Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

A patient presents with an angulated right leg, altered mental status, a blood pressure of 80/50, and a heart rate of 130. What type of shock does this indicate?

1. Cardiogenic

2. Obstructive

3. Hypovolemic

4. Neurogenic

The correct answer is: Hypovolemic

The scenario describes a patient with multiple concerning signs: an angulated leg, altered mental status, low blood pressure (80/50), and a rapid heart rate (130). These indicators suggest that the patient may be experiencing hypovolemic shock, which is caused by a significant loss of blood volume. In this case, the angulated leg implies there may be a fracture, potentially leading to bleeding either externally or internally. The low blood pressure indicates that the circulatory system is not adequately perfusing the tissues, which could stem from a reduced volume of circulating blood. The elevated heart rate is the body's compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output despite low blood pressure. In hypovolemic shock, the heart attempts to pump faster in an effort to circulate whatever blood volume remains, while the low blood pressure reflects the inadequate volume. Overall, the combination of these symptoms strongly supports the diagnosis of hypovolemic shock due to potential hemorrhage from the leg injury. This understanding is critical for prioritizing interventions, such as fluid resuscitation, in the emergency setting.