Which shock results from spinal cord injury causing loss of sympathetic vascular tone?

• A. Cardiogenic Shock
• B. Distributive Shock
• C. Neurogenic Shock
• D. Burn Shock

Answer: (C)

Loss of sympathetic vascular tone from a spinal cord injury. When the spinal cord is damaged, the nerves that normally keep blood vessels constricted can no longer send signals to maintain vascular tone below the injury. That leads to widespread vasodilation, blood pooling in the peripheral vessels, and reduced return of blood to the heart, which lowers cardiac output and causes hypotension. Because parasympathetic influence remains relatively intact, the heart rate is often slow or normal rather than fast. The result is a shock state with warm, dry skin from vasodilation, which helps distinguish it from other shocks. This type is a form of distributive shock caused by loss of vasomotor tone due to spinal injury. In contrast, cardiogenic shock stems from pump failure with cold, clammy skin and usually tachycardia; septic or anaphylactic distributive shocks involve vasodilation and often tachycardia with different skin findings; burn shock centers on hypovolemia from fluid loss and inflammation.