Question: What is meant by 'compensated shock' and 'decompensated shock'?

Answer: The descriptions of compensated and decompensated shock are:

Compensated shock:

• Cardiorespiratory function compensates to maintain the delivery of oxygenated blood to vital organs (e.g. brain, heart, kidneys)
• Characteristic signs include a progressive increase in respiratory rate and heart rate with cool extremities due to vasoconstriction
• Exhaustion may occur, which rapidly leads to decompensation

Decompensated shock:

• Compensatory mechanisms reach their limit and the oxygen supply to vital organs is no longer adequate
• Characteristic and dangerous signs include confusion (poor brain perfusion) and low urine output (poor perfusion of the kidneys)
• Decompensation leads to cardiorespiratory failure (hypotension, apnoea, bradycardia)