Question: What is distributive shock? Our physician describes it as secondary to an early cardiac tamponade. Is this correct? Illinois Subscriber Answer: Distributive shock is a loss of systemic vascular resistance, as seen in septic shock, for example, or neurogenic shock, or anaphylaxis. You may also encounter distributive shock with drug overdoses, as with vasodilators such as alpha blockers.
Tamponade is a source of cardiogenic shock. Tamponade causes the right ventricle to be compressed, which leads to a decrease in blood return to the left side of the heart and poor cardiac output. This problem is a pump issue, not a plumbing issue, as when blood vessels are too dilated.