Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Practice Exam

Septic shock is characterized by a systemic inflammatory response to infection, leading to significant alterations in hemodynamics and organ function. The body's immune response releases inflammatory mediators, which can result in vasodilation, increased permeability of blood vessels, and subsequent fluid shifts. This intense inflammatory response is aimed at combating the infection but can, in turn, lead to severe complications such as multi-organ dysfunction and failure. In septic shock, there is an overwhelming presence of pathogens or their toxins in the bloodstream, stimulating the immune system excessively. This correlates directly with the definition of septic shock, which is essentially a severe form of sepsis that results in cardiovascular instability. The inflammatory mediators cause symptoms such as fever, increased heart rate, and changes in mental status due to the impact on circulation and oxygen delivery. While cardiogenic, hypovolemic, and distributive shock each have their unique mechanisms and causes, they do not primarily revolve around an increased inflammatory response to the extent observed in septic shock. Cardiogenic shock is primarily related to the heart’s inability to pump effectively, hypovolemic shock is due to fluid loss leading to diminished circulating volume, and distributive shock is often due to issues like anaphylaxis or neurogenic causes affecting vascular tone