Neurogenic Shock is defined as?

• A. Hypovolemic shock
• B. Distributive shock from spinal cord injury causing vasodilation
• C. Obstructive shock due to cardiac tamponade
• D. Cardiogenic shock

Answer: (B)

Neurogenic shock is a distributive shock that occurs when spinal cord injury disrupts the sympathetic nerves that normally keep blood vessels constricted. Without that sympathetic input, the vessels dilate widely, especially below the level of injury, causing a sudden drop in systemic vascular resistance and hypotension. Because the heart’s rate is partly driven by sympathetic signals, bradycardia can accompany the low blood pressure, which can further reduce cardiac output. The blood volume isn’t necessarily low; it’s just redistributed and pooled in the dilated vessels, creating a dangerous relative hypovolemia. A telltale sign early on is warm, dry skin from the vasodilation—contrast that with the cool, clammy skin seen in other shock types. This type of shock results specifically from spinal cord injury affecting autonomic outflow, rather than from loss of blood volume, a cardiac pump problem, or an obstructed circulation.