What is high space shock?

Volume remains the same

Tank (vessels) expands

High space shock goes by other names you may be familiar with, such as relative hypovolemia or distributive shock. In this form of shock, the fluid volume remains the same, but the vessels dilate causing poor perfusion and hypotension. Fluid can also shift from intracellular to extracellular space. This can be seen in neuogenic shock (spinal shock) where vessels lose sympathetic tone (which causes vasoconstriction), anaphylaxis, or sepsis. All of these forms of shock show hypotension that should be initially managed with fluid, but it is not due to true hypovolemia.