The Childrenâs Outcomes Management Center (COMC) is devoted to improving the quality of behavioral health treatment for children and adolescents through outcomes evaluation.
Hypovolemic shock refers to a medical or surgical condition in which rapid fluid loss results in multiple organ failure due to inadequate circulating volume and subsequent inadequate perfusion. Most often, hypovolemic shock is secondary to rapid blood loss (hemorrhagic shock). Acute external blood loss secondary to penetrating trauma and severe GI bleeding disorders are 2 common causes of hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhagic shock can also result from significant acute internal blood loss into the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
More serious is extremely low blood pressure, which can lead to shock. The body goes into shock when the blood flow to critical organs is so minimal that they don't get enough oxygen and other nutrients. This can result in widespread organ damage and sometimes death.