Question

A patient in compensated septic shock has hemodynamic monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter and an arterial catheter. Which information obtained by the nurse indicates that the patient is still in the compensatory stage of shock?

a. The cardiac output is elevated.
b. The central venous pressure (CVP) is increased.
c. The systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is high.
d. The PAWP is high.

Answer 1

In compensated septic shock, a high systemic vascular resistance (SVR) indicates that the patient is still in the compensatory stage of shock.

Step-by-step explanation:

In compensated septic shock, the patient is still in the compensatory stage of shock. The specific information obtained by the nurse that indicates this is a high systemic vascular resistance (SVR). This means that the blood vessels are constricting to maintain blood pressure and perfusion to vital organs. The other options mentioned, such as an elevated cardiac output, increased central venous pressure (CVP), and high pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), would actually be indicative of the patient transitioning from the compensatory stage to the progressive stage of shock.