histamine and other mediators, causing blood vessel dilation and increased permeability. This results in a similar scenario where effective blood volume is diminished, despite normal heart function.

While other types of shock exist, such as obstructive shock (from physical obstruction to blood flow), cardiogenic shock (related to the heart's inability to pump effectively), and hypovolemic shock (due to significant fluid loss), these do not primarily result from the mechanisms at play in sepsis and anaphylaxis. Therefore, distributive shock is specifically identified as a result of the pathophysiology associated with these two conditions.