Using the relationship MAP = CO times TPR, a patient in septic shock has warm extremities, bounding pulses, and hypotension despite a normal or elevated cardiac output. The most likely explanation is:

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MBBS QUESTION #10244

Question 1

Using the relationship $MAP = CO \times TPR$, a patient in septic shock has warm extremities, bounding pulses, and hypotension despite a normal or elevated cardiac output. The most likely explanation is:

Markedly reduced total peripheral resistance (TPR) from widespread inflammatory vasodilation, outweighing any compensatory rise in CO✔️
An isolated marked increase in cardiac output with entirely normal TPR
Severe bradycardia as the primary abnormality
Pure hypovolemia without any vasodilation

Correct Answer Explanation

Septic shock is classically a distributive shock: systemic inflammatory mediators cause profound vasodilation (markedly reduced TPR), which the body cannot fully compensate for even with an increased cardiac output, resulting in hypotension with warm, well-perfused-appearing (but functionally maldistributed) peripheries.

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