This interactive lecture discusses how children in shock or a hypoperfusion state present differently than an adult. Emergencies involving shock, or inadequate perfusion, may be the result of hypovolemia, increased vascular permeability, cardiac failure, output obstruction, or a combination of any or all of these causes. When caring for pediatric patients, EMS practitioners should maintain should a high index of suspicion of shock due to history and mechanism of injury. Early recognition and rapid interventions are key in treating shock and preventing the progression to decompensated shock.
After completing this course, the practitioner will be able to:
Define shock and what constitutes it in the pediatric patient.
Discuss the differences between compensated shock and decompensated shock in the pediatric patient.
Differentiate the various categories of shock in the pediatric patient, including hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and distributive shock.
Discuss pathophysiology for different etiologies of shock in the pediatric patient.
Discuss interventions for early and late shock in the pediatric patient.
Practitioners who successfully complete the Shock in Pediatric Patients (ALS Edition) course are eligible for 1 hour of continuing education
