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Question: 1 / 400

You have a 68-year-old diabetic patient complaining of general weakness and shortness of breath. Upon exam, the patient is hypotensive, diaphoretic, tachycardic with pulmonary edema. What type of shock are you suspecting?

Hypovolemic

Cardiogenic

In this scenario, the symptoms presented by the patient—general weakness, shortness of breath, hypotension, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and pulmonary edema—strongly suggest cardiogenic shock. This type of shock occurs when the heart is unable to pump effectively, leading to inadequate blood flow to the body and subsequent organ dysfunction.

The patient's age and history of diabetes could contribute to underlying cardiac issues, such as ischemic heart disease or heart failure, which are common causes of cardiogenic shock. The combination of hypotension and pulmonary edema indicates that there is likely fluid buildup in the lungs due to the heart's inability to manage blood flow adequately. As the heart struggles to pump effectively, fluid can back up into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary congestion and respiratory symptoms.

In contrast, other types of shock, such as hypovolemic, anaphylactic, or septic shock, would typically present with different patterns of symptoms or signs less indicative of primary cardiac dysfunction, particularly the presence of pulmonary edema. Thus, these factors collectively point towards cardiogenic shock as the most probable diagnosis for this patient.

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Anaphylactic

Septic

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